Conclave: parents' guide
Best for ages 12 and up. Rated PG for thematic material and smoking.
A tense, talky Vatican thriller that suits tweens and teens who can follow political intrigue; younger kids will likely be bored. After the pope's sudden death, a cardinal runs the secret vote for a successor and uncovers scandals among the candidates. There's next to no profanity and nothing sexual on screen, though a past affair, a secret child and brief mentions of clergy child abuse and wartime sexual violence come up. A bombing outside shatters windows and injures some cardinals, and smoking is everywhere. A late twist about the new pope may spark questions at home. The mature themes, more than any on-screen content, put it at about 12.
What's in it
Violence
ModerateThe late pope's body is seen in bed and carried out. Bombings that kill dozens are reported, and one blast brings windows and part of the ceiling down on the cardinals, cutting some. Brief spoken mentions of popes ignoring child sexual abuse and of wartime sexual violence.
Language
MildAlmost clean: Common Sense lists none, and Plugged In notes only a 'Good Lord' and a passing mention of hell.
Sex and nudity
MildNothing shown. Dialogue reveals a cardinal fathered a child with a young nun years ago, and the church's stance on women and gay people is debated. A late revelation about a character's body is talked about, not shown.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateCardinals smoke constantly, leaving a courtyard full of cigarette butts, and one vapes. Wine at dinner, and one cardinal's heavy drinking is raised against him.
Scary or intense scenes
MildThe sudden blast is a jolt, and the opening shows the late pope's body. Otherwise the tension is political, not scary.
Worth talking about
The film's hero argues that too much certainty can crowd out tolerance. Talk about doubt and faith, and how institutions handle secrets and ambition.
On our lists
Similar picks around 12+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, bbfc.co.uk. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.