Movie · 2019 · Drama, History · 2h 5m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 6.6/10 (395.1K ratings)
Inspired by true events.
Overview
Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict. Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.6/10
IMDb: 7.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.69/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Metacritic: 75
TMDB: 7.5/10
Director
Fernando Meirelles
Production
Rideback
Cast
Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín, Luis Gnecco, Cristina Banegas, María Ucedo, Renato Scarpa, Sidney Cole, Achille Brugnini, Federico Torre, Germán de Silva, Lisandro Fiks, Libero De Rienzo, Willie Jonah, Vincent Riotta, Martina Sammarco, Guido Losantos, Nicola Acunzo, Cecilia Dazzi, Luciano Borges
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, intelligent two-hander that turns a potentially stuffy Vatican drama into something humane, witty, and surprisingly moving. It’s strongest as a character study about faith, doubt, leadership, and compromise, anchored by excellent performances and a conversational, accessible tone.
Best for
viewers who like prestige dramas built around dialogue and performances
audiences interested in faith, politics, and institutional change
people who enjoy thoughtful, low-action historical dramas
fans of intimate chamber pieces with humor and emotional restraint
Skip if
you want a fast-paced plot or big historical spectacle
you prefer strictly reverent religious storytelling
you dislike talk-heavy films centered on debate and reflection
you’re looking for a hard-edged exposé rather than a humanized portrait
Overview
The Two Popes is less about doctrine than about temperament: two men, both burdened by history, trying to understand what the church should be and what they themselves can still become. Fernando Meirelles keeps the film nimble and approachable, finding humor in the odd-couple setup without flattening the seriousness of the subject.
Worth noting
Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins give the movie its real authority. Their scenes together have the pleasure of a duel that slowly becomes a conversation, and then something closer to mutual recognition. The film is at its best when it lets disagreement breathe and then reveals the loneliness underneath it.
Bottom line
It does occasionally smooth over the messier edges of real history, but that’s part of its appeal: this is a dramatized conversation about conscience, not a procedural. If you’re open to a reflective, performance-driven drama with a gentle sense of wit, it’s an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Jack (3★) · 4964 likes
Two Popes, chillin in a hot tub, five feet apart cause they’re not gay.
kayla (3★) · 3157 likes
He was right to mistake Dancing Queen as a hymn
🌻 lindsay 🌻 (3.5★) · 3033 likes
Me to myself before starting this movie: do NOT ship the two popes! do NOT
This movie: what if they dance the tango together and then tenderly embrace 😌
Me, crying: DO NOT SHIP THE TW-
Jacky (2.5★) · 1855 likes
A good portion of this is competently shot, the other half looks like an episode of The Office.
Patrick Walsh (2★) · 1267 likes
Cute buddy comedy about one of the most evil organizations on Earth.