Conclave Sees Surge in Viewership Following Pope Francis' Passing

      Conclave, the film nominated for Best Picture that centers on the election of a new pope, has seen a surge in viewership following the death of Pope Francis.

      Luminate, a media tracking agency, reported that the film was streamed for 6.9 million minutes on Amazon Prime on Monday, the day of the pope's passing, up from 966,000 minutes the previous Monday.

      On Tuesday, after Amazon made the film free for subscribers, viewing time skyrocketed to 18.3 million minutes, an increase from just 574,000 the previous Tuesday.

      Luminate noted, “The data indicates a week-over-week increase of +3,200 percent in viewership.”

      Interest in Conclave may further rise when the process to elect a successor to Pope Francis officially commences. Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 due to a stroke and heart failure at his Vatican residence, will have his funeral on Saturday, after which the conclave will take place.

      How Accurate Is Conclave?

      While Conclave fictionalizes certain aspects of the pope selection rituals, it might represent the clearest depiction of the process for the general public, considering the strict secrecy involved. Dr. Kurt Martens, a canon law professor at the Catholic University of America, told The New York Times that the film is “quite accurate, aside from a few elements.”

      Directed by Edward Berger, known for All Quiet on the Western Front, and based on Robert Harris’ acclaimed novel, the film combines elements of a papal procedural and thriller. The narrative follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) as he grapples with his faith and navigates complex agendas while overseeing the conclave.

      Upon its release last year, the film attracted both older and younger audiences, with unexpected viral moments, including a scene where one of the cardinals is depicted vaping.

      “I love how it resonates with people. Half of our U.S. audience was over 55, and the other half ranged from 18 to 55. We brought back older viewers who had been overlooked, while also appealing to younger fans of thrillers, and yes, the memes contributed significantly,” producer Michael Jackman shared with MovieMaker.

      Jackman attributed the film's success to its meticulous attention to detail.

      “We created a replica of the Sistine Chapel, which took 14 weeks to build. We required 104 cardinals as extras—resulting in thousands of labor days throughout the shoot. While labor costs are lower in Italy than in the U.S., it still requires daily work. We filmed over 42 days with a reasonable budget,” he explained.

      The production team consulted with theology professor Francesco Bonomo and Father Elio Lops, among others, to ensure the conclave portrayal was as accurate as possible.

      “They assisted with everything, from the way cardinals handle their ballots to their interactions with nuns and their attire when not fully dressed for ceremonies,” Jackman added.

      The film received eight Academy Award nominations, winning one: Peter Straughan secured the Best Adapted Screenplay award. At one point, it seemed to some Oscar analysts that the film might gain momentum for Best Picture due to its timely release coinciding with Pope Francis’ recently prolonged hospitalization.

      However, in the end, Anora, which tells the story of a sex worker in a tumultuous marriage to a son of a Russian oligarch, took home Best Picture and several other awards.

      Conclave was not the only film to see a rise in viewership in light of Pope Francis’ passing. Netflix’s 2019 comedy-drama The Two Popes, featuring Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI, also experienced a significant increase in views.

      Luminate noted that The Two Popes was viewed for 290,000 minutes on Sunday—Easter Sunday—compared to 1.5 million minutes on Monday.

      Main image: Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence and Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Vincent Benitez in Conclave. Focus Features.