Everyone turns their heads in the direction of Italy when it comes to music, gastronomy, beauty, and cinema! The country is rich in cultural and culinary riches, and Italian cinema has a legendary status in world movie history. Now, Netflix is preparing to collect all of Italy’s cinematic treasures, and the online streaming platform’s movie portfolio includes some of the country’s best films.
Netflix is aiming to strike a balance between old films from Italian masters and newcomers, such as genre-benders. Here is a list of really good Italian movies on Netflix that you can stream right now if you’re looking to learn an Italian phrase, enjoy the panoramic beauty of Italian landscapes, get a glimpse into Italian rural life, or immerse yourself in the world of the cinematic universe. Italian mafia films, Italian romantic films, and Italian action drama films are all on the list.
365 Days
‘365 Days’ follows Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka), a successful executive who is stuck in a stale relationship. She thinks that she needs some fresh air one night following yet another embarrassment created by her partner. Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone), the current head of the Torricelli mafia family, crosses her path. He kidnaps her and transports her to his estate. He tells her that he first saw her five years ago and has been thinking about her ever since. He tells her that he will imprison her for the next 365 days until she develops genuine affections for him. He makes it clear that he won’t force himself on her, and he tells her that any attempt to flee will be futile.
Coffee For All (2017)
‘Coffee For All,’ a strange documentary film, examines the cultural tradition of coffee manufacturing. From Naples to Buenos Aires to New York, the camera captures people’s responses to the Neapolitan tradition of suspended coffee and how it has evolved into a social ritual. Many people acknowledge that the practice has permanently altered their life. The segment delves into the origins of Naples’ old habit of suspended coffee. The film depicts the easy task of going to a cafe and purchasing two coffees. The leftover coffee goes unused, waiting for someone who can’t afford it. Despite the fact that the custom was on the danger of extinction, the film claims that a group of cafés in Naples is reviving it and spreading the message of mutual love.
‘Five-star Christmas,’ directed by Marco Risi, is a comedy film about Franco Rispoli (Massimo Ghini), the newly-elected Italian Prime Minister, and his escapades during his first official trip to Budapest. It’s Christmastime, and Rispoli is leading a delegation to Budapest, Hungary. Giulia Rossi (Martina Stella), a senator from the opposing party, is part of this group. Later, it is revealed that the two political opponents are about to begin a relationship. However, they discover the prone form of a man dressed as Santa Claus caught in one of the hotel windows just as they are about to complete their relationship. Rispoli instructs his personal secretary Walter Bianchini (Ricky Memphis) to handle the problem. When Rispoli and Rossi’s respective spouses arrive, the situation quickly devolves into chaos.
Forgive Us Our Debts (2018)
‘Forgive Us Our Debts’ is a play about Guido, a storekeeper who is saddled with a mountain of debt. Guido’s life takes a turn for the worst when he gets sacked from his work as a storekeeper. To avoid being sued by his creditors, he accepts to work for them. Guido accepts a position as a tax collector on the condition of working for free until the debts are paid. Guido’s life was dramatically changed by a fortuitous contact with Franco, a credit recovery expert. Guido faces the unintended consequences of his devilish cooperation, and the two forge a balanced loyalty soon after.
Happy as Lazzaro (2018)
‘Happy as Lazzaro’ is a funny and fascinating story about two friends set in a peaceful Italian pastoral town. The townspeople regard Lazzaro as a simpleton farmer who leads a routine life. However, Lazzaro appears to be a good match for Tancredi, the village’s overly inventive freak. They forged an unorthodox alliance in order to plan Tancredi’s kidnapping! Marchesa Alfonsina de Luna, the village’s queen of cigarettes, and other nosy residents had to be kept in the dark about their scheme. When Tancredi pulls off his own kidnapping and flees to a distant city, Lazzaro sets out to find his loyal friend, as planned! ‘Happy as Lazzaro’ is a well-made drama with several memorable laugh-out-loud moments.
My Honor Was Loyalty (2015)
The story of Untersharführer Ludwig Herckel, a faithful soldier of the 1st SS Panzer Division, is told in ‘My Honor Was Loyalty.’ The film depicts Ludwig’s disenchantment as a result of a sequence of incidents set against the backdrop of World War II. Ludwig is awakened to the horrors of the Nazi government after witnessing the gruesome murder of a Jewish woman who is the wife of a soldier from his area. He recounts the fall of the Third Reich, the dispersal of German army groups, the deaths of colleagues in arms, and the most heinous war crimes committed on the Western Front. When he discovers the truth about the Nazi government, he will fight his most difficult battle yet. Ludwig discovers towards the end of the film that the most important battle of all is the battle within one’s conscience.
