---
title: "Conclave"
year: 2024
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/conclave"
fi1m_id: "conclave"
imdb_id: "tt20215234"
tmdb_id: 974576
wikidata_id: "Q116701124"
fi1m_score: 76
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 18
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:56.990098+00:00"
region: "IE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Conclave (2024)

Directed by Edward Berger · 2h 00m · IFCO 12A · Drama, Thriller

## Identity

Conclave

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/conclave
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** conclave
- **IMDb ID:** tt20215234
- **TMDB ID:** 974576
- **Wikidata ID:** Q116701124
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215234/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/974576, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116701124

**Fi1m score: 76** · Critics 79 from 18 reviews

*In a sentence:* A hotel full of old men in red plotting against each other, and the nuns are the only ones paying attention

> Edward Berger’s papal election thriller is handsome, quick and well acted, with Ralph Fiennes doing careful work as the cardinal who has to run it. It is a potboiler that wants to be taken for a meditation, and the ending gives the game away.

## Synopsis

The Pope has died in the night, and Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, has to organise the election of his successor. The cardinals are sealed into the Vatican until they choose. Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is the liberal who says he does not want the job. Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) wants the Latin Mass back and the doors shut. Tremblay (John Lithgow) smiles at everyone. Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) could be the first African pope. Then a cardinal nobody has heard of, Benitez (Carlos Diehz), arrives, and Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), who runs the nuns feeding them all, notices more than she is supposed to. Edward Berger directs from Peter Straughan’s adaptation of Robert Harris’s novel.

## Review

Edward Berger’s last film was *All Quiet on the Western Front*, which was loud. *Conclave* is the opposite sort of film, and he is better at it. Adapted by Peter Straughan from Robert Harris’s novel, it takes place almost entirely inside the Vatican in the days after a pope dies, and its idea of action is a man in red walking quickly down a corridor. The cardinals are locked in until they have chosen. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who as dean has to run the thing, would rather be anywhere else.

It is a good evening’s entertainment, and not the serious film about faith its music keeps telling us it is. Fiennes does the best work in it by doing the least. Before the first vote he gives a homily arguing that certainty is the enemy of unity and that a pope who never doubted would be no use to anyone, and it is written and played so that we cannot tell whether he means it or is campaigning. He plays Lawrence as a man permanently about to say something and deciding not to.

Stéphane Fontaine shoots the place as an institution rather than a cathedral. The cardinals sleep in a residence Suzie Davies has designed as a hotel with the warmth taken out: tiled corridors and hard overhead light. The image people remember is an overhead shot of the cardinals crossing a courtyard in the rain under white umbrellas, scarlet underneath, moving like something in a dish. Lisy Christl’s costumes do much of the film’s arguing. The red is the only colour in most rooms, and when the dead pope’s flat is sealed with plastic sheeting and tape the film looks like a crime scene.

Volker Bertelmann’s score is a scraping, nervous thing, strings plucked and bowed close to the bridge so they sound like wire under strain. The votes are the best sequences. Nick Emerson cuts them as procedure: a slip of paper, a name read aloud, a needle threaded through the ballot, a face in the second row doing arithmetic. We were more gripped by a man reading names off folded paper than we have been by most chases, because Berger and Emerson trust us to keep count.

The candidates are cast to be recognised at a glance. Stanley Tucci’s Bellini is the liberal who says he does not want it and hates that he does. John Lithgow’s Tremblay smiles at everyone and is the only man in the building who never sweats. Sergio Castellitto’s Tedesco wants the Mass in Latin and vapes in the courtyard. Lucian Msamati’s Adeyemi is asked whether the Church is ready for him. Carlos Diehz, as the cardinal nobody knows, does almost nothing and is watched by everyone. Isabella Rossellini has perhaps four scenes as Sister Agnes, and the one in which she reminds a room of men that God gave the nuns eyes and ears too is the only time the film lands a blow on the institution rather than on a man in it.

