Cinema Paradiso

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Cinema Paradiso

PG

1988

2h 3m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

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84 Reviews

96%

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50,000+ Ratings

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

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Critics Consensus

Cinema Paradiso is a life-affirming ode to the power of youth, nostalgia, and the the movies themselves.

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Tim Pulleine

Sight & Sound

Jan 11, 2020

Cinema Paradiso itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe.

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Dec 6, 2018

Giuseppe Tornatore, writer and director of Cinema Paradiso, knows that the way to make shameless wallowing palatable is to make no great claims for what you are resurrecting.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Sep 6, 2017

A cinema-lover's delight.

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 11, 2024

5/5

One of the greatest Italian films, Cinema Paradiso is a special, timeless classic that will make you smile and weep in equal measure.

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Jul 1, 2024

5/5

This is both an unashamedly sentimental rite-of-passage picture and a charming reminder of the lost magic of cinema-going.

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

May 9, 2023

3/4

The story is drawn from the director Giuseppe Tornatore's childhood memories, presented here as a series of loosely-linked episodes commemorating the importance of movies -- of art -- in the lives of people forced to manage on very little.

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Claudia

Aug 20, 2026

What a feast for the eyes, ears, & emotions! This was my third time, seeing it in the theater. Even though I knew the story, it drew me in just like I did before. What a masterpiece. I feel so lucky to have seen it again!

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Nikhilesh

Sep 24, 2025

If you love movies this is a must watch. My gratitude to Regal Cinemas for playing this on the big screen.

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lisa f

Jul 27, 2023

best movie i’ve seen in 20 years! loved it!

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Alcapp

Sep 2, 2022

Cinema Paradiso us a wonderful heart warming film. Youll laugh youll cry youll reflect. The ending is magical.

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Mary G

@RT81786809 2 days ago

Ennio Morricone's score, particularly the Love Theme, is legendary. The story takes place in the town square of an Italian village in the mid-20th century--the people there are down to earth, quick to weep or laugh loudly. They hit their children in public and show little self-awareness. They are surrounded by history and beauty. A small boy who takes all this in becomes attached to the projectionist who seems to live in the projection booth of the cinema on the square. The movies shown there take the people of all ages to soaring heights, particular of forbidden love. The ending of this movie is so fitting that I gasped. I can say no more.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 27, 2026

This movie is a perfect movie!

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Giuseppe Tornatore

Director

Salvatore Cascio

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Child

Philippe Noiret

Alfredo

Marco Leonardi

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Teenager

Jacques Perrin

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Adult

Agnese Nano

Elena Mendola

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81%

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Synopsis

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer: Mino Barbera, Franco Cristaldi, Giovanna Romagnoli
Screenwriter: Giuseppe Tornatore
Distributor: Miramax Films, HBO
Production Co: Cristaldi Film
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.1M
Runtime: 2h 3m

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