Conclave
Directed by Edward BergerCardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church's most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope's wake--secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.
Where to Watch Conclave
Conclave Ratings & Reviews
- nicpederson3d agoSmart, well acted, full of substance, heavy twist.. but just not that fun to watch tbh
- ScottNovember 4, 2024It asks some worthy questions but also is never brave enough to answer them in a meaningful or impactful way. Great production and performances wrapped around thin and unchallenging ideas.
- Audrey LaymanFebruary 10, 2025The cinematography was A+, but it basically felt like I was just watching divas in long dresses gossiping with each other for 2 hours straight
- James CormierDecember 14, 2025Neat. Not sure about the ending though...left feeling a little 'empty?'
- Atif ChaudryNovember 27, 2025Not typically drawn to anything linked into the church or Vatican, bit I couldn't ignore this great cast. I was hooked straight away into this tense drama. The twist at the end may not have been needed, but still very entertaining anyway. Definitely recommend a watch.
- hokasuNovember 15, 2025An uninteresting story very well told.
- VarunDecember 22, 2024I am an absolute sucker for movies that involve faith and politics and this one is a banger! The power games are very interesting to watch unfold, and they aren’t just detached events but they go hand in hand with the characters’ own development, mainly Lawrence who is played superbly by Ralph Fiennes. His performance perfectly captures each moment of trepidation and the slow hike to moral fortitude. I really loved some of the speeches too, it definitely makes you confront your own faith and what behaviours it invokes in you. The weak point of the movie is that a few events felt a bit improbable and manufactured to take the plot in a different direction, it didn’t feel fully earned and organic but I still don’t think it detracts from the overarching story. And I have to give huge props to the crucial score, it absolutely delivers in enhancing the tension, conundrums and conspiratorial vibes. The cinematography is also great, with some really good framing and even the blander colour palettes of the vestments and environments have a nice contrast that shines through. A lot of the twists and revelations were fantastic and I was thrilled with every second of this movie.
- CubaneOctober 27, 2025A very unique look into the politics of the Catholic church, and perhaps one of the few films nominated for an academy award in 2024 that is actually worth anyone's time.
- Deep SanduneSeptember 10, 2025Excellent tale of intrigue, like Knives Out but set inside the Vatican. Ralph Fiennes confirms his status as the greatest living British actor, the rest of the stellar cast aren't too shabby either. Worth your time.
- ZacMay 8, 2025It was a good movie up until the "plot twist" that was completely unnecessary.
- Chris Chatterje-DoodyAugust 18, 2025a well constructed political thriller. That carries its own sence of grandure and within that a subtlety to tell the story of these mens doubts and worries about the task before them. Its all drawn together in to a twist ending that leaves a pleasent taste in the mouth.
- CrossCutCriticMay 1, 2025Power, Secrecy, and the God Who Doesn’t Wait for Perfect Men --- There is something both ancient and absurd about watching grown men in red robes pace through marble corridors, whispering about salvation and strategy in the same breath. Conclave knows this. It doesn’t try to fix the contradiction. It invites you into it. What it doesn’t quite know — or perhaps dares not say — is that while these men talk about God, God is already moving among them. Quietly. Reluctantly. And, as always, unexpectedly. --- The plot is tight: The pope is dead. The world waits. The cardinals gather. And as the smoke rises and secrets surface, the weight of eternity hangs over men who, despite the liturgy and Latin, seem mostly like… us. Tired. Proud. Wounded. Protective of their legacies. At the center stands Ralph Fiennes’s Cardinal Thomas Lawrence — a man caught between obedience and truth, between the institution he serves and the God he fears might not be impressed by the rituals performed in His name. --- The film plays its archetypes broadly: The liberals are open-hearted and humane. The conservatives are cloaked in menace and shadow. It’s not new. It’s not subtle. And to be honest, it’s a little