Conclave: how to watch, reviews, cast and everything we know

Ralph Fiennes in Conclave (Image credit: Philippe Antonello/Focus Features)

After hauling in a slew of awards for his masterful adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger is bringing his touch to a seemingly smaller story, but one that seems poised for just as much drama, Conclave. Helping him bring this story to life is an impressive quartet of major actors, led by Ralph Fiennes.

Conclave is another 2024 new movie from indie label Focus Features, which has already had a number of notable movies this year — The Bikeriders, Didi and Piece by Piece — and has the vampire movie Nosferatu still on the way. But if you’re someone who likes to look at potential awards movies, Conclave may be the most likely bet from Focus for 2024.

Here is everything that you need to know about Conclave.

Conclave how to watch

Conclave is now available to watch at-home in the US via digital on-demand platforms. It is only available in movie theaters in the UK.

Conclave cast

Four big names headline the Conclave cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini.

Fiennes is playing the main character of Cardinal Lawrence, who is tasked with running the conclave to select the next pope. Fiennes is an Oscar-nominated actor for Schindler's List and The English Patient, though he is also known for his role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies, The Grand Budapest Hotel and, more recently, The Menu.

Also playing cardinals in the movie are Tucci and Lithgow. Also both Oscar nominees, Tucci earned his nod for The Lovely Bones but also famously starred in The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games franchise, Citadel and his own travel show Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy; Lithgow, nominated for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment, is also a prolific TV actor, having starred in Third Rock from the Sun, The Crown and The Old Man (which returns with The Old Man season 2 this fall).

Rounding things out in the movie's big four is Rossellini as a nun in the Vatican. While never nominated for an Oscar, Rossellini has many memorable performances to her name, including Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Julia and Spaceman.

Other cast members for Conclave include Lucian Msamati (See How They Run), Brían F. O'Byrne (The Wonder), Carlos Diehz, Merab Ninidze (Without Remorse), Thomas Loibl (Zeit der Helden) and Sergio Castellitto (In Treatment).

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Conclave plot

Conclave is based on the international bestseller by Robert Harris and is adapted for the big screen by Peter Straughn (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Here is the official synopsis:

"From director Edward Berger, Conclave follows one of the world's most secretive and ancient events — selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church's most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church."

Conclave trailer

Watch the official trailer for Conclave right here:

CONCLAVE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters October 25 - YouTube

Watch On

A brand new Conclave trailer and official clip from the movie was released on October 10. Watch directly below:

CONCLAVE - Official Trailer 2 [HD] - Only In Theaters October 25 - YouTube

Watch On

CONCLAVE - "Pass The Chalice" Official Clip - Only In Theaters October 25 - YouTube

Watch On

Conclave reviews

Read WTW's official Conclave review to find out what we thought about the political thriller. But if you're curious about then movie's overall consensus, it is "Certified Fresh" with a 93% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Conclave awards

Here is a roundup of the major awards and nominations that Conclave has earned to date:

Golden Globes

Best Motion Picture Drama (nominee)
Best Actor Drama — Ralph Fiennes (nominee)
Best Supporting Actress — Isabella Rossellini (nominee)
Best Director — Edward Berger (nominee)
Best Screenplay — Peter Straughan (nominee)
Best Original Score (nominee)

National Board of Review

Best Ensemble (winner)
Top 10 Film

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association

Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)
Best Acting Ensemble (winner)

Edward Berger movies

Originally from Germany, Edward Berger broke out for most of the world with the award-winning adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, which won four Oscars, including Best International Feature. But Berger has been working as a director since the 90s, though most of his work has been in TV (including multiple episodes of Your Honor and The Terror). Still, he has a number of feature directing credits to his name, which you can see here: