On the night of March 2, the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood delivered a historic moment as Conclave claimed the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Adapted by Peter Straughan from Robert Harris’s novel, the film turns the intricate process of electing a new pope into a gripping political thriller, earning widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. With eight nominations in total, the movie, directed by Edward Berger, stood out in a fiercely competitive category, outshining contenders like Emilia Pérez and Nickel Boys. Its triumph underscores a season of steady momentum, bolstered by wins at the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, and SAG Awards, where its ensemble cast also took home a top honor. The story, centered on Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence overseeing the papal election amid secrets and rivalries, resonates deeply in a world grappling with questions of power, faith, and morality, made even more timely by ongoing speculation about Pope Francis’s health.
The Academy’s decision highlights a preference for screenplays that blend intellectual depth with emotional pull, a balance Conclave achieves masterfully. Straughan’s adaptation retains the novel’s core while infusing it with cinematic tension, keeping viewers on edge throughout. The film’s accessibility on platforms like Peacock, Prime Video, and Apple TV further broadened its reach, likely swaying voters in a year where digital presence carries weight.
Beyond the screenplay win, Conclave has emerged as a formidable contender for Best Picture, even without a Best Director nod for Berger. Its journey reflects a rare combination of critical acclaim, audience appeal, and strategic victories across the awards season.
Path to glory in the awards season
The rise of Conclave through the awards circuit was a slow burn that ignited at key moments. Initially overshadowed by flashier rivals like Anora and The Brutalist, the film gained traction after strong festival showings and glowing reviews. Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of Cardinal Lawrence, a man torn between duty and ethics, anchors the story, while the supporting cast—Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow—adds richness to the Vatican’s power struggles.
Peter Straughan’s screenplay deserves much of the credit, transforming Harris’s dense prose into a script that breathes on screen. His ability to weave historical detail with universal themes of ambition and betrayal turned a niche premise into a global hit, a feat recognized by the Academy after earlier wins at the BAFTA and Critics Choice Awards.
Ensemble shines with SAG victory
The SAG Awards win for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture was a turning point for Conclave. Stanley Tucci’s sharp-witted Cardinal Bellini and John Lithgow’s calculating Cardinal Tremblay bring depth to the film’s debates, while Isabella Rossellini, nominated for Best Supporting Actress as Sister Agnes, offers a quiet intensity that challenges the male-dominated conclave. This collective strength has been a cornerstone of the movie’s success.
Secrets behind the winning screenplay
Peter Straughan’s script excels in its balance of sharp dialogue and pregnant pauses, crafting a narrative that feels both timeless and urgent. Following Cardinal Lawrence as he navigates the election after the pope’s death, the story peels back layers of intrigue among the cardinals, revealing a process far from sacred. This exploration of human flaws within a divine setting strikes a chord, amplified by Berger’s taut direction.
Straughan collaborated closely with Berger to ensure every scene carried the weight of the characters’ choices. The result is a screenplay that adapts Harris’s work while enhancing it with visual storytelling, a synergy that earned the Oscar nod. The win also boosted sales of the novel, available in over 40 languages, as new readers flocked to compare it with the acclaimed film.
The adaptation’s success lies in its pacing—slow enough to build tension, fast enough to keep audiences hooked. Straughan’s prior experience with complex narratives, like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, shines through, making Conclave a standout in a crowded field.
Fierce competition in adapted screenplay
The Best Adapted Screenplay race was a battleground of diverse styles this year. Emilia Pérez, with its bold musical twist on crime and drama, and Nickel Boys, adapted from Colson Whitehead’s searing novel about a 1960s reform school, were strong contenders. A Complete Unknown, featuring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, and Sing Sing, blending fiction with real-life redemption, rounded out the nominees, yet Conclave prevailed with its narrative coherence.
Straughan’s win over these rivals underscores the Academy’s appreciation for adaptations that honor their source while pushing cinematic boundaries. Despite missing a Writers Guild of America nod, the film’s momentum from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and BAFTA carried it to Oscar glory.
The category’s competitiveness reflects a broader trend of high-quality adaptations, but Conclave’s focus on dialogue-driven suspense and moral complexity gave it the edge. Its earlier BAFTA win for Best Picture only solidified its standing heading into the Oscars.
Key milestones in Conclave’s awards run
The journey of Conclave through the awards season offers a clear timeline of its rise. Here are the pivotal moments that paved the way:
- Festival premieres sparked buzz with strong critical reception.
- Critics Choice Awards win in December kicked off its screenplay accolades.
- BAFTA Best Picture victory in February shocked prognosticators, beating Anora.
- SAG Awards ensemble win cemented its cast as a powerhouse.
These wins built a narrative of inevitability, positioning Conclave as a film that resonated across guilds and voting bodies.
