Did you know that Italy holds the record for the most Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film won by a country? This comes as no great surprise, as Italian filmmakers have always influenced the world of cinema. Non è stato per niente facile, but in this post, you will be presented with some of the best Italian movies for learning the language.

Watching a film means immersing yourself in a different language and culture from the comfort of your own sofa, without having to take a plane to practise what you’re learning. It can be challenging at times, but with the help of subtitles, it’s sure to improve your comprehension and listening skills, not to mention expanding your vocabulary!

Ecco, check 9 of the best Italian movies for learners below!

1. Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)

This is one of the best Italian movies for learners because of its inspiring characters and heartwarming story, not to mention the beauty of the Sicilian coast and the transcendent music score written by Ennio Morricone.

It tells the story of a friendship between Totò, a mischievous, bright boy, and Alfredo, a mechanic and projectionist. After the Second World War, cinema is the only entertainment for the people of Giancaldo, a small village in rural Sicily. 

The local parish hall becomes the crossroads where the villagers meet. It is here that Alfredo initiates Totò in the mysteries of the projection machine, teaching him all the skills needed to venture into the world of cinema. 

Once Totò is old enough, Alfredo advises him to leave his beloved village forever and pursue his dreams elsewhere. Thirty years later, when Totò’s mother informs him of Alfredo’s death, he decides to return to Giancaldo to confront his past and the people who interacted with his childhood. 

Cosa succederà?

2. La vita è bella (1997)

How could we not include this multi-award-winning masterpiece? The movie centres around Guido Orefice (played by Italy’s national treasure Roberto Benigni), a Tuscan man of Jewish origin, and his family.

In 1944, Guido and his son Giosuè are captured by the Nazis and deported to a concentration camp. His wife Dora, despite not being Jewish, is also deported to the same place to join them. 

To protect his son from the harsh reality of life in the camp, Guido turns the tragic situation into a game. Pretending to understand German, he acts as an interpreter for the prisoners and translates the rules of the camp as if they were the rules of a fantastic game of chance: if Giosuè follows the rules, he will win a real tank!

La vita è bella is one of the best Italian movies of all time as it takes us on an emotional journey into the appalling moment of recent history, and yet it tries to find beauty even in the darkest places, leaving us con l’amaro in bocca (with a bittersweet ending).

3. La meglio gioventù (2003)

The longest movie in this list, La meglio gioventù portrays a generation of Italian dreamers who had to come to terms with the changes happening in politics and society. It’s an elegant and positive, yet dark, depiction of Italy with a very melodramatic tone – and for that, it deserves a place amongst the best Italian movies. 

The film spans from the summer of 1966 to the spring of 2003, covering the most important events of those years: the Florence flood in 1966, the 1968 protests, terrorism, Tangentopoli (a web of corruption and bribes) and the mafia attacks. The story focuses on two brothers, Nicola and Matteo, as they find their way into adulthood, marriage and middle age.

Nicola falls in love with Giulia, who prioritises her political beliefs over everything else in her life, whereas Matteo meets the photographer-turned-librarian Mirella. Despite sharing the same dreams when they were children, the two brothers will find themselves more distant than they would’ve ever imagined.

Just by reading this brief synopsis, you can imagine why we included it in this article about the best Italian movies, right?

4. La mafia uccide solo d’estate (2013)

Considered one of the best Italian movies on organised crime in Sicily, La mafia uccide solo d’estate tells the story of Arturo, the child of a middle-class family in Palermo. We follow him as he tries to win the heart of his beloved Flora, a classmate with whom he fell in love in primary school. 

Against the backdrop of this tender and amusing story, the terrible events that took place in Sicily between the 1970s and 1990s unfold. Arturo has been curiously obsessed with the casual presence of organised crime in his city since the day he pronounced his first word as a baby – “mafia!” – much to his parents’ surprise.

