The Many Saints of Newark

{{Infobox film

| image = TheManySaintsOfNewarkPoster.jpg

| caption = Release poster

| director = Alan Taylor

| writer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|Characters|David Chase}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

David Chase
Lawrence Konner
Nicole Lambert

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator = Michael Imperioli

| cinematography = Kramer Morgenthau

| editing = Christopher Tellefsen

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2021|9|22|Tribeca|2021|10|1|United States}}

| runtime = 120 minutes{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-many-saints-of-newark-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc01mze3ntu |title=The Many Saints Of Newark |work=BBFC|access-date=September 26, 2021|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921102153/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-many-saints-of-newark-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc01mze3ntu|url-status=live}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $50 million

| gross = $13.1 million{{cite Box Office Mojo |id=8110232 |title=The Many Saints of Newark (2021)|access-date= November 3, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

}}

The Many Saints of Newark (marketed with the subtitle A Sopranos Story) is a 2021 American crime drama film directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner. A prequel to Chase's HBO crime drama series The Sopranos (1999–2007), it takes place during the 1960s and 1970s in Newark, New Jersey. The film follows a violent gang war from the perspectives of mobster Dickie Moltisanti and his teenage nephew, Tony Soprano, in the midst of the city's 1967 riots. It stars Alessandro Nivola as Dickie and Michael Gandolfini as Tony, the character played by his father in the series, with Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga in supporting roles. It was Liotta's final release performance before his death in 2022.

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema obtained the rights to produce The Many Saints of Newark alongside HBO Films. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Fall Preview on September 22, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 1, along with a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Gandolfini and Nivola, though some criticized the script. However, the film was a box-office bomb, grossing $13 million against a budget of $50 million, while attaining streaming success on HBO Max and contributing to a spike in viewership for The Sopranos.

Plot

In 1967, a young Tony Soprano travels with his mentor, Dickie Moltisanti, to welcome home Dickie's father, "Hollywood Dick" Moltisanti, and his new Italian bride, Giuseppina. Moltisanti is a soldier in the DiMeo crime family, which also consists of Johnny Soprano and his brother Junior, Silvio Dante, Paulie Walnuts, Pussy Bonpensiero, and "Buddha", Pussy's father. After a black taxi driver is assaulted and robbed by white police officers, riots break out in Newark. Dickie's black associate, Harold McBrayer, kills a looter and is forced to flee to North Carolina to escape criminal charges. Before leaving, he gets $500 from Dickie as a gift.

At a carnival, Tony sees Johnny and Junior arrested for engaging in violence during the riots. Johnny is sentenced to prison for assault with a deadly weapon. During an argument, Hollywood Dick kicks Giuseppina down a flight of stairs. When Dickie finds out, he confronts him. An argument leads to a physical altercation where Dickie kills his father in a fit of rage. He covers up the murder by dumping the body in a warehouse and burning down the building.

Guilt-ridden, Dickie visits his father's twin brother, Sally, who is serving a life sentence in prison for killing another made man in his own family. He begins seeing Giuseppina as his comare. Tony is suspended from school for starting a gambling operation, and Dickie makes Tony pinkie promise him that he will follow the rules.

Four years later, Johnny is released from prison and Harold returns to Newark determined to form a black criminal family. Giuseppina has an affair with Harold after fighting with Dickie. Harold kills one of Dickie's men and steals their extortion money. Dickie and his crew torture and question Harold's lieutenant, Cyril, with an impact wrench before shooting him dead. Harold and his gang then engage in a drive-by shootout with Johnny Boy's crew, during which Buddha is killed. Harold and Dickie engage in a standoff, but both leave when they hear police sirens.

After Tony steals the answers for his geometry exam, the school guidance counselor tells Tony's mother, Livia, that he has a high Stanford–Binet IQ and the Myers–Briggs personality traits of a leader. The counselor relates how Tony told her about a time in which his mother hugged him and read him a book about Sutter's Mill and how it was one of his best memories. Livia tries to show her affection for Tony, but she mentions how her doctor wanted to prescribe her antidepressants. When Tony suggests taking them, she antagonizes him. At Buddha's wake, Tony asks Dickie if he could get Elavil for his mother, but Dickie is hesitant.

After the wake, Junior slips and falls on the church steps, causing Dickie to laugh uproariously in his face, infuriating Junior. Dickie reconnects with Giuseppina and promises to finance a beauty parlor for her to run. During a walk on the beach, she confesses to her affair with Harold. An enraged Dickie drowns her in the ocean. Dickie again visits Sally, who says that everyone close to Dickie ends up dead sooner or later, and that he should stay out of Tony's life.

Dickie listens to Sally's advice and begins to avoid Tony, refusing to see him or answer his calls. An upset Tony throws the speakers Dickie gave him out his window. Later that night, Silvio encourages Dickie to reconcile with Tony, and Dickie relents. Before he can arrive home, Dickie is assassinated by an unknown assailant on Junior's orders.