Historical echoes and modern relevance
Set against the backdrop of a fictional papal election, Conclave gains added weight amid real-world parallels. Pope Francis, now 88 and battling respiratory issues, has fueled speculation about the Vatican’s future, lending the film an almost prophetic air. While not a documentary, its themes of succession and institutional secrecy mirror contemporary debates.
Ralph Fiennes, nominated for Best Actor, immersed himself in the role, studying Latin and Catholic rituals to embody Cardinal Lawrence’s gravitas. Isabella Rossellini’s Sister Agnes, a rare female voice in the conclave, adds a layer of defiance that feels timely in discussions of gender within the Church. These performances elevate a story that’s as much about individuals as it is about systems.
The film’s resonance has also revived interest in Robert Harris’s 2016 novel. With millions of copies sold worldwide, the book’s renewed popularity post-Oscar win highlights the symbiotic relationship between literature and film in shaping cultural conversations.
Production details that dazzled
The making of Conclave involved meticulous craftsmanship that bolstered its Oscar win. Filming in Rome near Vatican City lent authenticity to the visuals, while Lisy Christl’s Oscar-nominated costumes meticulously recreated cardinal robes. Volker Bertelmann’s score, also in contention, heightens the film’s suspense, weaving seamlessly with Straughan’s words.
Edward Berger’s direction, though not nominated, brings a precision honed in All Quiet on the Western Front. His focus on atmosphere over action lets the screenplay shine, a choice that paid off in the final product. The cast’s preparation—Fiennes mastering Latin, Tucci refining his wit—shows a commitment to detail that matches the script’s ambition.
The production’s scale wasn’t lavish, but its execution was flawless. From set design to sound, every element supports the story, proving that Conclave is a triumph of collaboration as much as individual talent.
Cast and nominations steal the spotlight
Ralph Fiennes’s Best Actor nod, his first in 28 years since The English Patient, marks a career highlight. His Cardinal Lawrence is a study in restraint and turmoil, earning him widespread praise. Isabella Rossellini’s supporting actress nomination as Sister Agnes places her alongside rare mother-daughter Oscar nominees like Diane Ladd and Laura Dern.
Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow, though not individually nominated, anchor the ensemble with standout turns. Their SAG win reflects a cast firing on all cylinders, a dynamic that Berger nurtured through rigorous rehearsals. This unity underpins Conclave’s appeal, making it a contender beyond just screenplay.
The film’s strength lies in its performances as much as its script. Fiennes’s quiet intensity, Rossellini’s steely resolve, and Tucci’s sly charisma create a tapestry of characters that elevate the Vatican intrigue into something universally compelling.

On the night of March 2, the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood delivered a historic moment as Conclave claimed the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Adapted by Peter Straughan from Robert Harris’s novel, the film turns the intricate process of electing a new pope into a gripping political thriller, earning widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. With eight nominations in total, the movie, directed by Edward Berger, stood out in a fiercely competitive category, outshining contenders like Emilia Pérez and Nickel Boys. Its triumph underscores a season of steady momentum, bolstered by wins at the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, and SAG Awards, where its ensemble cast also took home a top honor. The story, centered on Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence overseeing the papal election amid secrets and rivalries, resonates deeply in a world grappling with questions of power, faith, and morality, made even more timely by ongoing speculation about Pope Francis’s health.
The Academy’s decision highlights a preference for screenplays that blend intellectual depth with emotional pull, a balance Conclave achieves masterfully. Straughan’s adaptation retains the novel’s core while infusing it with cinematic tension, keeping viewers on edge throughout. The film’s accessibility on platforms like Peacock, Prime Video, and Apple TV further broadened its reach, likely swaying voters in a year where digital presence carries weight.
Beyond the screenplay win, Conclave has emerged as a formidable contender for Best Picture, even without a Best Director nod for Berger. Its journey reflects a rare combination of critical acclaim, audience appeal, and strategic victories across the awards season.
Path to glory in the awards season
The rise of Conclave through the awards circuit was a slow burn that ignited at key moments. Initially overshadowed by flashier rivals like Anora and The Brutalist, the film gained traction after strong festival showings and glowing reviews. Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of Cardinal Lawrence, a man torn between duty and ethics, anchors the story, while the supporting cast—Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow—adds richness to the Vatican’s power struggles.
Peter Straughan’s screenplay deserves much of the credit, transforming Harris’s dense prose into a script that breathes on screen. His ability to weave historical detail with universal themes of ambition and betrayal turned a niche premise into a global hit, a feat recognized by the Academy after earlier wins at the BAFTA and Critics Choice Awards.
Ensemble shines with SAG victory
The SAG Awards win for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture was a turning point for Conclave. Stanley Tucci’s sharp-witted Cardinal Bellini and John Lithgow’s calculating Cardinal Tremblay bring depth to the film’s debates, while Isabella Rossellini, nominated for Best Supporting Actress as Sister Agnes, offers a quiet intensity that challenges the male-dominated conclave. This collective strength has been a cornerstone of the movie’s success.
