The production rented 50 real T-72 tanks from a Czech arms dealer. The owner needed them back by December 2005 because they were already sold to Libya.

The film follows (Nicolas Cage), a Ukrainian-American immigrant who rises from selling Uzis in Little Odessa to becoming a global "Lord of War". While Yuri is a fictional character, he is a composite of several real-life arms dealers, most notably Viktor Bout , often referred to as the "Merchant of Death".

In the world of 2000s cinema, few films managed to be as stylishly cynical yet deeply sobering as . Released on September 16, 2005, and directed by Andrew Niccol, this satirical crime drama remains a standout in Nicolas Cage’s filmography. Whether you're revisiting it for its biting wit or discovering it through a recent Blu-ray release, the film’s exploration of the global arms trade is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago. A Story Based on Uncomfortable Truths

Other incredible behind-the-scenes facts from IMDb and Wikipedia include:

No American studio would back the film due to its "troubling conclusions" about the U.S. military’s role in the arms trade, forcing the production to rely on international financing. Cinematic Brilliance and Dark Satire