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The Two Popes
2019 125 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★8.1
Drama, History
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
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.
Worldwide:
$232,638
Starring
Jonathan Pryce
Actor
Anthony Hopkins
Actor
Juan Minujín
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2020
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 2020
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 2020
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 2020
— Best Picture (Drama)
BAFTA 2020
— Best Adapted Screenplay
BAFTA 2020
— Best British Film
Golden Globe 2020
— Best Actor (Drama)
Golden Globe 2020
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 2020
— Best Screenplay
BAFTA 2020
— Best Casting
Academy Awards 2020
— Best Actor
BAFTA 2020
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
The Two Popes is widely praised for its masterful lead performances and intellectual, witty dialogue that humanizes two contrasting religious figures. While some critics argue it relies too heavily on sentimentality and symbolic flourishes at the expense of genuine grit, it remains a compelling and accessible exploration of faith, reform, and reconciliation.
| Acting | Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce deliver master-class performances that anchor the film with nuance and emotional depth. | |
| Screenplay | The script uses sharp, clever, and multilingual dialogue to effectively juxtapose the protagonists' differing theological and personal worldviews. | |
| Direction | Fernando Meirelles’ direction creates a visually striking and intimate portrait of Vatican settings that balances historical weight with accessible, humanizing details. | |
| Theme | The film’s reliance on sentimentality and symbolic metaphors leads some to feel it avoids a harder, more authentic examination of the Church's systemic struggles. | |
| Editing | Views on the technical execution are split; some applaud the dynamic montage and documentary-style realism, while others criticize the pacing and editing as excessive. |