Conclavehas been a major hit. The conspiracy thriller has been named one of the ten best films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. It has also done incredible numbers at the box office, proving that Ralph Fiennes is still one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, the film sees Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) organizing a papal conclave to elect the next pope. While at it, he uncovers wild secrets about each candidate.
With a running time of 120 minutes,Conclavefeels short and sweet. As soon as the credits start rolling, you might wish this was a long-running show on streaming. Thankfully, the movie has close cousins. For decades, writers and filmmakers have been obsessed with the dark side of the Vatican. They have imagined the dangerous games that people close to the Pope play to change the world order or benefit themselves. The church doesn’t always like it, but audiences do.
10’Pope Joan' (2009)
A woman cannot become Pope in the Catholic Church, but inPope Joan, it happens. When her city gets attacked, Johanna (Johanna Wokalek) takes refuge at a monastery, disguised as a male priest. No one realizes she is a woman, and her mastery of the scriptures impresses everyone.Her popularity grows so much that she ends up in the Vatican, where she is soon named Pope. Butthings become complicated when she gets pregnant.Worse still, she has to deal with a librarian who is also plotting to become Pope.
Endless Close Calls
Pope Joanis a return to form for Sönke Wortmann, and the German director presentsa tense, bleak portrait of morality in the Vatican.Neither easy nor pleasant to view, the movie’s impact sneaks up on you, and the close calls creep under your skin. The acting bar is high, withJohanna Wokalek’s believable turn as a member of the opposite sex making you forgetMrs. Doubtfire.The ending will break your heart, but you’ll be left clapping.
9’Amen' (2002)
Was the Vatican in bed with the Nazis? No serious evidence points to that, butAmenputs the church on trial and sentences it. Here, Nazi chemist Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur) is tasked with developing Zyklon B, a disinfectant to purify drinking water for the German army,only to realize his invention is being used to kill Jews in extermination camps.He tries to bring the matter to the Vatican, only to be rebuffed.
A César Award Winner
Greek director Costa-Gravas’ visually inspired conspiracy thriller is a WWII masterpiece and one of the famed filmmaker’s most arresting movies.Stylized locations, expressionistic and high-hued lighting, and a stellar cast,only add to the picture’s grandeur and mystery. Ulrich Mühe is also downright creepy as the Nazi official, The Doctor:a definitive embodiment of evil.We’ve seen movie characters dining with the devil before, butAmenwill haunt you forever,
8’The Da Vinci Code' (2006)
The Da Vinci Code
InThe Da Vinci Code,American symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) uncovers a secret that the Vatican has held on to for years. His findings reveal thatthe Holy Grail isn’t just a cup but a symbol for Mary Magdalene, who was allegedly, Jesus Christ’s wife and mother of his mother.Langdon determines that the church has suppressed this information to preserve Christ’s divinity.
Bold Accusations Against the Church
Understandably,The Da Vinci Code,was banned in many countries. The Vatican alsocriticized it and threatened to sue. EvenHanks would later disown the film, but it’s a great piece of cinema. What starts asa story about art morphs into a terrifying psychological thriller in director Ron Howard’s capable hands, with Hanks turning in one of the best performances of the 2000s.Conspiracy theorists will love the film, but skeptics too won’t help but marvel at the daring plot.
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7’The Pope’s Exorcist' (2023)
The Pope’s Exorcist
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) fromThe Pope’s Exorcistismore detective-like than priest-like. He is notorious for plucking demons from the bodies of humans, and while at it,he interrogates and mocks supernatural beings.Watching him is fun and things get even more interesting when he finds himself in the middle of a centuries-old Vatican conspiracy that might shake the church’s foundations.
Fighting Demons and Nefarious Church Figures
Graced with swelling music by Jade Kurzel, a haunting performance by Daniel Zovatto, and impressionistic images.The Pope’s Exorcistisa richly powerful, unsentimental meditation on church dynamics. Crowehas given better performancesthan this, butthe intense plot is ideal for any actor intending to be on autopilot mode.Even better, a sequel is on the way, so you’ll have more to look forward to once you are done here.
6’The Two Popes' (2019)
The Two Popes
The Two Popesuses a real skeleton and sticks plenty of fake flesh on it. The mostly fictional events revolve aroundPope Benedict’s intention to resign following theVatican Leaks Scandal.The film mainlyfocuses on the Pope’s conversations with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio,who would later become Pope Francis.