At Dickie's wake, it is revealed that Dickie acquired the Elavil for Tony and had it in his pocket when he was killed. Tony looks sadly at Dickie's corpse and imagines doing another pinkie promise with him, like the two had done years before. Sometime later, Harold moves into a white neighborhood.

Cast

{{castlist|

Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti
Leslie Odom Jr. as Harold McBrayer
Jon Bernthal as Johnny Soprano
Corey Stoll as Junior Soprano
Michael Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
William Ludwig as Young Tony Soprano
Billy Magnussen as Paulie Walnuts
Michela De Rossi as Giuseppina Moltisanti
John Magaro as Silvio Dante
Ray Liotta as Aldo "Hollywood Dick" Moltisanti and Salvatore "Sally" Moltisanti, twin brothers
Vera Farmiga as Livia Soprano
Talia Balsam as Mrs. Jarecki
Patina Miller as Queen Isola
Joey Coco Diaz as Buddha, Pussy's father
Germar Terrell Gardner as Cyril
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti (voice)
Samson Moeakiola as Pussy Bonpensiero
Alexandra Intrator as Janice Soprano
Mattea Conforti as Young Janice Soprano
Gabriella Piazza as Joanne Moltisanti}}

Other notable appearances include Lesli Margherita as Iris Balducci, Kathryn Kates as Angie DeCarlo, Nick Vallelonga as Carmine Cotuso, Daryl Edwards as Julius, and Ed Marinaro as Jilly Ruffalo. Robert Vincent Montano and Matteo Russo play Artie Bucco at varying ages, Chase Vacnin portrays the teenage Jackie Aprile, Oberon K.A. Adjepong plays Frank Lucas, and Lauren DiMario plays the teenage Carmela De Angelis, Tony's future wife.

Production

=Development=

File:David Chase 2015.jpg in 2015]]

{{Quote box|align=right|width=30%|quote=I was against [the movie] for a long time and I'm still very worried about it, but I became interested in Newark, where my parents came from, and where the riots took place ... I was living in suburban New Jersey at the time that happened, and my girlfriend was working in downtown Newark. I was just interested in the whole Newark riot thing. I started thinking about those events and organized crime, and I just got interested in mixing those two elements.|source=—David Chase in 2019, writer and producer of The Many Saints of Newark}}

The origins of what ultimately took shape as The Many Saints of Newark happened when David Chase finished film school, having the idea of making a film about four white men living around Newark, New Jersey, who joined the National Guard to avoid being drafted to serve in the Vietnam War only to be sent instead to the 1967 Newark riots, though the film went unproduced. Following the release of The Sopranos, it was suggested by Oz creator Tom Fontana that Chase write a film centered on Tony Soprano's father Giovanni "Johnny Boy" Soprano set in the 1930s or 1940s. The idea eventually fell aside due to Chase's lack of interest.{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Jack |date=September 22, 2021 |title=David Chase talks Sopranos, Many Saints of Newark, and the TV show that gives him hope for the future |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/david-chase-interview-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924032524/https://www.gamesradar.com/david-chase-interview-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-movie/?utm_campaign=socialflow |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=GamesRadar+}}

Chase ruled out the idea of continuing The Sopranos story in June 2017, while simultaneously expressing an interest in a prequel to the series.{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a830906/the-sopranos-creator-would-be-open-to-a-prequel-series/ |title=The Sopranos creator would be open to a prequel series |last=Warner |first=Sam |date=June 15, 2017 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB |access-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145926/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a830906/the-sopranos-creator-would-be-open-to-a-prequel-series/ |url-status=live}} He had earlier been against the idea of making a film based on The Sopranos, especially a sequel to the series, given James Gandolfini's death in 2013, but became interested in Newark due to the 1967 Newark riots and his family ties to the city: "I was interested in Newark and life in Newark at that time ... I used to go to down there every Saturday night for dinner with my grandparents. But the thing that interested me most was Tony's boyhood. I was interested in exploring that", acknowledging that a prequel film could explore the period of Tony's life that he glorified in the show's early episodes.

