Conclave (movie)

Conclave
Directed byEdward Berger
Screenplay byPeter Straughan
Based onConclave
by Robert Harris
Produced by
  • Alice Dawson
  • Michael Jackman
  • Juliette Howell
  • Robert Harris
  • Tessa Ross
Starring
CinematographyStéphane Fontaine
Edited byNick Emerson
Music byVolker Bertelmann
Production
companies
  • FilmNation Entertainment
  • House Productions
  • Indian Paintbrush
Distributed by
  • Black Bear Pictures (UK)
  • Focus Features (US)
Release dates
  • 30 August 2024 (2024-08-30) (Telluride Film Festival)
  • 25 October 2024 (2024-10-25) (United States)
  • 29 November 2024 (2024-11-29) (United Kingdom)
Running time
120 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$127.1 million[2][3]

Conclave is a 2024 mystery thriller movie directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan. It is based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. In April 2025, after Pope Francis died and the real-life papal election set to happen in the next weeks,[4] the movie had a huge increase of people watching it from their homes. Viewership went up 283% on streaming platforms on 21 April.[5]

Plot

The movie is about Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) who plans a papal conclave to elect the next pope and soon begins investigating secrets and scandals about each candidate.

Premiere

Conclave premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024, was released in theatres in the United States by Focus Features on October 25, 2024 and in the United Kingdom by Black Bear Pictures on November 29, 2024.

Reception

The movie received positive reviews from critics. It was named one of the top ten movies of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.[6]

Awards

It received nominations for six Golden Globe Awards. At the 97th Academy Awards, it was nominated for eight Oscars, winning one, for Best Adapted Screenplay.

References

  1. "Conclave (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  2. "Conclave". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  3. "Conclave – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  4. Graham, Jackson and Holland, Angus (21 April 2025). "The Pope has died. Here's what happens next". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  5. Sharf, Zack (April 22, 2025). "'Conclave' Viewership Soars After Pope Francis' Death, Up 283% to Nearly 7 Million Minutes Watched". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  6. Davis, Clayton (5 December 2024). "AFI Awards: 'Anora,' 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Wicked' Among 10 Best Films, Top TV Shows Include 'The Penguin' and 'Shogun'". Variety.com.