Skip to content
CLEARAGE Parent notes on movies
← All movies
Conclave poster

Conclave

Movie 2024 120 min Drama, Thriller Last reviewed 2 Sep 2026
Official Rating PG ClearAge 13+ Quality ★★★★☆

Our take

Conclave is a PG Vatican thriller about cardinals electing a new pope after a sudden death. Expect tense political debate, a brief explosion, references to church scandals and wartime violence, and mild profanity. Smoking and wine appear in ceremonial context. Dialogue-heavy and smart rather than graphic. Best for teens interested in politics and faith debates

Uplifting themes

Cooperation, conscience, and reform debates offer thoughtful themes Cardinal Lawrence models duty and careful listening under pressure

Story (may spoil tone)

After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new one. Sequestered in the Vatican with the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders until the process is complete, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could lead to its downfall.

What we flagged

Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.

View all categories

Violence
Mild
Sex
Mild
Frightening
Mild
Language
Mild

Details

Violence Mild Brief explosion, bomb talk, and wartime-violence references in dialogue

Brief explosion, bomb talk, and wartime-violence references in dialogue

Language Mild Mild hell and damn in tense clerical arguments

Mild hell and damn in tense clerical arguments

Sex / nudity Mild Sexual-scandal references; no on-screen sex or nudity

Sexual-scandal references; no on-screen sex or nudity

Drugs / alcohol Mild Ceremonial wine at meals; smoking in background

Ceremonial wine at meals; smoking in background

Frightening Mild Sudden death, locked-room pressure, and blast may tense sensitive viewe…

Sudden death, locked-room pressure, and blast may tense sensitive viewers

Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title

No self-harm found in this title

Sexual violence Mild Genocidal sexual-violence reference in political debate, not depicted

Genocidal sexual-violence reference in political debate, not depicted

Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title

No child peril found in this title

Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title

No bullying found in this title

Gore / death / weapons Mild Explosion aftermath; no sustained gore

Explosion aftermath; no sustained gore

Dangerous behaviour No dangerous behavior found in this title

No dangerous behavior found in this title

Eating disorders / body image Mild Brief historical comment about a pope's weight

Brief historical comment about a pope's weight

Mental health No mental health found in this title

No mental health found in this title

Gambling No gambling found in this title

No gambling found in this title

Grief / bereavement Mild Papal death opens the story and shapes the ritual mood

Papal death opens the story and shapes the ritual mood

Talk after watching

  • Leaders vote in secret behind locked doors. How does privacy change decision-making?
  • The film raises church reform and scandal. How do institutions handle uncomfortable history?