38 Best Italian TV Series

Italy has given the world cinematography a huge number of wonderful projects, among which you can find all the currently existing genres and directions. Comedies, detectives, historical pictures, action movies and even fantasy – the fantasy of Italian writers and directors has no limits. In this list you will find the best Italian series that will help you expand your knowledge of cinema and just have a good time.

Made in Italy

Made in Italy
  • Rating IMDB – 7.5
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Production Italy / 2019
  • Directed by Ago Panini, Luca Luchini
  • Cast: Greta Ferro, Margherita Bui, Fiametta Cicogna, Maurizio Lastrico, Valentina Carnelutti, Sergio Albelli, Giuseppe Cederna, Marco Bocci, Antonino Bruschetta, Anna Ferruzzo

A 2019 comedy series about a young Italian woman named Irena. One day the heroine manages to get a job in a famous magazine, thanks to which she instantly plunges into the world of high fashion.

Soon the life of the beauty begins to change dramatically, and in her environment there are talented designers who want to go international. Will the young people be able to put up a fight against the whole industry and come out victorious?

The protagonists of the picture are the greatest fashion designers of the seventies, whose ideas have influenced fashionistas around the world.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Medici: The Magnificent

Medici: The Magnificent
  • Rating IMDB – 7.9
  • Genre: Biography, history, drama, melodrama, thriller
  • Production Italy, Great Britain / 2018
  • Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, John Cassar, Jean Michelini
  • Cast: Daniel Sharman, Bradley James, Sean Bean, Raoul Bova, Anabel Scholey, Guido Caprino, Matteo Martari, Richard Madden, Stuart Martin, Alessandro Sperduti

A biographical story that takes us to the second half of the fifteenth century. Florence is dominated by the Medici patrons, who support all kinds of people. The situation changes abruptly when the head of the family is attacked, after which an army from Naples appears on the city walls.

Only young Lorenzo can save the most powerful family. He must find his place in this treacherous world, surround himself with loyal men and prevent bloodshed.

The series was filmed in Tuscany, Lazio and Lombardy, and was co-directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, who worked on the crime film Catch Me If You Can.

38 Best Italian TV Series

The Young Pope

The Young Pope
  • Rating IMDB – 8.3
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy, France, Spain, UK, USA / 2016
  • Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
  • Cast: Jude Law, Diane Keaton, Silvio Orlando, Javier Camara, Scott Shepherd, Cecile De France, Ludivine Sagnier, Tony Bertorelli, James Cromwell, Ignazio Oliva

The 2016 Italian series tells the story of Lenny Belardo, an Italian with American roots, who unexpectedly becomes the new ruler of the Vatican. Thus, the eccentric man faces a whole bunch of obligations and problems, and the cardinals around him begin to weave intrigues against him. Will the new Pope be able to deal with all the rivals and become a worthy successor to his predecessors?

What is interesting is that none of the episodes of the series were filmed in the Vatican. All of the sets were built at the film studio, as representatives of the official Vatican refused to cooperate in any way.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il cacciatore

Il cacciatore
  • Rating IMDB – 7.8
  • Genre: Action, thriller, drama, crime, history
  • Production Italy, Germany / 2018
  • Directed by David Marengo, Stefano Lodovici, Fabio Paladini
  • Cast: Marco Rossetti, Roberto Citran, Miriam Dalmasio, Francesco Montanari, Francesco Foti, Edoardo Pesce, Alessio Pratico, Paolo Ricca, David Coco, Paolo Brigulia

A dramatic thriller whose plot unfolds in Palermo in the early 1990s. The war between local mafia clans has been going on for years, giving ordinary people no hope for a normal existence.

But very soon everything should change, as a new prosecutor Saverio Barone has appeared in the city, ready to send every criminal to prison. Will the young man be able to justify the trust of civilians and give the mafia a decent repulse?

The series is based on real events.

38 Best Italian TV Series

L’amica geniale

L'amica geniale
  • Rating IMDB – 8.6
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy, USA / 2018
  • Directed by Saverio Costanzo, Daniele Luchetti, Alice Rohrwacher
  • Cast: Elisa del Genio, Margherita Mazzucco, Ludovica Nasti, Gaia Giarache, Dora Romano, Tommaso Rusciano, Gennaro De Stefano, Christian Di Giacomo, Giovanni Amura, Alba Rohrwacher

Naples, the fifties. Héléna is a simple girl living in a poor neighborhood with her doorman father. One day the heroine gets a best friend, Lila, a sharp-tongued girl in constant search of adventure. So the girls become close to each other, not suspecting that years later their friendship will turn into a real feud.

