Monica Bellucci is a well-known and beloved actress known for her acting talent and stunning beauty. She began her career as a professional model in 1988 and transitioned to film in 1990, gaining recognition for her performances in a variety of films.
The list showcases some of the best films featuring Monica Bellucci, highlighting her exceptional acting abilities and captivating beauty.
Malena
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, military
- Production: Italy, USA / 2000
- Worldwide gross: $14,493,284
- Directed by: Giuseppe Tornatore
- Cast: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana, Pietro Notarianni, Gaetano Aronica, Gilberto Idonea, Angelo Pellegrino, Gabriella Di Lucio, Pippo Providenti
A beautiful young married woman becomes the subject of vicious gossip and jealousy in a small Italian town.
The story is told from the perspective of a teenage boy named Renato, who is infatuated with the 27-year-old Malena, unbeknownst to her. His classmates, driven by their own desires for her, stoop to cruel means in order to ruin her reputation by falsely accusing her of prostitution in a letter to her father, an elderly professor.
These unfounded rumors lead to her father disowning her, leaving her without means of support and her husband dying at war further complicating her situation. The story delves into the question of what choices the beleaguered woman will make and if she can survive amidst the hostile gossip.
It is worth noting that the film’s soundtrack, composed by the renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone, was nominated for an Oscar.
The Brothers Grimm
- Rating IMDB – 5.9
- Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, detective, adventure
- Production: USA, Czech Republic, UK / 2005
- Budget: $88,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $105,316,267
- Director: Terry Gilliam
- Cast: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Lena Headey, Peter Stormare, Monica Bellucci, Jonathan Pryce, Mackenzie Crook, Anna Rust, Marika Sarah Prochazkova, Richard Ridings
The movie is based on the tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, German folklorists. However, the creators of the film have reworked the stories and infused them with elements of black humor.
Set in early 19th century Germany during Napoleon’s occupation, brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm make a living by performing exorcisms with the aid of their loyal companions. They are coerced by a French general to investigate the kidnappings of young girls in a nearby village, which are believed to be the result of magic.
To ensure their compliance, the general assigns a torture specialist, Cavaldi, to accompany them. Wilhelm and Jacob embark on a journey to an enchanted forest where they encounter the Mirror Queen (Monica Bellucci).
The filming of the movie took place in the Czech Republic. The production had the support of Oleg Sokolov, a Russian historian, as a military consultant.
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
- Rating IMDB – 6.6
- Genre: Fantasy, comedy, adventure, family
- Production: France, Germany / 2002
- Budget: €50 300 000
- Worldwide gross: $110,989,615
- Directed by Alain Chabat
- Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Jamel Debbouse, Monica Bellucci, Alain Chabat, Claude Rich, Gerard Darmont, Edouard Baer, Dieudonné, Mousse Diouf
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, 2002 is a comedy adventure film that follows the story of the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra, who wants to prove to the Romans that Egypt is still a powerful and mighty civilization.
In order to do this, she decides to build the greatest palace for Caesar, but the task seems impossible to accomplish within the given three months. The architect, Numerobis, turns to the Gauls for help and sends Asterix and Obelix to Egypt.
The two Gauls, accompanied by a potion of strength, embark on an exciting journey to assist the Egyptians in building the palace on time. However, they soon realize that they have enemies who are planning to sabotage their efforts and stop them from completing the mission.
This film with Monica Bellucci is one of the best and most critically acclaimed movies with her participation.
Brotherhood of the Wolf
- Rating IMDB – 7.0
- Genre: Horror, Action, Thriller, Drama, Adventure
- Made in France / 2001
- FRF budget: 29,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $70,752,904
- Directed by Christoph Hans
- Cast: Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel, Emily Dekenne, Monica Bellucci, Marc Dacascos, Jeremy Renier, Jean Yann, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Jacques Perrin, Christian Marc
Brotherhood of the Wolf, 2001 is a French historical action film that takes place in 18th century France.
