'Conclave' viewership surges 283 per cent following Pope Francis' death
LOS ANGELES: The viewership of papal thriller drama "Conclave" has spiked 283 per cent following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, according to Luminate, which tracks viewership of streaming content.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose Francis as his papal name when he took over the Catholic Church in 2013, died on Monday at the age of 88.
"Conclave", which released in 2024 and won Peter Straughan the best adapted screenplay Oscar earlier this year, revolves around the selection of a new pontiff.
According to Luminate, as quoted by entertainment outlet Variety, "Conclave" is available on various PVOD (premium video on demand) platforms and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video without any extra cost to subscribers.
The film generated about 1.8 million minutes viewed on April 20 and by the end of April 21, that number had reached 6.9 million minutes viewed.
Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, "Conclave" is directed by Edward Berger and stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini.
The film is set just after the death of a pope and follows the papal election process and the College of Cardinals convene to elect the Bishop of Rome.
Netflix's 2019 film "The Two Popes", another Vatican-themed film, also witnessed a surge in viewership on the platform.
It follows Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) as he attempts to convince cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) to reconsider his decision to resign as an archbishop as he confides his own intentions to abdicate the papacy.
Viewership spiked 417 per cent from Sunday, when it generated 290,000 minutes watched, to Monday, when it reached 1.5 million minutes watched.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
33 minutes ago
- News18
First millennial saint Carlo Acutis will be canonised September 7: Pope
Rome, Jun 13 (AP) Pope Leo XIV on Friday set September 7 as the rescheduled date to canonise the Catholic Church's first millennial-era saint Carlo Acutis. Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints. Acutis' canonisation was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Acutis was 15 when he died in northern Italy in 2006, after a short bout with leukemia. He has become enormously popular especially among young Catholics who have been flocking to his tomb in Assisi. While he enjoyed regular pastimes for his age — hiking, video games, and joking around with friends – he also taught catechism in a local parish and did outreach to the homeless. He used his computer skills to create an online exhibit about more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognised by the church over many centuries. His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site especially during the 2025 Holy Year underway. It features a glass coffin in which Acutis can be seen dressed in sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt, In setting the September 7 date, Leo announced that Acutis would be canonised along with another Italian Catholic, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also died young at age 24 after contracting polio. (AP) PY PY
Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Materialists review: Romance is the only luxury in this glossy love triangle
If you judged Celine Song's second feature by its trailer, you might expect a frothy romcom with a glossy love triangle—Dakota Johnson caught between Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal sounds like an OTT platform algorithm's dream. But as with Past Lives, her Oscar-nominated debut, Celine is not afraid to steer the ship into deeper, stormier waters. Materialists may sparkle with the trappings of romantic comedy, but it's really a sophisticated examination of how money complicates intimacy—and whether love without financial stability can survive in today's world. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a high-end matchmaker in New York City, pairing affluent clients with partners who tick every curated box—from height and hair density to income brackets and gym routines. She believes love is a transaction like any other, a philosophy reinforced by a past breakup with John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor whose anniversary dinner plan involved a food cart. At a ritzy wedding, Lucy meets Henry (Pedro Pascal), the groom's impossibly wealthy brother, and also crosses paths with John again, now working the party as a waiter. Caught between old affection and newfound luxury, Lucy faces a modern dilemma: is it possible to have both love and a 12-million-dollar apartment? Celine Song's writing brims with nuance, wit, and surgical insight. Like in Past Lives, conversations in Materialists crackle with unspoken longing, contradictions, and societal tension. The film zeroes in on how the search for love has been shaped—and warped—by capitalism, especially in a city like New York, where net worth is often just as important as emotional compatibility. Dakota Johnson sheds her usual airy charm for something sharper, more commanding. Her Lucy is both savvy and vulnerable, a woman aware of her own contradictions and willing to live with them. Chris Evans gives one of his most grounded performances in years, playing a man whose earnestness isn't enough in a world where passion doesn't pay rent. Pedro Pascal's Henry is smooth and magnetic, but Song is careful not to present him as a one-dimensional 'Mr. Big' caricature—his appeal is just as much about emotional attentiveness as it is about wealth. The film is peppered with satirical flourishes. Lucy's clients, with their absurd romantic expectations, provide sly commentary on the commodification of dating. There's even a moment of dark reality when one of her matches turns violent—jarring, but intentionally so, grounding the movie in a world that isn't entirely aspirational. There's also a narrative corner the film paints itself into: it wants to critique the importance of money in relationships while acknowledging its undeniable influence. That leads to a slight cheat in the final act, where financial stakes are softened to make room for romance. The compromise may be intentional, but it also deflates some of the tension that's been building all along. Materialists isn't trying to give audiences a grand cinematic kiss in the rain. Smart, stylish, and at times uncomfortably honest, it's a film that dares to ask whether we fall in love with people—or with the lives they offer. It wants to leave you thinking about whether love can thrive without a healthy bank balance—or if, in today's hyper-capitalist world, romance has become just another luxury item. If this film doesn't sweep you off your feet, it stays with you like a tough but necessary conversation.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
"We have it in my office...," says Zoe Saldaña about her Oscar; reveals the award is trans and goes by they/them pronouns
Zoe Saldaña, the Academy Award-winning actress, dazzled on the red carpet of the film 'Elio.' While having a conversation, the 46-year-old actress introduced her sparkling golden statuette of Oscar as trans with the pronounce they/them. About Zoe Saldaña's Oscar According to People, when asked about where she keeps her precious award, Saldaña disclosed that the Oscar is kept in her office, and it is gender fluid. Additionally, Osacr is identified as trans and goes by the pronouns they/them. Earlier this year, Saldaña won the invaluable award for her supporting role in 'Emilia Pérez,' a Spanish-language musical and crime drama. The actress played the role of Rita, the lawyer who has been asked to help the titular character during the gender transformation surgery to help escape the cartel boss. Zoe's performance has been lauded by the critics, and she ruled the 2025 award season with her portrayal, winning supporting actress prizes from the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTAs, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and, of course, the Oscar. Zoe Saldaña's emotional award acceptance speech... 'Thank you to the Academy for recognising the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita, and talking about powerful women,' Zoe said during her award acceptance speech, before adding, 'Jacques, you are a beloved character in my life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Thank you for taking the interest. Thank you for being so curious about these women to tell this story. To my cast and my crew of 'Emilia Perez,' I'm sharing this award with you,' according to Variety. Saldaña, who was teary-eyed at the moment, honoured her Dominican roots as well and stated that her grandmother would have been proud of her singing in Spanish. Additionally, aside from winning the honorary awards, Zoe is also winning the cool mom points for working in the film 'Elio' with her kids - 8-year-old Zen and twins Bowie and Cy, 10, whom she shares with her husband Marco Perego.
