Real-Life Papal Conclave Begins: How Conclave Movie Shapes the Buzz

As 133 cardinals from 71 countries gather in the Sistine Chapel today, May 7, 2025, to elect the 267th Pope, the secretive real-life conclave has gripped global attention—fueled by the Oscar-winning film Conclave. Wondering what to watch to understand this historic moment? TGI Movie is your guide for UK fans, offering cinema showtimes, film tickets, streaming options on Disney+, Netflix, or Prime Video, and tips to add Conclave to your personalized watchlist. With the Vatican’s white smoke on the horizon, explore how the 2024 movie mirrors and diverges from reality, and read reviews to join the conversation!

The Real-Life Conclave: A Historic Election

Following Pope Francis’ death on April 21, 2025, at age 88, the conclave began on May 7 in Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. With 133 cardinals—diverse yet divided, per The Guardian—voting under Michelangelo’s frescoes, the process requires a two-thirds majority to name a successor. Favorites like Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are in contention, but experts call it “everybody’s guess.”

The conclave, governed by the Vatican’s Universi Dominici Gregis, is steeped in secrecy. Cardinals swear oaths of silence, mobile signals are jammed, and staff face excommunication for leaks. Black smoke signals no decision; white smoke announces “Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope!). 

Conclave Movie: A Timely Cinematic Mirror

The 2024 film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, has surged in popularity, with a 283% viewership spike on streaming platforms like Prime Video since Francis’ death. Based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, it dramatizes a fictional papal election with politicking, scandals, and a shocking twist. Its eight Oscar nominations and BAFTA win made it a 2024 standout, and even some cardinals have watched it in cinemas, per Politico.

How to Engage with Conclave and the Conclave

• Cinema Screenings: Check TGI Movie for UK cinema showtimes for Conclave retrospectives or Oscar-season re-releases. Book film tickets to see Fiennes and Stanley Tucci shine on the big screen.

• Streaming Options: Stream Conclave on Prime Video, where viewership soared post-Francis’ death. Check Disney+ or Netflix for related Vatican documentaries. Add to your personalized watchlist on TGI Movie.

Tips for Your Conclave Experience

• Catch It in Cinemas: Find UK cinema showtimes on TGI Movie and book film tickets for Conclave to feel its Vatican intrigue.

• Stream the Drama: Stream Conclave on Prime Video or explore papal history on Disney+ or Netflix. Add to your personalized watchlist for easy access.

• Track the Real Conclave: Follow TGI Movie for updates on the Sistine Chapel’s smoke signals and the new Pope’s reveal, tying back to Conclave’s themes.