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Celluloid
Drama

8½ Review (1963) — 91% Celluloid Score

Directed by Federico Fellini · 1963 ·

Short answer

Is 8½ worth watching?

Yes. 8½ (1963) earns a 91% Celluloid Score. That makes it a Celluloid Pick, our highest tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

91%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick

4-input transparent breakdown

98% Editorial Rating
92% Audience snapshot · excluded
98 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.4
8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 18m
Age rating
NR (US) · 15 (UK) · M (Australia) · 15 (South Korea)
Streaming
HBO Max
Country
Italy
Language
Italian

Also known as Fellini, ocho y medio Huit et demi Achteinhalb Oito e Meio 8과 1/2 八部半 八又二分之一 Sekiz Buçuk

🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 1964

Where to watch

  • HBO Max

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

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. That makes it a Celluloid Pick, our highest tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Fellini's most personal film turned creative paralysis into surrealist autobiography for the ages.

    , Founder & Editor

    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

    Short review 4 min read English 8½

    8½ (1963) Review: A Masterpiece About Being Stuck

    8½ is Federico Fellini's dazzling film about a director who cannot make his next film, a funny, dreamlike self-portrait and cinema's great study of creative block.

    Yes. It is one of the most inventive films ever made and rewards anyone curious about classic cinema, though its dream logic and self-absorption take some adjusting to.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    8½ stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    8½ production still 1
    8½ production still 2
    8½ production still 3
    8½ production still 4
    8½ production still 5
    8½ production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    8½: frequently asked questions

    Is 8½ worth watching?

    Yes. 8½ (1963) has a Celluloid Score of 91%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That is a Celluloid Pick, our highest tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch 8½?

    In the United States, 8½ streams on HBO Max with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; BFI Player in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is 8½?

    8½ runs 2 hours 18 minutes (138 minutes).

    What is 8½ rated?

    8½ is rated NR in the United States, 15 in the UK, M in Australia and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in 8½?

    8½ is directed by Federico Fellini and stars Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée.

    What is the Metascore for 8½?

    Metacritic's Metascore for 8½ is 98 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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