Do you have Netflix and want to improve your Italian? There are films and TV series in Italian that are perfect for learning from the comfort of your couch, suitable for every level, from absolute beginner to advanced. In this article, you’ll find six recommendations — 3 films and 3 TV series for each level, from A1 to C2 — along with explanations on how to use them most effectively to improve listening comprehension, expand your vocabulary, and get used to different Italian accents.
The Best Netflix Content for Learning Italian
How to Use Netflix to Learn Italian
Before getting into the specific recommendations, one rule that applies to all levels: always use Italian subtitles, not subtitles in your own language. If you use subtitles in your own language, you are only reading a translation and not learning anything new. With Italian subtitles, on the other hand, you associate sounds with written words — an extremely valuable exercise at any level. As your level improves, you can progressively reduce your use of subtitles until you watch content with no help at all.
Level A1 — Film: «4 Metà» (2021)
At level A1 — absolute beginner — the most common question is: “Does it make sense to watch something in Italian if I understand very little?” The answer is yes, as long as you choose the right content. And the right content for this level is 4 metà [4 halves], an Italian Netflix original romantic comedy from 2021, directed by Alessio Maria Federici and starring Ilenia Pastorelli, Matilde Gioli, Giuseppe Maggio and Matteo Martari.
What It’s About
Two friends invite four single people — two men and two women — to dinner and wonder: does a soulmate really exist? The film tells the stories of these four people in two alternative realities, showing how the couples could form in different ways. No crimes, no mysteries, no difficult dialects — just stories of love, friendship and everyday life in Rome.
Why It’s Perfect for Level A1
- The language is everyday, simple and natural — people talk about feelings, work, friendship, dates: topics that help you understand the context even if you don’t know every word.
- Sentences are short and clear, without complex grammatical constructions.
- The accent is standard Italian, very pleasant to listen to for those who are just starting out.
- The film is only 90 minutes long — perfect for not getting too tired.
Linguistic Curiosity
The title of the film, «4 metà», plays on the Italian expression «la mia metà» [my other half] — which means “my partner”, literally “my half”. The idea is that each person has a half that completes them. It is a very common romantic expression in Italian: «hai trovato la tua metà?» [have you found your other half?] means “have you found the right person for you?”.
Level A2 — TV Series: «Incastrati»
At level A2 — experienced beginner — you already understand the basic structures of Italian and recognise the most common vocabulary. This is the perfect time to start with the first TV series. The recommended series is Incastrati [Framed], a Sicilian crime comedy written, directed and performed by the celebrated comic duo Ficarra e Picone, available on Netflix worldwide.
What It’s About
Salvo and Valentino, two television technicians, arrive at a client’s home for a repair and find a dead body. Fearing they will be accused, they try to erase any trace of their presence — and of course things get worse and worse, in an increasingly comic and absurd way.
Why It’s Perfect for Level A2
- The dialogues are short and the comic situations help you understand the context even if you don’t know every word.
- The episodes are short, ideal for those who easily tire of concentrating in a foreign language.
- The actors speak fairly clearly, although the characteristic Sicilian accent is often heard — with Italian subtitles activated, everything is perfectly understandable.
Linguistic Curiosity
In Sicily the exclamation «minchia!» is often used to express surprise, astonishment or irritation. It is a very expressive word typical of the Sicilian dialect, heard frequently in this series. In other Italian regions it is used less — it is almost a Sicilian hallmark.
Level B1 — Film: «Il Falsario» (2026)
At level B1 — intermediate — you understand Italian in most everyday situations, but still need some help with more specific vocabulary or formal registers. The recommended film is Il Falsario [The Forger], available on Netflix from January 2026, directed by Stefano Lodovichi and starring Pietro Castellitto.
What It’s About
The story is set in Rome in the 1970s, the years of terrorism, organised crime and Italy’s great unsolved mysteries. The protagonist is called Toni: he arrives in Rome dreaming of becoming a great artist, but his extraordinary talent for perfectly copying masterpieces of art draws him into an increasingly dangerous criminal circle. He becomes Italy’s greatest forger, involved with the Banda della Magliana and even — according to some historical reconstructions — with the Aldo Moro case.
Why It’s Suitable for Level B1
- The language is lively and direct, with vocabulary that goes beyond the everyday: terms related to art, crime and Italian politics of the 1970s are an excellent way to broaden one’s knowledge.
- The dialogues are clear and the pace is sustained but comprehensible.
- It is visually beautiful, full of atmosphere, and introduces a dark and fascinating Rome.
Historical and Linguistic Curiosity
The Banda della Magliana was one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Italian history, active in Rome during the 1970s and 80s. The term «falsario» [forger] comes from «falso» — whoever produces fake things is a falsario. In Italian we find many words formed with this same pattern: «bugiardo» [liar] from «bugia» [lie], «traditore» [traitor] from «tradire» [to betray]. Once you understand the mechanism, it’s very easy.
Level B2 — TV Series: «Briganti» (2024)
At level B2 — upper intermediate — you already have a good command of Italian and are ready for something more demanding. The recommended series is Briganti [Brigands], a Netflix original from 2024, set in Southern Italy in 1862, just after the Unification of Italy.
What It’s About
The protagonist is Filomena, a woman of peasant origin who rebels against her violent husband, flees to the forest and joins a band of brigands in search of a legendary treasure hidden by the Bourbons. It is an adventurous ensemble series that mixes the spaghetti western with historical drama and very contemporary themes such as female emancipation and resistance against oppression.
Why It’s Recommended for Level B2
- The language is rich and varied: you hear the dialect of Southern Italy — Calabrian, Neapolitan — mixed with standard Italian, an excellent ear-training exercise.
