After premiering at the51st Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024,Conclave was released in theaters in the United States byFocus Features on 25 October 2024 and in the United Kingdom byBlack Bear UK on 29 November 2024. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, directing, screenplay, and cinematography. The film has grossed $128 million worldwide on a $20 million production budget. The film experienced a resurgence in popularity following thedeath ofPope Francis in April 2025 and the subsequentconclave in May that resulted in the election ofPope Leo XIV, who reportedly saw the film.[5]
Archbishop Janusz Woźniak, theprefect of the papal household, tells Lawrence the pope demanded Tremblay's resignation, which Tremblay denies. Bellini, meanwhile, tells supporters his goal is to prevent Tedesco from winning the papacy. Lawrence is surprised by the last-minute arrival of Mexican-born Archbishop Vincent Benítez ofKabul, whom the pope named cardinalin pectore the previous year.[a]
On the first day, Lawrence opens the deliberations by encouraging the college to embrace uncertainty, an act some interpret as a sign of Lawrence's papal ambition. No one obtains the two-thirds majority necessary to win, although Adeyemi leads Tedesco and Tremblay, and Bellini and Lawrence split the progressive vote.Monsignor Raymond O'Malley, Lawrence's assistant, discovers the pope paid for Benítez to be flown toGeneva for a medical appointment that Benítez later cancelled.
On the second day, an altercation takes place between Adeyemi and Sister Shanumi, a Nigerian nun recently transferred to Vatican City. Lawrence speaks with Shanumi, whoconfesses to a past illicit relationship with Adeyemi that resulted in a son she gave up for adoption. Adeyemi confirms the story when pressed. Though Lawrence isbound to secrecy, awhisper campaign derails Adeyemi's candidacy.
Working with Sister Agnes, the acting head caterer and housekeeper, Lawrence discovers that Tremblay arranged for Shanumi's transfer. When confronted, Tremblay claims that he did so at the pope's request. Lawrence enters the pope's sealed apartment and finds documents indicating Tremblaypaid cardinals for votes. He shows the documents to Bellini, whose plea to conceal their existence sparks an argument, as Lawrence realizes Tremblay has already gained Bellini's support with promises of a position in his administration.
On the third day, Lawrence and Agnes publicize Tremblay's actions, effectively removing him from contention. Lawrence reconciles with Bellini and agrees to stand against Tedesco. He plans on voting for himself during the deliberations, but before he can cast his vote, an explosion damages theSistine Chapel. The college later learns that the explosion was part of a series ofsuicide bombings currently happening throughout Europe. The perpetrators are not identified. When Tedesco goes on a tirade againstIslam and calls for areligious war, Benítez rebukes him, arguing against retaliating against violence with violence and chastising everyone for prioritizing political agendas over their religious mission. Voting resumes and the college overwhelmingly elects Benítez, who chooses thepapal name ofInnocent XIV.
Lawrence is initially enthusiastic until O'Malley privately reveals Benítez's canceled medical appointment. He confronts Benítez, who reveals he wasborn with a uterus and ovaries but was unaware of their existence until anappendectomy revealed them. The appointment was for alaparoscopic hysterectomy that he decided against, choosing to remain as God made him. Lawrence wanders the Vatican grounds, listening to the crowds cheer Pope Innocent's election, before returning to his room. From a window, he observes three young nuns chattering in the courtyard below.
