Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Upon the Magic Roads

Upon the Magic Roads

Seen it?

2021 | 100 min | Adventure, Fantasy

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It was critically acclaimed, though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for fantasy fans and adventure fans. If you loved Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Exciting.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Russian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Romantic John the Fool and his friend Foal set out on a series of unpredictable adventures in different magical worlds. The two buddies will have to outsmart an evil tyrant king, catch the firebird, and find John’s true love.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    Critically acclaimed

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.8 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $19 million worldwide on a $8 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 54K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Oleg Pogodin

  • Anton ShaginIvan-Durak
  • Pavel DerevyankoThe Little Humpbacked Horse (voice)
  • Mikhail Efremovking
  • Paulina Andreevaprincess
  • Yan Tsapniksleeping bag
  • Oleg Taktarovgeneral
  • Lyaysan UtyashevaFirebird (voice)
  • Aleksandr SemchevWhale (voice)
  • Vladimir Dikunsagittarius
  • Vitaly Kopninherald