The story centers around Grégoire de Fronsac, a naturalist and scientist, who is tasked with an important assignment by Louis XV himself. The town of Gevaudan is being terrorized by a mysterious beast, and many people have already lost their lives to its fangs.
Grégoire is summoned to investigate and find the beast, but soon realizes that it is not just a simple animal, as there are human traces in the evidence. The task becomes more complex and Grégoire must hurry to find out who is behind the devastation of Gevaudan before the king himself comes to investigate.
The movie is loosely based on the real-life Beast of Gevaudan attacks that occurred in 18th-century France. The attacks were a series of brutal killings that took place between 1764 and 1767, in which a mysterious beast believed to be a wolf, killed over 100 people, mostly women and children.
The Passion of the Christ
- Rating IMDB – 7.2
- Genre: Drama
- US production / 2004
- Budget: $30,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $609,493,825
- Director: Mel Gibson
- Cast: James Caviezel, Maya Morgenstern, Christo Zhivkov, Francesco De Vito, Monica Bellucci, Mattia Sbragia, Toni Bertorelli, Luca Lionello, Christo Shopov, Claudia Gerini
The Passion of the Christ, 2004 is a powerful and emotionally charged film that tells the story of the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
The film covers key events from the Bible, including the Prayer for the Cup, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Last Supper, before culminating in the brutal crucifixion and eventual resurrection of Jesus.
The film features dialogue in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin. The use of these languages, which were spoken during the time of Jesus, adds to the historical accuracy and realism of the film. The ancient languages are translated through subtitles in the movie, which came as a shock to the American public, which is hostile even to dubbing.
The Matrix Reloaded
- Rating IMDB – 7.2
- Genre: Fantasy, Action
- US production / 2003
- Budget: $150,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $742,128,461
- Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
- Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gloria Foster, Harold Perrineau, Monica Bellucci, Lambert Wilson, Randall Duck Kim
The Matrix Reloaded, 2003 is the second movie in the Matrix film franchise.
Set six months after the events of the first film, the story follows the continuing struggle of the human resistance against the machines who have enslaved humanity in a virtual reality known as the Matrix. As the resistance grows, they soon realize that the machines have begun to search for Zion, the last human city, and are digging a tunnel to reach it.
The fate of humanity rests on Neo, the chosen one who has the power to manipulate the Matrix, as he is the last hope before inevitable death under the machines’ rule. However, Neo is also facing his own struggles as the Matrix is on the brink of collapse and the fate of the virtual world is uncertain. If the machines win, the next iteration of the Matrix will not be as forgiving.
The film’s budget for special effects surpassed $100 million, enabling the creation of visually striking and high-quality graphics. It is considered one of Monica Bellucci’s standout performances in her filmography.
Spectre
- Rating IMDB – 6.8
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Adventure
- Production: UK, USA / 2015
- Budget: $245,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $880,674,609
- Directed by Sam Mendes
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott, Rory Kinnear
Spectre, 2015 is a James Bond film and the 24th installment in the series.
The story follows Agent 007, played by Daniel Craig, as he receives a cryptic message that leads him to the discovery of the super-secret organization SPECTRE. However, the intelligence organization is on the brink of shutting down, and M, played by Ralph Fiennes, must make a desperate effort to save it.
Agent 007 must act quickly to uncover the truth behind SPECTRE, while also dealing with infiltrated agents who have infiltrated the British intelligence services, and are planning to commit daring sabotage that could leave England defenseless.
The movie was filmed in several locations around the world, including Mexico City, Rome, and Tangier. For example, the opening scene, which features a massive Day of the Dead parade, was filmed in Mexico City and required the participation of more than 4,500 extras, making it one of the largest crowd scenes ever filmed in the city.
Wild Blood
- Rating IMDB – 6.2
- Genre: Drama, biography
- Production: Italy, France / 2008
- Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
- Cast: Monica Bellucci, Alessio Boni, Luca Zingaretti, Maurizio Donadoni, Tracy Taddei, Luigi Diberti, Massimo Sarchielli, Mattia Sbragia, Alessandro Di Natali, Giovanni Visentin
Wild Blood, 2008 is a historical drama film set in Italy during World War II.
