Italian movies are renowned for their robust storytelling, profound emotional depth, and distinctive artistic flair.
In this guide, we have curated a selection of the 20 best Italian movies with highly rated to watch. This list encompasses both world-renowned classics and critically acclaimed contemporary works. Read on!
Life Is Beautiful (La vita è bella)
- Director: Roberto Benigni
- Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini
- Release Year: 1997
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV
Plot Summary: Life Is Beautiful is one of the most iconic italian movies. It follows Guido, a cheerful and witty Jewish man who builds a happy life with his wife and son. During World War II, they are taken to a concentration camp. To protect his child, Guido pretends everything is part of a game, hiding the harsh reality with humor and imagination.
Why it’s recommended:
This italian movie is widely recognized for both its artistic value and global impact. It won 3 Academy Awards at the Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Roberto Benigni and Best Foreign Language Film. The movie was also a major international success, bringing italian films to a wider global audience.
From a filmmaking perspective, it combines comedy and historical drama in a clear and accessible way, making it easier for viewers to connect with the story.
The Legend of 1900 (La leggenda del pianista sull’oceano)
- Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
- Starring: Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Mélanie Thierry
- Release Year: 1998
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
Plot Summary: The Legend of 1900 tells the story of a baby abandoned on a luxury ocean liner and raised by the ship’s crew. Named “1900,” he grows up to become a piano genius who never sets foot on land. As he spends his entire life at sea, his music reflects both his talent and his unique view of the world.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian movie is directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, known for creating emotionally rich Italian films. It also features music composed by Ennio Morricone, one of the most respected film composers in cinema history.
The movie received multiple international awards and nominations, especially for its soundtrack. Its storytelling is simple and clear, focusing on one character and one setting, which makes it easy to follow.
Malèna
- Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
- Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro
- Release Year: 2000
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Roku, Netflix
Plot Summary: Malèna is set in a small Italian town during World War II. The story is told through the eyes of a teenage boy who becomes fascinated with Malèna, a beautiful woman whose husband is away at war. As time passes, she faces gossip, judgment, and hardship from the local community.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian movie garnered two Academy Award nominations: for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. The musical score, once again crafted by Ennio Morricone, lends a profound emotional depth to the entire work.
From the perspective of cinematic artistry, the film vividly portrays the social dynamics of wartime Italy—specifically, the various attitudes adopted by the community toward individuals while under immense pressure.
Perfect Strangers (Perfetti sconosciuti)
- Director: Paolo Genovese
- Starring: Giuseppe Battiston, Anna Foglietta, Marco Giallini
- Release Year: 2016
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV
Plot Summary: Perfect Strangers follows a group of friends who gather for a dinner party. During the evening, they agree to play a game: every message, call, or notification on their phones must be shared openly. As secrets begin to surface, their relationships are put to the test.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian film won the David di Donatello Award for Best Film and has, moreover, been widely remade in numerous countries.
While the majority of the plot unfolds within the confines of a single room, the viewing experience never feels tedious in the slightest. In a straightforward manner, the film reflects upon contemporary social issues such as privacy and interpersonal relationships.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
- Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
- Starring: Philippe Noiret, Enzo Cannavale
- Release Year: 1988
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, Paramountplus
Plot Summary: Cinema Paradiso tells the story of Salvatore, a successful filmmaker who looks back on his childhood in a small Sicilian village. As a young boy, he forms a close bond with Alfredo, the projectionist at the local cinema.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian movie won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and also took home the highest honor at the Cannes Film Festival—the Palme d’Or.
The film’s narrative unfolds with clarity and fluidity, while its emotional resonance is both sincere and deeply moving. It not only showcases the unique charm of classic Italian cinema but also highlights the significant role that the art of movie plays in our daily lives. To my mind, this work serves as a heartfelt tribute to all film enthusiasts.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo)
- Director: Sergio Leone
- Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach
- Release Year: 1966
- IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Plot Summary: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is set during the American Civil War. It follows three gunfighters competing to find hidden gold.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian movie is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Westerns in cinematic history and played a pivotal role in establishing the “Spaghetti Western” genre.
The film’s storyline is straightforward and easy to follow; even if you are new to Italian cinema, you will have no trouble keeping up with the pace.
Death in Venice (Morte a Venezia)
- Director: Luchino Visconti
- Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Björn Andrésen
- Release Year: 1971
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Plot Summary: Death in Venice follows an aging composer who travels to Venice seeking rest. There, he becomes obsessed with the beauty of a young boy. As a cholera epidemic spreads through the city, his mental and physical state begin to decline.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian film, an adaptation of Thomas Mann’s novel, was awarded the “25th Anniversary Prize” at the Cannes Film Festival.
