Documentary

Red Penguins (2020): Cast, Ratings & Where to Watch

Name: Red Penguins
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2020-08-04
Duration: 1 h 20 min
Cast: Howard Baldwin, Steven Warshaw, Viktor Tikhonov

Red Penguins is a 2020 documentary directed by Gabe Polsky, starring Howard Baldwin, Steven Warshaw and Viktor Tikhonov. It runs 1 hour 20 minutes. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Echo Score: 80
Metascore: 76

Where to watch Watch the trailer

Released: August 4, 2020
Runtime: 1h 20m (80 min)
Director: Gabe Polsky
Genre: Documentary
Original language: English
Studio: Universal Pictures
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Red Penguins About?

The premise of Red Penguins without spoilers.

In post-Soviet Russia, a surprising partnership emerges as the Pittsburgh Penguins team up with Moscow’s Red Army, creating a unique hockey venture. Marketing executive Steve Warshaw finds himself immersed in a surreal and chaotic environment filled with unexpected challenges. He navigates a landscape of gangsters, strippers, and even live bears serving beer, all while witnessing the rise of powerful oligarchs and a series of unsettling events, including unsolved murders. The experience proves to be a wild and unforgettable adventure.

Where to watch

Where to Watch Red Penguins

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

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Cast & crew

Red Penguins Cast

Howard Baldwin leads the cast, with Steven Warshaw and Viktor Tikhonov. Directed by Gabe Polsky.

Director Gabe Polsky

Ratings

Red Penguins Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Red Penguins 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in story & flow (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).

80 /100

Red Penguins Echo Score Breakdown

The film’s combination of brisk pacing, engaging anecdotes, and novel archival material marks a compelling account of post-Soviet hockey. Polsky’s direction maintains a coherent structure even as it packs dense information into a slim 80-minute runtime. The vivid portrayal of personalities and underlying economic drama keeps viewers invested. While some areas lack polish, the documentary offers a memorable and insightful perspective on Russia’s transition.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

Art & Craft 78

When it comes to art and craft, Polsky’s direction and editing deliver a coherent narrative flow despite a packed timeline. The documentary employs understated yet effective cinematography and evocative archival footage to underline its historical context. Production design remains functional, focusing on authentic locations. Overall, the film’s craft demonstrates purposeful cohesion with occasional rough edges.
Character & Emotion 82

In terms of character depth and emotion, the film presents a gallery of vivid personalities whose ambitions and contradictions drive the narrative. Interview subjects range from exuberant promoters to grim figures, lending both humor and weight. The chemistry among participants emerges through contrasting anecdotes. Overall, the documentary delivers engaging human portraits that resonate beyond the sport itself.
Story & Flow 85

Regarding story and flow, the documentary strikes a brisk pace, weaving a dense succession of anecdotes into a coherent narrative. The progression from lighthearted episodes to darker themes maintains engagement without overwhelming the viewer. Occasional shifts in tone feel abrupt, but the central arc exploring commercialization provides coherence. Overall, the storytelling remains compelling and informative.
Sensory Experience 70

In terms of sensory experience, the film relies primarily on archival audio and footage to evoke its eras, with crisp sound design that underscores crowd energy during games. The soundtrack supports shifts in mood without drawing attention. Visual cohesion comes from consistent color grading on historical clips. Overall, the sensory elements effectively complement the narrative.
Rewatch Factor 65

When it comes to rewatch value, the documentary’s wealth of anecdotes and shifting tones offers fresh details on subsequent viewings, especially for those interested in the period. The concise runtime encourages repeat engagement. However, the rapid pacing and limited thematic depth in some moments may reduce appeal over time. Overall, it retains sufficient lasting appeal.