The set designers took great care to replicate theSistine Chapel, though they took someartistic licence with theDomus Sanctae Marthae. They made their set more prison-like to enhance dramatic tension because they felt that the real version was rather dull. Costume designers visitedGammarelli,Tirelli Costumi, and several museums in Rome as part of their research. For the cardinals' red attire, costume designerLisy Christl opted for a hue used in 17th-century cardinal vestments, rather than thescarlet one from modern-day ones, believing it be "far more beautiful and far easier for our eyes".[13]While writing the screenplay, Peter Straughan said that he met with a cardinal to discuss the logistics of the conclave. He also took a private tour of the Vatican, and said he did not feel hostility while there and felt that the Vatican had been open to him.[13]
Due to many characters sharing scenes in the film, Bertelmann chose to createthemes for specific situations as opposed to themes for individual characters.[16] In addition, he had string players use a ricochetbowing technique.[14] In order to mirror the film's conflicting factions within the cardinals, Bertelmann sometimes incorporatedpolyrhythms, such astriplets againstsixteenth notes.[14]
In August 2022, distributorBlack Bear Pictures acquired the UK rights to the film fromFilmNation Entertainment via its newly founded British subsidiary, serving as one of its first acquisitions and maiden releases. Black Bear's subsidiary companyElevation Pictures also handled the film's Canadian release.[17]
In November 2023,Focus Features acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[18] In July 2024,Conclave was announced as part of the Special Presentations section for the2024 Toronto International Film Festival scheduled for 8 September 2024.[19][20] The film would subsequently be announced as part of the lineup for theTelluride Film Festival, where it had its world premiere.[21] It was also screened at the68th BFI London Film Festival on 10 October 2024.[22]Venice Film Festival directorAlberto Barbera explained why the film did not play at Venice: "I didn't think it was a Competition film for Venice but I invited it Out of Competition. We tried to figure out timing for it to play here and at Telluride, which they also wanted, but we couldn't find the right dates and timing for it to work. We discussed various options but couldn't get the time that suited everyone. It's a shame."[23]
The film was released in the United States on 25 October 2024.[24] It was previously scheduled for alimited theatrical release on 1 November before opening wide on the following week.[25] It was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November.[1]
As of 13 December 2025[update],Conclave has grossed worldwide total of $128million with just over a quarter of this coming from the Canada and United States having a gross take of $32.5million.[3][4] Deadline Hollywood calculated the film made a net profit of $15 million after all ancillaries.[31]
In the United States and Canada,Conclave was released alongsideVenom: The Last Dance, and was projected to gross $4–6 million from 1,753 theatres in its opening weekend.[2] The film made $2.5 million on its first day, including $500,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $6.6 million, finishing in third.[32] The film drew significantly older audiences. 77% of viewers were over 35 years old, with the largest demographic group being those over 55 at 44%, and 67% identifying as Caucasian.[33][34] The film then made $5 million in its second weekend (dropping 23.7%)[35] and $4.1 million in its third weekend (dropping just 18.1%), finishing in fourth and sixth place, respectively.[36]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 93% of 318 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "Carrying off papal pulp with immaculate execution and career-highlight work from Ralph Fiennes,Conclave is a godsend for audiences who crave intelligent entertainment."[37]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 54 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[38] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed byPostTrak gave it an 84% overall positive score, with 62% saying they would "definitely recommend" it.[33]
The film's cinematography and ensemble cast were widely praised;[39][40][41] however, some criticism was met for the plot,[42] with Katie Walsh of theLos Angeles Times calling it "a pretty thin and silly mystery ... that seems like it's deeper than it actually is".[43]IndieWire's David Ehrlich agreed that the film was "very silly but wonderfully staged ... even if the film might be a bit too convinced of its own dramatic import".[44] TheChicago Tribune'sMichael Phillips praised the film's "delicious portraits in pursuit, deceit and evasion".[45]
Mark Kermode praised the film for what he saw as a thoughtful and respectful portrayal of the papal election process. He highlighted the strong performances, particularly by Fiennes, and said that the film created suspense and intrigue without resorting to sensationalism. He also noted the nuanced exploration of theCatholic Church's future and its internal politics, which he found compelling and well-executed.[46]Richard Lawson ofVanity Fair said that the film rightly portrayed "both the seriousness of [the conclave] process and thecampy ridiculousness of it", and thought that the film "touch[es] fingers with prestige greatness while keeping its feet firmly planted in the realm of rollicking entertainment".[47] Lawson called the final twist "reckless" and insufficiently thought through,[47] whileVariety's Peter Debruge called it "one of the most satisfying twists in years, aHail Mary that both surprises and restores one's faith (maybe not everyone's, but certainly that of the disillusioned)".[48]Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times noted that the film's stance towards the Catholic Church mirrorsHollywood's own stance towards its film industry: "lightly cynical, self-flattering and finally myth-stoking".[49] Writing inThe Guardian, Benjamin Lee opined that the film was "a glossily transferredairport novel first and a deeper drama about the world of religion second", awarding it four stars out of five.The Observer's Wendy Ide praised Fiennes' performance as "one of the performances of the year", concluding "Conclave is a blast" and giving it five stars out of five.[50][51] Neil Young, reviewing the film for theBFI, praised the "outstanding" ensemble cast but was less positive on the score, feeling it was unrestrained, "doing much of the creative heavy-lifting" and turning the film into a "rather clangorous affair."[52]
