Learn Italian With Movies: 7 Films to Boost Your Level

If you’re looking for an engaging and immersive way to learn Italian, we recommend diving into the world of cinema. Watching Italian flicks is not only entertaining but also increases your language skills.

We’ve selected seven Italian films that will help you master the language. From breathtaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, each movie offers unique opportunities to learn Italian in context. Discover how conversations, cultural nuances, original expressions, and slang can transform your learning experience. 

Italian Movies to Add to Your Watchlist

1. “Perfetti Sconosciuti” (Perfect Strangers)

This masterful Italian film is directed by Paolo Genovese. The 2016 “dramedy” explores the intricacies of human relationships while the characters gather at a dinner party where friends and couples share the contents of their phones. 

The dialogue is rich and engaging, the language moving from casual to intensely emotional, providing a wide range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. “Perfetti Sconosciuti” offers a fascinating glimpse into contemporary Italian society.

2. “La Vita Davanti a Sé” (The Life Ahead)

Directed by Edoardo Ponti and starring the legendary Sophia Loren, this 2020 movie looks into the bond between a Holocaust survivor and a young Senegalese immigrant.

The story follows former prostitute and Holocaust survivor, Madame Rosa. Though she lives in a modest apartment , she takes in a young boy named Momo, a street-smart but troubled child. Momo initially struggles to adjust to his new life, but as he settles in a friendship develops.

the film beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the search for identity.

Learn Italian with Netflix: Strategy

LingQ makes learning with Italian movies easy. Here’s how you can watch and improve your Italian:

Step 1

Download the LingQ Importer browser extension (available for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox). Once you have it, add it to your toolbar.

Step 2

Open your movie, select the LingQ extension and click import. Done!

Now you can read and listen while translating the Italian words and phrases.

3. “Il Divin Codino” (The Divine Ponytail)

This 2021 Italian film directed by Letizia Lamartine follows the life of legendary footballer Roberto Baggio.

The film’s engaging narrative and authentic dialogue make it a great resource for upgrading listening skills and expanding vocabulary. Through Baggio’s biographical journey in the film, learners can gain insights into Italian culture and sports jargon. 

Highly recommended for intermediate learners seeking a fascinating way to strengthen their Italian comprehension and cultural understanding.

4. “L’incredibile Storia dell’isola delle Rose” (The Incredible Story of the Rose Island)

L’incredibile Storia dell’isola delle Rose tells the fanciful tale of a visionary Italian who built a floating island in the 1960s.

The film’s historical backdrop offers cultural insights while challenging your comprehension with varied vocabulary and accents. This movie is great way to expose yourself to vocabulary related to politics and law, which makes it more suited to intermediate/advanced learners.

5. “Favolacce” (Bad Tales)

This off-beat and compelling Italian film isdirected by Fabio D’Innocenzo and Damiano D’Innocenzo. The 2020 drama delves into the darker aspects of suburban life and is a rich source of colloquial Italian. 

Ideal for intermediate to advanced learners, “Favolacce” provides an excellent way to learn complex sentences and idiomatic phrases; there are some intense and dramatic exchanges! You won’t forget this film in a hurry.

6. “Yara”

An enthralling film made by director Marco Tullio Giordana, Yara is based on the real-life case of Yara Gambirasio, a young girl who was murdered in 2010.

The movie features powerful performances from its lead cast and the story and dialogue are gripping. You will be on the edge of your seat! Yara offers a poignant reflection on loss and the determination to seek justice and is an interesting look at how the Italian justice system works.

7. “Un Altro Ferragosto” (Another Ferragosto)

An outlandish film directed by Paolo Virzì, this 2024 sequel to the classic comedy film “Ferie d’Agosto” gives a glimpse into Italian summer life when Italians generally relax with family and friends.

The story follows the quirky dynamics of a family gathered in a villa in Tuscany, where unexpected guests and humorous mishaps lead to a series of comedic situations. You will pick up plenty of modern-day expressions and slang that you won’t find in textbooks!