The story follows the lives of two silent film actors, Osvaldo Valenti and Luisa Ferida, who were once romantically involved. As the war breaks out, their idyllic life is interrupted and they are forced to flee to the puppet republic of Salo in Northern Italy, which is controlled by the Germans. Despite the danger and turmoil around them, they continue to live a life of luxury and indulgence, fueled by drugs and the memories of their past fame.
However, as the war comes to a close and the tide turns against the Germans, the couple finds themselves hunted by angry partisan groups who seek revenge for their collaboration with the enemy.
The movie is based on real events, and it depicts the true story. The bodies of the real Valenti and Ferida were discovered only after the end of the war.
On the Milky Road
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Comedy, War
- Production: Serbia, UK, USA, Argentina, Mexico / 2016
- Worldwide gross: $1,075,258
- Directed by Emir Kusturica
- Cast: Emir Kusturica, Monica Bellucci, Sloboda Michalovic, Miki Manojlovic, Aleksander Sasha Sarich, Bayram Severdzan, Novak Bilbia, Petar Mirchevski, Vitomir Djefic, Milojka Andric
On the Milky Road, 2016 is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war.
The story follows the life of Costa, an ordinary rural eccentric who lives a peaceful life until fate intervenes and he falls in love with a beautiful Italian woman named Mirjana. They live together in perfect harmony, but their idyllic life is interrupted when the Bosnian war breaks out.
The Balkans become a powder keg of violence and destruction, and Costa and Mirjana find themselves caught in the middle of the chaos.
The film was shot in three different countries, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The landscape and natural beauty of the Balkans that are captured in the film add to the emotional weight of the story and a sense of authenticity.
The Ages of Love
- Rating IMDB – 5.9
- Genre: Melodrama, comedy
- Production: Italy / 2011
- Worldwide gross: $12,493,369
- Directed by: Giovanni Veronesi
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Monica Bellucci, Riccardo Scamarchio, Laura Chiatti, Michele Placido, Donatella Finocchiaro, Valeria Solarino, Vittorio Emanuele Propizio, Carlo Verdone, Danilo Mattei
The movie is composed of several short stories.
The first story follows the journey of Roberto, a young man who moves to a small town in Tuscany before his wedding. The town and its inhabitants are strange, but Roberto forms a connection with a local girl named Mikol. Roberto cheats on his fiancée, only to discover that Mikol is married, leaving him with a difficult decision to make.
The second story centers around Fabio, a presenter, who encounters a peculiar woman with an unusual inner world.
The final story is about a professor who, while staying in a hotel in Rome, becomes aware of his loneliness and the only person who offers to help him is the hotel doorman.
Monica Bellucci’s performance in the film was well-received and earned her a nomination for the David di Donatello Award for Best Supporting Actress. Bellucci plays the role of a woman named Viola in the third short story.
Irreversible
- Rating IMDB – 7.3
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Detective, Romance
- Production: France / 2002
- Worldwide gross: $6,479,328
- Directed by Gaspar Noe
- Cast: Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontelle, Joe Prestia, Philippe Nahon, Stéphane Drouot, Jean-Louis Coste, Michel Gonduin, Murad Hima, Ellal
Irreversible, 2002 is a harrowing tale of a night gone wrong.
One day Alex is being haunted by a vivid dream of a sinister red corridor. Soon, she, her ex-boyfriend, and her husband Marcus go to a party together, but after a disagreement with her spouse, Alex chooses to leave and head home alone. As she walks, her path leads her through an underground passage, where a violent encounter awaits her.
Tragically, on her way home, Alex is brutally attacked and raped in an underground passage. The perpetrator is a sadistic individual with a history of violence. As the news of Alex’s death spreads, Marcus is consumed with a desire for vengeance and embarks on a reckless quest for justice.
The director intended for the movie to be not for everyone and as such, the opening 30 minutes of the film includes low-frequency noise. As a result, some critics experienced discomfort during their initial viewing and required medical attention.
