10 Recent Movies That Totally Took You By Surprise

If you hadn't had the pleasure of reading Robert Harris' brilliant book of the same name beforehand, it’s very easy to look at Conclave on the surface level and see a film that was made for one sole purpose: good old-fashioned Oscar bait.

Of course, there's nothing overtly wrong with this approach to filmmaking and distribution, but movies of this perceived calibre can discourage audiences from the get-go, knowing that they're designed for critical acclaim as opposed to communal pleasure and satisfaction.

However, that couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Conclave. So much so that, truth be told, this has become a real fan favourite, which is an extraordinary achievement in itself, considering the sheer amount of staggering cinema that 2024 produced.

In what many would have expected to be a slow and steady drama documenting the process of choosing and electing the next Pope is actually a conspiracy thriller filled with with plenty of twists and turns as the conniving cardinals will go to extreme measures, no matter how unethical or immoral, to take their opposition out of the running to claim the coveted title. 

Directed by All Quiet on the Western Front's Edward Berger, and starring industry icons Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, Conclave is a masterclass in how to subvert preconceived expectations. Although taking home Oscar gold for Best Adapted Screenplay, Conclave really should've won a lot more.