The Soul of Italian Cinema: Capturing the Essence of Italy

When it comes to romance and destination weddings, Italy is the paradise place for lovers. Italian culture is rich and beautiful. From food, tourism, and entertainment, Italy never fails. Italian cinema has a distinct place in the field of international cinema. Italian soil has time and again come up with different and heart-touching stories. Romantic Italian movies are great to watch because there is poetry in Italian movies, and therefore, Italy has a significant place in the hearts of movie lovers.

Each film offers a glimpse into the soul of Italy, capturing the essence of its people, its culture, and its landscapes. From the classic works of Fellini and Visconti to the contemporary gems of Italian cinema, there’s a treasure trove of romantic masterpieces waiting to be discovered.

“Timeless Romance and Iconic Vision in Italian Films”

Romance in Italian films is known for its beautiful cinematography, iconic vision, and exploration of realistic themes. With timeless romance, Italian cinema is also blessed with a lyrical form of storytelling.

Italian Cinema have spellbound audiences around the world with their gripping stories, memorable performances, and timeless topics of love, yearning, and tenacity.

The actors in Italian movies bring a sense of realism and emotional depth to their roles. While most actors worldwide follow theatrical parameters while acting, Italian actors mostly rely on tapping into genuine human emotions. This includes getting fully immersed in the characters’ emotions and experiences. This is achieved by extensive research, deep understanding, love for the character, and improvised acting to bring a sense of truth and authenticity to their performances.

There is a high level of trust and mutual respect between Italian directors and actors. The directors believe in their actors and give them full freedom to improvise dialogue or body language, resulting in output that feels more organic and truer to life. This teamwork brings the most compelling and memorable moments on the silver screen. These small details and visual storytelling not only enhance the aesthetic sense of Italian cinema but also mesmerize audiences across the world, giving them a truly unforgettable viewing experience.

In addition to the creative talent of its writers, directors, and actors, Italian cinema is also known for its stunning cinematography and rich production values. From the bustling streets of Rome to the bright sunny landscapes of Tuscany, Italian films often serve as a painter to the beauty and diversity of Italian culture, its people, and places. It’s understood why 8 out of 10 films across the world have Italy as a foreign location in their film scripts.

The world of Italian cinema stands as a strong example of creative genius, authenticity, and collaboration. From the actors to the directors and the entire crew, everybody seems to write visual poetry unknowingly, thereby setting the standard for cinematic excellence. Following is the list of best Italian movies of all time, mostly dubbed in English. By writing this article, this is SBM’s humble attempt to encourage people across the world to witness the most beautiful and elegant part of the world in Italian Cinema.

 

102 Best Italian Movies of All Time

 