Chase said that the main storyline centers on the 1967 Newark riots and racial tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities. Chase's biggest challenge during writing was the inclusion of many storylines for different characters. Some aspects of those storylines were dropped during editing to let the storylines "take shape" within the film's overall narrative.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB7tUJJJCqM |title=The Many Saints of Newark Director Alan Taylor on Working with Sopranos Creator David Chase |date=September 29, 2021 |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |work=Collider |via=YouTube}}

In March 2018, New Line Cinema announced that it purchased the rights to produce the film along with HBO Films,{{cite web |url=https://nynj.com/sopranos-prequel-filming-in-newark-this-week/ |title=Sopranos Prequel, Filming in Newark this Week |website=NYNJ.com |first=Chris |last=Moretti |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522161355/https://nynj.com/sopranos-prequel-filming-in-newark-this-week/ |url-status=live}} with Chase co-writing the screenplay with Lawrence Konner.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/08/david-chase-to-make-sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark |title=David Chase to make Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark |date=March 8, 2018 |work=The Guardian |access-date=January 15, 2019 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115002625/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/08/david-chase-to-make-sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/david-chase-the-sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-new-line-1202319202/ |title=David Chase Revives 'The Sopranos' With New Line Prequel Movie 'The Many Saints Of Newark' |website=Deadline |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308181554/http://deadline.com/2018/03/david-chase-the-sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-new-line-1202319202/ |url-status=live}} New Line's chairman, Toby Emmerich, stated, "David is a masterful storyteller and we, along with our colleagues at HBO, are thrilled that he has decided to revisit, and enlarge, the Soprano universe in a feature film". Chase was not concerned about alienating audiences unfamiliar to the show. For him and Konner, their intention was to tell a realistic and respectable dramatic criminal story, under the "auspices" of The Sopranos.

Alan Taylor, who directed several episodes of The Sopranos, was hired to direct the film in July 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sopranos-prequel-movie-taps-director-alan-taylor-1124896 |title='Sopranos' Prequel Movie Taps Former Series Director Alan Taylor |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Mia |last=Galuppo |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403133734/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sopranos-prequel-movie-taps-director-alan-taylor-1124896 |url-status=live}} Chase offered Taylor the opportunity to direct the film one day while they lunched together, feeling that Taylor had worked on the show's best episodes and had given him "the most trouble".{{Cite web |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Director Alan Taylor's Tortuous Journey to the 'Sopranos' Movie: "The Hardest Job I've Ever Done" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/director-alan-taylor-sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-1234995623/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813102805/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/director-alan-taylor-sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-1234995623/ |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In contrast to the show, Taylor felt that Chase allowed more creative control over the film than when he ran the show, as Chase spent most of the time outlining the story sequestered in the writer's room.

=Casting=

File:Alessandro Nivola 2016.jpg stars as Dickie Moltisanti]]

In November 2018, Alessandro Nivola was cast to star in the film as Dickie Moltisanti, the father of Christopher Moltisanti.{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Alessandro Nivola Eyed to Star in 'Sopranos' Movie as Dickey Moltisanti (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/alessandra-nivola-sopranos-movie-1203029243/ |access-date=November 21, 2018 |work=Variety |date=November 20, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154147/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/alessandra-nivola-sopranos-movie-1203029243/ |url-status=live}} Dickie never appeared in the show despite being mentioned, though Chase did not have any plans to feature the character physically then. In January 2019, while discussing the 20th anniversary of the series, Chase revealed that a young Tony Soprano would appear in the film.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-david-chase-20th-anniversary-prequel-film-tony-soprano-the-many-saints-of-newark-1202530544/ |title='The Sopranos' Creator David Chase Offers Glimpses Of Prequel Movie As Groundbreaking HBO Series Turns 20 |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=January 7, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122135017/https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-david-chase-20th-anniversary-prequel-film-tony-soprano-the-many-saints-of-newark-1202530544/ |url-status=live}} Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey Stoll and Billy Magnussen were added to the cast that same month.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jon-bernthal-vera-farmiga-sopranos-preque-new-line-1203102889/ |title=Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga Join 'Sopranos' Prequel Movie (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 8, 2019 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122103918/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jon-bernthal-vera-farmiga-sopranos-preque-new-line-1203102889/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/sopranos-movie-corey-stoll-billy-magnussen-1203108158/ |title=Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen Join 'Sopranos' Movie Prequel (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 15, 2019 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124093639/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/sopranos-movie-corey-stoll-billy-magnussen-1203108158/ |url-status=live}}

Michael Gandolfini, son of James Gandolfini, was cast in the role of young Tony.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-prequel-movie-michael-gandolfini-tony-soprano-james-gandolfini-the-many-saints-of-newark-james-gandolfini-david-chase-1202539160/ |title='Sopranos' Prequel Film Finds Young Tony: Michael Gandolfini Is Chip Off Old Block |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=January 22, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602110212/https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-sopranos-prequel-movie-michael-gandolfini-tony-soprano-james-gandolfini-the-many-saints-of-newark-james-gandolfini-david-chase-1202539160/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/01/james-gandolfinis-son-michael-to-play-young-tony-in-sopranos-prequel-film-the-many-saints-of-newark.html |title=James Gandolfini's son Michael to play young Tony in 'Sopranos' prequel film 'The Many Saints of Newark' |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |website=NJ.com |date=January 22, 2019 |language=en-US |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124002521/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/01/james-gandolfinis-son-michael-to-play-young-tony-in-sopranos-prequel-film-the-many-saints-of-newark.html |url-status=live}} He was not immediately cast and had to audition for the role, but Taylor and Chase felt that they were right in casting him when Gandolfini thanked all the production team for allowing him to "say hello and goodbye again" to his father. Gandolfini, having never watched The Sopranos, watched the series to prepare for the role, describing it as an intense process.{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a28519626/michael-gandolfini-the-many-saints-of-newark-tony-soprano-interview/ |title=Michael Gandolfini Opens Up About the Difficult Decision to Portray Tony Soprano |website=Esquire |first=Michael |last=Hainey |date=August 13, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107021353/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a28519626/michael-gandolfini-the-many-saints-of-newark-tony-soprano-interview/ |url-status=live}} To keep Gandolfini's performance from being too similar to that of his father, Taylor occasionally reshot a scene if Gandolfini acted like he were already an experienced gangster, as the young Tony is "still a kid" during the film.

