As the Catholic Church begins preparations for a conclave following the death of Pope Francis, viewers will soon be able to stream Conclave, a political thriller set within the Vatican’s corridors of power.
The 2024 film, directed by Edward Berger and based on Robert Harris’ bestselling novel, premieres on Amazon Prime Video on April 22 just as the world reflects on the legacy of the pontiff who died from a stroke, as confirmed by Vatican doctors.
Francis, who served as the 266th pope since 2013, died after suffering a cerebrovascular event in the early hours of April 21. He was 88.
The real-life developments have lent new gravity to the film’s depiction of the papal election process—a secretive, tradition-laden event now in motion in Rome.
Why It Matters
The confluence of fiction and reality has stirred renewed interest in the 2024 Conclave film, which dramatizes the intrigue and moral questions inside the College of Cardinals during the selection of a new pope. Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence, a man tasked with overseeing the election but drawn into a web of secrets, ambition, and spiritual crisis.
The movie reached $100 million at the box office, according to Variety. The cast features big names, including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. The movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards, but in the end, it only took home one Oscar, Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film provides audiences with timely insight into the rituals and politics that are now unfolding in real time.
Conclave will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting April 22.
