Release Order Recommended
0 / 2 watchedSeries first, then the prequel film. Recommended for a first watch.
Chronological Order
0 / 2 watchedSame two entries by in-story date. Better as a rewatch.
About The Sopranos
The Sopranos ran six seasons on HBO from 1999 to 2007, eighty-six episodes following Tony Soprano between the DiMeo family and Dr. Melfi's office. It won twenty-one Emmys and set the template for prestige TV, ending on the famous cut to black. The Many Saints of Newark from 2021 returns as a prequel film from David Chase, set around the 1967 Newark riots with Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti.
The film centers Dickie rather than Tony: Michael Gandolfini plays teen Tony orbiting his mentor, with Christopher narrating from beyond the grave. It fills in Dickie's legend that Tony told Christopher on the show, including how he died. Watch the series first, since every payoff in the film assumes you know these people and how their stories end.
Good to know
Release order is the only sensible first watch. The film spoils nothing structurally but means nothing without the series, since its pleasures are seeing young Livia, Junior and Paulie. Chronological order puts the film first, which works as a rewatch once Tony's fate is known. Chase has said he would not do a prequel series but might do a film sequel, so treat Newark as the current bookend until anything else gets a date.