The entire series was filmed in Italy, and one of the writers of the picture was Laura Paolucci, who worked on the crime drama Gomorrah.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Corleone

Corleone
  • Rating IMDB – 8.5
  • Genre: Drama, сrime
  • Production Italy / 2007
  • Budget: €15,000,000
  • Directed by Alexis Cahill, Enzo Monteleoni
  • Cast: Claudio Gioe, Daniele Liotti, Salvatore Lazzaro, Simone Cavallari, Alessio Manno, Marco Leonardi, Antonio Gumina, Gioia Spaziani, Francesco Cassis

A crime drama about the life of Toto Rina, who became one of Italy’s most dangerous and wanted mafia bosses. After losing his father and brother in a bomb blast, the main character surrounds himself with loyal followers and draws closer to the Corleone faction that seeks total power over the country.

Soon, a serious struggle erupts that leads to bloody events. Toto’s chief enemy is his old friend, who has decided to become a policeman and dedicate himself to protecting ordinary citizens. Will Toto manage to cope with all the competition and finally declare himself the boss of the entire underworld?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Gomorra: La serie

Gomorra: La serie
  • Rating IMDB – 8.7
  • Genre: Drama, сrime
  • Production Italy, Germany / 2014
  • Directed by Claudio Capellini, Francesca Comencini, Stefano Sollima
  • Cast: Salvatore Esposito, Marco D’Amore, Ivana Lotito, Cristiana Dell’Anna, Alessandro Palladino, Fortunato Serlino, Arturo Muselli, Roberto Oliveri, Fabio De Caro, Cristina Donadio

The series is about people directly connected to one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in Naples. The protagonist is Ciro, the assistant to the godfather of Pietro Savastano, who watches with horror the events taking place around him.

The series was filmed in Italy, Spain and France, and the last fifth season appeared on television in November 2021. The gangster story received a lot of positive reviews, which allowed its creators to sell the rights to show the series to several dozen other countries.

38 Best Italian TV Series

The New Pope

The New Pope
  • Rating IMDB – 8.1
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy, France, Spain, USA, UK / 2020
  • Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
  • Cast: Jude Law, John Malkovich, Silvio Orlando, Cecile de France, Javier Camara, Ludivine Sagnier, Henry Goodman, Maurizio Lombardi, Nora von Waldstetten, Ramon Garcia

Pope Lenny Belardo falls into a coma, which comes as a complete shock to those around him. Realizing that there is no other way out, the cardinals begin their search for a new head of the throne, which leads them to meet John Paul III. Will the new pontiff succeed in his duties and justify the trust of his comrades?

Paolo Sorrentino, who won an Oscar statuette in 2014 for the dramatic comedy The Great Beauty, directed and co-wrote the script.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Club 57

Club 57
  • Rating IMDB — 7.9
  • Genre: Fantasy, drama
  • Production Italy / 2019
  • Directed by Otto Rodriguez
  • Cast: Evaluna Montaner, Riccardo Frascari, Stephanie Oliveira, Sebastian Silva, Carolina Mestrovic, Isabella Castillo, Andrés Mercado, Blas Roca-Rey, Lorenzo Maida, Carlotta Bizzo

Eva and Ruben are siblings who live in a small town. Their lives change dramatically when they discover a real time machine in their grandfather’s lab. Thanks to this technology, the guys instantly travel back in time and find themselves in the distant 1957.

Here Eva meets a charming guy who works in a popular dance show, and Ruben unexpectedly encounters the young grandfather, who has no idea that the future holds a lot of surprises for him.

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38 Best Italian TV Series

La dama velata

La dama velata
  • Rating IMDB – 7.0
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy / 2015
  • Directed by Carmine Elia
  • Cast: Germano Bellavia, Andrea Bosca, Giusi Frallonardo, Lino Guanchale, Lucrezia Lante Della Rovere, Miriam Leone, Paolo Mazzarelli, Massimo Olchese, Teresa Saponangelo, Luciano Virgilio

A drama that takes us back to the end of the 19th century. Count Grandi’s wife dies in childbirth, giving birth to twins. However, a relative of the inconsolable widower informs us that only a girl is born, who is named Clara. Hating his own child, the Earl sends her to be raised by a family of farmers.

