For films that explore the pope and the power of the papal office, start with The Shoes of the Fisherman, Pope Joan, Habemus Papam, The Two Popes and Conclave. This editorial selection spans political drama, historical legend, comedy and a succession thriller; it is not an objective popularity ranking. All five appear in the British Film Institute’s 2025 list of great films about popes.
Which films about the pope are worth watching?
These five films approach the subject in different ways: some imagine a pope’s personal burden, one draws on a contested legend, and another focuses on the process of choosing a pope. Their relationship to history varies, so the list distinguishes dramatization from legend and fiction.
The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968): a pope amid global crisis
Directed by Michael Anderson, this prestige-scale political drama follows a Russian archbishop who becomes pope during an international crisis. Anthony Quinn plays a holy man confronted with an immense responsibility, in a story that pairs solemnity with suspense. The film is based on Morris West’s 1963 novel; the American Film Institute’s catalog entry documents its production and source material.
Pope Joan (1972): a historical legend, not established history
Michael Anderson’s film tells the story of Ioannes Anglicus, a woman said to have lived as a man and become pope. That premise belongs to legend: the BFI notes that Joan was probably not pope and that firm historical facts are scarce. The film also has a complicated release history. Modern-day material was removed before its original release; a restored version appeared in 2009 as She… Who Would Be Pope.
#1 Best Overall
Habemus Papam (2011): the human cost of the office
Nanni Moretti’s comedy begins after a new pope is elected, when the pontiff suffers a panic attack just before appearing to the faithful. His advisers bring in a psychoanalyst. Rather than treating the pope as a symbol alone, the film considers the psychological strain of faith, power and responsibility. The European Film Academy records the film’s 2011 feature-film selection and nominations on its film page.
The Two Popes (2019): an imagined conversation around a real transition
Fernando Meirelles’s drama pairs Pope Benedict XVI with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who would become Pope Francis. Netflix describes it as “Inspired by true events,” but it is not a documentary record: the BFI says the central meeting did not happen as shown, and that the screenplay builds dramatized dialogue from real speeches and documents. The film is best approached as an interpretation of disagreement, institutional transition and reconciliation. Netflix’s title page provides its own description.
Rank #2
Conclave (2024): the race to choose a pope
Directed by Edward Berger, this thriller centers on the rituals and contest of papal succession rather than a pope’s biography. The BFI describes a mix of plausible ceremony and invented or atypical details, while noting that experts generally regard its Sistine Chapel rituals as reasonably authentic. That combination makes it a useful choice for viewers interested in the election process as cinematic drama, not as a step-by-step documentary account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose a film
| Film | Subject | Tone | Relationship to history |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shoes of the Fisherman | A fictional pope facing international crisis | Political drama | Based on Morris West’s novel |
| Pope Joan | A woman said to have become pope | Historical-legend drama | Draws on a legend the BFI says is probably not historical |
| Habemus Papam | A newly elected pope in crisis | Comedy with psychological focus | Fictional story |
| The Two Popes | Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis | Intimate institutional drama | Inspired by true events, with dramatized dialogue and a meeting not shown as it happened |
| Conclave | The election of a pope | Thriller | Fiction using plausible and invented or atypical details |
For a political epic, choose The Shoes of the Fisherman; for a contested medieval legend, Pope Joan; for a comic portrait of a leader overwhelmed by office, Habemus Papam; for a dramatized encounter around a real transition, The Two Popes; and for a thriller about succession, Conclave. Streaming and rental availability can vary by country and date, so check local listings rather than assuming a service carries a title.
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