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8 1/2

Play trailerPoster for 8 1/2Released Jun 25, 19632h 15mFantasyPlay Trailer Watchlist
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97%Tomatometer 62 Reviews 92%Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Troubled Italian filmmaker Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles with creative stasis as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his loves, both past and present, and frequently wander into fantastical territory. As he tries to sort out his many entanglements, romantic and otherwise, Anselmi finds his production becoming more and more autobiographical.
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8 1/2

8 1/2

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Critics Consensus

Inventive, thought-provoking, and funny, 8 1/2 represents the arguable peak of Federico Fellini's many towering feats of cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Eric Rhode Sight & Sound Though he can't face up to the total case, we must be grateful to Fellini for having presented so much of it, and with such flair and exuberance. Feb 11, 2020 Full Review James Powers The Hollywood Reporter Fellini keeps a grasp on his difficult form, creating some penetrating, witty, tragic moments. Jun 26, 2018 Full Review Ian Mantgani Little White Lies A carnival of the soul. Rated: 5/5 May 1, 2015 Full Review Scott Nye Battleship Pretension The conflict between Guido’s discomfort for the nature of his fame and the driving force that led him there drives every interaction in the film. Jan 27, 2025 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy An ambitious, ambiguous, and experimental form of navel-gazing. Rated: 4/4 Jan 5, 2025 Full Review Pauline Kael KPFA (Berkeley, CA) This is the first (and, predictably, not the last) movie in which the director seems to be primarily interested in glorifying his self-imprisonment. Oct 18, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chandradeep D Greatest film of all time! Cinema is 8 1/2! Rated 5 out of 5 stars04/25/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, só a cena da dança do dois no meio da praça, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e quase ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, e os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. Rated 1 out of 5 stars04/06/25 Full Review Will G A great Italian film. Fellini is a fantastic director. This movie is about a filmmaker making a new film. There are several scenes of his childhood. Like “La Strada”, there are clowns in this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars04/04/25 Full Review Mason M Though the opening and a few other sequences in this can be amazing, 8 1/2 is too uninteresting in most other parts and too hard to follow for me to enjoy it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars09/12/24 Full Review Turiyan G Little known factoid. The first Mossad hit occurred during the premier of Fellini's 8 1/2 in Italy. It must have only been a few minutes in, what a great last thing to see before your brains are blown out by a .22. Rated 5 out of 5 stars05/23/24 Full Review acsdoug D Yes, I know, I'm ruining any chance I have of defining myself as a cinema aficionado, but I just couldn't get into this one. I found it rather boring. Rated 2 out of 5 stars05/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews
8 1/2

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Cast & Crew

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Federico Fellini

Director

Marcello Mastroianni

Guido Anselmi

Claudia Cardinale

Claudia

Anouk Aimée

Luisa Anselmi (as Anouk Aimee)

Sandra Milo

Carla

Madeleine Lebeau

French Actress

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8 1/2

8 1/2 (1963)8 1/2 (1963) View more photos

Movie Info

SynopsisTroubled Italian filmmaker Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles with creative stasis as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his loves, both past and present, and frequently wander into fantastical territory. As he tries to sort out his many entanglements, romantic and otherwise, Anselmi finds his production becoming more and more autobiographical.
Director
Federico Fellini
Producer
Angelo Rizzoli
Distributor
Embassy Pictures, Kino Pictures
Production Co
Cineriz, Francinex
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$50.7K
Runtime
2h 15m
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