Conclave holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93% on the Tomatometer, based on critical reviews from 91 professional film critics. This exceptional rating places the Ralph Fiennes-led political thriller among the most acclaimed films of 2024, earning it the coveted “Certified Fresh” designation.
The score reflects a near-universal consensus among critics that the film is a compelling, tightly-crafted drama that works both as entertainment and as a serious examination of power and intrigue within the Catholic Church’s highest circles.
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: Table of Contents
- How Is Rotten Tomatoes Scoring Calculated, and Where Does Conclave Stand?
- The Festival Circuit Advantage: How a 96% Score Changed Conclave's Release Strategy
- What "Certified Fresh" Means and Why It Matters for Conclave
- What Are Critics Actually Saying About Conclave?
- Why Conclave's 93% Rating Was Recognized as a 2024 Standout
- How Conclave Compares to Other Acclaimed Political Thrillers
- The Momentum of Critical Success and Its Effects on Audience Engagement
- Conclusion
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What makes this rating particularly significant is its journey. The film initially premiered at the fall film festival circuit where it achieved an even higher 96% rating, a critical reception so strong that the studio moved up the theatrical release date to capitalize on the momentum.
This article explores what the 93% score represents, how it was earned, what it means for audiences seeking quality cinema, and why Conclave’s critical reception tells us something important about contemporary tastes in film.
Table of Contents
- How Is Rotten Tomatoes Scoring Calculated, and Where Does Conclave Stand?
- The Festival Circuit Advantage: How a 96% Score Changed Conclave’s Release Strategy
- What “Certified Fresh” Means and Why It Matters for Conclave
- What Are Critics Actually Saying About Conclave?
- Why Conclave’s 93% Rating Was Recognized as a 2024 Standout
- How Conclave Compares to Other Acclaimed Political Thrillers
- The Momentum of Critical Success and Its Effects on Audience Engagement
- Conclusion
How Is Rotten Tomatoes Scoring Calculated, and Where Does Conclave Stand?
rotten Tomatoes assigns each reviewed film a score based on the percentage of critics who gave it a favorable rating.
Conclave’s 93% means that 93 out of 100 critics gave the film a positive review—a remarkably high consensus in an era where critical agreement is rare.
With 91 reviews counted toward the final tally, the score represents a broad range of professional opinions from major publications, independent critics, and film festivals, all weighing in favorably on the film’s merits.
A score this high indicates that even critics with different tastes and critical philosophies found something to recommend in Ralph Fiennes’ performance and the film’s craftsmanship.
To understand context, consider that many acclaimed films settle into the 75-85% range, a score that still represents critical success but acknowledges some dissenting opinions. Conclave’s 93% places it in rarefied company.
For comparison, a film landing at 90% or above is typically considered not just good but exceptional—it suggests the filmmakers have created something that transcends typical genre conventions. In Conclave’s case, this consensus emerged across major metropolitan publications, regional critics, and festival programmers, suggesting the film’s appeal extends beyond niche audiences to broader critical constituencies.
The Festival Circuit Advantage: How a 96% Score Changed Conclave’s Release Strategy
Before Conclave’s theatrical release, the film screened at fall film festivals where it earned an even more impressive 96% rating.
This elevated score during the festival circuit was significant enough that the studio made a decisive business decision: they moved up the theatrical release date to capitalize on the momentum and critical goodwill.
Festival circuits function as an early barometer of critical reception, where serious cinephiles and professional critics gather to evaluate films before general release. The fact that festival-goers and reviewers gave Conclave a 96% rating signaled that the film had the kind of staying power and critical credibility that justifies wider distribution.
This strategic acceleration illustrates how Rotten Tomatoes scores directly influence studio decisions. When a film emerges from festivals with near-universal praise, distributors recognize an opportunity to maximize the film’s market window before the critical moment passes.
Conclave’s move from a later release date to an earlier one reflects confidence that the film would hold audience interest based on the critical consensus.
However, it’s important to note that festival ratings sometimes differ from broader critical consensus—not all critics attend festivals, and festival audiences can skew toward more challenging or art-house fare. In Conclave’s case, the 96% festival score held up remarkably well, ultimately settling at the still-exceptional 93% after additional critical reviews.
What “Certified Fresh” Means and Why It Matters for Conclave
Conclave earned the “Certified Fresh” designation at 93% with 82 reviews, a status that Rotten Tomatoes reserves for films that meet rigorous criteria: a minimum Tomatometer score (typically 75% or higher) and a minimum number of reviews from accredited critics.
The Certified Fresh badge serves as a quality seal, distinguishing films that have achieved genuine critical consensus from those that might have accumulated borderline favorable scores.
When you see that badge next to Conclave’s title, it signals that the film has passed both a quantitative threshold (the percentage) and a qualitative one (the breadth of critical engagement).
For audiences, Certified Fresh status carries real weight in decision-making. It means you’re not looking at a niche film that appeals only to one corner of the critical establishment—you’re looking at a film that has convinced critics with different sensibilities, from major publications to specialty outlets, that it delivers on its artistic ambitions.
In practical terms, this status influences where the film appears in recommendations, how it’s promoted, and how audiences research its credibility. The certification essentially says, “This isn’t just one critic’s opinion; this is a verified consensus among numerous qualified evaluators.”.
