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Miniseries – The Young Pope

Play trailer Poster for Miniseries – The Young Pope Oct 2016 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Young and charming, newly elected Pius XIII, aka Lenny Belardo, is the first American Pope in history. His ascension appears to be the result of a simple, effective media strategy implemented by the College of Cardinals. In the Vatican, however, the prevailing wisdom is the church's leaders have chosen a mysterious figure as their guiding force. And Pius XIII proves to be the most mysterious and contradictory of them all. As Belardo begins his reign, he is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican stewards, instead relying on Sister Mary to serve as his chief adviser. While she urges him to focus on leading his billion followers, the young pope shows little interest in making himself known, either to the College of Cardinals or to the masses. The 10-episode drama series stars Jude Law in the title role and Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, a nun from the U.S. now living in Vatican City.
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The Young Pope — Miniseries

The Young Pope — Miniseries

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Critics Consensus

The Young Pope's original premise and stylish blend of over-the-top melodrama with profane comedy helps overcome an occasionally muddled plot.

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Critics Reviews

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Philippa Snow The New Republic 01/23/2020
[It] sometimes confuses showiness, sexiness, or transgressiveness with ecstasy, a muddling of its message that might be more troubling if it were not also often funny, daring, gorgeous, and unlike anything else... Go to Full Review Lauren Carroll Harris Guardian 07/31/2019
The most compulsory series this year since Big Little Lies. Go to Full Review David Sexton London Evening Standard 09/01/2017
5/5
[Young Pope] is Jude Law in his best ever performance, both magnetic and unreadable. Go to Full Review CJ Sheu Critics at Large 06/30/2020
It's no big exaggeration to say that The Young Pope runs the full gamut of the life experience of the highest servant of Christ. Go to Full Review Erin Schwartz The Nation 03/26/2020
Amid The Young Pope's enigmas, Sorrentino has developed a second theme that is far less opaque: a defense of inexplicable, unfashionable moral choices, ones that defy both common sense and church doctrine. Go to Full Review CJ Johnson Film Mafia 01/17/2020
3.5/5
Astonishing, ravishing beauty, wit, deep intellectual curiosity, uncanny political relevance (much of The Young Pope predicts Trump's chaotic reign) and extremely deep levels of conflicted, confusing, contradictory characterisation. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Israel K @RT09501549 Apr 3 This Show changed my life for the better….. Loved it as close to a perfect show as one can get See more Myles H @myleshungerford Jan 6 Very overrated. The New Pope is worth it, just skip directly to Malkovitch. See more Corey R @Battaglia173 04/30/2025 I don't quite get the point of this series. I'm an atheist and am usually giddy at anything that mocks religion, but even with my bias, this was a weird one to stomach. There are no likable characters, Jude Law's creepiness is overwhelming. He's not an antihero like Frank Underwood. I don't know, it's just not fun to watch. I'm also not convinced that the Pope is as powerful a position as the show makes him out to be. It's not the 13th century. Italy may be 68% Catholic on paper, but only 19% actually go to church, and that's true across much of the globe. None of it was believable, just none of it. See more Thomas D @Solearch 03/30/2025 I was Confused, then felt out of my mind... only to end thinking genius. See more Amir S @RT70696713 03/25/2025 That's fine - that's what I have to write about the series. See more Philip R @PhilipRoss 01/03/2024 What a joy to watch. "Tolerance doesn't live here anymore", says the American young pope. With that one line, the show is clear as to what it thinks in regards to American's veering into Christian Nationalism. "I want fanatics!" Beautifully shot, fantastic music along with a stellar performance from Jude Law make this a most enjoyable show. It is easy to see why critics and the audience have scored this so highly. See more Read all reviews
The Young Pope — Miniseries

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Cast & Crew

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Jude Law

Lenny Belardo

Diane Keaton

Sister Mary

Silvio Orlando

Cardinal Angelo Voiello

Scott Shepherd

Cardinal Andrew Dussolier

Cécile de France

Sofia Dubois

Javier Cámara

Monsignor Bernardo Alonso Gutierrez

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 21, 2016 First Episode Newly elected Pope Pius XIII settles in at the Vatican to begin his reign; Cardinal Voiello mistakenly believes Lenny will follow his lead on policy and protocol; the new pope flies in Sister Mary to serve as his chief advisor. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 21, 2016 Second Episode The Vatican's marketing director receives a surprise directive as Lenny prepares for his first public appearance; Sister Mary catches up with Lenny's childhood friend; Lenny reaches out to Cardinal Spencer. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 28, 2016 Third Episode Voiello considers his options; Sister Mary outlines the pope's policy toward questions and concerns from the media; Spencer is encouraged to accept Lenny's offer; Ester receives a summons to meet her pontiff. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 28, 2016 Fourth Episode A rural shepherd appeals to the Vatican to recognize his miracle-working stigmata; Lenny councils a nun with an ill sister; a threat from Voiello tests Ester's devotion to the pope; Lenny makes a bold decision regarding a sex abuse case. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 4, 2016 Fifth Episode Voiello orchestrates a scandalous scenario designed to cripple the pope; Lenny decamps with Andrew Dussolier; Pius XIII decides to address the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 4, 2016 Sixth Episode Lenny meets with the Italian prime minister; Cardinal Gutierrez reluctantly moves out of the Vatican for his new assignment abroad; Dussolier assumes his new duties; Voiello is questioned about Tonino; Ester's miracle comes true. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 11, 2016 Seventh Episode Voiello considers new and familiar scenarios to take down Lenny; Sister Mary struggles with her conscience; Lenny is distracted by the possibility of a family reunion; Dussolier informs the pope he wants to return to Honduras. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 11, 2016 Eighth Episode Lenny and Sister Mary deal with a shared loss in their own peculiar ways; Sofia suggests that the new pope embark on his first trip abroad; Lenny is heartened by a visit from his favorite author and dismayed by the sudden departure of a friend. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 18, 2016 Ninth Episode Lenny and Sister Mary relive a momentous incident from the past as the pope faces the prospect of an unthinkable loss in the present; in New York, Gutierrez faces daunting odds in his ongoing investigation of Kurtwell. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 18, 2016 Tenth Episode The pope considers an appropriate course of action regarding Archbishop Kurtwell; Father Tomasso gets a promotion; Sister Mary takes on a new role; the prospect of a reconciliation leads the pope to make a change of travel plans and policy. Details

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The Young Pope — Miniseries

The Young Pope The Young Pope The Young Pope The Young Pope photo: Gianni Fiorito/HBO photo: Gianni Fiorito/HBO View more photos

Season Info

Director
Paolo Sorrentino
Screenwriter
Umberto Contarello, Tony Grisoni, Stefano Rulli, Paolo Sorrentino
Network
SKYATHD
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 21, 2016