“Conclave” is poised to cross the $100 million mark at the worldwide box office this week, marking a significant achievement for a film targeted at adult audiences. This milestone comes shortly after the papal thriller secured four BAFTA awards, winning in the categories of best film, best British film, best adapted screenplay, and best editing. It tied for the most wins alongside “The Brutalist.”
Director Edward Berger expressed his excitement over the film’s success, stating, “This is such a personal film for me, so to hear how it has connected with and entertained so many movie lovers around the world makes me very happy. I am very grateful to our incredible partners releasing ‘Conclave’ who have helped this film reach its utmost potential.”
The film, produced by FilmNation Entertainment, has reached a current global gross of approximately $98.5 million. Of this total, international markets have contributed $66.3 million, while North America has accounted for $32.2 million. Focus Features is handling the film’s U.S. distribution, where it has been screening in 300 theaters since its release in October.
Several major international markets, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, are set to release the film soon. “Conclave” was produced on a budget of $20 million.
FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner highlighted the film’s broad appeal, stating, “Distributors have been telling us what their audiences want, and we have been listening. Moviegoers want a compelling and entertaining experience at the cinema, and audiences are more discerning than ever. ‘Conclave’ is the perfect storm of great directing, writing, and acting and shows us how the independent model works.”
The film delves into the political maneuvering within the Catholic Church as different factions vie to elect a new pope. Its ensemble cast features Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. Peter Straughan adapted the screenplay from Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the same name.
In North America, “Conclave” has grossed $32.2 million. The film has also performed well in various international markets. In the United Kingdom, it has earned $10.3 million, where Black Bear handled the local distribution. In France, where the film was distributed by SND, it grossed $8.9 million. Meanwhile, the film brought in $4.3 million in Australia.
In Germany, Berger’s home country, the film has generated $9 million, with Leonine overseeing its distribution. In Spain, where DeAPlaneta handled local distribution, “Conclave” has accumulated $5 million. The film has also performed well in Mexico, earning $3.7 million through distributor Sun/Diamond, and in Switzerland, where Ascot Elite handled distribution, contributing $2.1 million to the overall gross.
In addition to its box office success, “Conclave” has earned eight Academy Award nominations. These include nods for best picture and best adapted screenplay. Ralph Fiennes has received a nomination for best actor, while Isabella Rossellini has been recognized with a best supporting actress nomination.