What Are Critics Actually Saying About Conclave?
Beyond the raw percentage, critics have described Conclave using terms that suggest both the film’s accessibility and its artistic weight. Reviews characterize it as “riveting,” “fast-paced,” “deliriously fun,” and “thought-provoking”—language that bridges entertainment value and intellectual substance.
This vocabulary matters because it tells us the film isn’t working as pure prestige drama; it’s engaging audiences on multiple levels.
The “fast-paced” descriptor suggests tight pacing and suspenseful structure, while “thought-provoking” indicates the film explores genuine thematic material about institutional power and moral compromise. Ralph Fiennes’ performance, in particular, received frequent mention in critical assessments, with reviewers recognizing his ability to convey internal conflict through subtle expressions and physical presence rather than histrionics.
This kind of praise indicates the film chose restraint and craft over melodrama—a choice that resonates with critics across publications from The New York Times to regional film publications.
The consistency of these themes across reviews suggests that Conclave succeeded in what many political thrillers fail to accomplish: it entertained audiences while asking them to consider larger questions about conscience, authority, and the costs of political power.
Why Conclave’s 93% Rating Was Recognized as a 2024 Standout
Rotten Tomatoes listed Conclave as one of the best movies of 2024, a designation that reflects not just the numerical score but the film’s overall impact on the year’s cinematic landscape.
In 2024, with hundreds of films released across theatrical, streaming, and festival circuits, achieving recognition as among the year’s best required not merely a high score but cultural resonance and critical conversation.
Conclave generated discussion not just about its formal qualities—Fiennes’ performance, the cinematography, the direction—but about the themes it engages: the intersection of faith, power, and personal morality.
It’s worth noting that “best of year” recognition often reflects more than pure critical scores; it incorporates cultural significance, originality, and how a film positioned itself within the broader landscape of contemporary cinema.
Conclave’s recognition in this category suggests it was seen as both excellently crafted and genuinely timely, offering commentary on institutional corruption and ethical compromise that resonated with critics examining 2024’s cultural moment.
The film managed the difficult feat of being both a conventional thriller—with narrative momentum and clear stakes—and a film with substance worth revisiting and discussing.
How Conclave Compares to Other Acclaimed Political Thrillers
The 93% rating becomes more meaningful when compared to other political and institutional thrillers in the critical canon. While many well-regarded thrillers land in the 70-80% range, Conclave’s score places it alongside the most celebrated examples of the genre.
This suggests that critical consensus viewed the film not as a solid genre entry but as an exemplary one—a film that elevated its source material and conventions through direction, performance, and thematic clarity. The comparison reinforces that Conclave achieved something beyond competent thriller filmmaking.
One important caveat: high Rotten Tomatoes scores don’t always predict box office success or audience longevity. A film can be critically acclaimed without becoming a cultural phenomenon, and critical consensus among professionals doesn’t necessarily align with every viewer’s personal response.
Some audiences might find Conclave slower, more dialogue-driven, or less conventionally entertaining than other thrillers that scored lower with critics. The 93% represents critical appreciation for a particular kind of filmmaking—intelligent, restrained, performance-driven—which may appeal more to critics than to audiences seeking pure escapism.
The Momentum of Critical Success and Its Effects on Audience Engagement
The cascade of recognition—from the 96% festival rating that prompted a release date move, to the 93% critical score, to Certified Fresh status and year-end recognition—created momentum that extended beyond critical circles into broader audience awareness.
When a film gains this kind of critical validation, it enters cultural conversation in specific ways: cinephiles prioritize it, word-of-mouth improves, and broader media coverage emphasizes quality and craft. The Rotten Tomatoes score becomes not just a number but a shorthand signal of the film’s legitimacy and worth.
Looking forward, Conclave’s critical success establishes a model for political thrillers in 2025 and beyond. The film demonstrated that audiences and critics remain hungry for intelligent, character-driven stories rooted in institutions and power dynamics.
As more filmmakers develop projects in similar territory, Conclave’s 93% rating will likely serve as both a benchmark and a reference point—proof that this kind of filmmaking can achieve both critical acclaim and commercial viability.
The recognition also affirms that Ralph Fiennes’ career continues to extend into substantive dramatic roles where his restraint and precision serve the material.
Conclusion
Conclave’s 93% Rotten Tomatoes score represents a genuine critical consensus that the film is exceptional within its genre. Based on 91 professional reviews and carrying the Certified Fresh designation, the score reflects not a marginal critical preference but near-universal acknowledgment of the film’s craftsmanship, Fiennes’ performance, and its thematic substance.
The film’s journey from a 96% festival rating to 93% theatrical critical consensus, combined with recognition as one of 2024’s best films, establishes it as an exemplary political thriller that succeeded in both critical and commercial contexts.
For audiences seeking quality cinema, the 93% score offers reliable guidance. It signals a film constructed with intelligence and precision, featuring performances of nuance and depth, and exploring themes with genuine weight.
However, the score itself is just a starting point—what matters is understanding what kind of film Conclave is: a restrained, dialogue-driven institutional thriller rather than a conventional action-based entertainment. Understanding this distinction helps audiences make informed decisions about whether the film matches their preferences, even if the critical consensus affirms its excellence.
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