tired. But something more interesting happens when you stop measuring which side wins. You start to notice who breaks. Not politically. Spiritually. --- Because here’s what Conclave quietly understands — perhaps even in spite of itself: > God is not waiting for the right ideology. He is waiting for the moment a man realizes he can no longer lie to himself. That moment — and it does come — is the film’s real climax. It doesn’t happen at the altar. It doesn’t involve a vote. It happens in a private room, behind closed doors, when one man risks everything not to win, but to be clean. To be faithful. To stand naked before God and say: I didn’t protect my career. I protected the truth. That is the shape of the cross. Hidden. Costly. And unbearably honest. --- Conclave is a drama of whispered alliances, shifting loyalties, and papal chess. But beneath the intrigue lies something older than the Church and more disruptive than politics: A God who still chooses the weak. Who still confounds the wise. Who still enters locked rooms, not to endorse anyone’s strategy, but to breathe on their wounds and say, Peace. --- If you’re waiting for a movie to restore your faith in the Church, this isn’t it. But if you’ve ever wondered whether God still shows up in broken places, among imperfect men, and calls them — still — to speak truth at great cost? Then maybe Conclave is closer to resurrection than it wants to admit. *** If Conclave moved you, here are more reviews that explore conscience, grace, and hidden courage: Small Things Like These — Quiet obedience in the face of institutional silence. The Tree of Life — A symphonic meditation on suffering, beauty, and the voice of God. Greyhound — A wartime psalm of prayer, command, and mercy on the sea. WarGames — A teen thriller turned parable of restraint, logic, and second chances. Kapo — A lost girl, a death camp, and the God who hunts His children through hell to bring them home. Or if you're open to stories where the cross cuts deeper: The Gorge — Love with shrapnel still lodged in the soul. The Safety of Objects — Domestic life unraveling into lament and quiet epiphany. Brave the Dark — One boy. One teacher. One rescue, paid for in scars. All under Crosscutcritic in Plex.
- GhasAugust 16, 2025Conclave is a book adaptation that follows the death of a Pope and the conclave that follows to choose the next Pope. The conclave is led by Father Lawrence, who is superbly played by Ralph Fiennes along with John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci, who are among the cardinals vying for the position as Pope. Isabella Rossellini is the head nun, and although she has very few lines, she makes an impact that I won’t forget. Conclave is an adult drama that’s also a political mystery thriller that kept me deeply entertained throughout. It has twists, turns, and a lot of scheming that had me gasping and squirming the whole way through. It’s an important and very relevant film that looks at how faith can be weaponised to push different ideologies in the quest for power. Conclave looked and sounded fantastic. Visually, it had a minimal, brutalist, and modern feel, which is nothing like what you would expect from a religious movie set in the Vatican. It portrayed intimacy and secrecy while still capturing the grandeur of Vatican City. The score was also clear of what you’d expect; no classical church-style music you’d associate with Christianity. Instead, the music was otherworldly, low-fi, and eerie. Loved it..!
- guiv7April 24, 2025Loved it! And watched it 48 hours before pope Francois died!
- neuroparadoxJuly 29, 2025I love Ralph Fiennes so much! (How much?!) So much, that I actually pronounce his name correctly! It's pronounced: "Raif" as in, rhymes with "strafe"... not Ralph, as in Ralph Wiggum. But if you're on letterboxd you probably knew that already 🤣 Apologies to: Chai Wet-Towel Ejiofor, Timothée Chevrolet, Throbin Williams, Andy Samberg-Taylor-Joy, et al. 🥰 Oh the movie is actually good btw, but you knew that.
Watch Conclave Videos
Conclave Trivia
Conclave was released on October 25, 2024.
Conclave was directed by Edward Berger.
Conclave has a runtime of 2 hr.
Conclave was produced by Tessa Ross, Alice Dawson, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Robert Harris.
The key characters in Conclave are Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Tremblay (John Lithgow).
Conclave is rated PG.
Conclave is a Thriller, Drama, Mystery film.
Conclave has an audience rating of 8.6 out of 10.