‘Conclave’ Hits $100 Million Milestone at Global Box Office

“Conclave” will cross the $100 million mark at the worldwide box office this week, a major milestone for a film aimed squarely at adult audiences. The news comes days after the papal thriller earned four BAFTAs — best film, best British film, best adapted screenplay and best editing — while tying for most wins with “The Brutalist.”

“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,” Edward Berger, the film’s director, said in a statement. “I am very grateful to our incredible partners releasing ‘Conclave’ who have helped this film reach its utmost potential.”

FilmNation Entertainment, which produced the film and which is handling its international release, reports that the film’s gross currently hovers $98.5 million. Of that, $66.3 million comes from international markets and $32.2 million comes from North America. Focus Features is distributing the film in the U.S. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are among the key territories releasing soon. The film reportedly cost $20 million to produce.

“Distributors have been telling us what their audiences want, and we have been listening,” FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner said in a statement. “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.”

“Conclave” centers on the political jockeying to elect a new pope, focusing on the different factions in the church who are vying for power. The cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. Peter Straughan wrote the screenplay, which was adapted from Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the same name.

Among other milestones, in North America, “Conclave” has grossed $32.2 million. Elsewhere, “Conclave” grossed $10.3 million in the U.K. (local distribution handled by Black Bear), it grossed $8.9 million in France (local distribution handled by SND), and it grossed $4.3M in Australia.

In Berger’s home country of Germany, the film has grossed $9 million and was distributed by Leonine. In Spain, where the local distributor was DeAPlaneta, the picture has earned $5 million. It has also earned $3.7 million in Mexico, where the local distributor is Sun/ Diamond, and $2.1 million in Switzerland, where the local distributor is Ascot Elite.

“Conclave” has received eight Oscar nominations including best picture and best adapted screenplay, as well as a best actor nod for Fiennes and a best supporting actress nomination for Rossellini.