8½ poster

8½

A picture that goes beyond what men think about - because no man ever thought about it in quite this way!

8.1(2,612)19632h 19m6

Guido Anselmi, a film director, finds himself creatively barren at the peak of his career. Urged by his doctors to rest, Anselmi heads for a luxurious resort, but a sorry group gathers—his producer, staff, actors, wife, mistress, and relatives—each one begging him to get on with the show. In retreat from their dependency, he fantasizes about past women and dreams of his childhood.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
German
  • dying and death
  • adultery
  • depression
  • individual
  • unsociability
  • screenplay
  • suicide attempt
  • missile
  • scapegoat
  • movie business
  • allegory
  • difficult childhood

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Gallery

Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½Still from 8½

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • TheatricalNR24 Jun 1963
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical1514 Feb 1963
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalM13 Apr 1995
  • BrazilBR

    • PhysicalDVD14 Jan 2014
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical155 Nov 1963
  • EstoniaEE

    • PremiereTallinn Black Nights Film Festival10 Nov 2025
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-1627 Sept 1963
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Film Festival23 May 1963
    • TheatricalTPVisa CNC 2657229 May 1963
    • TheatricalRe-release25 Jun 1980
    • TheatricalRe-release3 Apr 2013
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1222 May 1963
  • GreeceGR

    • Digital / OTT1 Aug 2019
    • Theatrical (limited)Re-Issue5 Jun 2025
  • ItalyIT

    • PremiereRome13 Feb 1963
    • TheatricalTRome14 Feb 1963
    • PremiereMilan15 Feb 1963
    • Theatrical16 Feb 1963
    • PremiereRome Film Festival12 Oct 2006
    • PremiereTorino Film Festival27 Nov 2013
  • MexicoMX

    • PremiereAcapulco Film Festival2 Jan 1963

Frequently asked questions

8½ was released on 14 February 1963.

Audience reviews

3
  • J

    j_haseltine

    8/13/2015

    Widely touted as one of the all-time great works of cinema, Federico Fellini’s 8½ is an elusive film about even more elusive things. It’s a meaningfully chaotic picture about trying to distil meaning from chaos and it’s a creative success about creative failure. It chronicles the resonant moments in one man’s life and admits that it can’t quite clarify why they matter. Doing justice to its early working title of The …

  • F

    Filipe Manuel Neto

    10/16/2023

    3/10

    **Fellini, deconstructed, improvised and enshrined in a film that (not) pleases everyone.** I'm not a fan or deep connoisseur of Italian cinema, but I've heard of Federico Fellini, and I know that this film is considered one of this director's best films. I haven't seen any of his films yet: this was the first. And honestly, I don't quite understand this fascination: the film is chaotic! I think that, unless someo…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    7/31/2024

    7/10

    Acclaimed director "Guido" (Marcello Mastroianni) is looking for a peaceable life after his last successful movie, but at every turn he is being pursued by people who want to capitalise on the success. He just hasn't the inspiration though - and determined not to just churn out any old rubbish, retreats to a small town for some rest, recuperation and hopefully inspiration. He in also rather reaping what he sowed as h…

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