Secrets behind the winning screenplay
Peter Straughan’s script excels in its balance of sharp dialogue and pregnant pauses, crafting a narrative that feels both timeless and urgent. Following Cardinal Lawrence as he navigates the election after the pope’s death, the story peels back layers of intrigue among the cardinals, revealing a process far from sacred. This exploration of human flaws within a divine setting strikes a chord, amplified by Berger’s taut direction.
Straughan collaborated closely with Berger to ensure every scene carried the weight of the characters’ choices. The result is a screenplay that adapts Harris’s work while enhancing it with visual storytelling, a synergy that earned the Oscar nod. The win also boosted sales of the novel, available in over 40 languages, as new readers flocked to compare it with the acclaimed film.
The adaptation’s success lies in its pacing—slow enough to build tension, fast enough to keep audiences hooked. Straughan’s prior experience with complex narratives, like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, shines through, making Conclave a standout in a crowded field.
Fierce competition in adapted screenplay
The Best Adapted Screenplay race was a battleground of diverse styles this year. Emilia Pérez, with its bold musical twist on crime and drama, and Nickel Boys, adapted from Colson Whitehead’s searing novel about a 1960s reform school, were strong contenders. A Complete Unknown, featuring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, and Sing Sing, blending fiction with real-life redemption, rounded out the nominees, yet Conclave prevailed with its narrative coherence.
Straughan’s win over these rivals underscores the Academy’s appreciation for adaptations that honor their source while pushing cinematic boundaries. Despite missing a Writers Guild of America nod, the film’s momentum from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and BAFTA carried it to Oscar glory.
The category’s competitiveness reflects a broader trend of high-quality adaptations, but Conclave’s focus on dialogue-driven suspense and moral complexity gave it the edge. Its earlier BAFTA win for Best Picture only solidified its standing heading into the Oscars.
Key milestones in Conclave’s awards run
The journey of Conclave through the awards season offers a clear timeline of its rise. Here are the pivotal moments that paved the way:
- Festival premieres sparked buzz with strong critical reception.
- Critics Choice Awards win in December kicked off its screenplay accolades.
- BAFTA Best Picture victory in February shocked prognosticators, beating Anora.
- SAG Awards ensemble win cemented its cast as a powerhouse.
These wins built a narrative of inevitability, positioning Conclave as a film that resonated across guilds and voting bodies.
Historical echoes and modern relevance
Set against the backdrop of a fictional papal election, Conclave gains added weight amid real-world parallels. Pope Francis, now 88 and battling respiratory issues, has fueled speculation about the Vatican’s future, lending the film an almost prophetic air. While not a documentary, its themes of succession and institutional secrecy mirror contemporary debates.
Ralph Fiennes, nominated for Best Actor, immersed himself in the role, studying Latin and Catholic rituals to embody Cardinal Lawrence’s gravitas. Isabella Rossellini’s Sister Agnes, a rare female voice in the conclave, adds a layer of defiance that feels timely in discussions of gender within the Church. These performances elevate a story that’s as much about individuals as it is about systems.
The film’s resonance has also revived interest in Robert Harris’s 2016 novel. With millions of copies sold worldwide, the book’s renewed popularity post-Oscar win highlights the symbiotic relationship between literature and film in shaping cultural conversations.
Production details that dazzled
The making of Conclave involved meticulous craftsmanship that bolstered its Oscar win. Filming in Rome near Vatican City lent authenticity to the visuals, while Lisy Christl’s Oscar-nominated costumes meticulously recreated cardinal robes. Volker Bertelmann’s score, also in contention, heightens the film’s suspense, weaving seamlessly with Straughan’s words.
Edward Berger’s direction, though not nominated, brings a precision honed in All Quiet on the Western Front. His focus on atmosphere over action lets the screenplay shine, a choice that paid off in the final product. The cast’s preparation—Fiennes mastering Latin, Tucci refining his wit—shows a commitment to detail that matches the script’s ambition.
The production’s scale wasn’t lavish, but its execution was flawless. From set design to sound, every element supports the story, proving that Conclave is a triumph of collaboration as much as individual talent.
Cast and nominations steal the spotlight
Ralph Fiennes’s Best Actor nod, his first in 28 years since The English Patient, marks a career highlight. His Cardinal Lawrence is a study in restraint and turmoil, earning him widespread praise. Isabella Rossellini’s supporting actress nomination as Sister Agnes places her alongside rare mother-daughter Oscar nominees like Diane Ladd and Laura Dern.
Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow, though not individually nominated, anchor the ensemble with standout turns. Their SAG win reflects a cast firing on all cylinders, a dynamic that Berger nurtured through rigorous rehearsals. This unity underpins Conclave’s appeal, making it a contender beyond just screenplay.
The film’s strength lies in its performances as much as its script. Fiennes’s quiet intensity, Rossellini’s steely resolve, and Tucci’s sly charisma create a tapestry of characters that elevate the Vatican intrigue into something universally compelling.
