X
  • 2003
  • TV-MA
  • HBO
  • 2003
  • TV-MA
  • HBO
Carnivale

Summary Carnivale. The credits alone were the most costly and timely to make. The show does not lack in the quality that the credits bring. Set in the 1930s Dust Bowl, 18-year old Ben Hawkins finds himself all alone in this world when his mother passes on. But a travelling Carnivale takes him in. We also see the story of Brother Justin, a priest...

  • 2003
  • TV-MA
  • HBO
  • 2003
  • TV-MA
  • HBO

Carnivale

Season 1 Premiere: Sep 14, 2003
Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 39 Critic Reviews
63
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 122 User Ratings
8.6
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary Carnivale. The credits alone were the most costly and timely to make. The show does not lack in the quality that the credits bring. Set in the 1930s Dust Bowl, 18-year old Ben Hawkins finds himself all alone in this world when his mother passes on. But a travelling Carnivale takes him in. We also see the story of Brother Justin, a priest...

Where to Watch

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 39 Critic Reviews
63
54% Positive
21 Reviews
41% Mixed
16 Reviews
5% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 39 Critic Reviews
63
54% Positive
21 Reviews
41% Mixed
16 Reviews
5% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Aug 2, 2013
The writing... is sharp and rich. The production -- from the design of the carnival to the evocative cinematography -- is dazzling. The direction from the likes of "Sopranos" veteran Rodrigo Garcia is first-rate. And the acting is sensational. [14 Sep 2003]
By Charlie McCollum FULL REVIEW
80
Aug 2, 2013
Even if we are being taken for a ride, there's so much to savor on this trip. [12 Sep 2003]
By Noel Holston FULL REVIEW
70
Aug 2, 2013
The first three episodes are beguiling enough to suggest that beneath the show's mystique there is a mystery worth puzzling. But there is also the mystery of how long viewers' curiosity can stay piqued.
By Alessandra Stanley FULL REVIEW
63
Aug 2, 2013
"Carnivale" is so deliberate in its pacing - some would say plodding - it makes "The Wire" look like a breakneck action movie. [12 Sep 2003]
By David Bianculli FULL REVIEW
60
Aug 2, 2013
Judging from the first two episodes, the series remains both visually compelling and dramatically impenetrable, likely to attract ongoing fans but too confusing at this stage to attract new ones. [7 Jan 2005]
By Sid Smith FULL REVIEW
50
Jun 28, 2013
Oh, what a tangled web Carnivále weaves–maybe too tangled for its own good.
By Terry Kelleher FULL REVIEW
20
Aug 2, 2013
Insufferable ... for the most part a stylish and incomprehensible bore. [15 Sep 2003]
By Tom Shales FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 122 User Ratings
8.6
91% Positive
111 Ratings
3% Mixed
4 Ratings
6% Negative
7 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 122 User Ratings
8.6
91% Positive
111 Ratings
3% Mixed
4 Ratings
6% Negative
7 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company:
  • 3 Arts Entertainment
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
Initial Release Date: Sep 14, 2003
Number of seasons: 2 Seasons
Rating: TV-MA
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
• 5 Wins & 15 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 4 Nominations
American Society of Cinematographers, USA
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations

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