- The dialogues have a fast-paced rhythm, often overlapping in action scenes.
- The historical and military vocabulary — terms such as «brigante» [brigand], «latitante» [fugitive], «cedere il passo» [to give way] — is very specific and interesting.
- It was filmed in Puglia, between Lecce, Nardò and Altamura, with landscapes that look like they came straight out of a Sergio Leone film.
Historical Curiosity
After 1861 — the year of the Unification of Italy — the South was militarily occupied by the Piedmontese army. Many peasants from the South, impoverished and exploited, rebelled, giving rise to the phenomenon known as brigantaggio [brigandage]. The briganti [brigands] were considered criminals by the State, but heroes by the people. The debate about that page of history is still alive in Italy today.
Level C1 — Film: «È Stata la Mano di Dio» (2021)
At level C1 — advanced — you understand Italian fluently, recognise nuances and perceive the difference between registers and dialects. The recommended film is È stata la mano di Dio [The Hand of God], a 2021 Netflix original directed by Paolo Sorrentino — the Italian director who won the Oscar with La grande bellezza [The Great Beauty]. Nominated for the Oscar for Best International Film in 2022 and winner of 4 David di Donatello Awards, it is considered one of the most important Italian films of recent years.
What It’s About
The story is autobiographical and set in Naples in the 1980s: Fabietto is a clumsy, dreamy teenager living in an extraordinary, chaotic and vibrant family. Two events will change everything: the arrival of Diego Maradona in Naples — which transforms the whole city into an explosion of joy — and then an unexpected tragedy, which will mark Fabietto forever and point him towards cinema.
Why It’s at C1 Level
- The film uses authentic Neapolitan mixed with standard Italian — a dense, fast linguistic blend full of regional nuances that requires a very well-trained ear.
- Sorrentino’s pace is slow and poetic, with dialogues loaded with subtexts and deep cultural references.
- The themes — grief, identity, the relationship with Naples, artistic vocation — require advanced comprehension to be fully appreciated. This is a film you don’t just watch: you listen to it and feel it.
Cultural Curiosity
The title refers to the “Hand of God” — the goal scored by Maradona with his hand during the 1986 World Cup, which he himself described as “a little the hand of God, a little the head of Maradona”. For the Neapolitans, Maradona was not just a footballer — he was a deity. When he arrived in Naples, the whole city came to a standstill. This film explains why.
Level C2 — TV Series: «Strappare lungo i Bordi»
At level C2 — complete mastery — you understand practically everything and need something that tests not only your ear, but also your cultural and sociolinguistic understanding of Italian today. The recommended series is Strappare lungo i bordi [Tear Along the Dotted Line], the animated series by Zerocalcare, available on Netflix. Zerocalcare is the pseudonym of Michele Rech, a Roman cartoonist who first conquered Italy and then the world with his unique style: black humour, fierce social criticism and an Italian that is a goldmine for those studying the language at a high level.
What It’s About
The series tells of a train journey by Zerocalcare together with his friends Sarah and Secco, towards a destination that is not immediately revealed. Between childhood memories, anxieties, reflections on life and lightning-fast witticisms.
Why It’s at C2 Level
- The language is extremely dense: spoken with a very strong Roman accent, with very specific colloquial expressions, references to pop culture, Italian politics, 1990s cinema, football and early 2000s American TV series — all mixed together at an impressive speed.
- Understanding everything 100% requires not only an advanced knowledge of Italian, but also a genuine familiarity with contemporary Italian culture.
- If you can follow the series without subtitles, you can consider your Italian practically native-level.
Linguistic Curiosity
In this series you hear contemporary Romanesco very frequently: «annà» instead of «andare» [to go], «sto» instead of «questo» [this], «me sa» instead of «mi sembra» [it seems to me]. Zerocalcare also uses a great many neologisms and invented words that young Italians use in their daily lives. It is an accelerated course in modern, authentic and living Italian — the kind you won’t find in any textbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Subtitles in My Own Language?
No — or at least, not if the goal is to learn Italian. With subtitles in your own language you are only reading a translation, with no real contact with the Italian language. Italian subtitles, on the other hand, allow you to associate sounds with written words: an extremely useful exercise at all levels, which noticeably accelerates listening comprehension.
Is This Content Available Worldwide?
Yes. All the titles recommended in this article are Netflix originals, which means they are available worldwide — whether you are in London, New York, Tokyo or Buenos Aires. You don’t need to be in Italy to access them.
Does It Make Sense to Watch Italian Films if I’m Still at A1 Level?
Yes, as long as you choose the right content. At A1 level it is essential to choose something with simple language, short sentences and familiar topics — such as 4 metà. The visual context helps enormously to understand even if you don’t know every word, and exposure to real language from the very first steps significantly accelerates learning.
What Is Meant by «Regional Accent» in Italian?
Italian has many regional varieties — accents, expressions and sometimes words that change from region to region. Sicilian, Neapolitan and Romanesco, for example, are among the most recognisable. Exposing yourself to these accents through films and TV series is one of the best ways to train your ear to the real language — the kind you hear in the streets of Italy — which is very different from the standard Italian studied in books.
How Do I Know If a Piece of Content Is at My Level?
A good indicator is the percentage of dialogue you manage to understand. If you understand less than 30%, the content is probably too difficult at the moment — better to choose something more accessible. If you understand between 50% and 70%, you are in the ideal learning zone: enough of a challenge to learn something new, enough comprehension not to lose the thread. If you understand more than 90%, you can try doing without subtitles.
What if shows like Stranger Things were hiding an Italian lesson? Find out in the article dedicated to how to learn Italian through TV series.
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