Best Italian Drama Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best Italian Drama Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: captivating, realistic, serious, dramatic, talky and thought provoking. Plot: friendship, female nudity, death, dialogue, art, storytelling, destiny, runaway, photograph and loneliness. Genre: Drama, Romance and Biography. Country: Italy, USA and UK.
Best Italian Drama Movies
TOP Movies: The Last Emperor (1987), The Great Beauty (2013), The Choice (2015), Amadeus (1984), Still Life (2013), Romeo and Juliet (1968), The Founder (2016), Fight Club (1999), Fathers & Daughters (2015), House of Cards (1993), The English Patient (1996), Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), The Past (2013), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), EO (2022), Call Me by Your Name (2017), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Monica (2022), The Full Monty (1997), Challengers (2024).
List of Best Movies
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Italy, UK, France
Duration: 163 min.
Story:
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation ...
Style:
epic, breathtaking, political, visually appealing, visually stunning ...
Plot:
childhood, chinese history, world war two, biopic, revolution, emperor, politics, prison, eunuch, drug addiction, communism, symbolism ...
Time:
1950s, 1930s, 1920s, 1940s, 1900s ...
Place:
china, beijing china, asia, japan, east asia
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
Jep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty.
Style:
philosophical, intellectual, visually stunning, breathtaking, art house ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
stripper, writer's life, party, high society, passion, female nudity, friendship, artist, aging, surrealism, skinny dipping, male nudity ...
Time:
2010s, year 2013, 21st century
Place:
rome italy, italy
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
A childless couple struggle in the aftermath of a sexual assault leaves the woman pregnant.
Style:
suspense, disturbing, psychological, captivating
Plot:
couples, sexual assault, husband wife relationship, relationships, family problems, life is a bitch, family relations, marital reconciliation, pregnant wife, violence, marriage, pregnancy ...
Is relevant?
464K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, France
Duration: 160 min.
Story:
The incredible story of genius musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback by his peer and secret rival Antonio Salieri – now confined to an insane asylum.
Style:
clever, costume drama, period piece, atmospheric, historical drama ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
classical music, music, composer, genius, mozart, musician, envy, opera, character study, musician's life, mentor, prodigy ...
Time:
18th century, 1790s, 1820s, 1800s, 1780s ...
Place:
vienna, austria, eastern europe, italy, europe ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, Italy
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A council case worker looks for the relatives of those found dead and alone.
Style:
sincere, realistic, semi serious, captivating, black comedy ...
Plot:
loneliness, solitude, social worker, self discovery, death, introspection, private investigation, misfit, workplace, obsession, workplace situations, social misfits ...
Time:
year 2013, 21st century
Place:
london, europe, england
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Italy
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Director Franco Zeffirelli's beloved version of one of the most well-known love stories in the English language. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall in love against the wishes of their feuding families. Driven by their passion, the young ...
Style:
romantic, period piece, costume drama, sweet, colorful ...
Audience:
date night, teens
Plot:
forbidden love, shakespeare, shakespeare's romeo and juliet, tragic love, fall in love, family feud, love story, unfulfillment, parents and children, true love, love, medieval ...
Time:
1900s, year 1968, medieval times, 1930s
Place:
italy, europe, paris france, new york, england
Is relevant?
202K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise ...
Style:
inspirational, motivational, realistic, cerebral, uplifting ...
Audience:
family friendly, teens
Plot:
business, businessman, fast food, capitalism, rags to riches, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur, salesman, money, marketing, greed, food ...
Time:
50s, 1950s, 2010s, year 2016, year 1954 ...
Place:
usa, america, california, arizona, illinois ...
Is relevant?
2.6M
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the ...
Style:
psychological, twist ending, surprise ending, cerebral, thought provoking ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night, chick flick, girls' night, adult
Plot:
twists and turns, self destructing, psychology, split personality, plot twist, nihilism, insanity, obsession, dissociative identity disorder, insomnia, identity crisis, mental illness ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1999, year 2013
Place:
delaware, seattle, iran, america, los angeles ...
Is relevant?
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Genre: Drama
Country: USA, Italy
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
A Pulitzer-winning writer grapples with being a widower and father after a mental breakdown, while, 27 years later, his grown daughter struggles to forge connections of her own.
Style:
touching, captivating, suspense, sincere, rough ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
writers, father daughter relationship, nervous breakdown, sex scene, father, single father, death of wife, childhood trauma, family drama, family relations, emotional breakdown, kids and family ...
Time:
year 2015
Place:
pittsburgh
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
When Ruth Matthews's husband is killed in a fall at an archaeological dig, her daughter Sally handles her father's death in a very odd manner. As Sally's condition worsens, Ruth takes her to see Jake, an expert in childhood autism. ...
Style:
psychological, emotional, touching, psychological thriller, contemplative ...