Years later, grown-up Clara meets the mysterious Count Guido, who radically changes her life. Will the girl be able to uncover the secret of her origins? And what happens when she makes dangerous enemies?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Cenerentola

Cenerentola
  • Rating IMDB – 6.9
  • Genre: Drama, melodrama
  • Production Italy / 2011
  • Directed by Christian Duguet
  • Cast: Frank Crudele, Ilaria Spada, Mariella Valentini, Rosabella Laurenti Sellers, Mary Celer, Hari Prince, David Brandon, Elisa Di Eusanio, Giulia Ando, Giuseppe Sanfelice

The 2011 family drama series tells the familiar story of Cinderella. Due to the loss of her parents, the girl lives in the house of her wicked stepmother, who assigns her the dirtiest jobs. Also, Cinderella has absolutely no close people she can trust.

One day the stepmother sends the heroine to the village to sell piglets. On the way the cart with animals overturns because of an unusual guy, who immediately decides to help the beauty. Will Cinderella be able to find out that fate has brought her to meet a real prince, capable of turning her life into a real fairy tale?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Un amore e una vendetta

Un amore e una vendetta
  • Rating IMDB – 7.3
  • Genre: Melodrama, detective
  • Production Italy / 2011
  • Directed by Raffaele Mertes
  • Cast: Alessandro Preziosi, Anna Valle, Lorenzo Flaherty, Elisabetta Pellini, Paolo Seganti, Simone Borioni, Federico Costantini, Desire Noferini, Giovanni Guidelli, Fiorenza Marchegiani

Laura is the daughter of a powerful businessman who agrees to marry Marco. However, during the wedding ceremony, a skeleton in a wedding dress is discovered on the local beach. This discovery throws everyone into shock. Everyone except the mysterious businessman Lorenzo, who has only recently arrived in the town.

Who is he? And why is Laura certain that they have met before? Meanwhile, vague memories begin to take physical form, forcing the participants in this story to plunge headlong into the past.

38 Best Italian TV Series

DOC

DOC
  • Rating IMDB – 7.7
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy / 2020
  • Directed by Jean Michelini, Ciro Visco, Beniamino Catena
  • Cast: Luca Argentero, Matilda Jolie, Sarah Lazzaro, Alberto Bubacar Malanchino, Silvia Mazzieri, Pierpaolo Spollon, Simone Tabasco, Elisa Di Eusanio, Beatrice Granno

The list of Italian series continues with the drama DOC, which appeared on television in 2020. Andera is one of the best doctors in the country, saving the lives of desperate patients every day. The hero’s life is turned upside down after a brain injury.

When the man opens his eyes, he realizes with horror that he does not remember at all the last twelve years. So he loses memories of family, friends, and even his incredible career. Will the once brilliant doctor be able to start his life with a clean slate? And what will it take for the hero to get his memory back?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Non mi lasciare

Non mi lasciare
  • Rating IMDB – 7.1
  • Genre: Crime
  • Production Italy / 2022
  • Directed by Ciro Visco
  • Cast: Vittoria Puccini, Alessandro Roya, Sarah Felberbaum, Eugenio Franceschini, Demetra Bellina, Ivan Zerbinati, Federica Girardello, Andrea De Manincore, Nicola Pannelli, Simone Baldassari

A crime story about a police officer named Elena who specializes in crimes of child abuse. Another investigation leads the woman to Venice, where she spent her entire childhood. Here fate confronts her with her former lover Daniel.

Soon it turns out that the man has already managed to get married, taking to wife an old friend of Elena, who also works as an investigator. Circumstances simply force the heroines to join forces and become parties to the craziest events. Can women find common ground with each other and bring the investigation to its logical conclusion?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Medici

Medici
  • Rating IMDB – 7.9
  • Genre: Thriller, drama, melodrama, detective story, biography, history
  • Production Italy, Great Britain, France / 2016
  • Directed by Christian Duguet, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, John Kassar
  • Cast: Sarah Parish, Alessandra Mastronardi, Sunnøve Carlsen, Julian Sands, Daniel Sharman, Sebastian de Souza, Pietro Ragusa, Anabel Cholay, David Brandon, Aurora Ruffino

A 2016 historical series about the titled Medici family. They were once common merchants, but luck, natural cunning, and acquaintances transformed them into a powerful clan, controlling the destinies of all of Florence’s citizens. Thus, they gain unprecedented power, but at the same time turn against themselves a host of enemies, ready to make any sacrifice for their goals.

