Overview
In a world where loyalty is currency, betrayal can be deadly.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- brooding
- gritty
- crime film marathon
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized an ambitious, energetic Italian crime saga with strong performances, while finding its execution uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The gang’s empire develops within an Italy shaped by molded politics, corruption, mafia connections, and terrorism.
Commissario Scialoja exploits the breakdown of loyalty among Il Freddo, Libano, Il Dandi, and their associates.
The 1970s Rome setting combines organized crime with corruption, terrorism, and an investigator pursuing an expanding underworld empire.
A small circle of friends uses skills, connections, and specialists to carve out a share of Rome’s criminal economy.
Films like Romanzo Criminale, and why
Goodfellas
shared organized crime rise, political corruption, and sprawling ensemble crime drama
The Godfather
shared italian gangster milieu, shifting loyalties, and tragic power struggles
Black Mass
shared 1970s crime atmosphere, institutional corruption, and morally compromised protagonists
Movie Details
- Director
- Michele Placido
- Release Date
- 2005-09-30
- Runtime
- 152 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (702)
Cast
- Kim Rossi Stuart
- Anna Mouglalis
- Stefano Accorsi
- Pierfrancesco Favino
- Claudio Santamaria
- Riccardo Scamarcio
- Jasmine Trinca
- Toni Bertorelli
- Gigi Angelillo
- Antonello Fassari
Common questions
- What is Romanzo Criminale about?
- A ruthless circle of Roman friends builds a criminal empire while an investigator turns their ambitions and collapsing loyalties against them.
- What is Romanzo Criminale like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Romanzo Criminale as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Romanzo Criminale violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Romanzo Criminale as moderate.
- What did critics think of Romanzo Criminale?
- Critics broadly recognized an ambitious, energetic Italian crime saga with strong performances, while finding its execution uneven.
- Which films are like Romanzo Criminale?
- Films with a similar feel include Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Black Mass.
- How long is Romanzo Criminale?
- Romanzo Criminale runs 152 minutes.
