“Conclave” is a slow-burning political thriller set behind locked doors, and it earns its keep through sheer craft. Edward Berger directs from a script by Peter Straughan, adapting Robert Harris’s novel about a papal election turned conspiracy. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and stacks its cast with Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rossellini and more.
Trailer, via Focus Features.
The Locked Room
The story begins after the pope dies of a fatal heart attack. Lawrence must manage the ancient ritual of electing a new leader, sequestering the church’s most powerful figures until the process ends. That confinement is the engine of the film. Every conversation, every vote, every whispered rumor happens within the walls of the Vatican.
Four cardinals emerge as leading candidates:
- Aldo Bellini, a progressive reformer from the United States
- Joshua Adeyemi, a social conservative from Nigeria
- Joseph Tremblay, a moderate from Canada
- Goffredo Tedesco, a staunch traditionalist from Italy
The Secrets Inside
Lawrence investigates secrets and scandals about these men, and what he finds threatens the entire institution. The plot thickens when Archbishop Janusz Woźniak, the prefect of the papal household, reveals the late pope demanded Tremblay’s resignation — which Tremblay denies. Bellini, meanwhile, works to stop Tedesco from winning.
A Mexican-born Archbishop Vincent Benítez arrives unannounced on the first day. He was named cardinal in pectore the previous year, and Lawrence learns the pope paid for him to fly to Geneva for a medical appointment that Benítez later canceled.
On the second day, Cardinal Adeyemi clashes with Sister Shanumi, a Nigerian nun recently transferred to Vatican City. Lawrence speaks with her, and she confesses a past illicit relationship with Adeyemi that produced a son she gave up for adoption. Adeyemi confirms the story when pressed, though Lawrence is bound to secrecy.
The Ensemble Carries It
Fiennes plays Lawrence with quiet menace. He is a man who knows the rules better than anyone and breaks them anyway. Tucci’s Bellini is the smoothest of the four candidates, a progressive with a hidden ruthlessness. Lithgow’s Tremblay is a moderate who may be the only honest man in the room. Castellitto’s Tedesco is the traditionalist who wants the papacy at any cost.
Rossellini’s Sister Agnes runs the kitchen and knows everything. She is the film’s moral center, and she helps Lawrence navigate a conspiracy that could bring down the church.
A Resurgence
The film’s fortunes changed dramatically in April 2025. Following the death of Pope Francis, the subsequent conclave elected Pope Leo XIV, who reportedly saw the film. That context explains why “Conclave” became a cultural touchstone.
The Numbers
The film grossed $128 million worldwide on a $20 million production budget. It premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024, then expanded into US theaters via Focus Features on 25 October 2024 and UK theaters via Black Bear UK on 29 November 2024.
| Release | Date |
|---|---|
| Telluride premiere | 30 August 2024 |
| US release | 25 October 2024 |
| UK release | 29 November 2024 |
Critics praised the performances, directing, screenplay and cinematography. The film won four awards at the 78th British Academy Film Awards, tying The Brutalist for most of the ceremony. It also took the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Our Verdict
“Conclave” is a dense, character-driven thriller that trusts its audience to sit with uncomfortable questions about power, faith and corruption. It does not resolve everything neatly. Some threads are left dangling, and the ending feels more like a pause than a conclusion.
But the film is consistently smart, and the ensemble is superb. Fiennes anchors the picture with a performance that shifts from calm to cunning in seconds. Lithgow delivers a career-best turn as Tremblay, a man who might be the only honest man in the room.
The film’s weakness is its pacing. Some stretches drag, particularly in the middle where the voting rounds repeat without fresh information. Still, the tension never fully dissipates.
“Conclave” is a worthy entry in the genre. It is a film about the Vatican that treats it with genuine respect while exposing its darkest corners. The performances are uniformly excellent, and the direction is assured. It is a movie that rewards attention and patience.
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