Ray Liotta joined the cast in February,{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/ray-liotta-the-sopranos-prequel-film-goodfellas-mob-movie-david-chase-the-many-saints-of-newark-new-line-warner-bros-1202566594/ |title=Ray Liotta Returns To Mob Movie Fold With 'Sopranos' Prequel 'The Many Saints Of Newark' |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=February 27, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306120757/https://deadline.com/2019/02/ray-liotta-the-sopranos-prequel-film-goodfellas-mob-movie-david-chase-the-many-saints-of-newark-new-line-warner-bros-1202566594/ |url-status=live}} with Leslie Odom Jr. and Michela De Rossi joining in March,{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/john-magaro-the-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-movie-cast-1202574083/ |title=John Magaro Joins 'The Many Saints Of Newark' In Reteam With David Chase |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=March 12, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328164925/https://deadline.com/2019/03/john-magaro-the-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-movie-cast-1202574083/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/the-sopranos-prequel-the-many-saints-of-newark-hamilton-leslie-odom-jr-key-role-1202579070/ |title='Sopranos' Prequel 'The Many Saints Of Newark' Sets Tony-Winning 'Hamilton' Star Leslie Odom Jr. For Key Role |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 20, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323142629/https://deadline.com/2019/03/the-sopranos-prequel-the-many-saints-of-newark-hamilton-leslie-odom-jr-key-role-1202579070/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/sopranos-prequel-the-many-saints-of-newark-michela-de-rossi-final-lead-role-1202583142/ |title=Michela De Rossi Lands Final Lead In 'Sopranos' Prequel 'The Many Saints Of Newark' |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |date=March 26, 2019 |access-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326220855/https://deadline.com/2019/03/sopranos-prequel-the-many-saints-of-newark-michela-de-rossi-final-lead-role-1202583142/ |url-status=live}} as well as John Magaro, who starred in Chase's debut feature film Not Fade Away (2012).{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/04/the-many-saints-of-newark-the-sopranos-prequel-movie-to-start-filming-in-newark-as-production-gets-underway-in-nyc.html |title='The Many Saints of Newark,' the 'Sopranos' prequel movie, to start filming in Newark |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521114100/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/04/the-many-saints-of-newark-the-sopranos-prequel-movie-to-start-filming-in-newark-as-production-gets-underway-in-nyc.html |url-status=live}} Liotta had been previously approached by Chase to appear in the third or fourth seasons of The Sopranos, but the plan did not work out.{{Cite web |last=Tsang |first=Christopher |date=September 24, 2021 |title=Ray Liotta Says He Never Turned Down Role In The Sopranos |url=https://screenrant.com/sopranos-ray-liotta-role-offer-response/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925003216/https://screenrant.com/sopranos-ray-liotta-role-offer-response/ |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2021 |website=Screen Rant}}