On My Skin (2018)
The true-crime film ‘On My Skin’ is based on the week leading up to Stefano Cucchi’s (Alessandro Borghi) death in 2009. Cucchi, a promising young guy from Rome, had his entire life ahead of him. He had become a building surveyor, following in his father’s footsteps. He was also a boxer in his spare time. He is detained on October 15, 2009, for possession of hashish, cocaine, and a prescription medication for his epilepsy. The video that follows is a shocking example of police abuse. Before he is brought before the court, he is severely assaulted. Regardless, he never tells anyone about the beating. His trial is set for a month later, requiring him to remain in Regina Coeli. His family tries desperately to see him, but a faulty mechanism prevents them from doing so. Cucchi died on October 22 as a result of his injuries. His family is only given access to his body after that.
18 Presents (2020)
’18 Presents’ is a science fiction drama in which a woman named Anna (Benedetta Porcaroli) is raised by her father after her mother died of breast cancer shortly after giving birth. Anna, like any other person on the verge of adulthood, orchestrates her share of rebellions before one day leaving her family. A automobile driven by her long-dead mother collides with her. Anna suddenly finds she has traveled 21 years back in time. ’18 Presents’ is a heartwarming film about love, sadness, and catharsis that will remind you of ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘The Lake House.’
Rocco (2016)
‘Rocco’ is an intriguing journey into the darkest corners of Europe’s pornography industry. Rocco Siffredi, the pornographic superstar, is the subject of the docu-drama. ‘Rocco’ delves into Rocco’s role as a living legend among pornographers, as well as his personal and professional life as a pornographer. Rocco Siffredi discusses his upbringing as a mother’s child who aspired to be a priest, his modest upbringing, work, wife, and children. The film not only gives an unbiased portrayal of the exotic porn underworld and its stars, but it also shows the real people behind the pornographic photos. ‘Rocco,’ starring Rocco Siffredi and Kelly Stafford, is a novel experience for viewers.
Suburra (2015)
The important character in the Italian crime thriller ‘Suburra’ is both a neighborhood of Rome and a central character in the Italian crime thriller ‘Suburra.’ The 2015 film by Stefano Sollima is based on the successful Netflix series of the same name. However, the film stands apart from the series and develops into a well-made criminal drama in its own right. The story is set in Suburra, which is the site of a large-scale real estate project. However, in Rome, a well-organized network of political power, riches, brutality, and religion expedited things. A tight action thriller experience is provided by intense characters and expertly orchestrated action moments.
The Ruthless (2019)
Santo Russo’s (Riccardo Scamarcio) criminal career began at a young age. He progressively becomes embroiled in organized crime after being arrested by the police for a crime he didn’t commit as a child. As an adult, he is the leader of a sophisticated gang in Milan. Mariangela (Sara Serraiocco), whom he has known since they were children, marries him. He then begins his shady and violent ascension to the top of the criminal world. Renato De Maria directs the film, which is based on a scenario written by Renato De Maria and Valentina Strada. Alessio Pratic, Pietro Pace, and Marie-Ange Casta feature alongside Scamarcio and Serraiocco in the film.
The Match (2019)
‘The Match,’ a sports comedy-drama directed by Francesco Carnesecchi, is about a little soccer club called Sporting Roma and the people who are affiliated with it. On a gameday, the narrative takes place. Antonio (Gabriele Fiore) is by far the squad’s finest player, but his father has bet against the team, therefore he keeps missing the goalpost on game day. Claudio (Francesco Pannofino), the team’s coach, is baffled by what is going on on the field. He is on the phone with his pregnant wife. Italo (Alberto Di Stasio, the club’s president, is apprehensive. After all, he’s staked the entire club on the game’s outcome. He can’t seem to keep his eyes on the timepiece. Leo (Daniele Mariani), his son, is a cocaine addict. Regardless, he appears to have huge intentions for the club.
The Two Popes (2019)
‘The Two Popes,’ by Fernando Meirelles, chronicles the events that led to the election of a new leader of the Catholic Church while the previous one is still living. The film dives deep into the relationship between Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, or future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce), and Pope Benedict XVI, with a primary focus on the aftermath of the Vatican leaks controversy (Anthony Hopkins). They talk about anything from God to their childhoods to their favorite TV series. Pryce and Hopkins were nominated for multiple prizes, including Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, for their performances, which received widespread appreciation from critics.
