Fresh off of numerous award nominations and wins,Conclavehas just passed an impressive milestone at the global box office. Directed by Edward Berger and based on the Robert Harris novel of the same name, the film follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) as he attempts to guide his peers towardselecting a new Popeamid political turbulence and conspiracy. Upon its domestic debut, the film initially grossed $30 million in the United States and earned an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 93% from critics.

Conclavehas reached a major milestone,passing $75 million at the global box office. According toBox Office Mojo, the film is currently at $76 million worldwide. This news came shortly after the movie was nominated for 12 BAFTA Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay (Adapted), and Best Cinematography.

all of the cardinals sitting together in full religious dress in Conclave

What This Means For Conclave

Buzz forConclavecame quickly, with critics praising Berger’s sure-handed direction, Fiennes’ understated yet magnetic performance, and Stéphane Fontaine’s stellar cinematography. In hisreview ofConclave,Screen Rant’s Graeme Guttmann gave the drama a high score of nine out of ten, describing Berger’s direction as “fittingly operatic.” Outside of the BAFTAs, the film has also seen awards season success in the Critics Choice Awards, earning 11 nominations, and the Golden Globes, where it earned six nods in major categories, taking home a win for Best Screenplay.

It’s likely that the film will earn several Oscar nominations, garnering more buzz that may lead to more moviegoers congregating at the theater to check out the compelling and surprisingly dramaticConclave.

Conclave official poster

All of these nods, accolades, andrecent box office milestones are good optics forConclaveasvoters prepare for the final stretch of awards season with the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards coming next week. It’s likely that the film will earn several Oscar nominations, garnering more buzz that may lead to more moviegoers congregating at the theater to check out thecompelling and surprisingly dramaticConclave. The critical acclaim and financial success has cemented the movie as one of 2024’s strongest dramas, and is a testament to the strength of a well-made, mature film.

Our Take On Conclave’s Box Office Milestone

Conclavedeserves every penny, asit’s a testament to the argument that seemingly simple concepts like electing a new Pope are ripe with cinematic potential,and that PG-rated movies, while rare, can still perform well in awards season. This is doubly impressive, considering Berger’s last film,All Quiet on the Western Front, which won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film and was also nominated for Best Picture, was rated R.

This speaks to his versatility with storytelling, another admirable trait in today’s moviegoing landscape, which often prioritizes bigger blockbusters over mid-budget offerings. Because of the writing, direction, performances, cinematography, and potent themes,Conclaveis one of my top five movies of 2024. I have my fingers crossed for the possibility of the film making it to $100 million at the global box office, perhaps spurred by further awards victories.

Conclave

Cast

Cardinal Lawrence leads the secretive papal election at the Vatican, where he uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that could destabilize the Church’s foundation as leaders gather from around the world.