The Two Popes (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Two Popes is a 2019 biographical drama directed by Fernando Meirelles, starring Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI., Jonathan Pryce and Luis Gnecco. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes and earned $243,711 worldwide on a $40 million budget. It was nominated for 3 Oscars. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- Fernando Meirelles
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Two Popes About?
The premise of The Two Popes without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Inside the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI prepares to resign, a first in centuries. Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio believes he's destined for a quiet life of prayer, but is surprised when he is elected Pope Francis. This unlikely encounter explores their contrasting personalities and beliefs as they discuss faith, tradition, and the future of the Catholic Church, forging a unique bond in the process.
The Two Popes Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- pope
- catholic priest
- flashback
- confessional
- younger version of character
- reference to abbey road
- reference to abba
- cardinal the priest
- priest
- catholic church
- watching soccer on tv
- buenos aires argentina
+38 more Show fewer
- argentinian politics
- telling a joke
- pizza
- wine
- mass
- flash forward
- tango
- rome italy
- helicopter
- aerial camera shot
- overhead camera shot
- sistine chapel
- black and white to color
- telephone
- telephone call
- prologue
- religion
- confession
- sign of the cross
- crossing oneself
- argentinian army
- guilt
- forgiveness
- man dances with a man
- street life
- secretary
- vatican city
- watching tennis on tv
- piano
- pianist
- german abroad
- argentinian abroad
- tango dancing
- dance lesson
- tango lesson
- calling someone a nazi
- red shoes
- financial deregulation
The Two Popes Cast & Characters
Anthony Hopkins leads the cast as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI., with Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis and Luis Gnecco as Cardinal Hummes. Directed by Fernando Meirelles; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Fernando Meirelles
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Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. -
Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis -
Luis Gnecco as Cardinal Hummes -
Juan Minujín as Younger Jorge Bergoglio
Also Starring in The Two Popes
· 13 more- Sidney Cole Cardinal Turkson
- Achille Brugnini Cardinal Martini
- Lisandro Fiks Father Jalics
- Renato Scarpa Camerlengo
- Cristina Banegas Lisabetta
- Federico Torre Protodeacon Estevez
- María Ucedo Esther Ballestrino
- Matthew T. Reynolds
- Juan Miguel Arias Paolo
- Pablo Trimarchi
- Fabricio Martin
- Thomas D Williams
- Walter Andrade
More from Fernando Meirelles
More films directed by Fernando Meirelles, best-rated first: City of God, The Constant Gardener, Blindness and 360.
The Two Popes Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Two Popes 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).
The Two Popes Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Two Popes delivers a reflective and actor-driven narrative that balances humor and introspection. Its intimate dialogue scenes and warmly rendered character interactions benefit from assured direction, though the film’s deliberate pacing leads to occasional lulls in narrative momentum. Visually, the production design evokes the Vatican’s grandeur even if some visual moments feel underutilized. Ultimately, the film succeeds as a contemplative study of leadership and conviction despite periodic narrative slowdowns.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
Art & Craft is a consistent strength, with Fernando Meirelles’ direction framing ornate frescoes and vaulted interiors in expressive compositions. The production design and editing sustain a clear visual narrative even as some critics noted uninspired camera movement during quieter passages. The film’s lighting and set detail recall the Vatican’s opulence with precision. Overall, the visual craft maintains thematic cohesion and period authenticity.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to Character & Emotion, the lead performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce anchor the film with nuanced interactions and palpable chemistry. The actors infuse their roles with emotional depth, rendering discussions of faith both intimate and engaging. Occasional tonal shifts limit deeper character arcs for supporting figures. In sum, the central portrayals provide a compelling emotional core.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of Story & Flow, the screenplay offers a tight framework of dialogues that explore ideological contrasts with wit and clarity. The narrative unfolds at a measured pace, though some viewers found the final act’s reliance on flashbacks and extended exposition diminished engagement. Plot cohesion remains solid but lacks significant structural surprises. Overall, the story balances thematic insight with occasional pacing constraints.
- Sensory Experience 75
When examining Sensory Experience, the film’s understated score complements the intimate tone while sound design remains unobtrusive. Visual style benefits from the ornate backdrop of Vatican interiors, though moments of static framing limit dynamic visual engagement. The cohesive color palette and set textures evoke period authenticity. In general, the sensory elements support the narrative without drawing undue attention.
- Rewatch Factor 65
In relation to Rewatch Factor, the film’s rich dialogues and character interplay encourage subsequent viewings for fans of thoughtful conversation. Select conversational sequences possess enduring appeal, yet the story’s predictable arc and midsection pacing dips may lessen overall replay motivation. Consequently, the rewatch value hinges on viewer interest in character-driven discourse rather than narrative surprises.
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IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 89% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
612 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Two Popes Plot Summary
What happens in The Two Popes from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In April 2005, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, receives a crucial summons to Vatican City following the passing of Pope John Paul II. Known for his popularity in Argentina, Bergoglio harnesses his passion for football to connect with the masses, invigorating the faith among the people.
With the demise of John Paul, a liberal pontiff, the church is plunged back into the contentious discussions surrounding issues like homosexuality, abortion, contraception, and the ordination of women and married men. In this tense atmosphere, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later elected as Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins), represents a more conservative ideology and appears to be the natural successor. Tensions surface between Ratzinger and Bergoglio, as their differing beliefs imply an underlying animosity.
Full summary
The whole story of The Two Popes, scene by scene
The Two Popes Box Office & Budget
The Two Popes grossed $243,711 worldwide on a $40 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$243.7K
- International
- $243.7K
- Budget
- $40M
The Two Popes Awards & Nominations
The Two Popes was nominated for 3 Oscars. The 14 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 2020.
14 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 2020 5 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Jonathan Pryce
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Hopkins
- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay
- Nominated Best Casting
- Nominated Outstanding British Film
-
Golden Globes 2020 4 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Jonathan Pryce
- Nominated Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture (Supporting Actor) – Anthony Hopkins
-
Oscars 2020 3 nominations- Nominated Actor in a Leading Role – Jonathan Pryce
- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Hopkins
- Nominated Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
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Critics' Choice 2020 2 nominations- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Anthony Hopkins
The Two Popes Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser Official Teaser
How Well Do You Know The Two Popes?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which year does the story of 'The Two Popes' begin?
Cars in The Two Popes
18 cars on screen, including the Chevrolet 400 and the Chevrolet Chevy.
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Chevrolet 400 Minor role -
Chevrolet Chevy Minor role -
1966 Fiat 1500 Coupé Minor role -
Ford Falcon Minor role
The Two Popes Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Два Папы” and “Los dos Papas”.
- Also known as
-
- Два Папы
- Los dos Papas
- Dois Papas
- Οι Δύο Πάπες
- Двамата папи
- I due papi
- Les Deux Papes
- Die zwei Päpste
- 두 교황
- האפיפיורים
- Kaksi paavia
- 教宗的承继
+14 more Show fewer
- Dwóch papieży
- Dva papežové
- A két pápa
- Двоје папа
- 教宗的承繼
- 2人のローマ教皇
- Hai Vị Giáo Hoàng
- Два Папи
- Cei doi papi
- Du Popiežiai
- สันตะปาปาโลกจารึก
- الباباوين
- 教廷白煙
- دو پاپ
Seen The Two Popes?
Movies Like The Two Popes
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Pope Must Die, The Pope’s Toilet and Pope John Paul II.
The Two Popes FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Two Popes, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Two Popes?
The Two Popes runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was The Two Popes released?
The Two Popes was released on November 27, 2019.
Who directed The Two Popes?
The Two Popes was directed by Fernando Meirelles.
More films by Fernando Meirelles Who is in the cast of The Two Popes?
The Two Popes stars Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI., Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis and Luis Gnecco as Cardinal Hummes, among 17 credited actors.
How much did The Two Popes make at the box office?
The Two Popes grossed $243,711 worldwide on a budget of $40 million.
How is The Two Popes rated?
The Two Popes has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Was The Two Popes nominated for any awards?
The Two Popes received 14 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Does The Two Popes have a post-credit scene?
No. The Two Popes has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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