The Binding (2020)
The horror film ‘The Binding,’ directed by Domenico Emanuele de Feudis, tells the story of Emma (Mia Maestro), who travels to southern Italy with her daughter Sofia (Giulia Patrignani) and fiancé Francesco (Riccardo Scamarcio) to meet her soon-to-be mother-in-law (Mariella Lo Sardo) for the first time. The elderly woman lives alone in a large mansion with just a dog and a woman named Sabrina for company. Strange things begin to happen to Sofia soon after they arrive. She is bitten by a tarantula and begins to tear her hair out. Someone has placed a severe curse on the house, and Emma realizes that the only way to save her daughter is to lift it.
The Players (2020)
‘The Players,’ an Italian translation of the 2012 French film of the same name, is a compilation of short plays in which filmmaker Stefano Mordini explores marriage, fidelity, and love in a lighthearted manner. Riccardo Scamarcio, Valerio Mastandrea, and Laura Chiatti feature in the film. The airport is the setting for one of the stories. The lady alleges that her husband has cheated on her on a regular basis, and the man always denies it. She only gains access to his phone and begins ranting after he has fallen asleep during the flight. In another narrative, during a talk, a wife reveals her husband’s infidelity.
The App (2019)
‘The App,’ directed by Elisa Fuksas, follows the story of Nick (Salvatore Costa), who appears to have everything someone could ever want. He is well-off financially, has a lovely girlfriend, and has been cast in his first picture. However, his life takes an unexpected and unpleasant turn when he installs a dating app to assist his partner with her dissertation. He develops a crush on Maria, a strange woman he meets on the app. She is on a fruitless and foolish quest, promising everything but delivering nothing. Nick begins to alienate himself from his real-world well-wishers and successes as he loses his grasp on reality.
The Man Without Gravity (2019)
In a world flooded with superhero movies, Marco Bonfanti’s magical realism film ‘The Man Without Gravity’ gives a fresh perspective on the genre. Oscar (Elio Germano) was born with a strange talent. The gravitational pull of the Earth has no influence on him. He keeps weights in his pockets to keep him grounded; otherwise, he might float away. He learns to keep his abilities hidden after being inspired by Batman. He meets Agata (Jennifer Brokshi), a girl who teaches him the value of courage and independence throughout their brief encounter. Years later, Oscars has had enough of his isolated and fearful existence and has decided to enter the Eurovision Talent Contest. Agata understands that this is the youngster she met all those years ago as he displays his talent in front of the world.
Under the Riccione Sun (2020)
‘Under the Riccione Sun,’ a coming-of-age comedy-drama, follows a group of young adults as they gather in the beach town of Riccione for an annual holiday. They assimilate into the town’s relaxed and tranquil pace and allow themselves to be fully immersed in each of their times there. They fall in love, endure sadness, and learn new things about themselves. ‘Under the Riccione Sun,’ directed by Niccol Celaia and Antonio Usbergo, known as Younuts, features an ensemble cast that includes Ciro Caccamo, Giulia Schiavo, Claudia Tranchese, Fotini Peluso, and Isabella Ferrari as Ciro, Mara, Emma, Guenda, and Irene.
Ultras (2020)
Director Francesco Lettieri’s first film, a harsh and realistic depiction of soccer hooliganism, centers on Sandro (Aniello Arena), the leader of the Apaches, a violent agglomeration of Napoli football fans. He’s tired of beating up other hooligans and fighting with cops after squandering so much of his life doing so. Being a soccer hooligan offers little in the way of money or other benefits. Sandro has realized this and is looking for a way to leave. Terry (Antonia Truppo) crosses his path, and she just could transform his life for the better.
Welcome, Mr. President! (2013)
‘Welcome, Mr. President!’ has had a devoted fanbase since its publication in 2013. The film is widely regarded as one of the best Italian comedies of the last ten years. The fact that he shares his name with the Italian unification hero, ‘Giuseppe Garibaldi,’ catapults the prosaic existence of a committed librarian in a rural village. The astonishment and absurdities don’t stop there: he is mistakenly elected President of the country! A series of political games and a flood of write-in votes propel him to the country’s highest office. When the wrong man begins to lead a country in the right direction, the movie picks up speed, and the audience is treated to a visual feast of roll-on-the-floor comic sequences.
