Best 20 Italian Drama Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 31, 2026

Italian drama ranges from Sicilian streets to wartime politics, exploring love, power, corruption and the weight of history. La Dolce Vita follows a journalist through Rome’s glamorous high society, Rocco and His Brothers uproots a family in Milan, The Leopard watches a nobleman see 19th-century Sicily change, and La Strada sells a simple-minded woman to a circus strongman. Bicycle Thieves, Life Is Beautiful, The Great Beauty, Cinema Paradiso, 8 1/2, The Conformist and Divorce Italian Style round out the list.

La Dolce Vita ( La dolce vita) (1960)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A journalist navigates the glamorous but morally ambiguous world of Rome's high society.

"In the sweet life, I'm just a sweaty cabana boy."

Directed by Federico Fellini · 2h 54m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video YoutubeTV

Rocco and his Brothers (Rocco e i suoi fratelli) (1960)

TMDB ★ 8.0

Newly uprooted to Milan, Rocco and his four brothers try to build a life in the city.

"This is for you, but get out of Milan for a while."

Directed by Luchino Visconti · 2h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel, OVID, Darkroom, Kino Film Collection · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

The Leopard (Il gattopardo) (1963)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A Sicilian prince witnesses the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the bourgeoisie.

"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change."

Directed by Luchino Visconti · 3h 06m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video YoutubeTV

The Road (La Strada) (1954)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A simple-minded woman is sold to a circus strongman and embarks on a poignant, transformative journey.

"I don't need you. Go away! I'm happy here."

Directed by Wolf Rilla · 1h 16m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max

Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette) (1948)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 99%

A father and son search postwar Rome for the bicycle he needs for work, a small stolen thing that shows how hard everyday life is.

"You live and suffer. That's what life is."

Directed by Vittorio De Sica · 1h 29m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar18 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella) (1997)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 80% Metacritic 58

A Jewish father uses humour and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp.

"We're playing a game. It's a game. It's a game. We're in a tank, and we're winning."

Directed by Roberto Benigni · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

Won 3 Oscars72 wins & 52 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video

The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza) (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.5

An ageing writer reflects on his hedonistic life in Rome.

An aging writer reflects on his hedonistic life in Rome, exploring themes of art, beauty, and the search for meaning.

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino · 2h 22m

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 Netflix Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) (1988)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 90% Metacritic 80

A renowned filmmaker returns to his Sicilian hometown and remembers the cinema projectionist who shaped him.

"Whatever you end up doing, love it."

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore · 2h 04m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar25 wins & 33 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video YoutubeTV

8½ (Otto E Mezzo) (1963)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A filmmaker with creative block retreats into memories and fantasies while planning his next picture.

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 Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

The Conformist (Il conformista) (1970)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A weak-willed man joins the fascist party in 1930s Italy, chasing normality and conformity.

"I have to conform, otherwise society will destroy me."

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci · 1h 48m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Kino Film Collection · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, MovieMe · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video YoutubeTV

Divorce Italian Style (Divorzio all'italiana) (1961)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 100%

A man plots to free himself from his marriage by seducing his beautiful young cousin, with comic and unexpected results.

"Divorce, in my opinion, is never to be recommended. It's a most painful experience."

Directed by Pietro Germi · 1h 44m

Won 1 Oscar12 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max

The Best of Youth (La meglio gioventù) (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 94% Metacritic 89

This epic follows two Italian brothers across several decades of their country's history.

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana · 6h 07m · Rated R

33 wins & 25 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Il Postino: The Postman (Il Postino) (1994)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A postman befriends the famous poet Pablo Neruda, leading to an inspiring and tender friendship.

"Poetry doesn't belong to those who write it; it belongs to those who need it."

Directed by Michael Radford · 1h 54m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Gomorrah (Gomorra) (2008)

TMDB ★ 9.5

Based on real events, a look at the brutal reality of the Camorra mafia in Naples.

"It's not important if we die. It's important if we live like men."

Directed by Melania Cacucci · 1h 03m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video HBO Max

Malena (Malèna) (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.6

In a Sicilian village during the Second World War, a young boy becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman named Malena.

"In life, there are always those who do the raping and those who get raped."

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore · 1h 48m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

The Best Offer (La migliore offerta) (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A reclusive art expert gets caught up in a web of deceit and forgery.

"Love is not a good teacher; the best teacher is experience and time."

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore · 2h 11m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video HBO Max Hulu YoutubeTV

The Leopard (Il gattopardo) (1963)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A Sicilian prince witnesses the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the bourgeoisie.

"If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change."

Directed by Luchino Visconti · 3h 06m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video YoutubeTV

Mediterraneo (Mediterraneo) (1991)

TMDB ★ 7.6

During the Second World War, a group of Italian soldiers is stranded on a Greek island, leading to a gentle comedy of idleness.

"They will always remain what they are, but we must become what they want us to be."

Directed by Gabriele Salvatores · 1h 36m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video

Il Divo (Il divo) (2008)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Based on the life of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, this film explores the intricacies of political power.

"Power wears out those who don't have it."

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino · 1h 53m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

The Son's Room (La stanza del figlio) (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A successful psychoanalyst's family faces unexpected tragedy, forcing them to reckon with grief.

"You know what's strange? I don't feel guilty."

Directed by Nanni Moretti · 1h 39m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Best 20 Italian Drama Movies

La Dolce Vita ( La dolce vita) (1960)

Rocco and his Brothers (Rocco e i suoi fratelli) (1960)

The Leopard (Il gattopardo) (1963)

The Road (La Strada) (1954)

Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette) (1948)

Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella) (1997)

The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza) (2013)

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) (1988)

8½ (Otto E Mezzo) (1963)

The Conformist (Il conformista) (1970)

Divorce Italian Style (Divorzio all'italiana) (1961)

The Best of Youth (La meglio gioventù) (2003)

Il Postino: The Postman (Il Postino) (1994)

Gomorrah (Gomorra) (2008)

Malena (Malèna) (2000)

The Best Offer (La migliore offerta) (2013)

The Leopard (Il gattopardo) (1963)

Mediterraneo (Mediterraneo) (1991)

Il Divo (Il divo) (2008)

The Son's Room (La stanza del figlio) (2001)

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