'Conclave' Viewership Surges 283% After Pope Francis' Death

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88, viewership of the Oscar-winning film 'Conclave,' which depicts the Vatican's process for selecting a new pope, surged by 283% across streaming platforms, according to data from Luminate. The film, directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes, saw its watched minutes jump from 1.8 million on April 20 to 6.9 million on April 21. 'Conclave' had already gained attention for its eight Oscar nominations and win for Best Adapted Screenplay, and its relevance increased as audiences sought to understand the real-life conclave process set to begin soon. Netflix's 'The Two Popes,' which explores the relationship between Pope Francis and his predecessor, also saw a 417% spike in viewership following the pope’s death. Both films benefited from renewed public interest in papal succession and Vatican intrigue. Industry analysts note that similar spikes in viewership have followed other major news events connected to film or television subject matter.