Life Is Beautiful (1997)
An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.
A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries to convince his son that the whole thing is just a game.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 20 December 1997 |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama |
| Director | Roberto Benigni |
| Starring | Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini |
| Runtime | 116 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.6/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 81% · Metacritic 58/100 · IMDb 8.6/10 · TMDB users 8.4/10 |
| Budget | $19 million |
| Box office | $230 million worldwide |
Where to watch Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is streaming on Fubo in the US. It is also on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Paramount+ is $13.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 12 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
Roberto Benigni directs and stars in this 1997 Italian drama, a film that spends its first half in pure, unbridled joy before the second half arrives with a kick in the gut. The central conceit is simple: a father convinces his son that a concentration camp is just a complicated game. It is a tonal tightrope walk that relies entirely on Benigni’s physical comedy to keep the horror at bay. The result is a fable where imagination is the only weapon powerful enough to protect a child. You will laugh, and then you will cry, usually in the same minute. It is a 116-minute challenge to your emotional stability, but a necessary one.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes reports an 81% approval rating, while Metacritic settles on a 58/100 Metascore, labeling the reception mixed. That gap tells you something about the audience. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune gave it a perfect 100/100, praising a blend of terror and hilarity. Others were less convinced. Richard Schickel of Time argued that the film avoids vividly presenting the brutality of mass extermination. He believed even a hint of the truth would crush the comedy.
How it did with audiences
$19 million in. $230 million out. That gap is a comfortable cushion, the kind studios dream about and accountants check twice. In its home market, it took in 92 billion lire, which translates to $48.7 million. For a while, that made it the top-earning Italian movie in Italy, a title it held until 2011. It also broke the record for the highest-grossing foreign-language film in the United States, a spot it kept until Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon showed up in 2000. TMDB users rate it 8.4 out of 10.
Awards
Roberto Benigni took home the David di Donatello for Best Film, the 1998 Cannes Grand Prix, and the 1999 Academy Award for Best Actor. The film also secured the César for Best Foreign Film, the 1998 European Film Awards for Best Film and Best Actor, and the 1999 Academy Awards for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best International Feature Film. That is 8 wins from 11 nominations.
What came next for the cast
Roberto Benigni moved from indie oddities like Night on Earth to mainstream fare, eventually voicing a talking dog in Pinocchio. Nicoletta Braschi shifted from Coen Brothers fare to a string of Italian dramas, including The Tiger and the Snow. The credits list these shifts. They cannot prove the 1997 film caused them. It just happened to be on the resume.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Life Is Beautiful.
Sources
- Life Is Beautiful on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q19355 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Life Is Beautiful” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add Life Is Beautiful to your list