Reports revealed that the 2024 film Conclave has soared in its viewership following the news of Pope Francis' death.
As Catholics worldwide mourned the passing of the late pope and celebrate his legacy, some people are also already curious about which pope might be elected in the upcoming conclave that will take place in a few weeks.
Conclave's Streaming Viewership Soared After Pope Francis' Death
According to a report from Luminate (via Variety), the streaming viewership for Conclave spiked 283% on Monday after reports came that Pope Francis had passed away.
The day before Pope Francis' death, the film generated about 1.8 million minutes viewed. However, by the end of April 21 (the day of his passing), the number soared to 6.9 million minutes viewed.
While there is no explanation provided on why the viewership soared, we can easily assume that it is related to the recent events, and people might be curious to find out what happens in a conclave.
The film, based on the best-selling Robert Harris novel, focuses on Cardinal Lawrence as he is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events and selecting a new Pope. He finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.
It stars Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. It was one of the critically acclaimed films last year. It won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and received a Best Picture nomination.
The Two Popes' Viewership Also Soared After Pope Francis' Death
Conclave is not the only Vatican-themed film that saw its viewership rise following the news of Pope Francis' death.
The Netflix film The Two Popes also gained traction as its viewership spiked 417% from Sunday, when it generated 290,000 minutes watched, to Monday (the day of Pope Francis' death), when it reached 1.5 million minutes watched.
The film focuses on the conservative Pope Benedict XVI and the liberal future Pope Francis as they must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.
The subject matter may also have something to do with its spike in viewership, as people are currently consuming content related to Pope Francis to celebrate his life and legacy.
Did you also watch Conclave after the death of Pope Francis? Let us know in the comments!
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