Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – The Righteous Gemstones

Play trailer 1:40 Poster for Season 1 – The Righteous Gemstones Aug 2019 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Well into the second generation of a grand televangelist tradition, the world-famous Gemstone family is living proof that worship pays dividends in all sizes. Patriarch Eli, the man most responsible for the tremendous success of the family's megachurch, is in mourning over the loss of his wife. Jesse, the eldest of the three grown Gemstone siblings, looks to lead in his father's footsteps, but finds his past sins jeopardizing the family ministry. Next in line comes middle sister Judy, who secretly lives with her fiancé and dreams of escaping the Gemstone compound. Rounding out the dysfunctional trio is pseudo-hipster Kelvin, the youngest of the preachers and a thorn in Jesse's side. As the family battles numerous threats to their renowned religious empire, they continue to spread the good word... and make a solid buck doing so.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Righteous Gemstones — Season 1

The Righteous Gemstones — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though it may not win many new converts, fans of Danny McBride will find much to praise in The Righteous Gemstones's darkly hilarious pews.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Rebecca Nicholson Guardian 02/06/2020
3/5
For the bulk of this opener, The Righteous Gemstones hovers cautiously, without ever quite finding the strength of its voice. But it clearly has the potential to be much more. I'm praying for these Gemstones to shine. Go to Full Review
Lucy Pavia London Evening Standard 02/05/2020
[T]he comic potential isn't mined as hard as it could be and the punches feel too broad. Go to Full Review
Suzi Feay Financial Times 01/31/2020
4/5
The Righteous Gemstones looks cause for celebration enough. Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies 01/20/2024
2.5/4
While full of colorful and interesting characters, it’s hard to shake their repulsive nature enough to enjoy the Gemstone story. Go to Full Review
Katherine McLaughlin VODzilla.co 03/13/2021
7.7/10
This entertaining comedy about a corrupt televangelist family is packed full of riotous turns. Go to Full Review
Jonah Koslofsky The Spool 01/20/2020
[Characters are] life-size cardboard cutouts we're meant to laugh at, with no genuine or sincere center, no motives that last past a logline. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Andrew O. @moviesranch1 Dec 27 What a unique idea. Great acting. Enough of a plot to keep it all together. See more Claude G @RT07416073 Aug 15 Everything I can possibly hate about organized religion and it's all wrapped up into a neat, funny and extremely entertaining show. The satire is... well... I suspect that there is way more truth in this show than people would ever come to believe. Simply put. Someone who possesses actual faith could easily get offended by this show. Fortunately, that someone is not me. All 4 seasons have a lot to offer. Sometimes I feel like I'm watching a form of live religious-based SouthPark parody. The show's end is done in a such a way that more could come at some point. Clearly the show ended on a note which was by design and not due to any form of cancellation. It would be interesting to see how the creator of the show, Danny McBride could build on this for a potential spin-off. See more Billy M @RT69721886 May 26 Top tier comedy! It takes an episode or two for the tone to really become defined but once it does it’s worth it. Incredibly unique, highly entertaining, and one of the best watches of the past decade. You will fall in love with the show and it only gets better in future seasons. See more Joey S @RT58929122 May 26 While there is a great storyline that is easy to follow along with, the character development in this season is not the best as it focuses on the situation that the characters are in as opposed to making the characters relatable and intriguing to its audience. See more Jake R @RT73876724 May 24 This is one of the greatest comedies in TV history. It's so underappreciated. See more CC C @Cindyloohoooooo May 2 Just keep watching. The characters evolve and it gets more and more demented and hilarious. See more Read all reviews
The Righteous Gemstones — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 18, 2019 The Righteous Gemstones After returning from a baptism marathon in China with his father and brother, Jesse Gemstone receives a video from blackmailers looking to ruin his reputation. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 25, 2019 Is This the Man Who Made the Earth Tremble After discovering Amber, Pontius and Abraham discussing an estranged family member, Jesse and his friends try to acquire surveillance footage that could explain the strange events from the previous night. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 1, 2019 They Are Weak, But He Is Strong Aimee-Leigh's elderly brother Baby Billy returns to the Gemstone ministry; Jesse closes ranks on his co-conspirators to discover the identity of his blackmailers. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 8, 2019 Wicked Lips Judy and Martin take Gideon behind the scenes of the Gemstone enterprise; Eli tasks Kelvin with doing a satanic sweep for Dot, the rebellious teen daughter of the church's biggest donors; Chad's wife finds some disturbing emails. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 15, 2019 Interlude In 1989, young Jesse, Judy and Baby Billy learn that Aimee-Leigh is pregnant and deal with the news in their own unique way; Eli looks to grow his family's prospects. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 22, 2019 Now the Sons of Eli Were Worthless Men Judy considers Baby Billy's offer to help guide her career; Jesse procures key evidence he hopes will lead to the blackmailers. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 29, 2019 And Yet One of You Is a Devil Eli informs Jesse, Kelvin and Judy that they'll each need to be front and center for Easter Sunday service, their biggest telecast of the year; Judy's deference to Baby Billy threatens her relationship with BJ and with her family. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 6, 2019 But the Righteous Will See Their Fall Jesse deals with the fallout of the dramatic events of Easter Sunday; Judy attempts to win back BJ after receiving some harsh words from Baby Billy; Kelvin has a crisis of faith. Details Episode 9 Aired Oct 13, 2019 Better Is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning Eli questions his children's future in the Gemstone ministry; Jesse struggles to keep his marriage together; Judy opens up to BJ about her past; a disillusioned Kelvin embraces his dark side. Details
Here and Now 24% 83% Here and Now Watchlist Camping 27% 21% Camping Watchlist Togetherness 90% 85% Togetherness Watchlist Barry 98% 89% Barry Watchlist TRAILER for Barry Divorce 78% 72% Divorce Watchlist TRAILER for Divorce Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Director
Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, Danny McBride
Creator
Danny McBride
Executive Producer
Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, Brandon James
Screenwriter
Danny McBride, Kevin Barnett, John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, Chris Pappas, Edi Patterson, Grant Dekernion
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 18, 2019