Patrick Melrose (2018)
A searing Showtime miniseries in which Benedict Cumberbatch portrays a British aristocrat haunted by childhood trauma and consumed by addiction.
Patrick Melrose - Series Information
- Original Title: Patrick Melrose
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2018
- Created by: David Nicholls
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 60 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 5
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: May 12, 2018 (United States - TV-MA), May 12, 2018 (United Kingdom - 18), May 12, 2018 (Germany - 16), May 12, 2018 (Australia - MA15+), May 12, 2018 (Mexico - C), May 12, 2018 (Spain - 18)
- Networks: Showtime
- Alternative Titles: 帕特里克·梅尔罗斯五部曲 (CN), パトリック・メルローズPATRICK MELROSE (JP)
- Production Companies: Little Island Productions, Two Cities Television, SunnyMarch, Rachael Horovitz Productions
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
Patrick Melrose - Plot
A critical and often humorous look at the upper class, tracking the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery.
Patrick Melrose - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what awaits in this acclaimed miniseries:
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Patrick Melrose - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- David Nicholls
Main Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Hugo Weaving
- Sebastian Maltz
- Jessica Raine
- Prasanna Puwanarajah
- Pip Torrens
- Indira Varma
- Anna Madeley
- Holliday Grainger
Writers
- David Nicholls
Executive Producers
- Rachael Horovitz
- Adam Ackland
- Claire Marshall
- Lizzie Gray
- Anne Mensah
Patrick Melrose - FAQs
Is Patrick Melrose based on a true story?
Patrick Melrose is based on Edward St. Aubyn's semi-autobiographical novel series. St. Aubyn drew heavily from his own life, including childhood abuse at the hands of his father and years of heroin addiction. The books are widely regarded as thinly veiled autobiography, making the story deeply personal and painfully real.
How does Benedict Cumberbatch perform in Patrick Melrose?
Cumberbatch delivers what many critics consider a career-best performance. His portrayal of Patrick's drug-fuelled spiral in the second episode alone earned widespread acclaim, capturing both the darkly comic and devastatingly tragic dimensions of the character with extraordinary physical and emotional commitment.
Did Patrick Melrose win any awards?
Benedict Cumberbatch received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Limited Series for his role. The series also earned multiple Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Lead Actor, cementing its status as one of 2018's most acclaimed productions.
Where can you watch Patrick Melrose?
Patrick Melrose is available to purchase on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It can also be streamed for free on Hoopla. The series originally aired on Showtime in the United States.
Who are the main actors in Patrick Melrose?
Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast as Patrick Melrose, with Hugo Weaving as his abusive father David, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his emotionally absent mother Eleanor, and Jessica Raine, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Indira Varma, Anna Madeley, and Holliday Grainger rounding out the ensemble.
How many episodes does Patrick Melrose have?
Patrick Melrose consists of five episodes, each roughly an hour long and adapted from one of Edward St. Aubyn's five Melrose novels. The miniseries aired on Showtime beginning May 12, 2018, and concluded as a self-contained story with no further seasons planned.
Is Patrick Melrose worth watching?
Absolutely. The series earned near-universal critical praise for its razor-sharp writing, stunning cinematography, and Cumberbatch's towering central performance. It's a rare miniseries that balances savage wit with genuine emotional devastation, making it essential viewing for fans of prestige drama.
What is the content rating for Patrick Melrose?
Patrick Melrose is rated TV-MA, reflecting its unflinching depictions of drug use, sexual abuse, trauma, and strong language. The series deals with deeply adult themes drawn from Edward St. Aubyn's semi-autobiographical novels and is intended for mature audiences only.
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