Prime Video Just Silently Added This 93%-Rated Mysterious Church Thriller
Oscar-winning film about the Vatican's religious leaders finds a new home on Prime Video. Stick around so we can tell you why you should watch it now.
Not many movies focus on the Vatican's complex leadership system, but Conclave is one of those that makes you fall in love with it. The Oscar-winning film documents the seclusion of the Vatican's religious leaders as they choose the new pope. And it's available to stream on Prime Video since April 22.
What makes the film outstanding is its detailed approach to uncovering the story of the election of the new Pope. And today, especially in light of the death of Pope Francis, the film can shed light on how events may unfold in reality.
What Is Conclave About?
The storyline of Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, mirrors an event poised to unfold in real life — the selection of a new pope, typically held about two weeks after a pontiff's death.
Set within the Vatican's hallowed walls, Conclave follows the secretive gathering of cardinals and high-ranking clergy as they prepare to choose the Church’s next spiritual leader following the passing of a fictional pope.
The film delves into the complex political maneuvering behind the scenes, exploring how the electors wrestle with questions of faith and loyalty. As the conclave begins, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, swear an oath of secrecy, and the doors are sealed behind them.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and the number of electors is capped at 120.
Alongside Ralph Fiennes, the film features an amazing A-list cast including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Adapted from Robert Harris’s novel, Conclave was met with critical acclaim, earning eight Oscar nominations with Peter Straughan taking home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
What Do Fans and Critics Think of Conclave?
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Conclave has 93% from critics and 86% from viewers.
- On IMDb, Conclave has 7.4/10.
“I quite liked the plot, but the cinematography and the score were the real standouts for me. What a masterfully crafted film. Possibly my new favorite acting from Ralph Fiennes as well,” Redditor AdDiligent7657 said.
“Fiennes is such a king for movies like this. Keeping the extremely solid thrill ride alive, it reminded me a lot of The Menu. Just a really interesting genre movie. There's actually several great performances here but what I didn't expect was how this movie kept me guessing. I would suggest going to see the movie before reading any spoilers because whatever you think this movie is doing, it's not,” another Redditor added.
There are other opinions, however.
“The first 80% of the movie were great, superb, I was enthralled. When the explosion happened, for a split second I thought something had exploded in the theatre. But the last 20%... good lord. [...] The ending would have felt scandalous and engaging, maybe eight years ago, but now just feels trite,” noted Redditor ChallengeRationality.
Where to Stream Conclave?
Conclave is now available to stream on Prime.
