The Many Saints of Newark 2021

Movie · 120 min · English · September 22, 2021

Directed by Alan TaylorWritten by David Chase, Lawrence Konner

Starring Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Michael Gandolfini

The Many Saints of Newark is a 2021 American crime drama film that acts as a prequel to David Chase's HBO series The Sopranos (1999–2007). The film was directed by Alan Taylor and written by Chase and Lawrence Konner. It takes place in Newark, New Jersey, during the 1967 riots, showing a violent gang conflict through the eyes of mobster Dickie Moltisanti and his teenage nephew Tony Soprano. Alessandro Nivola portrays Dickie while Michael Gandolfini plays Tony, the character who was originally played by his father in the series. Supporting cast members include Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga. This marked Liotta’s final film performance before his death in 2022.

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema acquired the rights to create The Many Saints of Newark together with HBO Films. The movie premiered at the Tribeca Fall Preview on September 22, 2021 and opened in theaters in the United States on October 1, also appearing simultaneously on HBO Max for a month. Critics gave the film mostly positive reviews, highlighting the acting by Gandolfini and Nivola, although some found the script lacking. Though it failed at the box office, grossing $13 million against a $50 million budget, its release on HBO Max helped increase The Sopranos’ viewership.