The Bishop of Rome is far more than just the highest-ranking religious official—he is one of the most influential figures in global politics. With its gilded ceilings and whispered intrigues, the Vatican has, over the centuries, served as the backdrop for revolutions in theology, power struggles, and countless moments of profound soul-searching. Here are five films that capture the legacy, complexity, and struggles of the men who have worn the papal crown.
Anthony Quinn gives one of the best performances of his career in The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), where he plays a Ukrainian archbishop unexpectedly elected as pope. Once in office, he must navigate a slew of international crises and personal challenges. This film is firmly rooted in its Cold War era: Pope Kiril spends most of his papacy trying to prevent World War III, particularly by averting a nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and China. The political thriller was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Though The Godfather Part III (1990) is not strictly about the papacy, Vatican intrigue runs deep throughout the film. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) seeks legitimacy through a multi-million-dollar deal with the Vatican Bank—an unmistakable nod to real-life church financial scandals. The film even includes a fictionalized version of Pope John Paul I, whose sudden and mysterious death continues to fuel conspiracy theories decades later. Because of its depiction of the Vatican’s entanglement in corruption and power struggles, it remains a must-watch on any list of films about the papacy.
Among television series, HBO’s The Young Pope (2016) stands out as the most accomplished. Even some politically conservative Catholics praised it, despite its challenging content. The show was so well-received that a sequel, The New Pope, followed four years later. The original series centers on Lenny Belardo, who becomes the first American pope under the name Pius XIII. Thanks to the cardinals’ savvy media strategy, Pius XIII emerges as the most mysterious and polarizing church leader in history. Sharp-minded, yet naïve, ironic, petty, and ruthless, Pius XIII attempts to cross the vast river of human loneliness to find the God he believes he must offer to humankind.
The Two Popes (2019) dramatizes the conversations between Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and his future successor, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, later Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce). Directed by Fernando Meirelles, the film was nominated for three Oscars. It humanizes both men and strikes a rare balance between humor and gravitas as it explores faith, the burdens of leading the Catholic Church, and the ever-present shadow of doubt. Pryce’s uncanny resemblance to the recently deceased Pope Francis and Hopkins’s commanding presence elevate the film into a timeless classic.
Last year’s Conclave (2014) delves into the intrigue of a papal conclave following the death of a beloved pope. As cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new leader, alliances shift, secrets emerge, and power struggles unfold behind closed doors—quite the contrast to the cheerful pontiffs portrayed in recent years. With a star-studded cast (Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci) and a tense, suspenseful atmosphere, this political thriller offers a gripping exploration of ambition and belief. The film received eight Academy Award nominations, ultimately winning for Best Adapted Screenplay.