Remember Me, My Love
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy
- Production: Italy, France, UK / 2003
- Budget: €5,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $12,636,187
- Directed by Gabriele Muccino
- Cast: Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Laura Morante, Nicoletta Romanoff, Monica Bellucci, Silvio Muccino, Gabriele Lavia, Enrico Silvestrin, Silvia Cohen, Alberto Gimignani, Andrea Sama
The Ristuccia family appears to be a typical middle-class family, but each member struggles with unfulfilled dreams and dissatisfaction with their current circumstances. Carlo, the head of the family, yearns to leave his job in insurance and become a writer. Giulia, his wife, aspires to a career in cinematography. Valentina craves fame as a TV dancer, while Paolo longs for love.
As the family navigates their daily routine, Carlo unexpectedly reconnects with a past love, Alessia (played by Monica Bellucci) igniting a passionate romance. But this extramarital affair threatens to tear the family apart as they must confront the consequences of their choices.
The movie was a huge success and Monica Bellucci received rave reviews for her performance, which helped to establish her as a leading actress in Italy and Europe.
Shoot ‘Em Up
- Rating IMDB – 6.6
- Genre: Action, thriller
- US production / 2007
- Budget: $39,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $26,820,641
- Directed by Michael Davis
- Cast: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci, Stephen McHattie, Greg Bryk, Daniel Pilon, Sidney Mende-Gibson, Lucas Mende-Gibson, Cailin Yellowles, Ramona Pringle
Smith is a tough, daredevil loner who finds himself in the middle of a violent attack on a pregnant woman. He bravely intervenes and manages to save the woman and her newborn baby, but not before she dies in his arms.
As he tries to protect the infant and evade the mysterious attackers, Smith discovers that he has stumbled into the middle of a government conspiracy. He quickly becomes the target of ruthless assassins and is forced to seek help from unlikely allies, including a savvy prostitute.
As the body count rises, Smith and his new companions must outsmart and outgun the powerful forces that seek to silence him permanently.
The role of the prostitute named DQ was a departure for Bellucci, who is known for her dramatic and romantic performances, and it allowed her to showcase her action and comedy abilities in a more unconventional film.
Don’t Look Back
- Rating IMDB – 5.8
- Genre: Thriller, drama
- Production: France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium / 2009
- Budget: €13,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $2,564,074
- Directed by Marina de Van
- Cast: Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci, Andrea Di Stefano, Thierry Neuvik, Brigitte Catillon, Sylvie Granotier, Augusto Zucchi, Giovanni Franzoni, Vittoria Meneganti, Francesca Melucci
Don’t Look Back, 2009 tells the story of Jeanne, a successful writer who is determined to publish her autobiography. However, when her publisher rejects the book, Jeanne begins to unravel emotionally. As she struggles to understand why her life is falling apart, she begins to notice strange changes in her appearance, her family, and even her home. Objects move of their own accord, her husband and children seem different, and no one around her seems to notice the strange occurrences.
As Jeanne delves deeper into her past and the traumas she has kept hidden, she discovers the truth about her life and the reality she has been living in.
Bellucci’s portrayal of a woman struggling to come to terms with her past was highly praised and garnered her a nomination for the César Award for Best Actress.
The movie was shot on location in Paris, France, adding an extra layer of atmosphere and beauty to the story.
How Much Do You Love Me?
- Rating IMDB – 5.6
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, comedy
- Production: Italy, France / 2005
- Budget: €10,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $6,613,439
- Directed by Bertrand Blier
- Cast: Monica Bellucci, Bernard Campan, Gerard Depardieu, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Edouard Baer, Farida Rahuaj, Sarah Forestier, Michel Vuyermoz, François Rollin, Jean Barny
The movie tells the story of Francois, a lottery winner who suddenly finds himself with a large sum of money. He decides to use it to live a life of luxury and meets Daniela, a prostitute who he offers to pay 100,000 euros a month to live with him.
