The best films in Italy

Ah, no Dolce Vita. Italy encapsulates the mind and always leaves you craving for more. Fortunately, we can simply turn on our televisions and imagine ourselves there! It’s got 10 of the best movies set in Italy.

These films offer a unique glimpse into Italian culture and history, transporting viewers to some of the most beautiful locations in the country. Whether you are looking for an entertaining getaway or a more informative look at Italy, these films are sure to please. I wrote the best books out there in Italy, here!

No wonder Italy is one of the most popular locations to shoot a movie. The background alone is charming. Whether you want to escape to the Amalfi Coast, luxuriate in the Tuscan countryside, or go on an adventure in Rome, there is something for everyone. Here’s a look at the list:

All pray love

Rome, Naples

Eat, Pray, Love is a romantic drama based on the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. The film tells the story of Gilbert’s journey to Italy, India and Bali in search of self-discovery.

Gilbert spends his time in Italy enjoying the food, culture and wine of Rome and Florence. She also befriends an Italian man who helps her find love and acceptance.

under the hot sun

Tuscany, Positano

Based on Frances Mays’ bestselling book, Under the Tuscan Sun follows American writer Mays as she recklessly buys a villa in Tuscany. Mays moves to Italy with the goal of returning her home to its former glory. Along the way, she falls in love with the country and its people, and learns to live a simpler, more fulfilling life.

Life is beautiful

Tuscany
Life is Beautiful is a heart-warming Italian film that tells the story of a Jewish man and his family during the Holocaust. While in a concentration camp, the man does everything in his power to keep his wife and son safe and happy. He uses his wits and sense of humor to shield them from the harsh reality of their situation and instill hope in them.

The Godfather

Sicily
The Godfather is an American film based on the bestselling Mario Puzo novel. The film follows the Corleone crime family in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. Although the film is not entirely set in Italy, there are many scenes that take place in the country, including the opening sequence that is set on the fictional island of Corleone.

roman holiday

Rome
Roman Holiday is a classic American romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The film tells the story of a young princess, tired of her royal duties, who runs away from her therapists and spends a day exploring Rome in disguise. During her adventure, she meets an American reporter who is also seeking to escape from his life. The two quickly fall in love and have to find a way to stay together despite their different worlds.

Italian job

Venice

The Italian Job is a crime drama set in Venice that follows the exploits of Mark Wahlberg’s character as he plots an elaborate heist with his accomplices. It passes through Piazza San Marco, the Grand Canal and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute – one of the city’s most famous landmarks.

The talented Mr. Ripley

Amalfi Coast
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a psychological thriller starring Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, a man who is sent to Italy to bring back the son of a wealthy friend. Ripley becomes fascinated by the lifestyle of his friend (Jude Law) and begins to impersonate him. He soon found himself above his head, which led to a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

the gladiator

Rome
Gladiator is a historical drama starring Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who was betrayed and sold into slavery. Maximus becomes a gladiator with the hope that one day he will be able to return to his family. He quickly became one of the most successful fighters in the arena, which led to a fight with the son of the corrupt emperor.

No Dolce Vita

Rome
La Dolce Vita is a classic Italian film that follows a week in the life of journalist Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni). Roubini wanders around Rome, encounters various characters and immerses himself in the city’s nightlife. The film offers a glimpse into the decadent lifestyle of the rich and famous in Italy in the 1960s.

When in Rome

Rome
When In Rome is a romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell as a woman who, during a business trip to Rome, steals coins from a fountain that is said to fulfill the wishes of those who throw them. Returning home, she finds that the coins have worked and is now being pursued by five men who all want to marry her. You must choose between the life you know and the life you could live with one of these men. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there was a movie in 2002 called When You’re in Rome with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson. So choose what suits you!

Letters to Juliet

Verona
Letters to Juliet is a romantic drama starring Amanda Seyfried as an American woman who travels to Verona, Italy on vacation. While there, she came across a group of women replying to letters written by Shakespeare by Juliet Capulet. She sets out to help them on their quest to find lost lovers, all while searching for her lover.

Ocean 12

Rome, Lake Como
Ocean’s 12 is a heist comedy that follows the crew of Ocean’s 11 as they attempt a series of daring heists in Europe. While the majority of the film takes place in Amsterdam, there are also scenes in Rome and Lake Como. The film features an all-star cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon.

amazing woman

Matera
Wonder Woman is a superhero movie based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film follows Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) as she leaves her homeland on an idyllic island to enter the human world during World War I. While a large part of the movie is set in London, there is also a large part that takes place in Italy, where Diana goes to find and stop the villain Ares.

Men in Black: International

Naples

Men in Black: International is a science fiction action movie that follows Men in Black as they try to stop an alien threat. The film features several locations throughout Italy, including Rome, Florence and Pisa. It also stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the new members of Men in Black.

Call me by your name

Northern Italy
Call Me by Your Name is a modern drama about Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet), a 17-year-old boy who falls in love with his father’s graduate student, Oliver (Armie Hammer). The film takes place in the eighties of the last century and takes place in the Italian countryside.

A room with a view

Florence
A Room with a View is a historical drama that follows Lucy Honey Church (Helena Bonham Carter), a young woman who travels to Florence, Italy with her escort. There, she meets a man named George Emerson (Julian Sands) and falls in love with him. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that George belongs to a lower social class than Lucy.

Popes

Rome
The Two Popes is a historical drama that follows the story of Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce). In the film, the two men meet at the Vatican to discuss their different views on the Catholic Church. However, their meeting ends with much greater consequences than either of them could have expected.

the tourist

Venice
The Tourist is a thriller that follows an American woman named Elise Clifton Ward (Angelina Jolie) who is pursued by the police. She ends up turning to a man named Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp), who is also being pursued by the police. The two of them end up running together and end up in Venice, Italy. The best part of the movie is definitely the beautiful landscape of Venice.

To Rome with love

Rome
To Rome with Love is a comedy-drama directed by Woody Allen that follows the lives of several characters in Rome. The film includes stories about a man mistaken for a movie star, an architect reconnecting with an old flame, and a young couple escaping to Rome. The film offers a unique and humorous look at the city of Rome and its inhabitants.

Tea with Mussolini

Florence
Tea With Mussolini is a historical drama that follows the story of a group of English women who were living in Italy during World War II. The film follows their lives as they try to maintain their way of life despite the growing threat of war. The movie stars Cher, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
The best films set in Italy offer a glimpse into the country’s rich culture and history. From classics like Roman Holiday to modern thrillers like The Talented Mr. Ripley, there is something for everyone on this list. Do you have a favorite movie set in Italy?!