Distinguished by its unique visual style and atmospheric depth, it stands out remarkably among Italian cinema. If you are interested in exploring Italian films that possess both artistic profundity and a classical sensibility, this is an excellent choice.
The Last Emperor (L’ultimo imperatore)
- Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
- Starring: John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole
- Release Year: 1987
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Plot Summary: The Last Emperor tells the life story of Puyi, the last emperor of China. From his childhood in the Forbidden City to his later life after losing power, the film shows his personal struggles and the historical changes around him.
Why it’s recommended:
This italian movie achieved major international success, winning 9 Academy Awards at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The story is told in a clear timeline, making it easy to understand even with its historical background. Personally, it’s one of the Italian movies that combines history and storytelling in a very accessible way.
Read more: 20+ Best Chinese Movies of All Time with Highest IMDb Rating
Once Upon a Time in the West (C’era una volta il West)
- Director: Sergio Leone
- Starring: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale
- Release Year: 1968
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
Plot Summary: Once Upon a Time in the West is set in the American Old West during the expansion of the railroad. The story follows a mysterious harmonica player, a ruthless killer, and a widow fighting to protect her land.
Why it’s recommended:
This italian movie is widely regarded as one of the greatest Western films ever made. The music by Ennio Morricone is especially famous and plays a key role in the film’s atmosphere.
The story is slower but very clear, with strong visual storytelling. Even without complex dialogue, it’s easy to understand the characters and their motivations. Personally, it’s one of those Italian films that feels more powerful the longer you watch.
Call Me by Your Name (Chiamami col tuo nome)
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer
- Release Year: 2017
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO MAX
Plot Summary: Call Me by Your Name is set in northern Italy during the 1980s. It tells the story of Elio, a teenage boy who develops a deep emotional connection with Oliver, a visiting graduate student.
Why it’s recommended:
This Italian movie won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards and received several other nominations, including Best Picture.
The story is simple and easy to follow, focusing on emotions rather than complex plots. If you are looking for a work of cinema with exquisite emotional nuance, this is the perfect choice for you.
Other Best Italian Movies You Can Choose
Golden Door (Nuovomondo): This film tells the story of a Sicilian family’s emigration to the United States in the early 20th century. Among the many Italian films exploring the theme of immigration, this movie stands out thanks to its distinctive visual style and clear, fluid narrative.
The Postman (Il Postino): This film recounts the story of a simple, unassuming postman who strikes up a close friendship with the renowned poet Pablo Neruda. Through the medium of poetry, the postman learns how to express his love and emotions.
The Best of Youth (La meglio gioventù): An epic-scale Italian film spanning several decades, this movie traces the life trajectories of two brothers. While depicting their personal growth, the film also mirrors the profound social and political transformations that Italy underwent during this period.
A Fistful of Dollars (Per un pugno di dollari): A classic Italian film directed by Sergio Leone, this movie tells the story of a lone gunslinger who maneuvers between two rival gangs, manipulating their conflict to his own advantage.
Duck, You Sucker! (Giù la testa): This is another Italian film directed by Sergio Leone. The movie tells the story of an unexpected partnership that forms between a bandit and a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution.
Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette): It recounts the experiences of a poor man searching for his stolen bicycle. The story appears simple, yet it authentically reflects the social realities of post-World War II Italy.
Rome, Open City (Roma città aperta): This Italian film depicts the resistance movement in Rome, as well as the struggles and fight for survival of ordinary citizens amid the turmoil of war.
The Leopard (Il Gattopardo): It chronicles the transformations experienced by an aristocratic family during the period of Italian unification. The film focuses on social change and the decline of the old elite class.
8½ (Otto e mezzo): This is an Italian film directed by Federico Fellini. The movie tells the story of a film director facing creative blocks and personal crises.
The Place: This modern Italian film follows a diverse group of people who visit a mysterious man capable of granting wishes, though each wish comes with a specific condition attached.
How to Watch These Best Italian Movies?
Many Italian movies are available on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube. However, due to regional licensing restrictions, some Italian films are only accessible in specific countries.
If you want to watch Italian movies without limits, using a VPN is one of the easiest ways.
- Install LightningX VPN on your device (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or browser).
- Open the app and log in to your account.
- Choose a server in Italy or another region where the Italian movie is available.
- Connect to the server to unlock more Italian films.
- Open your streaming platform (Netflix, Prime Video, etc.).
- Search for the Italian movie you want and start watching.
LightningX VPN offers high-speed servers in 70+ countries, making it easy to access Italian movies and other global content. With strong encryption and privacy protection, your streaming experience stays smooth and secure.
Now you can enjoy the best Italian movies anytime, anywhere.
For better streaming quality (HD or 4K), use a stable connection like 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and select a fast server with low latency.
