Conclave

After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new one. Sequestered in the Vatican with the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders until the process is complete, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could lead to its downfall.

Conclave lands as a sleek, entertainingly pulpy Vatican thriller that most critics found far more fun than its solemn trappings suggest, with Fiennes and an ensemble cast doing exceptional work. The main fault line runs through the film's depth: detractors see a mystery that flatters its own intelligence without earning it, while admirers argue the camp and the gravitas are held in productive tension. The final twist proved especially divisive, drawing charges of recklessness from some quarters and genuine admiration from others.