In an unexpected twist of life imitating art, viewership of Conclave — the tense, Oscar-winning drama about electing a new pope — has skyrocketed following the death of Pope Francis.
The world’s attention is now glued to both the real-life Vatican conclave set to begin between May 5 and 10, and the hit 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Sergio Castellitto.
According to streaming tracker Luminate, the film’s viewership jumped a whopping 283% on the day of the pontiff’s passing, with nearly 6.9 million minutes watched in a single day.
It’s now sitting pretty as No. 2 in the U.S. on Prime Video, where it became free to stream this week.
The film has been praised for its rich, dramatic take on the secretive papal election process — even if director Edward Berger admitted a little artistic license was needed, since no cameras are allowed past a certain white line in Vatican City.
The plot follows the College of Cardinals after a pope’s death as four candidates battle for the top job, with betrayals, scandals, and a bombshell twist involving a mysterious cardinal and an even more mysterious past.
After multiple ballots, shocking revelations, and a dramatic terrorist attack, the conclave elects an unlikely new pope, leaving viewers with one final jaw-dropping secret.
As the real Vatican prepares for its own historic conclave, audiences can’t seem to get enough of the film’s mix of intrigue, faith, and political gamesmanship.
