The Two Popes

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2:08

The Two Popes

PG-13

Released Nov 27, 2019

2h 6m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

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227 Reviews

88%

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2,500+ Ratings

Behind the Vatican walls, Pope Benedict and the future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

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Critics Consensus

Led by outstanding performances from its well-matched leads, The Two Popes draws absorbing drama from a pivotal moment in modern organized religion.

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Christy Lemire

Breakfast All Day

It is really beautifully acted, and a lot of times it does feel like a play on film in all the best ways.

Rated: 7.5/10

Feb 7, 2020

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Karen Han

Polygon

What do the two popes of Netflix's new film The Two Popes have in common with Sherlock Holmes and a murderous robot doll? Great stars, and unfortunately, an inability to break free of source material that doesn't matter all that much.

Dec 23, 2019

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Robert Daniels

Consequence

A tightly constructed narrative, which examines the role of forgiveness, The Two Popes is a lowkey buddy comedy that simply follows two actors at the top of their game.

Rated: B+

Dec 23, 2019

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…both Hopkins and Pryce give big, relish-able performances as quite different men, and the The Two Popes' script never lets sight of the weight that both men suffered from a deep sense of despair at their church’s failure to act over internal abusers…

Rated: 4/5

May 16, 2025

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Joonatan Itkonen

Toisto.net

It’s just a shame that out of material so vast and tied to the world’s history, we get a film this shallow and constricted in scope. In the end, we learn very little of these complicated figureheads of a church that rivals most multinational corporations.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 6, 2024

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Serena Seghedoni

Loud and Clear Reviews

The Two Popes might be more than a little simplistic in its depiction of its two leading characters: [...] the two clergymen seem to be either incredibly good or the personification of evil.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 30, 2023

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Alex T

Intelligent acting brings out current tensions in Catholicism - to modernize or to stick to the old ways. Believable, humorous interactions and the glorious settings and filming combine to make this a ‘must see’ for viewers seeking more than bland entertainment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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Marifer J

The film stirs genuine curiosity about these two influential figures and the events that shaped their time in the Vatican. While it offers a thoughtful glimpse into their personalities and beliefs, I was left wanting a deeper dive into the scandals and how they confronted those challenges, rather than keeping things in broader strokes. It feels more like an introduction to the complexities of the Catholic Church—a cautious first step toward transparency that hints at the possibility of true forgiveness and perhaps even a way to reconnect with those who have drifted away.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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David H

This was a touching, funny, thought provoking, and a little documentary effect, by two wonderful actors and treasures of our time. Bravo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

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hana marta j

The Two Popes” (2019) is a beautiful film that I watched on Netflix after the death of both popes. I really liked it—I even shed a tear. I must admit that, as a Catholic, I used to admire Pope Benedict, but after watching this film, I got to know Pope Francis better. The details of his life are truly touching and dark. I also have to add that the dearest pope to me, the one I remember fondly since early childhood, is my favorite—Pope John Paul II. The Slavic pope, John Paul II, was a symbol of humble kindness and faith. In the film, Benedict is portrayed as a stubborn German, but I don’t believe that reflects who he truly was. I would rather describe him as an exception in Rome—as a German.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/23/25

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Luke M

Good film, very powerful acting. Great depiction of events.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

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paul o

Brilliant acting by Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins and a fascinating look at the power of the right wing junta in Argentina.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

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Fernando Meirelles

Director

Jonathan Pryce

Pope Francis

Anthony Hopkins

Pope Benedict

Juan Minujín

Pope Francis Young

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The Two Popes: Trailer 1

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The Two Popes: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Behind the Vatican walls, Pope Benedict and the future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

Director: Fernando Meirelles
Producer: Tracey Seaward, Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich
Screenwriter: Anthony McCarten, Frank Cottrell Boyce
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Rideback, Kramer & Sigman Films, Lotus Productions, Netflix
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Content|Some Disturbing Violent Images)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 27, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2019
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos

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