The Great Beauty (2013) Review: An Italian Classic

Is The Great Beauty worth watching?

Yes — The Great Beauty remains one of the most celebrated films from Italy, with a 92/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating and enduring audience appeal. On Celluloid it holds a 92/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating, 79% Audience Snapshot, 86 Metascore, 4.1 on Letterboxd, and 7.7 on IMDb — numbers that explain why it still surfaces on every “best of Italy” list.

What is The Great Beauty about?

An aging journalist wanders Rome’s decadent nightlife searching for meaning after his sixty-fifth birthday party exposes the emptiness beneath la dolce vita. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the film stars Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, and remains a reference point for Drama filmmaking from Italy.

Should you watch The Great Beauty?

Yes, without hesitation — The Great Beauty rewards viewers who want more than algorithm-friendly new releases. At 141 minutes, it more than earns its running time — and the critics’ consensus still resonates today: Sorrentino’s Fellini-esque odyssey won the Foreign Language Oscar with style to spare.

Where can I watch The Great Beauty?

Streaming availability varies by region — check major platforms in your country or local cinemas for revival screenings. The Great Beauty (2013) is widely indexed on IMDb (tt2358891) and remains one of the most searched classic titles from Italy on CelluloidScore.com.