Now the complaint. Straughan’s script moves the election along by revelation. Each round something turns up: a document, a rumour, a lie found out. It is airport-novel machinery, and good, but the film keeps stopping to tell us it is about doubt, and doubt is never allowed to be the problem. The problem is always a secret, and secrets get discovered. The second half takes a turn we will not describe. At the last reveal we laughed out loud, and not entirely with the film. It is a bold idea handled as a punchline.

Most critics are a little warmer than we are. It is rare to see a thriller this tidy, and the pleasure of watching good actors in good rooms is real. Set it beside the 1970s conspiracy films it resembles and it is shorter, prettier and less angry.

It is a 12A and there is nothing in it you could not show a bishop. Watch it in company, because the arithmetic is more fun done aloud, and do not expect to remember the plot in a fortnight. You will remember the umbrellas.

*Fi1m score 76, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics agree Conclave is an entertaining Vatican potboiler, and nearly all of them put Ralph Fiennes at the centre of the praise: his restrained, doubt-ridden Cardinal Lawrence is named again and again as the film’s chief asset. The ensemble comes next, with Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini singled out, then Edward Berger’s direction, Peter Straughan’s script and the production design and cinematography, which several reviews credit with making narrow hallways tense. The spread is narrow. Fourteen of eighteen reviews are positive and none is negative.

Reservations cluster around the plot rather than the craft: the mixed notices call the mystery thin and the twists cheap, and more than one finds the ending clunky or over-sensational. The Los Angeles Times is the most pointed, calling it a silly mystery with no new insight, and The Skinny predicts it will slip from memory quickly. Even those critics enjoy the two hours.

## Straight answers

**Is Conclave worth watching?**

*Conclave* is worth watching for anyone who enjoys a tidy thriller about good actors plotting in good rooms, and we scored it 76. Ralph Fiennes is careful and quiet as the cardinal running the election, and the voting sequences grip more than most chases. It wants to be a meditation on doubt and is really a potboiler, and the ending gives that away.

**How long is Conclave, and what is it rated?**

*Conclave* runs 2h 00m and is rated 12A by the IFCO in Ireland. It is a drama and thriller film.

**Where can I watch Conclave in Ireland?**

*Conclave* is not on any streaming or rental service in Ireland at the moment. It is available in 31 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Conclave, and is it suitable for children?**

*Conclave* is a UK 12A with no violence and nothing frightening in it; the drama is men in red arguing in corridors and reading names off ballot papers. It is suitable for older children and teenagers who can sit through two hours of talk, though there is nothing here to hold a young child. The squeamish have nothing to fear.

**How does Conclave compare to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?**

*Conclave* and [*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy) share a screenwriter, Peter Straughan, and a shape: tired men in closed rooms working out who lied. *Tinker Tailor* is the more melancholy and demanding film, and the more rewarding one if you are prepared to concentrate. *Conclave* is quicker, prettier and easier to follow, and better company for an evening you do not want to think about too hard.

**What should I watch after Conclave?**

After *Conclave*, try [*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy) (2011, Fi1m 84): Straughan’s other script about tired men in brown rooms working out who lied. Then [*The Death of Stalin*](https://film.one/film/the-death-of-stalin) (2017, Fi1m 83): Another succession fought in corridors, played this time entirely for laughs; and [*12 Angry Men*](https://film.one/film/12-angry-men) (1957, Fi1m 91): One room, one vote, and a slow change of mind you can watch happen.

