“The Two Popes,” the 2019 film starring Jonathan Pryce as the cardinal who would go on to become Pope Francis, saw its viewing on Netflix increase more than 30 times in the week following the pontiff’s death, the company said.
Inspired by true events, the film is about the relationship between Francis (Pryce) and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins). For the week of April 21-27, the movie garnered 3.2 million views globally on Netflix. That put it in the No. 7 spot on the global movie Top 10 list for the period, according to the streamer.
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“The Two Popes” earned three Academy Awards nominations, including Pryce for actor, Hopkins for supporting actor, and Anthony McCarten for adapted screenplay. In his review of the film, Variety‘s Peter Debruge wrote, “It’s a gift to see two actors of this caliber playing against each other, speaking in an array of languages (including Latin, Italian and Spanish) to exchange spirited dialogue about the fate of the Catholic faith.”
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In addition to “The Two Popes,” interest has swelled in the fictional 2024 film “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow. Viewership of “Conclave” spiked 283% on Monday, April 21, as word of Pope Francis’ passing spread, according to Luminate.
Pope Francis’ funeral took place Saturday, April 26, in Rome. The Vatican conclave to elect the next pope will commence May 7.
Pope Francis, a native of Argentina who was the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, died on April 21, a day after he emerged from convalescence and took a surprise popemobile ride in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. According to the Vatican, the late pontiff died after suffering a stroke that put him in a coma and led to heart failure.
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