The movie talks about the victims of Cosa Nostra – such as prosecuting magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino and general Carlo Alberto Della Chiesa – and the courage of the people of Palermo to break through their silence and ask for justice. It’s a comedic yet touching satire of organised crime that manages to celebrate the lives of those who fought against it. It certainly has a narrative that merits its place on a list of best Italian movies for learners.

5. La grande bellezza (2013)

This is another multi-award-winning movie that conquered the world because of its beauty, its poetry and its story. If you’re someone who loves history and architecture, you won’t be disappointed as it is one of the best Italian movies. 

The setting of this tragic-comic adventure is Rome, la Città Eterna. The camera glides through the monuments, the streets and the piazzas of this breathtakingly beautiful city. Da mozzare il fiato!

Paolo Sorrentino’s La grande bellezza is the story of a one-time author, Jep Gambardella, looking for new inspiration and, ultimately, for something that could give meaning to his life. In spite of the appreciation and prizes received for his one work L’apparato umano, he did not write any more books because of a creative block from which he could not escape. 

Jep works as a journalist and theatre critic who spends most of his time attending the mundane events of the capital. After receiving the news of the death of his first (and only) love, Jep plunges into a deep state of melancholy and reassesses his world, his work and himself.

6. Lazzaro felice (2018)

Directed by Alice Rohrwacher, Lazzaro felice is one of the best Italian movies for learners due to its captivating story. It has garnered critical acclaim for its unique storytelling and visual beauty. The film follows Lazzaro, a kind-hearted and innocent young man living in a remote Italian village called Inviolata. 

The village is ruled by the cruel Marchesa Alfonsina de Luna, who exploits the villagers’ labour. Lazzaro’s life takes an unexpected turn when he befriends Tancredi, the rebellious son of the Marchesa. This unlikely friendship leads to a series of extraordinary events that blur the lines between reality and fantasy.

Lazzaro felice is praised for its poetic cinematography and thought-provoking themes. It offers a glimpse into rural Italian life. 

7. C’è ancora domani (2023)

Paola Cortellesi’s C’è ancora domani is a modern masterpiece of Italian cinema. This film is one of the best Italian movies for learners because it features dialogues in the Roman dialect, giving viewers a taste of authentic, local speech.

The story talks about the lives of various characters navigating their personal and professional challenges, which makes the narrative both touching and humorous. It definitely captures the essence of Italian culture beautifully.

8. La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia (2019)

La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia brings to life the beloved 1945 Italian children’s book The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily by Dino Buzzati. This film is beautifully animated and a great resource if you are looking for the best Italian movies for learners.

The film follows the journey of a group of bears who descend from the mountains to Sicily in search of food and the kidnapped son of their king. The bears’ invasion leads to a series of adventures, blending fantasy with historical and cultural elements of Sicily. 

The film’s clear and engaging narration makes it an excellent choice for those looking to expand their Italian vocabulary and listening skills.

9. Mediterraneo (1991)

This movie is another Italian classic, and that is why it is on our list of best Italian movies. Directed by Gabriele Salvatores, it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992. 

Set during World War II, the story follows a group of Italian soldiers who are sent to a small Greek island to monitor enemy activity. Cut off from the war and the rest of the world, they begin to assimilate into the idyllic island life. The narrative captures the essence of Mediterranean culture while highlighting the absurdity and futility of war. 

This movie is another Italian classic, and that is why it is on our list of best Italian movies. Directed by Gabriele Salvatores, it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992. 

Set during World War II, the story follows a group of Italian soldiers who are sent to a small Greek island to monitor enemy activity. Cut off from the war and the rest of the world, they begin to assimilate into the idyllic island life. The narrative captures the essence of Mediterranean culture while highlighting the absurdity and futility of war. 

Ed ecco qua! We’ve come to the end of our look at the best Italian movies for learners! If you want to watch even more foreign-language films, don’t miss out on our film recommendations for French, German and Spanish learners!