8 1/2

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8 1/2

1963

2h 15m

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Troubled Italian filmmaker Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles with creative stasis as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his loves, both past and present, and frequently wander into fantastical territory. As he tries to sort out his many entanglements, romantic and otherwise, Anselmi finds his production becoming more and more autobiographical.

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Critics Consensus

Inventive, thought-provoking, and funny, 8 1/2 represents the arguable peak of Federico Fellini's many towering feats of cinema.

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Eric Rhode

Sight & Sound

02/11/2020

Though he can't face up to the total case, we must be grateful to Fellini for having presented so much of it, and with such flair and exuberance.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

06/26/2018

Fellini keeps a grasp on his difficult form, creating some penetrating, witty, tragic moments.

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Ian Mantgani

Little White Lies

05/01/2015

5/5

A carnival of the soul.

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Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

Jul 4

5/5

What can I say that hasn't been said for the 62 year life span of this masterpiece, except that it flavors my cinema soul. On this third viewing, with a long time in between the last one, it also reflected on the point of life I"m at now. I AM FELLINI!

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Scott Nye

Battleship Pretension

01/27/2025

The conflict between Guido’s discomfort for the nature of his fame and the driving force that led him there drives every interaction in the film.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

01/05/2025

4/4

An ambitious, ambiguous, and experimental form of navel-gazing.

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Luca D.

@JoeCamel7 Mar 31

This film is a very introspective view into Fellini's brain and a very well executed representation of fantasies and nightmares, and the worries regarding creative stalling and relationship issues. Guido is trying to escape the fact that he can't answer anyone's questions regarding love or his creative thinking process, but to no avail. His film crew and producers are looking for answers, his wife and mistresses are also looking for answers, and he's just looking for a way out and some clarity. The movie is loosely about Fellini himself, taking a step back and admitting that he didn't respect himself at a time. By the end of the film he comes to the realization that he needs to analyze his past and make a better future for himself. No more whores and blockbuster films, he's ready for real art and to be faithful to his wife. This film is deeply relatable and I will be thinking on it for a long time. Though fast paced and sometimes hard to understand, this is truly something worth seeing

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Patrick S

@PatrickStruik Jan 6

A Fellini masterpiece.

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Benyam E

@bephrem Sep 20

Good movie. Not that entertaining, but profound and well-constructed. Masterclass in blocking for young directors. Edit: it grows on you. very well-stated internal dilemmas of a director.

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Marco Q

@RT69002282 Sep 12

A classic, nothing to add.

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Jacob B

@RT48293763 Jul 22

Not only Fellini’s best, it one of the best films ever made. The film has been frequently borrowed from (most notably by Fosse with “All That Jazz”, Woody Allen with “Stardust Memories”, Blake Edward’s with “S.O.B.”, etc.) but never equaled. The personal life of the artists becomes the art: the art of making art.

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Cem Okan Y

@cmyldz23 Jul 15

Recommending it mainly because the cinematography. Unfortunately, plots of Fellini are not satisfying my 21st century American-movie shaped expectations.

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Federico Fellini

Director

Marcello Mastroianni

Guido Anselmi

Claudia Cardinale

Claudia

Anouk Aimée

Luisa Anselmi (as Anouk Aimee)

Sandra Milo

Carla

Madeleine Lebeau

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Synopsis

Troubled Italian filmmaker Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles with creative stasis as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his loves, both past and present, and frequently wander into fantastical territory. As he tries to sort out his many entanglements, romantic and otherwise, Anselmi finds his production becoming more and more autobiographical.

Director: Federico Fellini
Producer: Angelo Rizzoli
Distributor: Embassy Pictures, Kino Pictures
Production Co: Cineriz, Francinex
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $139.2K
Runtime: 2h 15m