The Lost Leonardo (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Lost Leonardo is a 2021 drama directed by Andreas Koefoed, starring Dianne Dwyer Modestini, Martin Kemp and Doug Patteson. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $600,188 worldwide. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Andreas Koefoed
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Lost Leonardo About?
The premise of The Lost Leonardo without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The story follows the controversial journey of the Salvator Mundi painting, exploring the intense scrutiny and debate surrounding its attribution to Leonardo da Vinci. As the painting's history is revealed, a complex narrative of ambition, speculation, and potential fraud emerges. Art dealers, wealthy collectors, and leading historians become entangled in a high-stakes quest for recognition and financial gain, all while questions linger about the painting’s authenticity and true origin.
The Lost Leonardo Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- leonardo da vinci
- art business
- art documentary
- art
- painting
- renaissance art
- da vinci's salvator mundi painting
- art auction
- italian art
- art restoration
- classical art
- conservator
+38 more Show fewer
- art collector
- saudi arabia
- louvre museum paris
- national gallery london
- christie's auction house
- reference to andre malraux
- reference to jacqueline kennedy onassis
- reference to mohammad bin salman
- reference to emmanuel macron
- reenactment
- russian oligarch
- sotheby's
- new york city
- suspense mystery
- art dealer
- pentimento
- museum curator
- businessman
- 1500s
- bank of america
- freeport
- wealth management
- professional poker player
- deception
- luxury yacht
- art exhibition
- art historian
- fbi
- art crime
- cia agent
- writer
- investigative journalist
- journalist
- london england
- new orleans louisiana
- italian
- german
- american
The Lost Leonardo Cast
Dianne Dwyer Modestini leads the cast, with Martin Kemp and Doug Patteson. Directed by Andreas Koefoed; 7 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Andreas Koefoed
- Dianne Dwyer Modestini
-
Martin Kemp as themselves -
Doug Patteson as themselves - Alexandra Bregman as themselves
Also Starring in The Lost Leonardo
· 3 more- Georgina Adam Themselves
- Robert K. Wittman Themselves
- Kenny Schacter
More from Andreas Koefoed
More films directed by Andreas Koefoed: Music for Black Pigeons and Ballroom Dancer.
The Lost Leonardo Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Lost Leonardo 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 79/100, strongest in rewatch factor (85) and weakest in sensory experience (70).
The Lost Leonardo Echo Score Breakdown
The Lost Leonardo delivers a compelling examination of the high‑stakes art market through a well‑crafted documentary structure. Critics highlight its stylish direction, engaging reenactments, and incisive commentary on greed, while noting occasional cheesy dramatizations. Audience responses emphasize its intriguing detective narrative and replay appeal. Collectively the film positions itself as a solid, thought‑provoking entry that largely succeeds in its ambitious scope.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
Regarding art and craft, the documentary is praised for its stylish visual treatment and deliberate pacing. Critics note the polished cinematography and effective editing that give each interview and reenactment space, though a few describe the cloak‑and‑dagger sequences as slightly cheesy. Overall the technical execution supports the film’s investigative tone.
- Character & Emotion 82
On character and emotion, the film assembles a cast of eccentric collectors, dealers and experts whose motives are laid bare. Reviewers commend the nuanced portrayals and chemistry among interviewees, noting that the reenacted figures add depth without overwhelming the documentary’s factual core. The result is a credible, emotionally resonant portrait of greed.
- Story & Flow 80
The story and flow follow a detective‑style investigation into the Salvator Mundi’s provenance. Critics highlight the film’s measured pacing and original angle that keep the narrative engaging, even as some describe moments as overly theatrical. Overall the plot maintains coherence while exposing the murky economics of the art world.
- Sensory Experience 70
In terms of sensory experience, the documentary employs a restrained soundtrack and clear sound design that let interviews and reenactments speak for themselves. Visuals alternate between archival footage and stylized dramatizations, providing contrast but occasionally slipping into kitschy aesthetics. The overall sensory palette is functional and supportive of the investigative tone.
- Rewatch Factor 85
The rewatch factor is strong, with many viewers noting they returned to the film for a second viewing to absorb its dense details. Critics and users alike appreciate the layered exposition of art market corruption, which continues to reveal new insights on repeat watches. Consequently the documentary maintains high replay value.
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IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 97% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 8.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
1 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Lost Leonardo Plot Summary
What happens in The Lost Leonardo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 18 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story begins with two American art dealers, Alexander Parish and Robert Simon, who purchase a painting titled “After Leonardo” at a 2005 New Orleans auction for just $1,175. Believing the piece to be a “sleeper,” they enlist the help of New York art restorer Dianne Dwyer Modestini. After a meticulous restoration process lasting from 2005 to 2013, Modestini discovers a pentimento (a shifted thumb position) and a specific lineless lip technique, leading her to believe the work is an original by Leonardo da Vinci.
Full summary
The whole story of The Lost Leonardo, scene by scene
The Lost Leonardo Box Office
The Lost Leonardo grossed $600,188 worldwide. $445,740 came from the US and Canada and $154,448 (26%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$600.2K
- US & Canada
- $445.7K
- International
- $154.4K
The Lost Leonardo Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 clips.
- Clip Clip
- Clip THE LOST LEONARDO | "Provenance" Official Clip
How Well Do You Know The Lost Leonardo?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
How much did art dealers Alexander Parish and Robert Simon pay for the painting at a 2005 New Orleans auction?
Cars in The Lost Leonardo
12 cars on screen, including the 2021 Apocalypse Sinister 6 and the BAE Systems Caiman CMTV Replica.
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2021 Apocalypse Sinister 6 Important role -
BAE Systems Caiman CMTV Replica Important role -
2013 Bajaj Qute Important role -
unknown Important role
The Lost Leonardo Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “迷失的莱昂纳多” and “"Salvator Mundi" oder Der verschollene Leonardo”.
- Also known as
-
- 迷失的莱昂纳多
- "Salvator Mundi" oder Der verschollene Leonardo
- 失踪的莱昂纳多
- O Leonardo Perdido
- Der verschollene Leonardo
- « Salvator Mundi » ou la folle ascension d’un tableau
- Потерянный Леонардо
- Kayıp Leonardo
- 더 로스트 레오나르도
- הליאונרדו האבוד
- Изгубеният Леонардо
- Загублений Леонардо
+3 more Show fewer
- 失落的李奧納多
- ลีโอนาร์โด ภาพสูญ อดีตฉาว
- Az elveszett Leonardo
Seen The Lost Leonardo?
Movies Like The Lost Leonardo
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Savior for Sale, The Da Vinci Treasure and Leonardo: The Works.
The Lost Leonardo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Lost Leonardo, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Lost Leonardo?
The Lost Leonardo runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was The Lost Leonardo released?
The Lost Leonardo was released on August 13, 2021.
Who directed The Lost Leonardo?
The Lost Leonardo was directed by Andreas Koefoed.
More films by Andreas Koefoed Who is in the cast of The Lost Leonardo?
The Lost Leonardo stars Dianne Dwyer Modestini, Martin Kemp and Doug Patteson, among 7 credited actors.
How much did The Lost Leonardo make at the box office?
The Lost Leonardo grossed $600,188 worldwide ($445,740 domestic, $154,448 international).
How is The Lost Leonardo rated?
The Lost Leonardo has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Does The Lost Leonardo have a post-credit scene?
No. The Lost Leonardo has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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