Jon BernthalThe SopranosThe Many Saints of NewarkHBO Max
The Many Saints of Newark: Why Jon Bernthal's Sopranos Prequel Is Finally a Streaming Hit
David Chase's 2021 prequel flopped in theaters but has found its audience on HBO Max — here's what fans are discovering.
Source material: collider.com
Who does Jon Bernthal play in The Many Saints of Newark?
Jon Bernthal plays Johnny Soprano, the father of Tony and husband to Livia, in the 2021 film The Many Saints of Newark. The role establishes the violent, controlling patriarch whose influence shadows Tony's entire life. Bernthal, who has since headlined billion-dollar productions like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, uses his physicality to make Johnny menacing even in quiet moments. Vera Farmiga plays Livia opposite him, and their tense scenes foreshadow the dysfunctional home that shaped Tony. Though Johnny appears briefly, Bernthal's performance carries a weight that explains why Tony struggles with authority and loyalty later in The Sopranos. The film's simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release during the pandemic meant it never found a large audience initially, but its subsequent streaming availability has allowed fans revisiting Bernthal's filmography to point to this as a career highlight that was easy to miss.
Why did The Many Saints of Newark flop at the box office?
Released on September 22, 2021, The Many Saints of Newark grossed just $13.1 million worldwide against a reported $50 million budget. The film opened during the pandemic and simultaneously on HBO Max, splitting potential ticket buyers. The delta variant was surging, and many audiences chose the safety of streaming. That same day-and-date release meant box office numbers never recovered, but it allowed the movie to reach homes instantly. Years later, its HBO Max presence has proven more durable than its theatrical run. While the financial performance looked bleak, it didn't stop the film from gaining a cult following among Sopranos fans who appreciate its deeper exploration of the DiMeo family's roots. The key factor was the simultaneous release: for a $50 million production, recouping costs required a strong theatrical turnout, but the pandemic-driven shift to streaming meant that many potential viewers never bought a ticket. Instead, they waited for it to appear on the service they already subscribed to, which all but guaranteed the low box office total.
What is the plot of The Many Saints of Newark?
Set in Newark during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the film follows Dickie Moltisanti as he becomes the most influential figure in young Tony Soprano's life. Tony, growing up amid racial unrest and the rise of rival gangsters, watches his uncle navigate the DiMeo crime family's challenges. The official synopsis describes Dickie as struggling to balance his professional and personal duties while shaping the impressionable teenager into the future mob boss. Directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner, the story weaves historical events like the Newark riots into the criminal drama. It's not a typical gangster epic—it's a character study about mentorship and the corrosive nature of power. The synopsis further explains that young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark's history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family's hold over the increasingly race-torn city. This backdrop of racial tension and shifting criminal power dynamics is central to the plot, as Dickie's influence over his nephew will help make the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we'll later come to know: Tony Soprano. The film's 120-minute runtime allows for a detailed exploration of these themes, from the personal struggles of Dickie to the societal upheaval that shapes Tony's worldview.
Who stars in The Many Saints of Newark?
Alessandro Nivola, known from Kraven the Hunter, plays Dickie Moltisanti, the uncle Tony idolizes. Michael Gandolfini, son of the late James Gandolfini, who originated Tony Soprano in the series, takes on the young Tony. Leslie Odom Jr., who appeared in Glass Onion, plays Harold McBrayer, a character who challenges the DiMeo family's hold. Corey Stoll, seen in The Better Sister, portrays Junior Soprano, while Billy Magnussen from Road House plays Paulie Walnuts. Vera Farmiga and Jon Bernthal portray Tony's parents, Livia and Johnny Soprano. The most striking casting choice is Ray Liotta, who delivers a dual performance as Aldo 'Hollywood Dick' Moltisanti and his brother Salvatore 'Sally' Moltisanti—but more on that elsewhere. This ensemble balances familiar Sopranos names with fresh faces, and each actor brings depth to the era. Odom Jr. and Stoll, in particular, stand out in scenes that show the racial and political tensions of the time, while Michael Gandolfini's portrayal of a young Tony is described as emotional by critics.
What do critics and audiences think of the movie?
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Many Saints of Newark holds a 72% critics score and a 59% audience score, a notable gap that reflects a divide between professional reviewers and general viewers. Critics praised Michael Gandolfini's emotional performance as young Tony Soprano, as well as David Chase's willingness to tell a different kind of story within the Sopranos universe, one that eschews the typical rise-and-fall gangster narrative in favor of a more introspective character study. However, many fans who came expecting a traditional mob epic were disappointed, as the film focuses on the societal context of Newark during the racial unrest rather than a straightforward crime saga. The 72% critics score suggests that the film was well-received by those who appreciated its ambitious scope and historical grounding, while the 59% audience score indicates that a substantial portion of viewers felt it didn't deliver the familiar Sopranos thrills. This split is common for prequels that take risks, and the film's simultaneous release in theaters and on HBO Max during the pandemic may have also influenced how audiences initially perceived it, as they watched at home with different expectations.
Where can I stream The Many Saints of Newark?
The film is currently available to stream on HBO Max, where it has found a more durable home than it ever had in theaters. Its simultaneous theatrical and streaming release on September 22, 2021, made it accessible from day one, but the pandemic kept many viewers away from cinemas. Initially, the box office gross was just $13.1 million against a $50 million budget, but that same day-and-date strategy ensured that the movie reached homes instantly, allowing subscribers to watch it without any extra cost. HBO Max has kept the film in its catalog, and that streaming presence has proven more significant than its theatrical run, making it a frequent recommendation for Sopranos completists. The film's runtime is 120 minutes, presented in its original theatrical cut, and for anyone who skipped it during the pandemic, HBO Max is the only place to watch it. Because it never earned the theatrical revenue it needed, its legacy now rests on the streaming service, where new audiences have been discovering it, especially after Jon Bernthal's recent prominence in blockbusters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
How does the film connect to The Sopranos TV series?
The Many Saints of Newark is a direct prequel to The Sopranos, showing Tony Soprano as a teenager growing up in Newark during its most tumultuous era. Michael Gandolfini, the son of the late James Gandolfini, plays the young Tony, and his performance deliberately echoes his father's mannerisms, capturing the same physicality and simmering intensity. The film fills in backstories for characters like Junior Soprano, Livia, and Paulie Walnuts, revealing how their relationships hardened over time. David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos, wrote the screenplay with Lawrence Konner, ensuring that every plot point aligns with the series' mythology, from the rise of Dickie Moltisanti to the racial unrest that shakes Newark. The title itself references the many saints of the city's Italian American community, and the film's events directly set up the political and personal dynamics seen in the show's pilot. For example, the tension between Tony's uncle Dickie and his father Johnny, played by Jon Bernthal, sheds light on why Tony later struggles with leadership and loyalty. It's essential viewing for anyone interested in the origins of the Soprano family, as it provides the historical and emotional context that the series itself only hinted at.