Otosirieze Obi-Young, writing for Nigerian magazineOpen Country Mag, argued that the portrayal of Adeyemi is problematic for playing into stereotypes of black men being sexually aggressive, and that "Sexual abuse ... has become, in the last few decades, the defining moral damage of Western Catholicism, yet the ahistorical vision ofConclave pins that responsibility not on a cardinal from any of those Western countries but on its sole black African papabile."[59]
The progressiveNational Catholic Reporter praisedConclave, calling it "a compelling and ecclesial call for a renewed spiritual stewardship characterized by humility, meekness, and, curiously, doubt".[60] Kate Lucky ofChristianity Today, anevangelical publication, called the film "gorgeous" and "riveting", and said that "though the film subtly advances progressive convictions, it gives cardinals of all ideological persuasions equal opportunity to fall short".[61] Writing for theCatholic Herald, Miles Pattenden considered that the film "lacks the subtlety to explore [Church politics] inventively" despite some "exquisite moments", notably the performances ofSergio Castellitto and Rossellini. He also criticised its "lack of historical awareness", noting that questions concerning voting eligibility at conclaves andintersex clergy were "nothing new to the Church".[62]
John Mulderig of the CatholicOSV News said aboutConclave that "rival viewpoints within the church are caricatured with a broad brush ... and the deck is predictably stacked in favor of those who advocate change". He warned that "all moviegoers committed to the church's creeds will want to approach this earnest, visually engaging but manipulative—and sometimes sensationalist—production with caution".[63] TheArchdiocese of Los Angeles'Angelus magazine praised several of the actors' performances but ultimately dismissed the film, writing: "The problem here is not that it is full ofbias against the Catholic Church. The problem is that it is just plain bad. ... At the crucial moment, [Benítez] gives a speech so full of platitudes it could have been written byChatGPT."[64]
TheBishop of Winona–Rochester,Robert Barron, dismissed it asOscar bait and termed it "a film about the Catholic Church that could have been written by the editorial board ofThe New York Times".[65] Sean Fitzpatrick ofThe Catholic World Report, a conservative publication, agreed with Barron's criticisms, while also criticizing the writing of Benítez'sintersex status, opining that the statement "I am what God made me" is a "popular" yet "ridiculous" argument.[66] Father Hugh Mackenzie, of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, acknowledgedConclave was "a slick drama" and Fiennes "a great actor", but criticised the depiction of doubt as a necessary component of faith, and Cardinal Lawrence's breaking of the seal of confession, as "directly undermining the Catholic faith."[67]
CardinalMykola Bychok – Australia's only representative – called the film controversial, especially about prayer: "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style."[68]
Following the film's release, several outlets noted the film's presence on social media and withinmeme culture.[117][118][119] Memes comparing the film toRuPaul's Drag Race andThe Real Housewives appeared onTwitter, while other users createdfan cams, including ones set to pop musicians such asCharli XCX.[117] Online comparisons were also made to media such asMean Girls, while the "elimination" of the various papal candidates was compared toreality television shows likeSurvivor orThe Bachelor. Also noted were memes comparing the characters in the film to real life figures such asDonald Trump andKamala Harris, the two major candidates in the2024 United States presidential election, which took place days after the film's U.S. release.[117] Many of these outlets took note of the apparent contradiction that a film that "might be [for] retired folks catching a weekday matinee" was popular in meme culture.[119]
On 14 February 2025,Pope Francis, who was 88 years old at the time, became very ill and was hospitalized, suffering from multiple chronic respiratory conditions.[120] Philiana Ng ofTheWrap observed that the cast ofConclave celebrated their ensemble win at theScreen Actors Guild Awards, but acknowledged the real-life parallels of the film – chronicling the aftermath of death of a fictitious pope – amid Pope Francis's then-current health crisis. Ng quoted Isabella Rossellini: "We are very, very worried for our pope, ... [W]e love this pope – Papa Francesco, Pope Francis. We wish him well. We wish him to recover."[121]
Thedeath of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025, resulted in an actualtwo-day papal conclave being called from 7 May 2025.[122] According toLuminate, Francis's death resulted in a near three-fold increase in home viewership of the film via streaming platforms on 21 April.[123] According toPolitico Europe, several cardinals watched the film to understand the process for the papal election.[124] According to his brother John, among the cardinals who watched the film to educate themselves about the process was Robert Prevost, who would be subsequently elected asPope Leo XIV.[125][126]
^Undercanon law, it would have been illegal for Benítez to attend, asin pectore appointments end with the pope's death unless the pope has publicly announced the appointment. The novel attributes Benítez's presence to the late pope's revision of this law, although the film does not mention the change.
^This award does not have a single winner, but recognizes multiple films.
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Media related toConclave (film) at Wikimedia Commons