The tape was partly filmed in Florence, which helped the authors of the series to bring the story as close to realism as possible.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Devils

Devils
  • Rating IMDB – 7.1
  • Genre: Thriller, drama
  • Production Italy, France, UK / 2020
  • Directed by Nick Harran, Jean Michelini
  • Cast: Alessandro Borghi, Malachi Kirby, Pia Mehler, Patrick Dempsey, Tom McKay, Lars Mikkelsen, Paul Chowdhry, Laia Costa, Harry Michele, Kasia Smutniak

An Italian drama consisting of two seasons. The main characters are professional traders dedicated to working at Italy’s largest investment bank. The people around them see them as truly unique people who daily have to deal with huge sums of money.

But at one point the guys accidentally stumble upon some documents that are proof of the existence of a global financial conspiracy. Can colleagues be able to untangle the tangle and save the world from the coming chaos? Or will they simply be disposed of without letting ordinary people know the truth?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Leonardo

Leonardo
  • Rating IMDB – 7.2
  • Genre: Drama, biography, history
  • Production Italy, USA, UK, France, Spain / 2021
  • Directed by Daniel Percival, Alexis Cahill
  • Cast: Aidan Turner, Freddie Highmore, Giancarlo Giannini, Matilda De Angelis, Carlos Cuevas, James D’Arcy, Antonio De Matteo, Alessandro Sperduti, Massimo De Santis, Flavio Parenti

A historical series about the life of one of the greatest artists of all time. The series is about the great Leonardo, who left behind a huge number of immortal works of art and inventions. You will find out what helped the artist to create his masterpieces and why he had to lose his best model, Catherine, who fell victim to unknown assassins.

Daniel Percival, who worked on the Man in the High Castle and the action thriller series Strike Back, was responsible for directing the series.

38 Best Italian TV Series

ZeroZeroZero

ZeroZeroZero
  • Rating IMDB – 8.2
  • Genre: Crime, drama, thriller
  • Production Italy / 2019
  • Directed by Janus Metz, Pablo Trapero, Stefano Sollima
  • Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Dane DeHaan, Giuseppe De Domenico, Adriano Chiaramida, Arold Torres, Noe Hernandez, Francesco Colella, Diego Catagno, Victor Uggo Martin, Nika Perron

Minu is the powerful head of a mafia clan forced to go on the run. Hiding in an underground bunker, the man orders a large shipment of drugs worth nearly a billion euros. Dong-minu not suspecting that his own grandson hates him with all his heart and has been weaving intrigues against his grandfather for a long time.

Meanwhile, members of the department on struggle against drugs start to carry out an important operation, one of the participants of which becomes the detective nicknamed Vampiro. And no one knows that this man has been cooperating with the drug mafia for many years, receiving for this huge money.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il falco e la colomba

Il falco e la colomba
  • Rating IMDB – 6.1
  • Genre: Melodrama
  • Production Italy / 2009
  • Budget: €8 000 000
  • Directed by Giorgio Serafini
  • Cast: Cosima Coppola, Giulio Maria Berruti, Anna Safronchik, Alessandra Barzaghi, Sabine Began, Vincent Riotta, Anna Gallena, Fabio Testi, Franco, Adriano Pappalardo

A serial melodrama about a rich and beautiful girl, Elena, who dreams of finding her love. One day the beautiful girl meets Giulio, a brave captain whose father was a dangerous bandit. The guys fall in love with each other at first sight and begin to fight for their personal happiness.

The relationship of young people very soon could change the fate of all European countries, of which they are not even aware. Meanwhile, the Spanish and French rulers concentrate all their attention on the Vatican. Will Giulio and Elena be able to overcome all the prejudices of their time? Or is their love doomed from the very beginning?

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38 Best Italian TV Series

Il tredicesimo apostolo – Il prescelto

Il tredicesimo apostolo - Il prescelto
  • Rating IMDB – 7.6
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Production Italy / 2012
  • Director Alexis Cahill
  • Cast: Luigi Diberti, Claudio Gioe, Chiara Nicola, Claudia Pandolfi, Stefano Pesce, Tommaso Ragno, Yorgo Voyagis, Tony Bertorelli, Cecilia Albertini, Matteo Reza Azchirvani

A fantasy story about a young priest named Gabriel, who is convinced that in this world every day there are events that defy logical explanation. One day the hero decides to join forces with his psychologist wife Claudia, also keenly interested in paranormal phenomena. Becoming partners, the guys plunge into a wonderful world woven of mysticism and strange omens.

