6 Best Venice Silver Lion Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 29, 2026

Venice’s Silver Lion has long honored directorial achievement, celebrating some of world cinema’s most technically and artistically ambitious films. In The Wages of Fear (1953): Desperate men transport dangerously unstable nitroglycerin across treacherous South American terrain. Worth seeking out is 8½ (1963): A blocked film director struggles to reconcile his personal life while planning his next project.

Poor Things (2023)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A young woman brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos · 2h 21m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Vagabond (1985)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A young drifter's final days wandering the French countryside are pieced together after her death.

Directed by Agnès Varda · 1h 46m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Vera Drake (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A kind working-class woman's secret practice performing illegal abortions is suddenly exposed.

Directed by Mike Leigh · 2h 05m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: BFI Player Amazon Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Padre Padrone (1977)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A shepherd's son defies his brutal, illiterate father to pursue an education and a new life.

Directed by Paolo Taviani & Vittorio Taviani · 1h 54m

Where to watch

Stream: Cohen Media Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

8½ (1963)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A blocked film director struggles to reconcile his personal life while planning his next project.

Directed by Federico Fellini · 2h 19m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Wages of Fear (1953)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 100% Metacritic 85

Desperate men transport dangerously unstable nitroglycerin across treacherous South American terrain.

Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot · 2h 34m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 BAFTA Award6 wins & 1 nomination total

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Venice Silver Lion Winning Movies

Poor Things (2023)

Vagabond (1985)

Vera Drake (2004)

Padre Padrone (1977)

8½ (1963)

The Wages of Fear (1953)

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