The Master and Margarita

Set in repressive 1930s Moscow, a writer sees his livelihood vanish after his work is banned and he is expelled from the official writers' union. With debts piling up and the regime watching, he begins drafting a novel about a shadowy, unsettling visitor who seems to materialize from nowhere. As the manuscript grows, the boundary between reality and fiction blurs and his days drift into scenes he once imagined. The story's power pulls him farther from the world he knows, drawing in his family and colleagues, and turning his routine life into a maze of magic, fear, and moral risk. He wonders if the visitor is real or a product of his own fears.

Directed by Michael Lockshin, The Master and Margarita reimagines Bulgakov's novel for the screen with a screenplay by Roman Kantor. The 2024 release features August Diehl as Woland and Yuliya Snigir as Margarita, anchoring the adaptation and inviting a new generation to discover the tale's moral pleasures and peril.

Worldwide, the film grossed 28,013,812 dollars against a 15,000,000 dollar budget, signaling solid interest for a mid-range fantasy drama and performing respectably across European and North American markets.

Critics offer a mixed take, with a 6.8 out of 10 average from 135 votes. Some praise its ambitious visuals, complex character work, and faithfulness to Bulgakov's spirit, while others fault pacing or tonal shifts. The film examines censorship, artistic responsibility, and the blurry boundary between reality and imagination.

As a fresh adaptation of a landmark novel, the film invites renewed discussion about Bulgakov's themes and the work's cultural footprint. Its visuals and performances may influence future adaptations and spark renewed interest in Bulgakov's work.