Audience:
kids, girls' night
Plot:
autism, disability, child's point of view, mental illness, fantasy world, reflection, scared, psychopath, medical, youth, self discovery, single parent ...
Time:
year 1993, 90s
Place:
mexico, latin america
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
In the 1930s, Count Almásy is a Hungarian map maker employed by the Royal Geographical Society to chart the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert along with several other prominent explorers. As World War II unfolds, Almásy enters into a world of ...
Style:
romantic, sentimental, touching, emotional, scenic ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night
Plot:
world war two, love story, desert, beautiful scenery, tragic love, power of love, love and romance, passion, adultery, sex scene, doomed love, life philosophy ...
Time:
1940s, 1930s, year 1944, year 1942, 90s ...
Place:
sahara, italy, ottoman empire, cairo egypt, africa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
FBI agent Matt Graver teams up with operative Alejandro Gillick to prevent Mexican drug cartels from smuggling terrorists across the U.S. border.
Style:
neo noir, suspense, perverse, bleak, disturbing ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
cartel, terrorist, drug cartel, black ops, cia agent, cia, organized crime, u.s. mexico border, warrior, deception, top secret, agent ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
somalia, south america, kansas city, sonora, mexico ...
Is relevant?
52K
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Country: France, Italy, Belgium
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
After four years apart, Ahmad returns to his wife Marie in Paris in order to progress their divorce. During his brief stay, he cannot help noticing the strained relationship between Marie and her daughter Lucie. As he attempts to improve matters ...
Style:
sincere, cerebral, captivating, art house, realistic ...
Plot:
coma, depression, dysfunctional family, relationships, divorce, parenthood, muslim, childhood, suicide, love and romance, haunted by the past, family reunited ...
Time:
year 2013, 90s, year 2012, 21st century
Place:
france, iran, middle east, persia, maghreb ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 229 min.
Story:
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Style:
ambiguous ending, melancholic, epic, breathtaking, atmospheric ...
Audience:
boys' night, kids, adult
Plot:
gangster, organized crime, mafia, friendship, prohibition, rape, betrayal, childhood friend, gunfight, murder, corruption, flashback ...
Time:
1930s, 60s, 1920s, 20th century, year 1984 ...
Place:
new york, usa, bronx new york city, america, china ...
Is relevant?
17K
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland, Italy
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
The world is a mysterious place when seen through the eyes of an animal. EO, a grey donkey with melancholic eyes, meets good and bad people on his life’s path, experiences joy and pain, endures the wheel of fortune randomly turn his luck into ...
Style:
social, aesthetic, interesting
Plot:
animal cruelty, donkey, animal, hooliganism, circus, truck driver, lonely, journey, exploitation, blonde girl, veterinarian, blonde ...
Place:
poland
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Brazil, France, Italy, USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Elio Perlman is spending the summer with his family at their vacation home in Lombardy, Italy. When his father hires a handsome doctoral student, the curious 17-year-old finds himself developing a growing attraction to the young man.
Style:
touching, lgbt cinema, disturbing, independent film, sexy ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, date night, pre-teens ...
Plot:
lgbt, gay, summer, gay love, love, homosexual, gay relationship, gay romance, homosexuality, first love, gay interest, father son relationship ...
Time:
80s, year 1983, 2010s, 2000s, year 2017
Place:
italy, nebraska, mediterranean sea, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Country: Italy, UK, USA
Duration: 197 min.
Story:
Doctor Zhivago is the filmed adapation of the Russian novel by Boris Pasternak from director David Lean that was an international success and today deemed a classic. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie play two protagonists who in fact love each other ...
Style:
costume drama, epic, period piece, breathtaking, visually stunning ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
world war one, revolution, war, communism, love story, train, forbidden love, rape, poet, deportation, love triangle, wartime ...
Time:
1910s, 20th century, 1920s, 1940s, ancient times ...
Place:
russia, soviet union, moscow russia, ussr
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, Italy
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
After years of estrangement, a trans woman returns home to help care for her dying mother.
Style:
melancholic, dramatic, reflective, disturbing, serious ...
Plot:
transgender woman, transgender, mother daughter relationship, lgbt, acceptance, forgiveness, identity, character study, family drama, transsexuality, transsexual, trans woman ...
Time:
21st century
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Sheffield, England. Gaz, a jobless steelworker in need of quick cash persuades his mates to bare it all in a one-night-only strip show.
Style:
feel good, black comedy, funny, humorous, hilarious ...
Audience:
boys' night, chick flick
Plot:
working class, unemployment, gay, gay interest, stripper, woman urinating, striptease, male stripper, friendship, nudity, dance, loser ...
Time:
80s, year 1997, 90s, 20th century
Place:
england, northern england, britain, united kingdom, yorkshire ...
Is relevant?
174K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous grand slam champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she makes him play a “Challenger” event — close to the lowest level of pro ...
Style:
homoerotic, captivating, dramatic, exciting, entertaining ...
