Lord of War

Yuri Orlov runs an international arms business that sends weapons into some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. He builds his operation with charm, legal loopholes and an expanding network of middlemen, always trying to stay a step ahead of a persistent Interpol agent who trails him from country to country. Rival dealers, volatile clients that include notorious dictators, and the strain on his family life complicate every deal. The film traces Yuri’s rise, the practical mechanics of the trade, and the mounting moral cost, without revealing how his choices ultimately play out.

Directed and written by Andrew Niccol, Lord of War was released in 2005. Nicolas Cage headlines the cast, supported by Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto and Ethan Hawke, giving the serious subject matter a mix of thriller momentum and darkly satirical tone.

The movie sharpened public discussion about the global arms trade, and several sequences are frequently referenced when people talk about weapons proliferation and accountability. It helped lock in a particular image of Cage as a lead who can handle morally gray material, and the film still pops up in conversations about war profiteering and international corruption.

Critics gave the film mixed to positive notices, and audiences have responded well overall, reflected in a 7.339/10 vote average from over 5,000 votes. The film foregrounds themes of moral compromise, the commodification of violence, and how markets, law enforcement and personal ambition combine to enable harm. Its tone shifts between dark humor and straight drama, which keeps the focus on choices and consequences rather than simple villainy.

At the box office the movie had a modest theatrical presence, drawing more attention for its subject than for blockbuster revenue. It found a larger and more sustained audience on home video and streaming platforms, where its provocative premise and strong central performance have kept it in circulation and discussion.