In the Hand of Dante is streaming exclusively on Netflix in the UAE, included with every subscription tier — no rental fee, no VPN, no fuss. It's a 153-minute, R-rated literary crime drama with Oscar Isaac playing both a modern writer and Dante Alighieri himself.
- Netflix UAE plans start at AED 35/month (Basic), with Standard at AED 49 and Premium at AED 71.
- The film premiered globally on Netflix on 24 June 2026 and is directed by Julian Schnabel.
- The cast is genuinely absurd: Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa — and Martin Scorsese as an on-screen character.
- It carries an R rating, so this one is strictly for the grown-ups.
In the Hand of Dante is available on Netflix in the UAE. A Vatican priest discovers Dante's original Divine Comedy manuscript. When asked to authenticate it, writer Nick Tosches steals it, while a parallel story follows Dante's quest to create his masterpiece.
Where to Watch In the Hand of Dante in the UAE
In the Hand of Dante is streaming exclusively on Netflix in the UAE. If you already have a subscription, you’re sorted — open the app, search the title, and settle in for a 153-minute ride through medieval Florence and modern-day crime. There’s no additional rental fee and no separate purchase, and it’s available on every plan tier.
| Platform | Netflix (UAE) |
| Price | AED 35/month (Basic), AED 49/month (Standard), AED 71/month (Premium) |
| Bundles | None required — included with all Netflix subscription tiers |
| Quality/offline | Downloads available via the Netflix app; streaming quality depends on your plan tier |
In the Hand of Dante Official Trailer
What Is In the Hand of Dante About?
In the Hand of Dante is a dual-timeline drama about the discovery of Dante’s original Divine Comedy manuscript — and the chaos that follows when someone decides to steal it.
The story opens with a Vatican priest unearthing what may be the most significant literary artefact in human history: Dante Alighieri’s handwritten original of the Divine Comedy. Rather than quietly authenticating it and handing it back to the Church, the manuscript ends up in the orbit of writer Nick Tosches — a man whose relationship with organised crime is, let’s say, complicated. Asked to verify its authenticity, Tosches has other ideas entirely, and the film tips into mob-adjacent heist territory from there.
Running parallel to that very modern storyline is the tale of Dante himself, navigating 14th-century Florence, papal politics, exile, and the singular obsession of writing one of the greatest works in Western literature. Oscar Isaac plays both men — either the most elegant casting decision of the year or an absolutely audacious swing — and the film commits to it completely.
Director Julian Schnabel brings a painter’s eye to the material, which makes sense given his background, and the film is adapted from Nick Tosches’s own 2002 novel of the same name. Netflix picked up the film and launched it globally on 24 June 2026, which is how a project this strange ended up a click away on your telly.
The result is dense, literary and genuinely odd in the best possible way. Think less The Da Vinci Code, more a crime film that got lost in a medieval poetry seminar and decided to stay. At 153 minutes with an R rating, it’s a proper commitment — but if you’re in the mood for something that swings big, this is it.
How Many Episodes Does In the Hand of Dante Have?
In the Hand of Dante is a standalone feature film, not a series — so there are no episodes to queue up, just one long, ambitious sitting. Budget a full evening: at roughly two and a half hours, this is not a casual half-watch while scrolling your phone.
| Format | Feature film (single release, no episodes) |
| Runtime | ~153 minutes |
| Netflix premiere | 24 June 2026 (global) |
| Rating | R |
In the Hand of Dante Cast
The cast of In the Hand of Dante is, to put it plainly, absurd in scope — and that’s a compliment. Oscar Isaac carries the dual lead as Nick and Dante with the kind of controlled intensity he brings to everything, while Gal Gadot appears in both timelines as Giulietta and Gemma. Gerard Butler as a crime figure who doubles as Pope Bonifacio VIII is a sentence that should not work, and yet here we are.
John Malkovich playing a character named Joe Black feels deeply correct, and the supporting bench runs deep: Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore (of The White Lotus fame), the great Franco Nero as Don Lecco, and Benjamin Clementine as a character actually named Mephistopheles, which tells you plenty about the film’s ambitions.
Then there’s the matter of Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese, both appearing as characters within the film, which gives the whole thing an almost surreal meta quality you’ll either love immediately or need a moment to adjust to. Jason Momoa rounds things out with a supporting turn that suggests he’s quietly becoming one of the more interesting character actors working today.
Good to Know
Is In the Hand of Dante kid-friendly?
No — it carries an R rating, with adult themes including organised crime, violence and mature literary content. The dual narrative also demands sustained attention across 153 minutes, which rules out younger viewers on patience grounds alone. Recommended for ages 17 and above, in line with the R certification.
Is In the Hand of Dante free to watch?
It’s not free, but there’s no extra charge beyond your Netflix subscription — the film is included on all tiers, with UAE plans starting at AED 35/month for Basic. There’s no separate rental or purchase fee, so if you already subscribe, it costs you nothing extra.
Can I watch In the Hand of Dante outside the UAE?
Yes — the film launched globally on Netflix, so it’s available across Netflix territories, not just the UAE. No VPN or regional workaround is needed for local viewers; just open the app and search the title.
What to Watch After In the Hand of Dante
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Netflix) — if the crime side of Dante hooked you more than the poetry, Tommy Shelby’s feature-length return delivers period gangster drama with proper cinematic swagger.
Nemesis (Netflix) — a tightly wound crime thriller series for anyone who wants the underworld tension without the 14th-century detours.
Ripley (Netflix) — Steven Zaillian’s black-and-white Patricia Highsmith adaptation is the closest match in spirit: literary, Italian, gorgeous to look at, and anchored by a mesmerising lead performance.
Updated 26 June 2026: Refreshed to the latest Where to Watch format, with Netflix UAE availability and pricing confirmed following the film’s global premiere.
