Following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, viewership for Vatican-themed media surged significantly. Edward Berger’s Oscar-winning film “Conclave,” which dramatizes the secretive election process for a new pope, experienced a 283% increase in streaming viewership, jumping from 1.8 million to 6.9 million minutes watched. Similarly, Netflix’s “The Two Popes” saw a 417% spike, rising from 290,000 to 1.5 million minutes.
The renewed interest in such films coincides with the upcoming real-life conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor. Historically, major events within the Catholic Church have spurred public curiosity, leading to increased consumption of related media. This trend underscores the public’s fascination with the inner workings of the Vatican and the papal succession process.
While “Conclave” and “The Two Popes” have seen significant viewership boosts, other religious-themed content, like Netflix’s “Call Me Francis,” hasn’t experienced as much of a surge yet. However, as events unfold, these titles may also see increased interest. The spike in viewership reflects the global impact of Pope Francis’ passing and the anticipation surrounding the selection of the next pontiff.