Edie Falco filmed scenes as her character Carmela Soprano which were intended to start the film, but her scenes were cut. Taylor explained, "There was some confusion as to how best launch the movie. How to start the movie. So we tried a few things and that was one of them. If you've seen the movie you'll see that we begin it in a very different way now but that wasn't always the idea".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/edie-falco-shot-secret-carmela-scene-many-saints-of-newark-3050227 |title=Edie Falco shot a Carmela scene for 'The Many Saints Of Newark' which didn't make the final cut |website=NME |first=Adam |last=Starkey |date=September 20, 2021 |access-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921192408/https://www.nme.com/news/film/edie-falco-shot-secret-carmela-scene-many-saints-of-newark-3050227 |url-status=live}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began in Brooklyn on April 3, 2019,{{cite web |url=https://hnentertainment.co/update-sopranos-prequel-film-the-many-saints-of-newark-may-wrap-filming-in-august/ |title=UPDATE: 'Sopranos' Prequel Film 'The Many Saints of Newark' May Wrap Filming In August |website=HE Entertainment |first=Christopher |last=Marc |date=March 26, 2019 |access-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326222717/https://hnentertainment.co/update-sopranos-prequel-film-the-many-saints-of-newark-may-wrap-filming-in-august/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/04/get-a-first-look-at-michael-gandolfini-as-70s-tony-soprano-in-the-many-saints-of-newark-the-sopranos-prequel-film.html |title=Get a first look at Michael Gandolfini as '70s Tony Soprano in 'The Many Saints of Newark' |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411235635/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/04/get-a-first-look-at-michael-gandolfini-as-70s-tony-soprano-in-the-many-saints-of-newark-the-sopranos-prequel-film.html |url-status=live}} moved to Newark on May 7,{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/entertainment/2019/05/07/sopranos-movie-many-saints-of-newark-begins-shooting-in-nj/1128904001/ |title='Sopranos' prequel 'The Many Saints of Newark' begins filming in the Brick City |last=Beckerman |first=Jim |date=May 7, 2019 |website=Daily Record |access-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129163923/https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/entertainment/2019/05/07/sopranos-movie-many-saints-of-newark-begins-shooting-in-nj/1128904001/ |url-status=live}} and wrapped up in June 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/06/the-many-saints-of-newark-actors-celebrate-wrap-on-sopranos-movie-with-behind-the-scenes-photos-and-video.html |title='The Many Saints of Newark' actors celebrate wrap on 'Sopranos' movie with behind-the-scenes photos and video |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618043143/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/06/the-many-saints-of-newark-actors-celebrate-wrap-on-sopranos-movie-with-behind-the-scenes-photos-and-video.html |url-status=live}} with a $50 million budget. Branford Place, a street in Newark, was transformed to fit the 1960s time period for the riots, including detailed storefronts, the old Adams Theater marquee, and the neon sign for Hobby's Delicatessen.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/sopranos-film-the-many-saints-of-newark-brings-national-guard-tank-to-city-for-1967-riots.html |title='Sopranos' film 'The Many Saints of Newark' brings National Guard to city for 1967 riots |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=May 10, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521171701/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/sopranos-film-the-many-saints-of-newark-brings-national-guard-tank-to-city-for-1967-riots.html |url-status=live}} Retired Newark police officer Luther Engler served as a technical adviser for the film.

Filming also took place in Bloomfield.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-films-at-holstens-in-bloomfield-and-satriales-in-paterson.html |title='Sopranos' movie 'The Many Saints of Newark' films at Holsten's in Bloomfield and 'Satriale's' in Paterson |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129163924/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-films-at-holstens-in-bloomfield-and-satriales-in-paterson.html |url-status=live}} Satriale's Pork Store was featured in The Sopranos and was recreated in Paterson.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/see-where-sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-recreated-satriales-pork-store.html |title=See where 'Sopranos' movie 'The Many Saints of Newark' recreated Satriale's Pork Store |website=NJ.com |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821062605/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/05/see-where-sopranos-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-recreated-satriales-pork-store.html |url-status=live}} Planned reshoots were halted upon the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the production returned for reshoots in September 2020,{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/09/reshoots-for-sopranos-movie-many-saints-of-newark-offer-more-clues-about-cast-story.html |title=Reshoots for 'Sopranos' movie 'The Many Saints of Newark' offer more clues about cast, story |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |website=NJ.com |date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129094208/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/09/reshoots-for-sopranos-movie-many-saints-of-newark-offer-more-clues-about-cast-story.html |url-status=live}} during which the filmmakers shot some aspects that improved the film's story.

The film uses the 1967 Newark riots as a backdrop for the tensions between the Italian and black communities.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/24/alessandro-nivola-the-sopranos-film-was-one-of-the-few-times-i-was-first-choice |title=Alessandro Nivola: The Sopranos film was one of the few times I was first choice |website=The Guardian |first=Rebecca |last=Nicholson |date=October 24, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030000122/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/24/alessandro-nivola-the-sopranos-film-was-one-of-the-few-times-i-was-first-choice |url-status=live}} To accurately depict the riots, Taylor directly recreated some of the film shots from archival photos and footage of the event.

During post-production, there were discussions about whether the film's depiction of the Newark riots would still seem appropriate in the wake of the George Floyd protests, but Taylor concluded that the film's treatment of the riots would avoid controversy. Christopher Tellefsen worked as the film's editor. The editing process took longer than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the film industry, though Taylor felt that the extended period helped him and Chase to discuss what the film's final cut would consist of.

