The Wizard of Lies
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: May 21, 2017
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. 3ebfan511
    Jun 5, 2017
    7
    Solid but not amazing look at Bernie Madoff and his "ponzie" scheme. Its a little slow at times and runs long, as its like a procedural look at how some of the things unfolded (but still very interesting.) It also almost...made me feel sad for some of his family members as it deals a lot with how things affected them as well. I would say it could have delved deeper into who he was, butSolid but not amazing look at Bernie Madoff and his "ponzie" scheme. Its a little slow at times and runs long, as its like a procedural look at how some of the things unfolded (but still very interesting.) It also almost...made me feel sad for some of his family members as it deals a lot with how things affected them as well. I would say it could have delved deeper into who he was, but it did show me a little more about his personality and it was definitely worth seeing.… Expand
  2. DarthSidious63
    May 21, 2017
    4
    If you want to watch a better Bernie Madoff biopic last years Madoff was superior than The Wizard of Lies. Granted Robert De Niro was better than Richard Dreyfus as Bernie Madoff but the story was so dull. It barely touched the rest of the Madoff family.
  3. The3AcademySins
    Aug 29, 2018
    2
    The Wizard of Lies takes a really interesting concept and a key moment in financial history and turns it into something that is completely boring and trying way to hard to "be artsy" without really understanding Bernie Madoff as a person. I personally cannot stomach this movie, even with Robert DeNiro's performance. My favorite scene is the scene of the family drama at the wedding beforeThe Wizard of Lies takes a really interesting concept and a key moment in financial history and turns it into something that is completely boring and trying way to hard to "be artsy" without really understanding Bernie Madoff as a person. I personally cannot stomach this movie, even with Robert DeNiro's performance. My favorite scene is the scene of the family drama at the wedding before it all came crashing down. That scene was clear, emotional, and honest, and nothing else in this movie is any of those things.… Expand
  4. richardrad
    May 22, 2017
    8
    Pretty terrific. A fascinating portrayal and study of the man who ran the biggest Ponzi scheme in Wall Street history. Was Bernie Madoff a genius? Yes. Is is a sociopath? That's for the viewer to decide. This moviie/ show moves along at a brisk pace. But is neither bland, nor formulaic. Remarkable performance by Robert De Niro.
  5. GukaJijeishvili
    Jun 6, 2017
    10
    Robert De Niro's best Performance in years. Good Supporting Cast and Great Directing from Barry Levinson, also Great screenplay by Sam Levinson, Samuel Baum and John Burnham Schwartz.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    May 20, 2017
    55
    This is all well and good, and might have made a good episode of Showtime's barbarous Wall Street drama Billions. But, having expressed every cogent thought in its head in the first 50 minutes, Wizard drags along for another tortuously repetitive hour and half, a long day's journey into utter banality.
    Read full review
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Lorraine Ali
    May 19, 2017
    70
    Acting in his first television project, the Oscar winner portrays Madoff as an emotion-free money machine, taking advantage where he can, easily convincing himself that the people he’s bilking are aware of the game he’s playing, making them willing participants in their own downfall.
    Read full review
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Robert Rorke
    May 19, 2017
    75
    The new movie achieves its greatest power as a character study.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »