Greenleaf

The unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch, where scandalous secrets and lies are as numerous as the faithful. Born of the church, the Greenleaf family love and care for each other, but beneath the surface lies a den of iniquity—greed, adultery, sibling rivalry and conflicting values—that threatens to tear apart the very core of their faith that holds them together.

Greenleaf (2016-2020) is a American network drama series created by Craig Wright for OWN, a family saga set inside a sprawling Memphis megachurch. Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield) lead a congregation and a family whose children compete for control of the ministry. Jacob Greenleaf (Lamman Rucker), Grace Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge), Kerissa Greenleaf (Kim Hawthorne), and Charity Greenleaf-Satterlee (Deborah Joy Winans) each want something the church either provides or withholds, and their ambitions collide with the faith that binds them. Each season is built from a steady run of secrets, affairs, financial dealings and sibling feuds that surface in public and private rooms alike, so the show plays as one continuing serialized drama across five seasons and sixty episodes. The atmosphere is emotionally heavy, with sermons and choir performances setting a sincere, devotional register that frequently cuts against scandal and betrayal. Its Southern Black church setting gives the family drama a specific cultural weight. Viewers who enjoy Dynasty and Succession for scheming family power, or The Haves and the Have Nots for Black family melodrama, will find the same appetite for consequence here. The show is a soapy, melodramatic prestige-leaning series on a cable network with a clear arc from its first season through its final run.

Audiences rated the Memphis megachurch family drama positively overall, with strong praise for its dramatic performances and soap-like twists while the later season drew sharp disapproval.

• Dynastysoapy family melodrama with secrets and power struggles inside an institution
• Successionprestige-leaning family saga built on betrayal and rivalry among siblings
• The Haves and the Have NotsBlack church setting and faith-driven family drama with moral hypocrisy
• The Young Popereligious institution hiding scandal behind a respected public face

Created by

Craig Wright

Release Date

2016-06-21

Episode runtime

42 min

Rating

7.5 / 10 (120)

What is Greenleaf about?

A Memphis megachurch dynasty's faith and loyalty are tested by greed, adultery and sibling rivalry.

What is Greenleaf like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Greenleaf as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Greenleaf violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Greenleaf as mild.

What did critics think of Greenleaf?

Audiences rated the Memphis megachurch family drama positively overall, with strong praise for its dramatic performances and soap-like twists while the later season drew sharp disapproval.

Which shows are like Greenleaf?

Shows with a similar feel include Dynasty, Succession, The Haves and the Have Nots, and The Young Pope.

How long is Greenleaf?

Greenleaf: 5 seasons, 60 episodes.

Is Greenleaf still running?

No, Greenleaf has ended.

Where can I watch Greenleaf?

In United States, Greenleaf streams on MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.