Release

The film was initially scheduled to be released on September 25, 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/sopranos-prequel-movie-opens-september-2020-1202575803/ |title=Warner Bros Dates 'Sopranos' Prequel 'The Many Saints Of Newark' For Fall 2020 – Update |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=March 15, 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315091053/https://deadline.com/2019/03/sopranos-prequel-movie-opens-september-2020-1202575803/ |url-status=live}} Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on theaters and the film industry, its release date was rescheduled to March 12, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-batman-sopranos-prequel-tom-elvis-presley-movie-warner-bros-release-dates-changes-coronavirus-1202912605/ |title='The Batman' Flies To Fall 2021, 'Sopranos' Prequel Moves To March & More As Warner Bros. Makes Release Date Changes Due To COVID-19 Climate |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=April 20, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420202338/https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-batman-sopranos-prequel-tom-elvis-presley-movie-warner-bros-release-dates-changes-coronavirus-1202912605/ |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/04/sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-postponed-until-2021.html |title='Sopranos' prequel movie 'The Many Saints of Newark' postponed until 2021 |first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |website=NJ.com |date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929155711/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/04/sopranos-prequel-movie-the-many-saints-of-newark-postponed-until-2021.html/ |url-status=live}} It was delayed again to September 24, 2021, so it could premiere on the film festival circuit and better position itself as an awards contender, before later moving to October 1.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/sopranos-many-saints-of-newark-release-date-delay-1234878777/ |title='Many Saints of Newark' Delayed to Fall 2021 (EXCLUSIVE) |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=January 13, 2021|access-date=January 13, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114000151/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/sopranos-many-saints-of-newark-release-date-delay-1234878777/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/dune-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-release-date-changes-warner-bros-1234781687/ |title=Warner Bros Shuffles Fall Release Deck With 'Dune', 'Cry Macho' & 'The Many Saints Of Newark' |date=June 25, 2021 |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626185421/https://deadline.com/2021/06/dune-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-release-date-changes-warner-bros-1234781687/|url-status=live}}

The film was simultaneously released in theaters and on HBO Max, for a limited period of 31 days, as part of the 2021 Warner Bros. film release schedule plans.{{cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/warner-bros-movies-hbo-max-2021-streaming-releases/ |title=Warner Bros Releasing All 2021 Movies on HBO MAX |website=Comicbook.com |date=December 3, 2020 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203183639/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/warner-bros-movies-hbo-max-2021-streaming-releases/ |url-status=live}} The film had its world premiere at the inaugural Tribeca Fall Preview at the Beacon Theatre on September 22, 2021,{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/many-saints-of-newark-tribeca-film-festival-1235055005/ |title='The Many Saints of Newark' to Premiere at Inaugural Tribeca Fall Preview |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910150253/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/many-saints-of-newark-tribeca-film-festival-1235055005/ |url-status=live}} the same date as the film's early release in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark/ |title=The Many Saints Of Newark Review |website=Empire |first=Nick |last=De Semlyen |date=September 22, 2021 |access-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929231135/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark/ |url-status=live}}

The film was released on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and DVD on December 21, 2021. Special features include deleted scenes and two featurettes–"Making of Newark" and "Sopranos Family Honor".{{cite web |url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/the-many-saints-of-newark-bluray-4k-ultra-hd-dated-and-detailed-for-december-21/46308 |title=The Many Saints of Newark Blu-ray / 4K Ultra HD Dated and Detailed for December 21 |website=High Def Digest |first=Matthew |last=Hartman |date=November 2, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021}} It debuted at the 33rd position for overall disc sales in the United States according to the "NPD VideoScan First Alert" chart, and the 18th position in Blu-ray sales. Blu-ray accounted for 60% of sales, with traditional Blu-ray making up 48% of the sales and Ultra HD Blu-ray making up 12%.{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/james-bond-actioner-no-time-to-die-takes-no-1-on-disc-sales-charts/|title=James Bond Actioner 'No Time to Die' Takes No. 1 on Disc Sales Charts|author=John Latchem|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=January 6, 2022}}

Reception

= Box office =

The Many Saints of Newark grossed $8.2{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada, and $4.8{{nbsp}}million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $13.1{{nbsp}}million.

