Conclave

Play trailer

1:51

Conclave

PG

Released Oct 25, 2024

2h 0m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

318 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Verified Ratings

CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events -- selecting the new Pope. Cardinal 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.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Carrying off papal pulp with immaculate execution and career-highlight work from Ralph Fiennes, Conclave is a godsend for audiences who crave intelligent entertainment.

Read Critics Reviews

Audience Says

Conclave is a thought-provoking papal drama that delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense with a venerable Ralph Fiennes.

Read Audience Reviews

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

In the separate realm of fiction, my feeling is that a palace intrigue is dramatically most effective when the palace is rotting from the inside -- and that Conclave in particular would have gained from a pinch more cynicism.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 13, 2025

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

What unfolds as the cardinals go to war with each other… is as tantalising as a murder mystery. The candidates become suspects, leaks happen, and questions arise about who is telling the truth.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 3, 2025

Full Review

Heather Schwedel

Slate

Conclave does not deserve its drama queen reputation.

Dec 20, 2024

Full Review

Gisela Savdie

El Heraldo

The film highlights the contradictions between what is preached and what happens: while advocating for the equality of all, the institution is immersed in hierarchies, and strict codes that even its own members fail to uphold. [Full review in Spanish]

Mar 22, 2025

Full Review

Max Gao

Elle

A riveting psychological thriller with an absurd final twist, the film depicts Cardinals as self-serving, power-hungry politicians who spend their limited time together attempting to convince one another that they are the lesser of two evils.

Mar 12, 2025

Full Review

A.S. Hamrah

n+1

This one is highly burnished and tightly wound, seemingly made by Fiennes and not the director.

Mar 4, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

Astrid V

Excellent cast. Excellent movie!!! Should have won the Oscars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Jason

Thought provoking and relevant to current time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

Full Review

Pennie

Excellent film that was different than I expected. Actually suspenseful and intriguing. Not being a catholic it was fascinating to see how every little thing the clergy did had some specific procedure.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

Full Review

Don P

Solid film that keeps your interest throughout. For those of us not of the Catholic faith, the movie was not only entertainment, but educational as well.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Sue R.

The acting was stellar. I loved how the storyline didn't shy away from historical issues in the Catholic Church, and how it showed that in any organization you have very different personalities trying to come to consensus. And in the midst of the intricacies of human nature, there are those trying to adhere to the founding principles of an organization, while also adapting to the modern needs of those they serve.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

Leigh

Incredible film - great plot, incredible ensemble, stunning cinematography.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Edward Berger

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Lawrence

Stanley Tucci

Bellini

John Lithgow

Tremblay

Lucian Msamati

Adeyemi

Brian F. O'Byrne

O'Malley

Conclave: Exclusive Movie Clip - It's a War

0:55

Conclave: Movie Clip - Pass the Chalice

0:38

Conclave: Movie Clip - This Conclave is Mine

0:26

View more videos

On a Wing and a Prayer

16%

57%

On a Wing and a Prayer

Watchlist

Mr. Holmes

88%

70%

Mr. Holmes

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mr. Holmes

C Me Dance

0%

20%

C Me Dance

Watchlist

Agatha

67%

52%

Agatha

Watchlist

Death Defying Acts

44%

26%

Death Defying Acts

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the 2025 Oscars

Awards Leaderboard: Best Movies of 2024

Oscars 2025: Where to Watch the Nominees

Conclave: Trailer 2

1:51

Conclave: Trailer 1

2:24

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events -- selecting the new Pope. Cardinal 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.

Director: Edward Berger
Producer: Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Michael A. Jackman, Robert Harris, Alice Dawson
Screenwriter: Peter Straughan
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: House Productions, FilmNation Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Material and Smoking)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 26, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.5M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

Most Popular at Home Now