### Reviews we read (20)

- **The Guardian**, Wendy Ide (5/5): Fiennes gives one of the performances of the year as the cardinal overseeing the papal election, internalising anguish and doubt in a restrained yet compelling turn. Berger's elegant direction and the film's exploration of power struggles and ritual make it gripping and universally resonant. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/01/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-is-almighty-in-thrilling-papal-tussle-edward-berger-robert-harris-isabella-rossellini-5-stars)
- **Evening Standard**, Nick Howells (85/100, inferred): The critic finds Edward Berger's papal succession thriller a mesmerising and visually striking film that improves on the director's previous work. Ralph Fiennes delivers a hypnotically towering, Oscar-worthy performance as the conflicted Cardinal Lawrence amid the scheming cardinals. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-oscar-b1186405.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Stephen Farber (85/100, inferred): The critic praises Ralph Fiennes' career-best performance as the dean overseeing the papal election and Berger's versatile direction of this gripping Vatican-set drama adapted from Robert Harris's novel. It highlights the expert ensemble and the film's exploration of power, doubt, and timely issues within the Church. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-edward-berger-1235988528/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (Critics Pick): The critic calls it a thinking man’s thriller with satisfying twists that respects the audience and offers insights into the church. The strong cast led by Ralph Fiennes and the depiction of Vatican ritual and power struggles are singled out for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-1236125537/)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (85/100, inferred): The film is sinfully entertaining, blending the pulp velocity of an airport read with high drama in its depiction of the secretive papal conclave process. Berger expertly builds tension through shifting alliances, ritual, and unexpected twists while showcasing strong performances from Fiennes and the ensemble. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-conclave-is-sinfully-entertaining.html)
- **Radio Times**, James Mottram (4/5): Berger’s Conclave is a refined work that utilises all of its various talents in a robustly scripted papal thriller. It singles out the exquisite production design and the focus on power, corruption and the role of women in the Church. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-imperious/)
- **Sight and Sound** (80/100, inferred): The film is an engrossing ecclesiastical hoot that compresses meaty intrigue into two brisk hours through strong ensemble performances. It singles out the mordant wit and the standout turn from Stanley Tucci for praise. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/conclave-hunt-new-pope-begins-edward-bergers-ecclesiastical-hoot)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (80/100, inferred): The review praises the film as a gossipy, thrilling and deliriously fun political thriller full of catty backstabbing that makes Succession look tame. Berger's faithful adaptation and Peter Straughan's witty script deliver compelling insight into the Vatican's old-school workings alongside strong performances from Fiennes, Tucci and Rossellini. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/ralph-fiennes-stanley-tucci-thrilling-catholic-catfight-conclave-3400954)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): Conclave is a supremely entertaining Vatican potboiler with schemes and twists that play out like a 1970s conspiracy thriller. It singles out Ralph Fiennes's immaculate, magisterial performance for particular praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/conclave-review-2024)
- **Empire**, Siddhant Adlakha (75/100, inferred): Berger's follow-up is described as a slickly enjoyable papal popcorn piece that balances pulpy thrills with pensive themes about faith and institutions. The critic highlights the precise clockwork screenplay, claustrophobic tension, and standout performances, especially Isabella Rossellini as a quiet but commanding presence. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/conclave/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (60/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a handsomely rendered, meticulously acted twisty papal potboiler full of backroom skulduggery but ultimately a thin and silly mystery with cheap twists. The rich filmmaking and performances are praised, while the lack of new insights is noted as a complaint. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-10-24/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-john-lithgow-stanley-tucci-vatican)
- **The Telegraph** (60/100, inferred): Fiennes is the best thing in the film as the pragmatic cardinal organising the election amid rival factions; the brisk thriller is enjoyable but ultimately leaves little depth once the white smoke clears. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-edward-berger/)
- **Financial Times**, Danny Leigh (★★★★☆): Fiennes delivers a crackerjack performance in this expertly juicy drama of Vatican intrigue, guilt and doubt; Berger turns the page-turner source into a wry, sturdy old-school thriller focused on backstairs whispers and moral questions. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/460e986f-8d09-4500-abcb-d296d166e54a)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (Critic’s Pick): The critic finds the film a sly, sleek election potboiler about selecting a new pope that is entertaining but ultimately unpersuasive in its ambitions. Strong performances, particularly Ralph Fiennes, and the Vatican intrigue are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/movies/conclave-review.html)
- **HeyUGuys**, Linda Marric (5/5): The film is a masterful blend of mystery, political intrigue, and character drama, anchored by Ralph Fiennes' tour-de-force performance as Cardinal Lawrence. Berger's direction brings cinematic gravitas and exquisite visuals to the secretive Vatican world, with a sharp script that balances theological themes and human ambition, delivering shocking yet satisfying twists. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/conclave-review/)
- **Collider**, Jason Gorber (9/10): Edward Berger’s Conclave is a remarkably well-shot and written portrait of a struggle for power with great performances across the board. The critic singles out Ralph Fiennes' career-highlight performance and the cinematography for making even narrow hallways thrilling. [Read](https://collider.com/conclave-movie-review/)
- **NME**, James Mottram (4/5): The critic finds it a highly satisfying drama-thriller about the papal election, with absorbing performances, dialogue and design that make the ritual compelling despite the subject matter. It works as both a finely-tuned thriller and a meditation on the Church’s place in society today. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/conclave-review-pope-ralph-fiennes-stanley-tucci-3815998)
- **/Film**, Witney Seibold (7.5/10): Berger's film is a tightly wound bureaucratic fantasy about an open-minded Catholic Church longing for progress, presented as a mature political thriller with shadowy conspiracies among cardinals. It features a great script, strong performances, and meticulous visuals of Vatican traditions, though the ending may strike some as clunky or sensational. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1693553/conclave-ralph-fiennes-movie-review/)
- **The Wrap** (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a surprisingly pulpy Vatican thriller that works well as an absorbing locked-room mystery with riveting performances, especially from Ralph Fiennes, but falters when it reaches for deeper significance and stumbles on its conclusion. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/conclave-review-ralph-fiennes-edward-berger/)
- **The Skinny**, Jamie Dunn (3/5): The critic calls it a handsome and thoroughly entertaining papal potboiler with fun performances, a moody score and beautiful compositions, but notes the thin cloak-and-dagger plot and that it will disappear from memory quickly. The daft but humanistic ending is singled out as memorable. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/conclave)

