The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A wealthy man discovers a mystical meditation technique that allows him to see through the backs of playing cards.
The story
The story follows Henry Sugar, a wealthy man who uses his fortune to fund his gambling habits. Upon discovering a report about a man who could see without using his eyes through a specific form of Yoga, Henry decides to master the skill for himself. He seeks out the secret of the meditation to gain an advantage at the gambling tables. After successfully mastering the technique, he begins to use his newfound ability to navigate the world of high-stakes gambling, eventually leading him to reconsider his lifestyle and the way he chooses to use his wealth.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Presented as a 1978 telefilm, the story follows Henry Sugar, a man who uses his inheritance for gambling. He discovers the story of Imdad Khan, who gained the ability to see without eyes through a guru's meditation. Henry practices this meditation for three years until he can see through playing cards. After winning at a casino and discarding the money in a fit of frustration, he is advised by a policeman to find a better way to give. He begins traveling the world under various disgues, winning money to fund hospitals and orphanages. Two decades later, Henry dies of a pulmonary embolism. His accountant commissions Roald Dahl to write his story, ensuring his identity remains confidential.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 39
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Anderson
- Writers
- Wes Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Benedict Cumberbatch · Henry Sugar; Ralph Fiennes · Roald Dahl; Ralph Fiennes · The Policeman; Ralph Fiennes · The Rat Man; Dev Patel · Dr. Chatterjee; Dev Patel · John Winston; Ben Kingsley · Imdad Khan; Ben Kingsley · The Dealer
- Genres
- fantasy; comedy; adventure
- Themes
- spiritual growth; altruism; metafiction
- Tone and mood
- whimsical; delicate
- Premise and plot tags
- based on a book; anthology; short film
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl (1977)
- Franchise connections
- Roald Dahl's The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its visual style and its status as a well-balanced adaptation of Roald Dahl's work.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 95% · scale: percentage · review count: 98; Metacritic · score: 85 · scale: 100 · review count: 31
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Live Action Short Film · won
- Production trivia
- It was originally reported to be a feature film.; It is the first of a four-part series of shorts adapted from Dahl's stories.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…