Plot:
tennis, love triangle, tennis player, bromance, threesome, rivalry, sauna, teenage boy, homoerotic friendship, sports injury, homoeroticism, bisexual man ...
Time:
2010s, 2000s, year 2019, year 2011, year 2007 ...
Place:
atlanta georgia, canada, ohio, indiana, england ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, War
Country: West Germany
Duration: 149 min.
Story:
A German submarine hunts allied ships during the Second World War, but it soon becomes the hunted. The crew tries to survive below the surface, while stretching both the boat and themselves to their limits.
Style:
epic, suspense, atmospheric, realistic, factual ...
Plot:
submarine, world war two, naval battle, navy, military, ocean, war, nazi, survival, sea, courage, ship captain ...
Time:
year 1941, 20th century, 1940s, year 1942, year 1981
Place:
germany, atlantic ocean, mediterranean sea
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A young father and his two children struggle to find harmony after his wife leaves them for another man.
Style:
serious, realistic, touching, emotional
Plot:
boy, coming of age, family relations, friendship, dysfunctional family, lifestyle, siblings relations, parents and children, youth, single parent, family problems, unfaithful wife ...
Time:
year 2006, 21st century
Place:
italy, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
With 8 ½ Frederico Fellini leaves a self-portrait where dreams and reality are a mix. With help from a most excellent cast and unique scenery this self reflecting film is one of his master works.
Style:
psychological, art house, cerebral, philosophical, surreal ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
surrealism, childhood, filmmaking, midlife crisis, loneliness, stream of consciousness, flashback, memory, satire, catholic, dream, actress ...
Time:
20th century, year 1963, 60s, 1930s
Place:
italy, europe, paris france, france, england ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
In 1980s Naples, young Fabietto pursues his love for football as family tragedy strikes, shaping his uncertain but promising future as a filmmaker.
Style:
thought provoking, psychological, captivating, disturbing, surreal ...
Plot:
coming of age, childhood trauma, poverty, loss of virginity, life, city life, change of luck, society, lifestyle, young boy, big city life, soccer fan ...
Time:
2020s, 80s
Place:
naples italy, nebraska, europe, italy
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Italy
Duration: 374 min.
Story:
Spanning four decades, from the chaotic 1960s to the present, director Marco Tullio Giordana's passionate epic 'La Meglio Gioventu' follows two Italian brothers through some of the most tumultuous events of recent Italian history.
Style:
sentimental, sincere, sad, touching, realistic ...
Plot:
couples, sister in law sister in law relationship, mental illness, cafe, politics, musician, idealism, hopes, couple relations, friendship, storytelling, police brutality ...
Time:
80s, 60s, year 2003, 2000s, 70s ...
Place:
italy, rome italy, sicily, lebanon, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Jordan
Duration: 166 min.
Story:
Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul ...
Style:
epic, captivating, psychological, suspenseful, action adventure ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
space opera, desert, desert planet, dune, fictional war, creature, sandstorm, monster, alien, star wars, messiah, exploration ...
Time:
distant future, future
Place:
space western
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
A nearly sightless boy is sent to a school for blind children, where he secretly discovers the possibilities of the recorded sound.
Style:
contemplative, serious, realistic, touching, educational ...
Plot:
boy, disability, hopes, blind character, coming of age, against the odds, friendship, follow your dream, rebellion, fighting the system, society, rebelliousness ...
Time:
70s, 20th century
Place:
italy, europe, tuscany
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
In the immediate post-war period, amidst the rubble of a poverty-ridden Naples, two kids, Carmine and Celestina, try to survive as best they can by helping each other out. One night, they secretly board a ship bound for New York to reach ...
Style:
realistic, emotional, neorealism, historical drama, period piece ...
Plot:
post war, journey, immigration, struggle, social realism, hopes, resilience, working class, poverty, coming of age, friendship, survival ...
Time:
1950s, 1940s
Place:
new york, naples italy, italy
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
The story of four friends Giulio, Gemma, Paolo, Riccardo, told over forty years, from 1980 to today, from adolescence to adulthood. Their hopes, their disappointments, their successes and failures are the intertwining of a great story of friendship ...
Style:
emotional, sincere, talky, realistic
Plot:
friendship, lifestyle, group of friends, free spirited, breaking point, uptight character, marital problem, unfulfillment, ex couple relations, declaration of love, doubts and hesitations, frustration ...
Time:
80s, 2000s, 90s
Place:
rome italy, naples italy, italy
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Italy
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
Vivien, an accomplished student with a passion for physics, and Roy, a troubled young man, are involved in an accident that forces them to reclaim their lives one minute at the time.
Style:
captivating, psychological, disturbing, romantic, teen
Plot:
romantic rivalry, accident, love triangle, amnesia, romantic triangle, romantic relationship, in love, memory lapse, couple relations, amnesiac, male female relationship, unfulfilled love ...
Is relevant?
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