23 Movies About Italy to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

With warmer weather on the horizon, we're already itching to pack our suitcases and hop on the next flight to Europe. But until we can make that a reality, we’re settling for the next best thing: watching movies about Italy.

With historical sites and breathtaking scenery, it comes as no surprise that so many films have used Italy’s iconic cities as backdrops. For instance, there’s Under the Tuscan Sun, which captures the essence of Cortona. And then there’s Eat Pray Love, which is bound to make you crave a slice of pizza. But best of all, these titles span from feel-good romances to crime dramas, proving that any movie buff can appreciate the country’s rich culture and history.

Here are 23 movies about Italy that you can stream from the comfort of your couch.

1. Cinema Paradiso (1988)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 155 minutes

This Oscar-winning classic takes us back to ’80s Sicily, where a small-town boy named Salvatore (Salvatore Cascio) develops a deep passion for filmmaking after bonding with a projectionist named Alfredo (Philippe Noiret). From universal themes to the infamous kissing montage, you won’t regret adding this one to your list.

2. The Godfather (1972)

• Rating: R
• Run time: 175 minutes

Follow the famous Corleone family as their fearless leader and patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), passes the mantle over to his reluctant son, Michael (Al Pacino). (FYI, part of the iconic film takes place in Sicily.) The movie boasts three Academy Award wins, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

3. To Rome With Love (2012)

• Rating: R
• Run time: 112 minutes

Woody Allen’s rom-com follows four different tales that all take place in Rome, including a young couple's romantic honeymoon and a random clerk’s big break. While critics have claimed that it's not Allen's best, it features an impressive cast (Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni and Penélope Cruz, to name a few) and includes just enough beautiful scenery to make you feel like you’re in Rome.

4. Eat Pray Love(2010)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 133 minutes

This charming, escapist biopic takes us on a journey through Italy, India and Indonesia as Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia Roberts) embarks on a quest for self-discovery after parting ways with her ex-husband. Watch for the gorgeous backdrops and Roberts’s standout pizza scene. "It is your moral imperative to eat and enjoy that pizza!"

5. Under The Tuscan Sun(2003)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 113 minutes

Inspired by Frances Mayes's memoir of the same title, Under the Tuscan Sun follows a newly divorced writer (Diane Lane), who heads off to Tuscany for a much-needed getaway. While there, she purchases and renovates an old villa—a decision that leads to a huge turning point in her life.

6. La Dolce Vita (1960)

• Rating: NR
• Run time: 174 minutes

Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) may be a gossip writer, but he takes his job seriously. (Well, sort of.) Set in Rome during the early ’60s, the movie documents one week of the journalist’s extravagant lifestyle. But unbeknownst to most people, he's on a quest for true love.

7. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

• Rating: R
• Run time: 139 minutes

Need an intense psychological thriller for your next movie night? Try this Oscar-nominated adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's gripping 1955 novel. Matt Damon stars as Tom Ripley, an American bathroom attendant who poses as a college grad and gets recruited to travel to Italy…but he must return with a rich playboy. When his plans go south, he goes to extreme lengths to get what he wants. Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett also star.

8. Tea With Mussolini (1999)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 117 minutes

An Italian orphan named Luca (Baird Wallace) gets taken in by women residing in Florence. The film may be set during Mussolini’s dictatorship, better known as one of the darkest periods in Italy’s history, but fortunately, it maintains a lighter, more positive tone. Expect solid performances and a bit of insight on the rise of fascism.

9. The Great Beauty (2013)

• Rating: NR
• Run time: 141 minutes

Meet Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo), an acclaimed journalist who's been riding the wave of success in Rome after releasing a best-selling novel. But when a shocking revelation from his past resurfaces, he begins to question his superficial lifestyle. The art drama scored dozens of awards, including an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

10. Gladiator (2000)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 155 minutes

How could we not include Ridley Scott's epic historical drama? The iconic film stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general who seeks revenge against the emperor (Joaquin Phoenix) for murdering his family. While it's best known for its political themes and impressive battle sequences, there's no shortage of stunning landscapes.

11. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 155 minutes

Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer deliver stellar performances in this Oscar-winning film, which follows the budding romance between a 17-year-old Italian boy (Chalamet) and his father’s handsome young intern (Hammer). Unfortunately, the highly-anticipated sequel, Find Me, has been put on hold, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for updates.

12. The Trip To Italy (2014)

• Rating: NR
• Run time: 108 minutes

If there’s one film on this list that’ll make you crave a visit to Italy, it’s this comedy. Rob (Rob Brydon) and Steve (Steve Coogan) receive the opportunity of a lifetime when they're commissioned on a tour of the country, complete with tasty meals and out-of-this-world views. During their road trip, they reflect on their lives, careers and relationships.

13. Roman Holiday(1953)

• Rating: G
• Run time: 118 minutes

It's the film that earned Audrey Hepburn her first Academy Award for Best Actress—and it was well deserved. In the movie, she plays a sheltered princess, who tries to escape her royal duties by running away and having her own adventures in Rome. In the process, she meets and falls for an American reporter.

14. Bread And Tulips (2000)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 114 minutes

After getting left behind at a highway cafe during a family road trip, Rosalba (Licia Maglietta), an Italian housewife, embarks on a solo vacation. Instead of waiting for her family to return, she heads off to Venice to enjoy her independence. Meanwhile, her controlling husband hires a detective to track her down.

15. When In Rome (2010)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 91 minutes

Beth (Kristen Bell), a successful art curator, ventures to Rome and finds herself in a bit of a pickle when a wish gone awry causes multiple men to pursue her. If you're a sucker for cheesy rom-coms, then this one's right up your alley. (Oh, and did we mention that Bell stars alongside her real-life boyfriend-turned-husband, Dax Shepard?)

16. Italian For Beginners (2000)

• Rating: R
• Run time: 112 minutes

If you could use a break from fairy tale-like romance stories, this delightfully quirky comedy will feel like a breath of fresh air. Set in a small town in Denmark, the movie follows a group of people, who enroll in Italian lessons for beginners. It’s set in Denmark (not Italy), but the class takes a trip to Venice, so it’s a win-win.

17. Life Is Beautiful (1997)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 116 minutes

If there’s one thing we learned from this movie, it’s to never underestimate the power of humor and imagination. Set in Italy during World War II, Life Is Beautiful tells the story of an Italian bookshop owner (Roberto Benigni), who gets captured and taken to a Jewish concentration camp with his son. While there, he relies on his imagination and comedic skills to help his little boy survive the traumatizing experience.

18. Letters To Juliet (2010)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 155 minutes

Mean Girls alum Amanda Seyfried is Sophie Hall, a New York-based fact checker who travels to Verona, Italy, with her fiancé for a romantic getaway. When she gets there, she discovers a place where people send heartfelt “letters to Juliet” and await replies from the “secretaries of Juliet.” But when she stumbles upon one that was left unanswered for decades, she embarks on a mission to find the author.

19. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 111 minutes

Adapted from William Shakespeare's play, this rom-com follows a soon-to-be-married couple (Kate Beckinsale and Robert Sean Leonard) as they concoct a plan to put Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Dame Emma Thompson) in a "love trap." The entire movie was filmed in Florence, Italy, and the cast includes Denzel Washington, Emma Thompson and Keanu Reeves.

20. Enchanted April (1991)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 95 minutes

This feel-good flick follows a diverse group of English women, who embark on mini vacation to Italy. Together, they lounge around their (rented) Italian villa and contemplate their goals, relationships and different personalities.

21. Shadows In The Sun (2005)

• Rating: PG
• Run time: 155 minutes

In this heartwarming indie film, Joshua Jackson plays a British book editor and aspiring writer, who’s sent by his employer to Tuscany, Italy. His task? To track down a literary genius and help him recover from writer’s block.

22. Casino Royale (2006)

• Rating: PG-13
• Run time: 144 minutes

You can count on James Bond to visit stellar locations that are a feast for the eyes. And in this installment, you’ll spot gorgeous views of Villa del Balbianello, located near Lake Como. Casino Royale follows Bond (Daniel Craig) as he embarks on his first mission as 007, shortly after earning his license to kill.