Miniseries – Patrick Melrose

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1:35

2018

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

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68 Reviews

45%

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1,000+ Ratings

Patrick Melrose is a man from a very privileged yet traumatic childhood in the 1980s. Patrick's father was a very abusive man, and Patrick's mother put up with his behavior. Eventually, Patrick's childhood led him down a path into addiction and severe substance abuse in New York. "Patrick Melrose" is a five-part limited series based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn from the 1980s through early 2000s.

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Critics Consensus

Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society's inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them. The Crown this ain't.

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Craig Mathieson

The Age (Australia)

Benedict Cumberbatch gives the performance of his career in this cruelly compelling 2018 limited series.

Jan 5, 2021

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Debi Enker

The Age (Australia)

[Benedict Cumberbatch] runs the gamut: cool, acerbic, brittle, erratic, self-destructive, needy and fragile.

Mar 8, 2019

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Robert Lloyd

Los Angeles Times

Patrick Melrose [is] a highly satisfying adaptation of five semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn.

Jun 13, 2018

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Johnny Loftus

Decider

Benedict Cumberbatch is a revelation in Patrick Melrose, with a multi-faceted performance... that centers the hard-hitting emotions of the series in a character who’s never too fucked up not to root for.

May 31, 2024

Full Review

Diego Jemio

Clarín

English actor Benedict Cumberbatch portrays that tortured soul [Patrick Melrose] wonderfully. [Full review in Spanish]

May 14, 2019

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Keith Watson

Metro Newspaper (UK)

Cumberbatch is so alarmingly convincing in a wide range of drug-bonkers states - mind or body in meltdown, sometimes the two together - that you find yourself hoping against hope that he's not method acting.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 8, 2019

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Matheus F

Benedict Cumberbatch in one of his most powerful performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

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Olivier B

Brilliant and deeply sad demonstration you can’t always overcome your past.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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Phillip D

It’s incredible how believable this story is when drugs are a factor. The first episode is wild. Hard to be uncomfortable & enjoyable at the same time. If you liked Charles Bukowski or Hunter S. Thompson then Edward St. Aubyn seems a fit. I’m gonna check out some of his writing. David Nicholls seems to be a virtuoso in his own right. I added a few of his other movies to my watch list as well. Good adaptation. Big fan of a lot of Edward Berger‘s work. This one is well done. Same seems to apply to Adam Ackland. Quite the all star team. Casting and acting held up their end of the bargain.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

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Pamela G

It as very hard to watch this man as he keeps getting drugged up. Turned it off after first episode…just too hard to watch, although Benedict Cumberbatch is enormously talented!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

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Dakota W

Cumberbatch was amazing, as was the acting in general, but it got tedious. You can only watch the drama of hitting bottom so long.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

Full Review

Audience Member

There's a reason critics like it twice as much as viewers, it might be a tour de force, but's it also tedious, tiresome & eventually boring, how many times do you want to see a man in free fall.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/08/24

Full Review

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Benedict Cumberbatch

Patrick Melrose

Dainton Anderson

Thomas Melrose

Holliday Grainger

Bridget Watson Scott

Jessica Raine

Julia

Blythe Danner

Nancy

Celia Imrie

Kettle

Episode 1

Aired May 12, 2018

Bad News

In the grip of his addictions, Patrick Melrose must fly to New York to collect his father's ashes; over the course of a lost weekend, Patrick's search for satisfaction sends him into a nightmarish spiral.

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Episode 2

Aired May 19, 2018

Never Mind

At the Melrose family's house in the South of France, young Patrick has the run of the magical grounds; while the family awaits the arrival of weekend guests, shocking events transpire that tear Patrick's world in two.

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Episode 3

Aired May 26, 2018

Some Hope

Patrick reluctantly agrees to go to his first big social event since recovering; together with his good friend Johnny Hall, he attends a glittering party in the English countryside; while there, Patrick confronts his past in myriad ways.

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Episode 4

Aired Jun 2, 2018

Mother's Milk

Patrick and his family visit his mother for the summer, but some unwelcome guests arrive.

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Episode 5

Aired Jun 9, 2018

At Last

On the day of his mother's memorial service, a now clean and sober Patrick confronts his mother's complicity in his father's abuse, as well as answers his father's question of what he will do with his life.

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