Life Is Beautiful

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Life Is Beautiful

PG-13

1998

2h 2m

Comedy

Drama

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A gentle Jewish-Italian waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and wins her over with his charm and humor. Eventually they marry and have a son, Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). Their happiness is abruptly halted, however, when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp. Determined to shelter his son from the horrors of his surroundings, Guido convinces Giosue that their time in the camp is merely a game.

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Critics Consensus

Benigni's earnest charm, when not overstepping its bounds into the unnecessarily treacly, offers the possibility of hope in the face of unflinching horror.

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Ben Dowell

The Times (UK)

Schmaltzy, treacly, saccharine — call it what you like, if you’re not blubbing by the end, check your pulse.

Sep 20, 2022

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Wrenching Holocaust fable with bittersweet humor.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 25, 2010

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Tom Dawson

BBC.com

How appealing you find it will probably depend on your response to Benigni's screen-hogging routines -- the line between endearing and irksome is a fine one.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 10, 2002

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The last act is monumental - in its crushing revelations, the inevitable deterioration and near-misses of the complex charade, and the chance coincidences that constitute alternating hope and despair.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 25, 2024

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Matthew Rozsa

matthewrozsa.com

"It makes you wonder if “Shakespeare in Love” really deserved the Academy Award for best movie of ’98."

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 26, 2023

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

“Life Is Beautiful” is quite entertaining and well acted for the most part. Benigni isn’t extremely impressive in the lead role, nor is Cantarini very effective. The plot contains various elements seen in other films and not done much better.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 25, 2022

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christopher b

I’m so glad I was the only person in the theater because I lost it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/04/22

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Zane T

Benigni does it all here. He definitely knew for the film to be successful he had to be front and center and so that's what he did it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/14/25

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Rocko P

overlong, and boooting

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Luke S

In my top fifty of all time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/25

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Hammie P

Life Is Beautiful is a truly compelling and gripping film that I was not expecting to enjoy. The production was funny and sweet and had me interested the whole way through. Guido, played by Roberto Benigni, is charasmatic and hilarious throughout and it makes you want him to suceed at every twist and turn. The end of the film nearly brought me to tears and was a truly beautiful tale overall.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

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Kennedy C

I really enjoyed this movie. It kept me entertained and intrested the entire time. The only thing I would change in this movie is the ending. I am an optimist and the ending was a little hard for me to watch, I would keep Guido (Roberto Benigni) alive and let him escape with Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini) and Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). In my ending I would love for them to all escape and run off in the big tank together. Although it was sad, the ending created a lot of sympathy and greatfulness I have for my family and all that they do. Guido (Roberto Benigni) did an amazing job at staying positive and keeping the movie light hearted. The love story was a nice story and these characters bonded well. Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini) was adorable and played his part very well. The movie is entertaining, partially light-hearted, sweet, and remembers and important, unforgettable time in history. I definitley recomend.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

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Roberto Benigni

Director

Roberto Benigni

Guido Orefice

Nicoletta Braschi

Dora

Giorgio Cantarini

Giosué Orefice

Giustino Durano

Eliseo Orefice

Sergio Bini Bustric

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Synopsis

A gentle Jewish-Italian waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and wins her over with his charm and humor. Eventually they marry and have a son, Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). Their happiness is abruptly halted, however, when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp. Determined to shelter his son from the horrors of his surroundings, Guido convinces Giosue that their time in the camp is merely a game.

Director: Roberto Benigni
Producer: Gianluigi Braschi, Elda Ferri
Screenwriter: Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinema, Melampo Cinematografica
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.6M
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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