Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Francesco

Name: Francesco
Genre: Drama, History
Released: 1989-03-22
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Helena Bonham Carter, Andréa Ferréol, Nikolaus Dutsch, Peter Berling

1989 | 157 min | Drama, History

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for history buffs. If you loved Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages or The Count of Monte Cristo, start here.
The mood: Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace: Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 37 min.
What might put you off: Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
It's long: 2 hr 37 min.

The life of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) as related by followers who gather after his death to tell stories so that Leone can record them: a privileged and virile youth, a prisoner of war, an heir who turns away from his father and gives all to the poor, a beggar for others, and an inspiration to friends who accept the Gospels' life of poverty.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 20K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Liliana Cavani

Mickey RourkeFrancesco
Helena Bonham CarterChiara
Andréa FerréolFrancesco's Mother
Nikolaus DutschCardinal Colonna
Peter BerlingBishop Guido
Hanns ZischlerPope Innocent III
Mario AdorfCardinal Ugolino
Paolo BonacelliFrancesco's Father
Fabio BussottiLeone
Riccardo De TorrebrunaPietro Cattani