8½ Review (1963) — 91% Celluloid Score
Directed by Federico Fellini · 1963 ·
8½ (1963) earns a 91% Celluloid Score — Celluloid Pick. Celluloid Pick — highly recommended.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 1964
Embassy Pictures Where to watch
- HBO Max
- The Criterion Channel
Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home
Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home
Where to watch 8½ by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| Japan | Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT |
| United Kingdom | BFI Player |
| United States | HBO Max, The Criterion Channel |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (98/100).
- Audiences widely enjoyed it (92%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (98/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.4/5).
- IMDb users score it 8/10.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick
Not ideal for
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is 8½ worth watching?
Yes — 8½ earns a 91% Celluloid Score. Celluloid Pick — highly recommended.
Celluloid Verdict
Fellini's most personal film turned creative paralysis into surrealist autobiography for the ages.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is 8½ about?
A blocked film director retreats into memories, fantasies, and circus dreams while producers, lovers, and critics demand his next masterpiece.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
8½ (1963) Review: An Italian Classic
★★★★½
Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963) endures as a defining drama landmark from Italy, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
8½ stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
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