1. “La Terra Trema” (1948) – Directed by Luchino Visconti
2. “Stromboli” (1950) – Directed by Roberto Rossellini
3. “Miracle in Milan” (1951) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
4. “The White Sheik” (1952) – Directed by Federico Fellini
5. “Umberto D.” (1952) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
6. Europa ’51” (1952) – Directed by Roberto Rossellini
7. “Journey to Italy” (1954) – Directed by Roberto Rossellini
8. “La Strada” (1954) – Directed by Federico Fellini
9. “Il Bidone” (1955) – Directed by Federico Fellini
10. “Le Amiche” (1955) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
11. “Nights of Cabiria” (1957) – Directed by Federico Fellini
12. “Big Deal on Madonna Street” (1958) – Directed by Mario Monicelli
13. “Life Is Beautiful” (1997) – Directed by Roberto Benigni
14. “Cinema Paradiso” (1988) – Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
15. “The Great Beauty” (2013) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
16. “La Dolce Vita” (1960) – Directed by Federico Fellini
17. “The Bicycle Thief” (1948) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
18. “8½” (1963) – Directed by Federico Fellini
19. “The Leopard” (1963) – Directed by Luchino Visconti
20. “Amarcord” (1973) – Directed by Federico Fellini
21. “Rome, Open City” (1945) – Directed by Roberto Rossellini
22. “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” (1963) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
23. “The Conformist” (1970) – Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
24. “Divorce Italian Style” (1961) – Directed by Pietro Germ
25. “L’Avventura” (1960) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
26. “Two Women” (1960) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
27. “I Vitelloni” (1953) – Directed by Federico Fellini
28. “The Nights of Cabiria” (1957) – Directed by Federico Fellini
29. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” (1970) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
30. “A Special Day” (1977) – Directed by Ettore Scola
31. “Cinema Paradiso” (1988) – Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
32. “The Postman” (1994) – Directed by Michael Radford
33. “Malèna” (2000) – Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
34. “The Best of Youth” (2003) – Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
35. “Gomorrah” (2008) – Directed by Matteo Garrone
36. “Il Sorpasso” (1962) – Directed by Dino Risi
37. “The Son’s Room” (2001) – Directed by Nanni Moretti
38. “The Last Emperor” (1987) – Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
39. “The Great War” (1959) – Directed by Mario Monicelli
40. “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (1970) – Directed by Elio Petri
41. “Swept Away” (1974) – Directed by Lina Wertmüller
42. “L’Avventura” (1960) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
43. “The Night of the Shooting Stars” (1982) – Directed by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani
44. Big Deal on Madonna Street” (1958) – Directed by Mario Monicelli
45. “The Tree of Wooden Clogs” (1978) – Directed by Ermanno Olmi
46. “The Legend of 1900” (1998) – Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
47. “The Way We Laughed” (1998) – Directed by Gianni Amelio
48. “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” (1963) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
49. The Passenger” (1975) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
50. “Love in the City” (1953) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, and others
51. “The House with Laughing Windows” (1976) – Directed by Pupi Avati
52. “The Consequences of Love” (2004) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
53. “The Best of Youth” (2003) – Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
54. “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” (1964) – Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
55. “The Night Porter” (1974) – Directed by Liliana Cavani
56. “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” (1970) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica
57. “Son of Saul” (2015) – Directed by László Nemes (Italian setting, English language)
58. “Amarcord” (1973) – Directed by Federico Fellini
59. “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom” (1975) – Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
60. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964) – Directed by Jacques Demy
61. “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (1970) – Directed by Elio Petri
62. “The Tree of Wooden Clogs” (1978) – Directed by Ermanno Olmi
63. “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964) – Directed by Sergio Leone
64. “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960) – Directed by Luchino Visconti
65. “Padre Padrone” (1977) – Directed by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani
66. “Mafioso” (1962) – Directed by Alberto Lattuada
67. “Casanova 70” (1965) – Directed by Mario Monicelli
68. “The Wedding Director” (2006) – Directed by Marco Bellocchio
69. “A Special Day” (1977) – Directed by Ettore Scola
70. “The Night of the Shooting Stars” (1982) – Directed by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani
71. “The Golden Coach” (1952) – Directed by Jean Renoir
72. “Mediterraneo” (1991) – Directed by Gabriele Salvatores
73. “The Son’s Room” (2001) – Directed by Nanni Moretti
74. “The Way We Laughed” (1998) – Directed by Gianni Amelio
75. “The Best of Youth” (La meglio gioventù) – 2002, Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
76. “Respiro” (Respiro) – 2002, Directed by Emanuele Crialese
77. “The Profession of Arms” (Il mestiere delle armi) – 2002, Directed by Ermanno Olmi
78. “The Embalmer” (L’imbalsamatore) – 2002, Directed by Matteo Garrone
79. “Ignorant Fairies” (Le fate ignoranti) – 2002, Directed by Ferzan Özpetek
80. “The Wedding Director” (Il regista di matrimoni) – 2002, Directed by Marco Bellocchio
81. “The Last Kiss” (L’ultimo bacio) – 2002, Directed by Gabriele Muccino
82. “The Soul’s Place” (Il posto dell’anima) – 2002, Directed by Riccardo Milani
83. “La Grande Bellezza” (2013) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
84. “La Notte” (1961) – Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
85. “Boccaccio ’70” (1962) – Directed by Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, and Mario Monicelli
86. “The Family Friend” (2006) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
87. “I Am Love” (2009) – Directed by Luca Guadagnino
88. “The Great Beauty” (2013) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
89. “The Mafia Kills Only in Summer” (2013) – Directed by Pierfrancesco Diliberto
90. “La Pazza Gioia” (2016) – Directed by Paolo Virzì
91. “Perfect Strangers” (2016) – Directed by Paolo Genovese
92. “The Invisible Witness” (2018) – Directed by Stefano Mordini
93. “Dogman” (2018) – Directed by Matteo Garrone
94. “The Traitor” (2019) – Directed by Marco Bellocchio
95. “Pinocchio” (2019) – Directed by Matteo Garrone
96. “The Life Ahead” (2020) – Directed by Edoardo Ponti
97. “La Pazza Gioia” (2016) – Directed by Paolo Virzì
98. “The Hand of God” (2021) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
99. “Freaks Out” (2021) – Directed by Gabriele Mainetti
100. “The First King: Birth of an Empire” (2019) – Directed by Matteo Rovere
101. “The Man Without Gravity” (2019) – Directed by Marco Bonfanti
102. “The Boy and the Heron” (twenty-24)