Everyone’s Streaming This Thrilling Political Mystery—Except Me

As someone who literally has an app on my phone just to track all the TV shows I watch, it’s safe to say I probably consume way more content than I’d ever publicly admit. From movies and limited series to what’s currently in theaters, every streamer, production company and studio seems to be in constant overdrive churning out new projects—so a girl’s got to stay organized somehow. Since there are only 24 hours in a day (and a third of that is devoted to beauty sleep), I usually turn to what's trending to help decide my next watch. I mean, if a film or show racks up millions of minutes in viewing time, it has to be worth checking out… right?

Sometimes it’s a brand-new release. Other times, it’s an older film finally getting its due—or, in this case, a second wind.

Lately, as I’ve been browsing Prime Video, I couldn’t help but notice that the same movie has been holding tight to the #1 spot on the streamer’s charts. That film? Conclave.

The 2024 political thriller—starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini—follows a cardinal who organizes a conclave to elect the next pope, only to uncover dark secrets and scandals surrounding the major candidates. It’s based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris and was released in U.S. theaters in October 2024.

Naturally, I understood Conclave's sudden dominance on Prime once I realized it hit the platform just one day after Pope Francis's death at age 88. (It had previously been available on Peacock.) The timing, paired with the subject matter, definitely played a role in the renewed interest.

But beyond timing, the film has been a success by nearly every metric. Conclave currently holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer described it as “a thriller with fun twists,” while another noted, “With an actual conclave coming up, it was fascinating to see the process.” PureWow's VP of News and Entertainment, Phil Mutz, even raved about the film saying, "the movie (which I promise you is twist-filled) kept me on the edge of my seat for all of it." Sure, there were a few light critiques of the plot from some reviewers, but overall, it was a hit.

It’s also been a force during awards season. The film picked up several nominations and took home a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, as well as, taking home honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics' Choice Awards and even the Oscars.