WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A Pope with stage fright and an atheist therapist walk into the Vatican—it's a gentle, funny look at the human side of a massive job.
65%
65%View →This isn't a 'religious movie' in the way you might expect. It’s a melancholy, funny, and deeply human look at what happens when the most powerful man in the room just wants to disappear.
It’s a great pick for a more mature middle-schooler or teen who appreciates quieter, character-driven stories. Just be prepared for the 'subtitles tax'—if your kid isn't into reading their movies, they'll check out in ten minutes.
Best for ages 11 and up. The themes of existential dread and impostor syndrome are a bit much for younger kids, and the subtitles require a focused attention span.
It is a gentle, humanistic comedy that avoids cynicism. It treats both the religious figures and the atheist therapist with a surprising amount of dignity and warmth.
The premise is a clever 'what if' scenario that blends high-stakes tradition with modern psychotherapy. The volleyball tournament for Cardinals is a particularly inspired touch.
Extremely low risk. There is no gore, sex, or significant violence. The 'danger' here is purely existential and emotional.
Excellent for discussing impostor syndrome, the weight of responsibility, and the fact that even the most powerful leaders are just people with fears.
Nanni Moretti’s We Have a Pope (Habemus Papam) is a bit of an anomaly. In a media landscape that usually demands its Vatican stories be either Dan Brown-style conspiracies or heavy-handed hagiographies, this movie chooses to be a gentle comedy about a panic attack.
When Cardinal Melville is elected Pope, he doesn't feel the Holy Spirit; he feels a crushing sense of inadequacy. The film follows two tracks: the Pope wandering the streets of Rome incognito, trying to find himself, and a world-class (and atheist) psychoanalyst stuck inside the Vatican walls trying to entertain a group of bored Cardinals.
If you have a kid who deals with performance anxiety or 'the weight of expectations,' this is a fascinating watch. It validates the idea that it's okay to be scared of big responsibilities. It also models a really respectful dialogue between faith and science. The therapist doesn't try to 'debunk' the Cardinals, and the Cardinals are genuinely curious about the therapist's work.
Let's be real: this is an Italian film from 2011. It's not The Avengers. There are long stretches where not much happens physically, but a lot happens emotionally. If you're going to watch this with your kids, it’s a 'phone-away' movie. The humor is subtle—found in the absurdity of the situation rather than punchlines. If your kid can get past the initial hurdle of the subtitles, they'll find a movie that treats its characters with a level of empathy that's rare in modern cinema.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
