Interest in 'Conclave' movie soars after Pope Francis' death

The passing of Pope Francis has sparked a major surge in interest in the film 'Conclave', a movie that explores the secretive process of selecting a new pope. As the Catholic Church prepares for the upcoming papal conclave, more and more viewers have turned to the 2024 drama to get a glimpse—albeit fictional—into what happens behind the closed doors of the Vatican.

According to a report from The New York Post, the movie's viewership jumped significantly after news broke that Pope Francis had died from a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88. On the day of his death, April 21, the movie was watched for 6.9 million minutes, a sharp increase from just 1.8 million minutes the day before. That’s a 283% boost, according to streaming data tracker Luminate.

'Conclave', which stars Ralph Fiennes and was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, also took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film has gained more attention recently and is now listed as the second most-watched movie in the U.S. on Prime Video, where it became available for free to subscribers starting Tuesday.

The movie portrays the dramatic power struggle among Catholic cardinals who gather to elect the next pope. It features Stanley Tucci as a progressive cardinal and Sergio Castellitto as a more traditional one, with other unexpected candidates adding to the suspense. Actress Isabella Rossellini appears as a watchful and mysterious nun, observing the intense election process.

Director Edward Berger spoke about the challenges of filming a story set largely in the Vatican. He shared that they weren’t allowed to shoot inside Vatican City, due to strict rules on commercial photography. A white line on St. Peter’s Square marks the boundary where such filming is not permitted. Because of this, the production team had to recreate the feel of the Vatican using other locations around Rome.

Although the movie was praised for trying to stay close to the real-life traditions of the Catholic Church, Berger admitted that not all of it could be completely accurate. The conclave is a highly private event, and exact details of what happens inside remain unknown to the public.

The New York Post described 'Conclave' as a “scandal-stuffed mystery” and gave it a 3½-star rating. The film suggests that some church leaders might be more focused on power than serving their followers.

As for the real-life events, Pope Francis’ body is currently lying in state for three days to allow public viewing. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 4 a.m. Eastern Time. The actual conclave to select his successor is expected to begin between May 5 and 10.