Cinema Paradiso

Play trailer

Cinema Paradiso

PG

1988

2h 3m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

84 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Cinema Paradiso is a life-affirming ode to the power of youth, nostalgia, and the the movies themselves.

Read Critics Reviews

Tim Pulleine

Sight & Sound

Jan 11, 2020

Cinema Paradiso itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe.

Go to Full Review

Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Dec 6, 2018

Giuseppe Tornatore, writer and director of Cinema Paradiso, knows that the way to make shameless wallowing palatable is to make no great claims for what you are resurrecting.

Go to Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Sep 6, 2017

A cinema-lover's delight.

Go to Full Review

William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 11, 2024

5/5

One of the greatest Italian films, Cinema Paradiso is a special, timeless classic that will make you smile and weep in equal measure.

Go to Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

Jul 1, 2024

5/5

This is both an unashamedly sentimental rite-of-passage picture and a charming reminder of the lost magic of cinema-going.

Go to Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

May 9, 2023

3/4

The story is drawn from the director Giuseppe Tornatore's childhood memories, presented here as a series of loosely-linked episodes commemorating the importance of movies -- of art -- in the lives of people forced to manage on very little.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Claudia

Aug 20, 2026

What a feast for the eyes, ears, & emotions! This was my third time, seeing it in the theater. Even though I knew the story, it drew me in just like I did before. What a masterpiece. I feel so lucky to have seen it again!

See more

Nikhilesh

Sep 24, 2025

If you love movies this is a must watch. My gratitude to Regal Cinemas for playing this on the big screen.

See more

lisa f

Jul 27, 2023

best movie i’ve seen in 20 years! loved it!

See more

Alcapp

Sep 2, 2022

Cinema Paradiso us a wonderful heart warming film. Youll laugh youll cry youll reflect. The ending is magical.

See more

Mary G

@RT81786809 3 hrs ago

Ennio Morricone's score, particularly the Love Theme, is legendary. The story takes place in the town square of an Italian village in the mid-20th century--the people there are down to earth, quick to weep or laugh loudly. They hit their children in public and show little self-awareness. They are surrounded by history and beauty. A small boy who takes all this in becomes attached to the projectionist who seems to live in the projection booth of the cinema on the square. The movies shown there take the people of all ages to soaring heights, particular of forbidden love. The ending of this movie is so fitting that I gasped. I can say no more.

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 27, 2026

This movie is a perfect movie!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Giuseppe Tornatore

Director

Salvatore Cascio

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Child

Philippe Noiret

Alfredo

Marco Leonardi

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Teenager

Jacques Perrin

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Adult

Agnese Nano

Elena Mendola

The Moderns

81%

64%

The Moderns

Watchlist

Jean de Florette

93%

95%

Jean de Florette

Watchlist

Monsignor

0%

17%

Monsignor

Watchlist

The Accidental Tourist

82%

60%

The Accidental Tourist

Watchlist

Rain Man

88%

90%

Rain Man

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Neve Campbell’s Five Favorite Films

Lorene Scafaria’s Five Favorite Films

Five Favourite Films with Diego Luna

View more photos

Synopsis

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer: Mino Barbera, Franco Cristaldi, Giovanna Romagnoli
Screenwriter: Giuseppe Tornatore
Distributor: Miramax Films, HBO
Production Co: Cristaldi Film
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.1M
Runtime: 2h 3m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings