Malena (2000)

Kernel Score: 83% · 2,458 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Drama

Released: 2000-03-16

Runtime: 108 minutes

Is Malena worth watching?

Worth watching. A teenage boy becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman in a small Sicilian town during WWII. It's lovely to look at, funny and sad by turns, but it treats its heroine mostly as an object of the town's gaze.

Watch it if you

  • like Italian period dramas
  • enjoy coming-of-age stories
  • are drawn to the music and visuals

Skip it if you

  • dislike stories where a woman is mostly looked at
  • are sensitive to cruelty and sexual violence on screen

Best for: Arthouse night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Malena

  • Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
  • Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

During WWII, a teenage boy discovering himself becomes love-stricken by Malèna, a sensual woman living in a small, narrow-minded Italian town.

Malena parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that this R-rated drama includes sexual content, prostitution, and wartime hardship.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — Wartime setting and social persecution bring emotional and some physical harm to the protagonist.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Themes of prostitution, sex trafficking, and a sensual woman's exploitation are central to the R-rated story.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Malena

If you liked Malena, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Cinema Paradiso (1988) — 91%: Same director's loving look at youth, memory and the movies.
  • The Legend of 1900 (1998) — 92%: Same director's lyrical story with a sweeping score.
  • The Best Offer (2013) — 86%: Same director's elegant, romantic mystery.
  • Baaria (2009) — 80%: Same director's sprawling Sicilian family story.
  • Ennio (2022) — 91%: Documentary on the composer behind this film's score.
  • Divorce Italian Style (1961) — 88%: Sharp Italian comedy set in a small, judgmental town.

Director

Giuseppe Tornatore

Cast

  • Monica Bellucci as Malèna Scordia
  • Giuseppe Sulfaro as Renato Amoroso
  • Luciano Federico as Renato's Father
  • Matilde Piana as Renato's Mother
  • Pietro Notarianni as Prof. Bonsignore
  • Gaetano Aronica as Nino Scordia
  • Gilberto Idonea as Centorbi, the Lawyer
  • Angelo Pellegrino as Political Secretary
  • Gabriella Di Luzio as Baron's Lover
  • Pippo Provvidenti as Dr. Cusimano

Malena FAQ

Is Malena worth watching?

Worth watching. A teenage boy becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman in a small Sicilian town during WWII. It's lovely to look at, funny and sad by turns, but it treats its heroine mostly as an object of the town's gaze.

Where can I watch Malena?

In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.

Is Malena OK for kids?

Malena is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this R-rated drama includes sexual content, prostitution, and wartime hardship.

What movies are like Malena?

If you liked Malena, try Cinema Paradiso, The Legend of 1900, The Best Offer and Baaria.