In the United States and Canada, The Many Saints of Newark was released alongside Venom: Let There Be Carnage and The Addams Family 2, and was projected to gross around $10 million from 3,180 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-box-office-preview-1234846403/ |title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' To Tee Off A Blockbuster October At Domestic B.O. – Weekend Preview |date=September 29, 2021 |first1=Anthony |last1=D'Alessandro |first2=Nancy |last2=Tartaglione |website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 29, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929185825/https://deadline.com/2021/09/venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-box-office-preview-1234846403/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/box-office-venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-1235076929/ |title=Box Office: 'Venom' Sequel Aims for $50 Million-Plus Opening Weekend |date=September 29, 2021 |first1=Rebecca |last1=Rubin |website=Variety|access-date=September 29, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929215837/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/box-office-venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-1235076929/|url-status=live}} The film made $2.1 million on its first day, and debuted to $5 million, finishing fourth at the box office.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=October 2, 2021 |title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Screams $11.6M On Thursday; 2nd Best Preview Night Of The Pandemic |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-box-office-1234847950/|access-date=October 2, 2021 |website=Deadline |language=en-US|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001150011/https://deadline.com/2021/10/venom-let-there-be-carnage-opening-weekend-box-office-1234847950/|url-status=live}} Following its less-than-expected opening weekend, Variety wrote that the film "stands to lose millions".{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venom-2-box-office-opening-weekend-record-tom-hardy-sony-1235079710/ |title= Box Office: 'Venom' Sequel Feasts on Monstrous $90 Million Debut, Setting Pandemic Record |date= October 3, 2021 |first1= Rebecca |last1= Rubin |website= Variety |access-date= October 3, 2021 |archive-date= October 3, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211003155455/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venom-2-box-office-opening-weekend-record-tom-hardy-sony-1235079710/ |url-status= live }} The film dropped 69% in its second weekend to $1.9 million, finishing fifth.{{Cite web |last= D'Alessandro |first= Anthony |date= October 10, 2021 |title= 'No Time To Die', Daniel Craig's Final Bond Film, Opens To $56M Domestic Opening – Box Office |url= https://deadline.com/2021/10/no-time-to-die-weekend-box-office-1234852700/ |access-date= October 10, 2021 |website= Deadline Hollywood |language= en-US |archive-date= October 19, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211019113709/https://deadline.com/2021/10/no-time-to-die-weekend-box-office-1234852700/ |url-status= live }}

=Streaming viewership=

The Many Saints of Newark was a streaming success. According to Samba TV, it was viewed one million times during its opening weekend.{{cite web |last1=D'Alessando |first1=Anthony |title='The Many Saints Of Newark': 'Sopranos' Prequel Pulls In Solid 1M On HBO Max From Samba TV Households |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-many-saints-of-newark-hbo-max-viewership-1234849453/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=October 4, 2021 |archive-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010205838/https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-many-saints-of-newark-hbo-max-viewership-1234849453/ |url-status=live }} It outperformed similarly budgeted films such as Reminiscence and Cry Macho that were released on HBO Max, with WarnerMedia stating that it was streamed three times more than the second-most viewed film of the weekend. The Sopranos broke HBO Max viewership records around the time of the film's release, attributed to The Many Saints of Newark sparking renewed interest in the series.{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |title='The Many Saints of Newark' Was a Streaming Hit — and Helped 'The Sopranos' Break Records (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/the-sopranos-many-saints-of-newark-streaming-ratings-1235084744/ |website=Variety |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=October 8, 2021 |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011023510/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/the-sopranos-many-saints-of-newark-streaming-ratings-1235084744/ |url-status=live }} By the end of its first month, the film had been streamed in more than 2.1 million households in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/2022-box-office-theatrical-streaming-day-date-experiment-1234902774/|title=With Tentpoles Bound To Surge The 2022 Box Office, The Great Theatrical-Streaming Day & Date Experiment Goes Out Like A Dud In 2021|date=January 3, 2022|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 3, 2022}} During its second week of availability on HBO Max, the film was the eighth most-streamed film in the United States, according to TV Time.{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/squid-game-top-streaming-original-black-widow-top-streaming-movie-on-whip-media-charts/|title='Squid Game' Top Streaming Original, 'Black Widow' Top Streaming Movie on Whip Media Charts|author=Stephanie Prange|date=October 13, 2021|access-date=January 6, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/dune-you-again-top-weekly-whip-media-streaming-charts/|title='Dune,' 'You' Again Top Weekly Whip Media Streaming Charts|author=Stephanie Prange|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=January 6, 2022}}

=Critical response=

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "Even as its storytelling chafes at the edges of its cinematic constraints, The Many Saints of Newark proves The Sopranos{{'}} allure is still powerful."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=The Many Saints of Newark |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{cbignore}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite Metacritic |id=the-many-saints-of-newark |type=movie |title=The Many Saints of Newark Reviews |access-date=October 1, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it a 77% positive score, with 60% saying they would definitely recommend it.

In a review for The Boston Globe, Don Aucoin said that "as a Goodfellas-ish crime drama that vividly evokes time and place, Saints is rendered with enough bare-knuckled verve, unpredictability, and darkly glinting wit to make it work."{{Cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/29/arts/saints-even-more-sinners-sopranos-prequel-many-saints-newark/ |title=Saints, and even more sinners, in 'Sopranos' prequel 'The Many Saints of Newark' |first=DOn |last=Aucoin |date=September 29, 2021 |website=The Boston Globe|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929172652/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/29/arts/saints-even-more-sinners-sopranos-prequel-many-saints-newark/|url-status=live}} In a positive review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper called the film "a sharply honed, darkly funny, ultra-violent and wildly entertaining late 1960s period piece" and an "immensely satisfying companion piece to The Sopranos", giving it 3.5 stars out of 4.{{Cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/9/29/22696939/many-saints-newark-review-sopranos-prequel-hbo-max-tony-michael-gandolfini-alessandro-nivola |title='The Many Saints of Newark': Wildly entertaining 'Sopranos' prequel respects the family |first=Richard |last=Roeper |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=September 29, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929111251/https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/9/29/22696939/many-saints-newark-review-sopranos-prequel-hbo-max-tony-michael-gandolfini-alessandro-nivola|url-status=live}}

