[8] In 1930s Moscow, a prominent writer's works are suddenly censored by the Soviet state and the premiere of his theatrical play about Pontius Pilate is canceled for ideological reasons.

The novel's central character is Woland, a mystical dark force who visits Soviet Moscow as a tourist, and avenges all those who caused the writer's downfall.

[13][14] In August 2022, it was announced that the release date would be pushed to late 2023, due to Universal Pictures leaving Russia over the Russian invasion of Ukraine and problems with funding the film's post-production.

One of Russia's most influential film critic's Anton Dolin called it "the first good adaptation" of Bulgakov's novel[19] and the "best commercial movie in modern Russian history".

"[23] Many viewers noted the timeliness of the film, as the period piece about the 1930s - resonated with news about the rise of censorship and repressions in contemporary Russia.

The Guardian noting that "As Russia becomes more repressive, it is possible that Master and Margarita could be one of the last films of its kind, a blockbuster where the criticism of the state lies on the service.

However, according to the director, when the propagandists started their attack after seeing the film, the movie had already gained notoriety and success after its first week at the box office, and was based on a beloved classic book, so the authorities ultimately decided to not intervene to stop distribution.