The series was directed by Alexis Cahill, who directed the Leonardo and Don Corleone series.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il paradiso delle signore

Il paradiso delle signore
  • Rating IMDB – 7.4
  • Genre: Melodrama
  • Production Italy / 2015
  • Directed by Francesco Pavolini, Riccardo Mosca, Marco Maccaferri
  • Cast: Alessandro Tersigni, Giusi Buscemi, Silvia Mazzieri, Giuseppe Zeno, Lorena Cacciatore, Emmanuel Caserio, Ilaria Rossi, Francesca Del Fa, Antonella Attili, Pietro Mazotti

An Italian melodrama consisting of seven seasons and appearing in 2015. Teresa is a young girl desperately trying to become a free person. Having fled from her unloved fiancé, the heroine travels to Milan and meets her uncle. Soon it becomes clear that the man has lost all his money and is on the verge of bankruptcy.

In order to help her relative at least financially, Teresa gets a job in a large store. Thus, the doors to the world of high fashion open before the beauty, promising great opportunities. Can the girl take advantage of this chance and finally find true happiness?

38 Best Italian TV Series

SKAM Italia

SKAM Italia
  • Rating IMDB – 7.9
  • Genre: Drama, melodrama
  • Production Italy / 2018
  • Directed by Ludovico Bessegato, Ludovico Di Martino
  • Cast: Ludovica Martino, Beatriz Bruschi, Greta Ragusa, Federico Cesari, Ludovico Terzigni, Martina Lelio, Benedetta Gargari, Francesco Centorame, Giancarlo Comare, Rocco Fasano

A multiseries drama, which is a remake of a popular Scandinavian project. The main characters of the series are ordinary teenagers who have to solve different problems every day. They believe that parents and teachers have long ago gave up on them, and the world around them as hostile to them.

That is the reason why the guys are desperate to fight against stereotypes and prejudice, sometimes getting into dangerous situations and dreaming of becoming free people. Will the young people be able to withstand the pressure and prove that they have long since become adults? Or will a large number of trials simply erase their dreams?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Maltese – Il Romanzo del Commissario

Maltese - Il Romanzo del Commissario
  • Rating IMDB – 7.6
  • Genre: Action, thriller, drama, crime
  • Production Italy / 2017
  • Directed by Gianluca Maria Tavarelli
  • Cast: Kim Rossi Stewart, Antonio Milo, Francesco Shanna, Roberto Nobile, Alessandro Schiavo, Marco Leonardi, Rick Schmid, Valeria Solarino, Giuseppe Squillaci, Michele Melega

A crime thriller about the life of a police officer named Dario Maltese, who investigates cases of special complexity. The hero knows that criminals of his city operate side by side with politicians and businessmen, causing irreparable harm to millions of ordinary people.

Dario’s life changes abruptly when he learns of his father’s death. Without thinking, the man immediately returns to his hometown to see his parent off to the last journey and to investigate the circumstances of his death. Soon the commissioner realizes that the criminals are closer to him than he could have imagined.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Romanzo criminale – La serie

Romanzo criminale - La serie
  • Rating IMDB – 8.5
  • Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
  • Production Italy / 2008
  • Directed by Stefano Sollima
  • Cast: Vinicio Marchioni, Alessandro Roya, Marco Bocci, Daniela Virgilio, Andrea Sartoretti, Riccardo De Filippis, Mauro Meconi, Edoardo Pesce, Lorenzo Renzi, Roberto Infascelli

The story of a dangerous criminal who dreams of taking over the whole of Rome. To make this dream a reality, the protagonist gathers into a single team the most ruthless and experienced bandits of the country.

So Italy is faced with unprecedented rampant crime, capable of plunging the once majestic city into endless chaos. Meanwhile, a local police lieutenant decides to launch his own investigation and put behind bars anyone responsible for the madness going on around him.

The picture is based on real events that took place in Italy in the seventies of the last century.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il miracolo

Il miracolo
  • Rating IMDB – 7.4
  • Genre: Drama, detective
  • Production Italy, France / 2018
  • Directed by Niccolo Ammaniti, Francesco Munzi, Lucio Pellegrini
  • Cast: Guido Caprino, Elena Lietti, Lorenza Indovina, Alessio Pratico, Irena Golubeva, Edoardo Natoli, Sergio Albelli, Pia Lanciotti, Leonardo Maddalena, Denis Fasolo

While apprehending a dangerous criminal, the police find a plastic statue of the Madonna with eyes that are abundant in bloody tears. The discovery turns several people’s lives upside down: a God-fearing priest, a gambler who has lost his faith, a lab technician and even the Prime Minister of Italy. And it is up to the politician to decide what to do with the statue. Should it be made public? Or should the story be kept secret?

The story is based on a screenplay by the famous writer Niccolò Ammaniti.

The shooting of the series took place in Rome, Belgium and Spain.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Rocco Schiavone

Rocco Schiavone
  • Rating IMDB – 7.7
  • Genre: Thriller, crime
  • Production Italy / 2016
  • Directed by Simon Spada, Luca Brignone, Michele Soavi
  • Cast: Marco Gialini, Ernesto D’Argenio, Francesco Aquaroli, Isabella Ragonese, Cristian Ginepro, Massimiliano Caprara, Filippo Dini, Massimo Olchese, Gino Nardella, Claudia Wismara

A criminal thriller about not the most exemplary policeman named Rocco Schiavone, who cannot imagine life without easy drugs and violation of laws. Because of another prank the leadership decides to transfer the hero to a small town hundreds of kilometers away from Rome.

Thus, the man finds himself in a mountainous area inhabited by unfriendly and cold people. However, it soon becomes clear that crimes are committed even in such a remote place, which allows Rocco to resume his favorite investigations.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Romulus

Romulus
  • Rating IMDB – 6.9
  • Genre: Drama, history
  • Production Italy, UK / 2020
  • Directed by Michele Alaiquie, Enrico Maria Artale, Matteo Rovere
  • Cast: Andrea Arcangeli, Marianna Fontana, Francesco Di Napoli, Demetra Avincola, Emilio De Marchi, Simon Rizzoni, Giuseppe Squillaci, Alessandro Cremona, Gabriel Montesi, Federico Diust

A 2020 historical drama whose plot takes us back to the eighth century B.C. Throughout the world, truly macabre events are taking place, and peoples continue to believe in the existence of powerful gods that rule their destinies.

The main characters in the series are people who have decided to defy blind faith and become the rightful masters of their lives. However, these rebels do not even know that their actions will cause fateful events for all mankind and lead to the emergence of the Roman Empire.

Authors from Italy and Great Britain worked on the series.

38 Best Italian TV Series

La freccia nera

La freccia nera
  • Rating IMDB — 5.4
  • Genre: Drama, аdventure, history
  • Production Italy / 2006
  • Directed by Fabrizio Costa
  • Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Giulio Pampilone, Martina Stella, Giulio Maria Berruti, Luca Calvani, Galatea Ranzi, Michele Riondino, Andrea Bruschi, Giovanni Cianfriglia, Vincenzo Alfieri

Northern Italy, fifteenth century. The local lands are gripped by a war between supporters of the German emperor and God-fearing representatives of the Vatican. The Black Arrow is a gang of desperate outlaws fighting both sides of the conflict at once.

Marco di Monforte and Giovanna Bentivoglio were supposed to be sworn enemies, but fate decides otherwise. The young lovers will face the most terrible events that will simply force them to say goodbye to their carefree childhood and plunge into a world full of injustice and bloodshed. Will the young people be able to overcome all obstacles and triumph over fate itself?

38 Best Italian TV Series

We Are Who We Are

We Are Who We Are
  • Rating IMDB – 7.2
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy, USA / 2020
  • Directed by Luca Guadagnino
  • Cast: Jack Dylan Grazer, Jordan Christine Simone, Chloë Sevigny, Alice Braga, Kid Cudi, Francesca Scorsese, Spence Moore II, Faith Alabie, Benjamin L. Taylor II, Tom Mercier

Fraser is an ordinary American teenager sent by his parents to a military base in Italy. Here the boy meets all kinds of guys, including the charming Caitlin, with whom he develops a romance.

But suddenly Fraser begins to miss his friend left behind in America. The situation is aggravated many times over when the main character becomes interested in local soldier Jonathan.

The project was directed by Luca Guadagnino, who won an Oscar in 2018 for the melodrama Call Me by Your Name.

38 Best Italian TV Series

1992

1992
  • Rating IMDB – 7.5
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy / 2015
  • Directed by Giuseppe Gialliardi
  • Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Guido Caprino, Miriam Leone, Domenico Diele, Tea Falco, Alessandro Roya, Tommaso Ragno, Elena Radonicic, Pietro Ragusa, Eros Galbiati
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The events of the film take viewers to Milan in 1992. The city is literally swarming with criminals engaged in smuggling, financial fraud and money laundering. The owner of a large pharmaceutical company, found guilty of supplying HIV-infected blood to hospitals, is in the dock.

The investigation of such an egregious case intertwines the fates of a young police officer, infected with HIV through the fault of the ill-fated company, the charming mistress of the businessman, a politician and a successful advertising man. All the characters are pursuing their own goals, but in one moment circumstances will push them together, forcing them to look at the world with new eyes.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il commissario Rex

Il commissario Rex
  • Rating IMDB – 6.3
  • Genre: Drama, сrime
  • Production Italy / 2008
  • Directed by Marco Serafini, Antonio Manetti, Marco Manetti
  • Cast: Augusto Zucchi, Pilar Abella, Domenico Fortunato, Caspar Capparoni, Fabio Ferri, Francesco Arca, Ettore Bassi, Massimo Reale, Francesca Cuttica, Alessia Barela

A cult series about Italian police officers investigating the most high-profile crimes. And they are assisted in such a difficult work by a police dog named Rex, without whose participation not a single operation can be performed. Murderers, robbers, drug dealers and crooks – sooner or later they will all end up behind bars, no matter what it costs the detectives.

The first season of the series appeared back in 2008, and the last season – in 2015. It is also interesting that this project is a reboot of the eponymous multi-part detective series, which was filmed in Germany and Austria at the end of the last century.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Suburra – La serie

Suburra - La serie
  • Rating IMDB – 7.9
  • Genre: Action, crime, drama
  • Production Italy / 2017
  • Directed by Andrea Molayoli, Arnaldo Catinari, Giuseppe Capotondi
  • Cast: Alessandro Borghi, Giacomo Ferrara, Filippo Nigro, Carlotta Antonelli, Paola Sotgiu, Francesco Aquaroli, Alessandro Bernardini, Claudia Gerini, Mirella Saracelli, Eduardo Valdarnini

An Italian action film from the streaming platform Netflix. Subura is one of the most criminal areas of Rome, which has become a haven for hundreds of dangerous people. Almost every day there is a bloody showdown, and to get in touch with the local gangsters are feared even by the police.

The main characters – a trio of young boys, eager to find wealth and fame. The search for easy money naturally draws the guys in a brutal struggle that changes their lives once and for all. Will the once ordinary guys be able to withstand the competition with the hardened representatives of the criminal world? Or will their dreams soon collide with the harsh reality?

38 Best Italian TV Series

Il sangue e la rosa

Il sangue e la rosa
  • Rating IMDB – 6.0
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy / 2008
  • Budget: ITL 125,000
  • Directed by Luciano Odorisi, Luigi Parisi, Salvatore Samperi
  • Cast Virna Lisi, Ornella Muti, Giancarlo Giannini, Alessandra Martinez, Gabriel Garko, Cosima Coppola, Isabella Orsini, Maurizio Mattioli, Franco Castellano, Mirko Petrini

A drama about the life of Isabella, a sweet girl who lives with her innkeeper father in a small town. Every day the beautiful girl reads books and listens to the stories of her only friend Rocco, who has the most tender feelings for her.

Unexpectedly, Giulio, the son of a famous revolutionary who was a victim of violent opponents, arrives in town. Very soon Giulio, Isabella and Rocco become friends, ready to confide in each other even their darkest secrets. Together, the boys will go through many dangers that will help them reconsider their views of the world.

38 Best Italian TV Series

The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose
  • Rating IMDB – 6.9
  • Genre: Thriller, drama, detective, history
  • Production Italy, Germany / 2018
  • Directed by Giacomo Battiato
  • Cast: John Turturro, Rupert Everett, Damian Hardung, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Greta Scarano, Richard Sammel, Stefano Fresi, Roberto Herlicka, Fausto Maria Schiarappa, Maurizio Lombardi

A dramatic detective story that takes us to northwestern Italy in the early 14th century. One day, the famous monk William and his assistant Adson arrive in these lands, wishing to arrange negotiations with representatives of the Vatican and an order considered heretical by many believers.