Daniela agrees, but their arrangement proves to be more complicated than either of them expected. As they spend time together, they begin to develop real feelings for each other and soon part ways.
However, Francois moves on and starts a new relationship, but he and Daniela can’t forget each other. They both realize that their connection was deeper than just a financial arrangement, and they start to question their feelings for each other.
The movie was shot at an accelerated pace, which meant that many scenes had to be filmed in just a couple of takes. This fast-paced filming schedule didn’t allow for much rehearsal time. Despite the challenging shooting conditions, the film’s cast, including Monica Bellucci as Daniela, managed to deliver powerful performances that showcase their acting talents.
Dobermann
- Rating IMDB – 6.5
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
- Production: France / 1997
- Budget FRF: 33,000,000
- Directed by Jan Koonen
- Cast: Vincent Cassel, Tcheky Cario, Monica Bellucci, Antoine Basler, Dominique Bettenfeld, Pascal Demolon, Marc Duret, Romain Duris, François Levantal, Yvan Merat-Barboff
Dobermann, 1997 is a crime thriller set in the gritty streets of Paris where a ruthless gang led by the notorious criminal Dobermann terrorizes the city. To put an end to the gang’s reign of terror, the police will stop at nothing, including the use of brutal and inhumane tactics. Commissioner Christini, one of the lead detectives on the case, becomes fixated on capturing Dobermann, even if it means crossing lines of morality and legality.
As Christini becomes more and more ruthless in his pursuit, the line between hunter and hunted becomes blurred. Both Christini and Dobermann are ruthless and dangerous, but only one of them will survive the brutal streets of Paris.
The movie marks Monica Bellucci’s first major role in a French film. She plays the role of Christini’s wife, who becomes a victim of the criminal activities of Dobermann. This film was a departure from her usual roles in Italian productions and allowed her to showcase her abilities in a different language and culture.
The Apartment
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Drama, melodrama, detective
- Production: France, Spain, Italy / 1996
- Directed by Gilles Mimouni
- Cast: Romana Boringer, Vincent Cassel, Jean-Philippe Ecoffey, Monica Bellucci, Sandrine Quiberlain, Olivier Granier, Paul Pavel, Nelly Alard, Bruno Leonelli, Tateo Isaizaki
The Apartment, 1996 is a romantic drama that follows the story of Max, a young businessman who is on the verge of leaving for Tokyo for an important business trip. However, just before his departure, he encounters Lisa, a woman who closely resembles a past love whom he has not been able to forget.
Max becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about Lisa and sets out to find her, disregarding his responsibilities and the woman he is engaged to. As he delves deeper into Lisa’s life, he realizes that his memories of Lisa have become blurred and he struggles to distinguish between.
Monica Bellucci’s portrayal of Lisa was praised by critics, as it highlighted her ability to convey the complexity of emotions and motivations of the character.
The Apartment, 1996 is a departure from Gilles Mimouni’s usual work in the thriller genre and marked his first venture into the romantic-drama film.
Dracula
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Horror, fantasy, melodrama
- Production: UK, USA / 1992
- Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide gross: $215,862,692
- Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Bill Campbell, Sadie Frost, Tom Waits, Monica Bellucci
In the 15th century, Dracula was a mortal man, but a tragic series of events led to his wife’s suicide, and he swore vengeance, renouncing God and becoming a vampire.
In the 19th century, Dracula decides to purchase a property in England. Agent Jonathan Harker is tasked with helping the vampire with the transaction, despite the fact that the previous agent went insane after visiting him. As the story unfolds, Jonathan discovers that his fiancée, Mina, bears a striking resemblance to Dracula’s deceased wife.
The vampire, driven by his obsession with his lost love, sets his sights on Mina and begins to stalk her, determined to make her his eternal bride.
The film is based on Bram Stoker’s novel of the same name, however, when creating the character of Dracula, the filmmakers drew inspiration not from the original literary depiction, but from the historical figure of Ivan the Terrible, known for his tyrannical rule and cruel acts.
