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Poster for Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall

Seen it?

2015 | 2 seasons | Drama

Friday Night Flickearly rating

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), it collected a shelf of major awards and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong character drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
2 seasons: a few weeks of evenings.
What might put you off
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the King dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The Pope and most of Europe oppose him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer, and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    98% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.5 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Miniseries or Television Film. Won 3 BAFTAs: BAFTA TV Awards: Best Drama Series, BAFTA TV Awards: Best Actor, BAFTA TV Craft Awards: Best Sound – Fiction and Entertainment. Won 1 Peabody Award: 2015 Peabody Awards: Best Supporting Actor. Also nominated for 5 Emmys, 2 more Golden Globes and 1 SAG Award. Plus 3 other awards.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Ran for 2 seasons and reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 366K people sought it out in the past year

Season by season

The show overall is a Friday Night Flick. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 1 is the high point.

  1. Sunday Safe Bet
    Season 12015 · 6 episodes · 7.3 out of 10
    Sunday
  2. Weeknight Watch
    The Mirror and the Light2024 · 6 episodes · 6.8 out of 10
    Weeknight

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Created by Peter Straughan, Peter Kosminsky, Hilary Mantel

  • Mark RylanceThomas Cromwell
  • Damian LewisHenry VIII
  • Thomas Brodie-SangsterRafe Sadler
  • Joss PorterRichard Cromwell
  • Charlie RoweGregory Cromwell
  • Harry MellingThomas Wriostheley
  • James LarkinWilliam Fitzwilliam