12 Classic Italian Movies on Netflix
Carolina
Carolina, who originally hails from Argentina is a movie buff through and through. She enjoys nothing more than binge-watching the latest Netflix series and is a big fan of their 'Originals' line. Her favourite movie is Frozen and she's a big fan of The Good Place & The Dragon Prince.
Finding classic movies on Netflix is difficult, and when you narrow the search to Italian films, it is even harder.
Italy has a vibrant filming history with landmark directors, actors, and actresses.
Sadly, streaming services don’t pay attention to classic movies, and a significant part of the audience can’t find a place to access these films. Some of them can be found on YouTube, but the video quality isn’t the best.
If you happen to love international cinema and classic films like me, here I share with you my research about classic Italian movies you can find on Netflix.
How to watch these movies on Netflix
Although some of the movies on this list are available globally, most of them can be found in selected countries only.
To access them in your country, you’ll need a VPN app to unblock those Netflix libraries.
ExpressVPN is my first choice for a VPN service. They offer the fastest connection speeds, a user-friendly interface, and last but not least: a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you aren’t satisfied with their service.
I also have two other options for you: NordVPN and Surfshark. They share similar features for affordable fees. Which you pick is your choice.
Once you’ve signed up, download their app and connect to the relevant country for the movie you want to watch. You’ll then be able to visit Netflix, login with your regular account details and access the content of that country.
It couldn’t be easier! Now, on with the movies.
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1. Nobody’s Children (1951)
Drama – Romance – 105 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN Locations: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
An Italian-French co-production directed by Raffaello Matarazzo and starring Yvonne Sanson and Amedeo Nazzari.
The story is a melodrama about the tragic love story between Guido (Nazzari), a rock quarry owner, and Luisa (Sanson), the daughter of one of his employees. The affair leads to a series of prejudices and lies with severe consequences.
2. Café Chantant (1953)
Comedy – 84 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN Locations: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain
This comedy, directed by Camillo Mastrocinque and starring Alberto Talegalli, follows Sor Clemente, who is trying to evade his wife and goes to a variety show with his uncle Angelino, where something surprising awaits them.
3. Scandal in Sorrento (1955)
Comedy, Romance – 93 min.
Available globally
Starring Vittorio De Sica as Comandante Carotenuto and Sophia Loren as Sofia Cocozza, Pane, amore e….. as it goes by its original title is a comedy directed by Dino Risi. A marshall (De Sica) returns to his hometown to find a woman (Loren) renting his house and not willing to leave.
4. The Sign of Venus (1955)
Comedy, Drama, Romance – 97 min.
Available globally
Another comedy directed by Dino Risi and starring Vittorio De Sica and Sophia Loren. Agnese (Loren) has many suitors around her, while her cousin Cesira (Franca Valeri), with whom Agnese lives, wishes to have the same luck.
5. Lazzarella (1957)
Comedy, Drama, Musical – 97 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN Locations: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
A romantic comedy following the story of Luciano (Terence Hill), who teaches mathematics to Sandra (Alessandra Panaro) to help her with school, and they end falling in love.
But, Sandra already has a suitor, Nicola (Luigi De Filippo), and Luciano meets the French girl Brigitte (Irène Tunc), who wants him with her in Paris.
6. Violent Summer (1959)
Drama, Romance, War – 98 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN locations: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
Set in a seaside Italian town during World War II, the film tells the love affair between Carlo Caremoli (Jean-Louis Trintignant), the son of fascist, and Roberta Parmesan (Eleonora Rossi Drago), a naval officer’s widow with a child and older than Carlo.
7. Two Women (1960)
Drama, War – 101 min.
Available in Italy
Directed by Vittorio De Sica and based on the novel of the same name by Alberto Moravia, the film follows Cesira (Sophia Loren), a woman trying to protect her young daughter from the horrors of the war in 1944.
8. On The Tiger’s Back (1961)
Comedy, Drama – 109 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN Locations: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
A comedy starring Nino Manfredi about four convicts who plan their escape from prison but find a lot of trouble.
9. Anonymous Venetian (1970)
Drama, Music, Romance – 91 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN locations: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
Enrico (Tony Musante) is a Venetian musician who unexpectedly invites his ex-wife Valeria (Florinda Bolkan) to pay him a visit before an important concert.
What Valeria doesn’t know is Enrico is living with a terminal disease, and probably that would be their last time together.
10. The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971)
Mystery, Thriller – 99 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN locations: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
A young girl is brutally killed in a park, and all the clues lead the police to a famous TV host as the killer.
11. Rugantino (1973)
Comedy, Romance – 110 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN locations: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
Based on a musical comedy by Pietro Garinei and Sandro Giovannini, the story is set in Rome, 1800. It follows Rugantino, a careless young man who falls in love with a married woman.
12. The Kid From Naples (1973)
Comedy, Crime – 115 min.
Available in selected countries
Recommended VPN locations: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland
Peppino Cavallo (Adriano Celentano) is a young man who travels to America following the steps of his father, who emigrated years before and lost touch with his family.
Summary
Italy has a history of outstanding movies that have spawned famous directors and actors. Finding them on the streaming services is a difficult task.
For this reason, I’ve researched classic Italian movies on Netflix, and I’ve come up with this list for your enjoyment.
Since several movies on this list aren’t available globally, you’ll need the help of ExpressVPN to unblock those Netflix catalogues.
Sign up, download the app, connect to the country of the film you want to stream and enjoy gaining access to extra content with your regular Netflix account.