Owen Gleiberman of Variety called Many Saints "a sharp, lively, and engrossing movie, one that provides a fascinating running commentary on how the world of The Sopranos came into being" but noted "[the audience] can't help but notice the difference in tone" when compared to the series.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark-review-the-sopranos-1235069803/ |title='The Many Saints of Newark' Review: The Prequel to 'The Sopranos' Is a Pretty Good Yarn, but It Doesn't Explain Tony Soprano |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |website=Variety |date=September 21, 2021|access-date=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003173421/https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark-review-the-sopranos-1235069803/|url-status=live}} David Fear of Rolling Stone said in his review "Chase has delivered something that walks the tightrope between social melodrama and fan service, and that sometimes teeters on the edge of falling."{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/many-saints-of-newark-movie-review-sopranos-prequel-1232018/ |title=Why 'Many Saints of Newark' Is a 'Sopranos' Prequel You Can't Refuse |first=David |last=Fear |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 28, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001224635/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/many-saints-of-newark-movie-review-sopranos-prequel-1232018/|url-status=live}}

Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the film "a busy, unnecessary, disappointingly ordinary origin story" and said that "the best thing about The Many Saints of Newark is that it makes you think about The Sopranos, but that's also the worst thing about it."{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/movies/the-many-saints-of-newark-review.html |title='The Many Saints of Newark' Review: The Best Really Is Over |first=Manohla |last=Dargis |date=September 29, 2021 |website=The New York Times|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002052303/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/movies/the-many-saints-of-newark-review.html|url-status=live}} Reviewing the film for RogerEbert.com, Glenn Kenny gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars and said:

"The movie's flabbiness, its unfocused flopping from scene to scene, its disinclination to provide any individual scene with any dimension beyond its immediate impact, practically vitiates the entire theme of Dickie's ostensible mentorship of Tony Soprano."{{Cite web |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |title=The Many Saints of Newark movie review (2021) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark-movie-review-2021 |date=October 1, 2021 |access-date=October 2, 2021 |website=RogertEbert.com |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002023612/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-many-saints-of-newark-movie-review-2021 |url-status=live }} Richard Brody of The New Yorker wrote: "The Many Saints of Newark, by contrast, reduces characters of potentially mythic power to a handful of defining traits and pins them to a diorama-like backdrop of historical readymades."{{Cite magazine |last=Brody |first=Richard |date=October 1, 2021 |title="The Many Saints of Newark," Reviewed: A Hollowed-Out "Sopranos" Prequel |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-many-saints-of-newark-reviewed-a-hollowed-out-sopranos-prequel |access-date=October 2, 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |archive-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002000721/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-many-saints-of-newark-reviewed-a-hollowed-out-sopranos-prequel |url-status=live }}

Possible sequel

Chase has expressed interest in producing a sequel to The Many Saints of Newark which follows Tony Soprano in his 20s, provided that he could collaborate with former Sopranos writer Terence Winter.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title=David Chase On Reviving 'Sopranos' Spirit With 'The Many Saints Of Newark' And High Interest In Another Prequel Film |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/david-chase-sopranos-revival-the-many-saints-of-newark-disdain-day-date-bow-interested-in-another-prequel-film-1234828184/ |website=Deadline |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907220512/https://deadline.com/2021/09/david-chase-sopranos-revival-the-many-saints-of-newark-disdain-day-date-bow-interested-in-another-prequel-film-1234828184/ |url-status=live}} Upon hearing this, Winter replied that he would do it "in a heartbeat. Absolutely."{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |title=Terence Winter Sparks To David Chase's Invitation To Script Another Formative Film On 'The Sopranos' To Follow 'The Many Saints Of Newark' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/terence-winter-sparks-to-david-chases-invitation-to-script-another-formative-film-on-the-sopranos-to-follow-the-many-saints-of-newark-1234828355/ |website=Deadline |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907220224/https://deadline.com/2021/09/terence-winter-sparks-to-david-chases-invitation-to-script-another-formative-film-on-the-sopranos-to-follow-the-many-saints-of-newark-1234828355/ |url-status=live}}

Chase revealed that he received an offer from WarnerMedia to produce another season of The Sopranos which bridged the gap between the end of the film and the beginning of the original series, but admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he was not especially interested in making such a series. He noted that he wished to make one more film set in The Sopranos universe because he had an idea of what he might do, adding: "But I don't think they want that."{{cite web |last1=Feinberg |first1=Scott |title='Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/the-sopranos-david-chase-tony-ending-the-many-saints-of-newark-1235040185/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 2, 2021 |access-date=4 March 2022}}