TOP 10! - These Italian films are blockbusters

Great cinema from Italy! In the ranking of the most successful Italian films of all time, Italy's superstar Checco Zalone (45) clears four places. Which Italian films have achieved the best box-office results? Here is the Top 10 ranking from Bella Italia.

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More audience than Hollywood blockbusters like "Star Wars" & Co! Only one foreign film - "Avatar" - was actually able to attract more viewers to the cinema in Italy than the domestic productions. Get some inspiration for cosy evenings on the couch. The ten highest-grossing Italian films are...

10th place: "Welcome to the North

• Box-office result: 27.18 million euros
• Year: 2012
• Original Italian title: "Benvenuti al nord".
• Genre: Comedy

That's what the film is about: "Welcome to the North" is the sequel to the Italian box office hit "Welcome to the South". Back in Milan, Alberto Colombo heads a programme to increase efficiency at the Italian Post Office. He is completely absorbed in his new job, but neglects his wife Silvia. Alberto's buddy Mattia in Castellabate in the south is no better off. His wife demands more ambition in his job. Mattia is transferred to Milan - and ends up with Alberto.

9th place: "Amore, Amore"

• Box-office result: 28.09 million euros
• Year: 1996
• Original title: "Il ciclone"
• Genre: Romantic Comedy

That's what the film is about: Five Spanish flamenco dancers end up on a farm in Tuscany. Their presence completely disrupts the love life of the entire family, the heterosexual son as well as the homosexual daughter, while the father snores the village together.

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8th place: "Christmas on the Nile

• Box-office result: 28.3 million euros
• Year: 2002
• Original title: "Natale sul Nilo"
• Genre: Comedy

This is what the film is about: A widowed police chief wants to dissuade his 15-year-old daughter from applying to be a showgirl on the TV show "Letterina". In addition there are various Letterinas, a sleazy manager-lawyer, a wife on the run, a crazed archaeologist and two tourists with magic rings. They all meet on a Nile cruise.

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7th place: "Ask me if I'm happy"

• Box-office result: 28.46 million euros
• Year: 2000
• Original title. "Chiedimi se sono felice"
• Genre: Drama Comedy

That's what the film is about: In Milan, the three friends Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo pursue various jobs that are actually far below their expectations. Their dream now is to finally put on a play based on Cyrano de Bergerac. This plan becomes complicated when Marina shows up.

6th place: "Welcome to the South

• Box-office result: 29.87 million euros
• Year: 2010
• Original title: "Benvenuti al Sud"
• Genre: Comedy

This is what the film is aboutAlberto Colombo works at the post office and dreams of being transferred to Milan with his wife Silvia. When he pretends to be disabled in order to be favoured for the transfer, he is discovered. He is punitively transferred to the south. The expectations are shaped by clichés: Mafia, laziness, funny food and even weirder dialects.

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5th place: "Life is beautiful".

• Box-office result: 31.23 million euros
• Year: 1997
• Original title: La vita è bella
• Genre: Tragic-Comedy

That's what the film, which won three (!) Oscars, is about: Italy during the Second World War. The Jewish bookseller Guido is happy with his wife Dora, a teacher, and their son Giosuè. His favourite toy is a toy tank. When Guido and his son are sent to a Nazi concentration camp, the father wants to save his son from the cruel reality. He tells him that the stay in the camp is a competition in which the winner who obeys all the rules will win a tank at the end.

4th place: "What a beautiful day".

• Box-office result: 43.47 million euros
• Year: 2000
• Original title: "Che bella giornata"
• Genre: Comedy

That's what the film is about: Checco is a security guard at a village discotheque in Brianza. As the danger of assassinations grows, additional measures are required for high-risk establishments. All of a sudden, Checco becomes the security officer for Milan Cathedral. Thanks to his intellectual abilities, Checco becomes a real danger to Italy's artistic heritage within a very short time.

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3rd place: "Tolo Tolo - The Great Journey"

• Box-office result: 46.16 million euros
• Year: 2020
• Original title: "Tolo Tolo".
• Genre: Drama–Comedy

That's what the film is about: After his sushi restaurant in the country fails miserably, Checco flees from his creditors and the mountain of debt and decides to seek refuge in Africa. In a holiday resort, he ekes out a living as a waiter. When civil war breaks out in the African country, Checco tries to flee to Italy with his African friends.

2nd place: "Sunshine

• Box-office result: 51.94 million euros
• Year: 2013
• Original title: "Sole a catinelle"
• Genre: Comedy

That's what the film is about: Highly indebted salesman Checco promises his son a summer holiday at the seaside if he brings home a good report card. When junior steps on the gas at school for the first time, Checco initially tries everything to prevent good grades. He doesn't want to lose face with his wife in any case, the marriage is already in crisis...

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1st place: The Full Post

• Box-office result: 65.34 million euros
• Year: 2015
• Original title: Quo Vado?
• Genre: Comedy

That's what the film is about: Career aspiration, civil servant. A secure job with the municipality, without hustle and bustle, without stress and a bribe now and then. Ever since he was a child, Checco Zalone has known that he wanted to become a provincial civil servant like his father. When an administrative reform is pending, Checco's post is to be abolished. He fights with all means to keep his civil servant status...

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written by Annie Kayser, first published 13 November 2022

Source: Statistka, October 2022: Highest-grossing domestic movies of all time in Italy as of October 2022

Cover image/collage: Tim Douglas/Pexels via canva.com; Tima Miroshnichenko via canva.com