On the surface, *[Conclave](https://mashable.com/article/conclave-movie-review)* may appear to cater to an older audience, potentially retirees taking in a midweek screening. The film showcases an impressive lineup of actors over 60, such as [Ralph Fiennes](https://mashable.com/video/conclave-ralph-fiennes-isabella-rossellini), Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Its narrative centers on the election of a new Pope—an ostensibly serious and traditional theme.

Yet, this papal thriller has surprisingly garnered a dedicated online following, propelled by its contemporary drama and frenetic vibe. There has been an outpouring of jokes, memes, and fan edits. One enthusiast perfectly encapsulated its whimsical charm, dubbing it “just *Mean Girls* for popes.”

Another fan on X [commented](https://x.com/merewilsh/status/1856165822516883742), “*Conclave* is a 10/10 movie for gasping and gagging. It encapsulates the movie equivalent of a ‘hey girly’ text. Each time Ralph Fiennes delivered diva moments, the audience gasped, and a man let out raspberries. I’m sold.”

Yet another user [described](https://x.com/wavedreamt/status/1856837845220016592) the film’s exhilarating journey: “What if the Pope DIED before allowing you to QUIT, and you find yourself running the CONCLAVE while grappling with DOUBTS, and the Italian candidate was VAPING and FASCIST, so you attempted to vote for YOURSELF and you TUMBLED.”

Fans have even drawn parallels between *Conclave* and the *Real Housewives* series. One user [captioned](https://x.com/carriesnotscary/status/1852897615995695190) an image featuring two stars from *Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* with, “This is precisely what *Conclave* feels like.”

The film has also sparked a playful reinterpretation of Vatican vocabulary. One user [quipped](https://x.com/commanderfreddy/status/1855512024987378091), “I’m curious about what pope names all the cardinals in conclave would have picked… I want to learn about the popesonas that didn’t make the cut.” Another [inquired](https://x.com/daniel_m_lavery/status/1856725337637355683), “(me asking my friends if they can catch *Conclave* with me) what’s your Conclavability this week?”

But maybe the most memorable fan creation is a video edit of the film set to Charli XCX’s [“Sympathy is a Knife”](https://x.com/cargentar/status/1853595331457384745). If that doesn’t entice you to check out *Conclave*, you might just be overlooking one of the year’s most surprisingly enjoyable films.