But unexpectedly, a murder takes place in the monastery, which is a veritable fortress. So Wilhelm and his novice have to begin their own investigation, which confronts them with mysterious phenomena.

Giacomo Battiato, the Italian director who directed the 2005 biographical film Carole. The Man Who Became Pope.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Baby

Baby
  • Rating IMDB – 6.8
  • Genre: Drama
  • Production Italy / 2018
  • Directed by Andrea De Sica, Letizia Lamartire, Anna Negri
  • Cast: Benedetta Porcaroli, Alice Pagani, Riccardo Mandolini, Shabelli Sastre, Brando Pacitto, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Mirko Trovato, Galatea Ranzi, Claudia Pandolfi, Tommaso Ragno

A drama series commissioned by Netflix. The plot of the picture tells about the life of the students of an elite school located in Rome. Few people know that within the walls of the school are really scary things that happen, even the parents of students are not aware of.

The main characters – two girls, by chance involved in prostitution. Every day the friends have to deal with the most severe suffering, but they do everything not to find out about it any living soul. But how long will it last? What happens when the adults finally find out?

The last season of the series appeared in 2020.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
  • Rating IMDB – 6.8
  • Genre: Melodrama
  • Production Italy, Spain / 2014
  • Budget: €3,000,000
  • Directed by Fabrizio Costa
  • Cast: Lea Bosco, Giusi Buscemi, Jaime Olias, Alessandro Preziosi, Blanca Suarez, Alberto Basaluzzo, Giovanni Calcagno, Francesca Killemi, Cecilia Dazzi

A 2014 family series retelling the plot of the fairy tale of the same name. Belle is a brave girl born into a merchant’s family. One day, the girl’s parent encounters a serious danger that forces her to go to the monster’s castle.

It turns out that, despite its frightening appearance, that creature has a kind heart. Belle also learns that her new friend was once human too, but spells have turned him into a monster. The monster can only regain its human form if a beautiful girl falls in love with it.

It is known that the picture was almost entirely filmed against a background of chromakey, and the real scenery were only a couple of rooms of houses and the castle.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Curon

Curon
  • Rating IMDB – 5.9
  • Genre: Thriller, detective, fantasy
  • Production Italy / 2020
  • Directed by Fabio Mollo, Lida Patitucci
  • Cast: Luca Lionello, Federico Russo, Margherita Morcio, Anna Ferzetti, Alessandro Tedeschi, Juju Di Domenico, Giulio Brizzi, Luca Castellano, Ryan Cargill, Kate Sheehan

A mystical story about teenage twins who arrive with their mother in their hometown. Initially the boys were sure that in this quiet and peaceful place they would be able to start life with a clean slate, but the situation changes abruptly when the heroes’ mother disappears under mysterious circumstances.

Seeing no other way out, the teenagers begin their own investigation, which brings them face to face with family secrets and ancient beliefs. Will the boys be able to uncover the secrets of this dark town and bring their mother back?

The series mostly received positive reviews, managing to attract the attention of a huge number of fans of mystery detectives.

38 Best Italian TV Series

Luna Nera

Luna Nera
  • Rating IMDB – 5.9
  • Genre: Fantasy, thriller, drama
  • Production Italy / 2020
  • Directed by Francesca Comencini, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Paola Randi
  • Cast: Nina Fotaras, Filippo Scotti, Barbara Ronchi, Giorgio Belli, Adalgisa Manfrida, Federica Fracassi, Lucrezia Ghidone, Manuela Mandracchia, Giada Gagliardi, Nathan Macchioni

An Italian fantasy that appeared on the Netflix platform in 2010. The events of the picture are set in seventeenth-century Italy. The main character is a young girl who grew up in a family of witches. The beauty herself also has a unique gift that does not allow her to live a normal life.

One day the girl meets a cute guy and falls in love with him wholeheartedly. A romance flares up, but soon the young witch discovers that her lover’s father is a witch hunter. Will the young people be able to save their relationship and convince their relatives of the correctness of their choice?

38 Best Italian TV Series
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Анна Румянцева
Anna Rumyantseva

Author, editor and filmmaker.

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