God Laughs 2026

Overview

God Laughs, also known by its Italian title Dio ride, is a 2026 Italian period comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Giovanni Veronesi. The film features a cast including Pierfrancesco Favino, Silvio Orlando, Alma Noce, and Francesco Gheghi. Set in the 17th century, the story follows Friar Leopoldo da Casamacchia as he recounts the Gospel with a unique sense of joy and freedom. While the contemporary Church conducts services in Latin, the friar speaks to the common people about a God who offers comfort, hope, and the capacity to laugh alongside humanity. His message resonates across villages, attracting large crowds and causing church attendance to decline. This popularity eventually draws the attention of Rome, leading the Pope to assign the case to Cardinal Maculani, the most influential inquisitor of the era. What begins as a formal trial evolves into an unexpected confrontation between the friar and the inquisitor. The film has a runtime of one hour and fifty-four minutes and was released in Italy on October 29, 2026.