## Details

- **Director:** Edward Berger
- **Director:** Edward Berger
- **Screenplay:** Peter Straughan
- **Cinematography:** Stéphane Fontaine
- **Editor:** Nick Emerson
- **Music:** Hauschka
- **Production design:** Suzie Davies
- **Costume design:** Lisy Christl
- **Producer:** Tessa Ross, Alice Dawson, Robert Harris
- **Cast:** Ralph Fiennes as Lawrence; Stanley Tucci as Bellini; John Lithgow as Tremblay; Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes; Lucian Msamati as Adeyemi; Carlos Diehz as Benitez; Sergio Castellitto as Tedesco; Brían F. O'Byrne as O'Malley
- **Runtime:** 2h 00m
- **Certificate (IFCO):** 12A
- **Release (Ireland):** 29 November 2024
- **Genres:** Drama, Thriller
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2024); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Winner, 2024); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2024)
- **Budget:** $20 million
- **Box office:** $116 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t915aZmyEBg

## Where to watch in Ireland

Not streaming, renting or buying in Ireland at the last check.

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Habemus Papam* (2011): Moretti’s newly elected pope runs away; the cardinals play volleyball while they wait.
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), Fi1m 84: Straughan’s other script about tired men in brown rooms working out who lied. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *The Death of Stalin* (2017), Fi1m 83: Another succession fought in corridors, played this time entirely for laughs. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-death-of-stalin.md)
- *12 Angry Men* (1957), Fi1m 91: One room, one vote, and a slow change of mind you can watch happen. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/12-angry-men.md)
- *The Two Popes* (2019), Fi1m 75: Hopkins and Pryce argue theology over pizza; gentler, and sure of its answers. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-two-popes.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/conclave