Another Essential Anthony Hopkins Film
A buoyant, thought-provoking Netflix thriller featuring the wry talent of Anthony Hopkins,The Two Popestreated viewers to an idea that had been imitated numerous times, but never done so convincingly. Oscar nominations came, and so did countless other awards. There is plenty of humor too, butthe film never shies away from tackling bold topics like sex abuse in the church.
5’The Pope Must Die' (1991)
The Pope Must Diet
InThe Pope Must Die, a documentation errorresults in an unqualified priest being declared the new Pope.Such a mistake cannot be reversed, so Albinizi — who secretly loves cars, women, and pop music — remains stuck on the job. Within no time, he chances upon details linking the Vatican to the mafia. Predictably, assassins come after him.
Blending Tension and Humor
In America,the Big Three television networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) wouldn’t show commercials for the film, labeling it sacrilegious. Despite that, it became a cult classic.
Movies about the clergy are seldom cheery, butthis portrait of an isolated Pope is so gag-heavy that you’ll find it hard not to laugh.It’s also hard not to sympathize with the emptiness at the heart of Albinizis’ new job, especially when he has to watch out for a murderous Cardinal.
4’Stigmata' (1999)
Atheist hairdresser, Frankie Paige (Patricia Arquette),develops stigmata (the same wounds as Christ had during his crucifixion) after receiving a strange rosary as a gift.When the Vatican sends Father Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) to investigate,he establishes a connection between Frankie’s stigmata and a hidden text — the Gospel of Jesus— containing contradictory teachings to those of the Catholic Church.The discovery puts him on a collision path with the Vatican’s golden boy, Cardinal Houseman (Jonathan Pryce), who is keen on suppressing the truth. Will theStigmatavillain get his way?
Will the Secrets Come Out?
Patricia Arquette captures just the right quantity of vulnerability in her portrayal of the troubled Frankie. Her performance especiallyshines brightly whenever the character becomes overwhelmed by the spirit and starts speaking in different languages.There are a few scary scenes, but the film can easily be viewed by fans of all genres. You’ll also feel more educated about Christianity when the story ends.
3’End of Days' (1999)
End of Days
End of Daysopens in 1979 whenthe Pope has sent a priest on a mission to protect a baby, who the Vatican believes has been chosen by the devil to be the future mother of his child: the Antichrist.However, a Vatican faction, led by a corrupt cardinal, insists the baby must die. As the drama unfolds, a former NYPD officer, Jericho (Arnold Schwarzenegger), finds himself caught up in the mess.
A Unique and Satisfying Schwarzenegger Flick
We wouldn’t expect Annie to be in a movie like this, but ‘80s and ‘90s action stars always surprise her. Chuck Norris, too,has a religious-themed filmthat’ll thrill any movie lover. Circling back toEnd of Days, it is a probing, brilliantly acted psychological character study clothed in transcendent horror.Most importantly, the film sounds good. Everything from the hooting to the breathing can be heard. No wonder the Motion Picture Sound Editors nominated it for Best Sound Editing.
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2’Resurrected' (2023)
Resurrected
Resurrectedtakes us tothe near future where the Vatican has devised a way to resurrect people.The process is only known by higher-ups and is only available to sinless people who die while under the age of 65. But the secret doesn’t remain hidden for long. A priest named Stanley finds out about it and hell breaks loose.
A Creative Tecno-Religious Film
The movie’s “screenlife” formatelevates it above others of its kind.Stanley is an online priest, so we only see the events through his screen. Thethemes of fatherhood and morality are explained in detail here,perhaps in a way that might make audiences uncomfortable, but the uneasiness is worth it.
1’Monsignor' (1982)
Starring Christopher Reeves,Monsignorrevolves around the exploits of Father Flaherty, a priest who is very good at accounting. With the Vatican experiencing financial difficulties during World War II, Flaherty’s financial skills are needed. However, Flaherty is an “ends justifies means” kind of person, andhe soon pulls the church into black market deals involving cigarettes. It helps, but not for long. And when things go south, he pays the price.
A Strange Christopher Reeve Picture
Adapted fromMonsignorby Jack-Alain Léger, this immaculately realized, old-fashioned thriller raises the spirit and shocks the heart. From making deals with the mafia to sleeping with a damsel in the postulant stage of becoming a nun, this priest is as weird as they come. Hopefully, parents hid all VHS copies from young Superman fans eager to grab anything that had Christopher Reeves' face on it. Beyond that, the film was shot entirely in Rome, soaudiences are treated to incredible cinematography that truly captures the Vatican life.
