# The Kennedys (2011)

> A miniseries dramatizing the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy political family, from its patriarch's ambitions through the rise of its sons in American politics.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/31781

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 45 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, history
- Created by: Stephen Kronish, Joel Surnow
- Network: Reelz
- Cast: Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes, Tom Wilkinson, Diana Hardcastle, Kristin Booth, Rachel Wilson, John White
- TMDB rating: 7.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567215/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, sober, reverent, melancholic, dramatic

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive but modest, with viewers praising the cast's portrayal of the Kennedy family while some find the production unconvincing in its resemblance to the real figures.

## Synopsis

The Kennedys (2011) is a American national-television historical drama miniseries created by Stephen Kronish and Joel Surnow for Reelz. Across eight episodes of roughly 45 minutes each, it dramatizes the most famous political family in American history, centering on Jack Kennedy (Greg Kinnear) as he climbs toward the presidency while his brother Robert F. Kennedy (Barry Pepper) serves as a hard-driving political operator. Katie Holmes plays Jackie Kennedy, and Tom Wilkinson plays the patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr., whose ambitions shape the family's path. Diana Hardcastle appears as Rose Kennedy and Kristin Booth as Ethel Kennedy, rounding out the household at the center of the drama. Each episode moves through campaign trails, backroom negotiations, and private family strain, so the story stays focused on the gap between the public image the family projects and the grief and rivalry behind closed doors. The atmosphere is measured and earnest, with a sober, reverent register suited to viewers who enjoy political storytelling. Its mid-century setting of Cold War America gives the drama a formal period texture. Fans of The Crown and Succession will find resonance in its portrait of dynasty, ambition, and the cost of public life. Since it is a single closed miniseries, the story arrives in one complete run.

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- [The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)](https://ember.film/tv/8642)
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- [The Men Who Killed Kennedy (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/29211)
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- [The Men Who Built America (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/50471)

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