Father Stu

The true-life story of boxer-turned-priest. When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long moves to Los Angeles to find money and fame. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen, a Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. However, a motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others, leading to the surprising realization that he's meant to be a Catholic priest.

Critics find Mark Wahlberg earnest but miscast in a faith-driven biopic whose fact-based story is clumsily handled.

• Stu's boxing-era self-destruction gives way to ordination as the core arc of the story
• the plot notes a degenerative disease discovered mid-story that shapes his final years

• The Greatest Showmanshared biopic structure of a flawed man's redemption through faith and personal struggle
• Breakthroughshared sincere religious drama centered on a self-destructive protagonist finding faith
• Cinderella Manshared true-story sports-to-spiritual arc with a boxer-like physical past and inspirational tone
• Silenceshared faith-driven redemption drama about a priest confronting personal failure

Director

Rosalind Ross

Release Date

2022-04-13

Runtime

124 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (772)

What is Father Stu about?

A washed-up boxer turns to the priesthood after a series of personal failures and a degenerative diagnosis, in this faith-driven true-story drama.

What is Father Stu like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Father Stu as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Father Stu violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Father Stu as mild.

What did critics think of Father Stu?

Critics find Mark Wahlberg earnest but miscast in a faith-driven biopic whose fact-based story is clumsily handled.

Which films are like Father Stu?

Films with a similar feel include The Greatest Showman, Breakthrough, Cinderella Man, and Silence.

How long is Father Stu?

Father Stu runs 124 minutes.

Where can I watch Father Stu?

In United States, Father Stu streams on Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow.