If you loved
Conclave
Edward Berger · Film · 2024
If Conclave gripped you, it is because you crave the high-stakes tension of powerful institutions hiding dangerous, world-altering secrets.
Books on the same thread
The Silent Corner
Dean Ray Koontz · Book · 2017
Explores: Conspiracy, Government Conspiracy, Suicide.
Much like the covert machinations in Conclave, this thriller explores how a secretive, powerful organization manipulates reality, forcing you to question the integrity of those at the top.
All the Colors of the Dark
Chris Whitaker · Book · 2024
Explores: Grief, Childhood Trauma, Vigilante Justice.
This story mirrors the dark, atmospheric investigation found in Conclave, pulling you into a web of small-town secrets where the truth is buried beneath layers of systemic deception.
The Caretaker
Marcus Kliewer · Book
Explores: isolated setting, malevolent forces, creeping dread.
The sense of isolated, creeping dread present here echoes the claustrophobic Vatican setting of Conclave, trapping you in a space where malevolent forces threaten to dismantle everything.
The Villa
Rachel Hawkins · Book
Explores: artistic obsession, female friendship, dark academia.
You will appreciate how this mystery peels back the layers of a prestigious, cloistered environment, revealing the same obsession and dark history that defines the atmosphere of Conclave.
Series on the same thread
The Young Pope
Paolo Sorrentino · Series · 2016
Explores: faith and doubt, power dynamics, corruption.
This series serves as a direct companion to Conclave, masterfully dissecting the internal power struggles and spiritual crises that occur when the highest office in the Church is occupied.
The New Pope
Paolo Sorrentino · Series · 2020
Explores: Faith and Doubt, Power and Corruption, Existentialism.
If the political maneuvers in Conclave intrigued you, this continuation delves deeper into the clash between tradition and modernity within the Vatican, maintaining the same high-stakes religious drama.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Conclave: Power Struggle.
The intricate power struggles and strategic survival tactics seen in Conclave are mirrored here, as leaders navigate a complex political landscape where one wrong move means total ruin.
Messiah
Michael Petroni · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Conclave: Political Thriller.
This thriller captures the same tension between faith and doubt found in Conclave, challenging you to determine if a powerful figure is a savior or a calculated threat.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
This podcast provides a real-world look at the institutional shifts and power dynamics that Conclave dramatizes, grounding the themes of systemic change in actual political and technological analysis.
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
Explores: corruption, political scandal, accountability.
The investigative focus on corruption and accountability aligns perfectly with the moral dilemmas in Conclave, showing how even the most untouchable figures can be caught in their own lies.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Conclave based on a true story about a specific Pope?
Conclave is a 2024 film directed by Edward Berger that depicts the fictional process of electing a new Pope following an unexpected death. While it focuses on the ancient rituals of the Vatican, the plot involving Cardinal Lawrence and the subsequent conspiracy is a cinematic narrative rather than historical fact.
What is the primary conflict Cardinal Lawrence faces in Conclave?
In Conclave, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert ritual of electing a new Pope. His primary conflict arises when he discovers a conspiracy hidden among the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders, which threatens to cause the downfall of the institution while the cardinals are sequestered in the Vatican.
Does Conclave take place entirely within the Vatican?
Yes, Conclave is set within the Vatican, where the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders are sequestered to conduct the ancient ritual of electing a new Pope. The entire process of the election and the resulting conspiracy unfold within these walls until the new leader is chosen.
Who is the central character managing the election in Conclave?
The central character in Conclave is Cardinal Lawrence. He is responsible for overseeing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new Pope following the unexpected death of the previous one, placing him at the center of the conspiracy that develops among the powerful leaders sequestered in the Vatican.