Ten Best Films Set in Rome
The Travel Pages picks the ten best films set in Rome from classics like Ben-Hur and La Dolce Vita to more modern movies such as To Rome with Love & Conclave.
Rome, the Eternal City, has long served as a breathtaking backdrop for countless cinematic masterpieces. Its ancient ruins, bustling piazzas, and charming alleyways provide a uniquely cinematic atmosphere. Here are ten of the best films that capture the essence of Rome, offering viewers a journey through its history, culture, and undeniable beauty.
Ten Best Films Set in Rome
1. Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert
This popular romantic comedy follows Ann, a European princess on a goodwill tour who, weary of her sheltered life, escapes her handlers in Rome. She falls asleep on a park bench and is discovered by Joe Bradley, an American journalist looking for an exclusive story. Joe, initially unaware of her true identity, agrees to show her around the city. As they spend a glorious day anonymously exploring Rome on a Vespa, a genuine romance blossoms, forcing them to confront the reality of their vastly different lives. The film is a charming and timeless exploration of freedom, duty, and unexpected love against the backdrop of Rome’s most iconic sights.
Locations to visit: The Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna), the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità) at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin.
See it here: https://amzn.to/3RTV6Fa
2. La Dolce Vita (1960)
Director: Federico Fellini
Stars: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée
Federico Fellini’s iconic drama offers a kaleidoscopic look at the glamorous, decadent, and often hollow lives of the Roman aristocracy and paparazzi in the late 1950s. The film centers on Marcello Rubini, a journalist drifting through a series of encounters, parties, and relationships over seven days and nights. As he navigates this world of excess and superficiality, Marcello searches for meaning and happiness, ultimately finding only fleeting pleasures and a pervasive sense of emptiness. The film is a visually stunning and culturally significant portrayal of a society in transition, capturing the “sweet life” with both allure and critical distance.
Locations to visit: The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Via Veneto.
See it here: https://amzn.to/3GJSwzk
3. The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) (2013)
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Stars: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli
This visually opulent and critically acclaimed film follows Jep Gambardella, a jaded journalist and socialite who has charmed his way through Rome’s cultural scene for decades. On his 65th birthday, prompted by a reminder of his youthful ambitions, Jep begins to look past the endless parties and superficial interactions. He wanders through the city’s stunning, often hidden, locations, reflecting on his life, lost loves, and the elusive concept of beauty. The film is a modern meditation on life, art, privilege, and the timeless allure of Rome itself, presented with breathtaking cinematography.
Locations to visit: The Baths of Caracalla, the courtyard of Palazzo Taverna.
See it here: https://amzn.to/4iSDOmM
4. Conclave (2024)
Director: Edward Berger Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini
Following the unexpected death of the Pope, the film delves into the highly secretive process by which the College of Cardinals gathers in the Vatican to elect his successor. Cardinal Lawrence, tasked with overseeing the conclave, navigates the complex web of alliances, rivalries, and hidden agendas among the diverse group of cardinals from around the world. As the voting progresses, secrets are revealed, challenging the faith and convictions of those involved and shining a light on the human and political dimensions of this ancient tradition. The film offers a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at this momentous event.
Locations to visit: While much of the interior Vatican setting was recreated at Cinecittà Studios and the Royal Palace of Caserta, the film incorporates exterior shots that evoke the Vatican and Rome. The courtyard of Santo Spirito in Sassia and the gardens of Villa Medici in Rome were used for filming some scenes.
See it here: https://amzn.to/3RV6EIk
5. The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette) (1948)
Director: Vittorio De Sica
Stars: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola
Another masterpiece of Italian Neorealism, The Bicycle Thief tells the poignant story of Antonio Ricci, a poor man in post-war Rome who desperately needs a bicycle for his new job hanging posters. When his bicycle is stolen on his first day, he and his young son, Bruno, embark on a tireless search through the city’s streets and markets. The film is a heartbreaking depiction of poverty, unemployment, and the struggle for dignity in a ravaged society. It vividly portrays the urban landscape of Rome as a place of both hope and profound hardship.
Locations to visit: Porta Portese Market, the neighborhoods and streets where Antonio and Bruno search.
See it here: https://amzn.to/4jGcIk9
6. Gladiator (2000)
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
While much of the film was shot on sets and in other locations, Rome, specifically the Colosseum, is central to the narrative and visual identity of Gladiator. The epic historical drama tells the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a loyal Roman general betrayed and forced into slavery by the corrupt Emperor Commodus. Maximus becomes a gladiator, fighting his way through the arenas with the ultimate goal of vengeance in Rome’s most famous amphitheater. The film offers a dramatic and visually stunning recreation of ancient Rome, particularly the grandeur and brutality of the Colosseum games.
Locations to visit: The Colosseum, the Roman Forum (for a sense of the ancient city).
See it here: https://amzn.to/43hGbLr
7. Ben-Hur (1959)
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd
This epic biblical drama, largely filmed at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, features significant sequences set in ancient Rome. The story follows Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur, who is falsely accused of treason by his Roman friend and sentenced to slavery. His journey leads him through years of hardship and ultimately back to Rome for a climactic chariot race in the Circus Maximus, seeking justice and redemption. While the vast sets were built at Cinecittà, the film evokes the power and scale of the Roman Empire at its height.
Locations to visit: Circus Maximus (the site of the chariot race, although the film’s version was a massive set). While Cinecittà is a studio, it offers tours exploring the history of filmmaking in Rome.
See it here: https://amzn.to/4m7Dd3q
8. Angels & Demons (2009)
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer
Based on Dan Brown’s novel, this thriller sees symbologist Robert Langdon called to the Vatican City to investigate the return of the ancient secret society, the Illuminati, and their threat to the Catholic Church during a papal conclave. The film takes Langdon on a frantic treasure hunt across Rome, following a path of ancient symbols and landmarks to prevent a catastrophic attack. While some interior Vatican scenes were recreated, the film extensively features real Roman churches, piazzas, and historical sites, making the city a crucial element of the plot.
Locations to visit: Piazza Navona (specifically the Fountain of Four Rivers), Castel Sant’Angelo.
See it here: https://amzn.to/3SpWDD5
9. Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Director: Jean Negulesco
Stars: Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters
This romantic comedy-drama follows the lives of three American women working in Rome who share an apartment and the common desire to find love and marriage. Each woman throws a coin into the Trevi Fountain, a Roman tradition believed to ensure a return to Rome and finding love. The film follows their individual romantic pursuits against the backdrop of Rome’s picturesque locations, offering a charming, albeit idealized, view of the city in the mid-1950s.
Locations to visit: The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Piazza del Popolo.
See it here: https://amzn.to/3RRytRT
10. To Rome with Love (2012)
Director: Woody Allen
Stars: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz
Woody Allen’s episodic romantic comedy presents four unrelated storylines taking place in Rome. The film weaves together tales of Americans and Italians experiencing romance, adventure, and existential crises in the city. From an architect revisiting his youth to a man who suddenly becomes famous for doing nothing, the characters’ journeys are set against a backdrop of Rome’s diverse neighborhoods and famous sites, capturing the city’s vibrant energy and unique character through a series of humorous and insightful vignettes.
Locations to visit: Via Veneto, Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (Altare della Patria).
See it here: https://amzn.to/43bfXZP
These ten films offer just a glimpse into the many cinematic treasures set in Rome. Each, in its own way, utilizes the city’s timeless beauty and rich history to tell compelling stories, inviting viewers to fall in love with Rome on screen and inspiring many to visit and experience its magic firsthand.
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