Movie

Life Is Beautiful

“An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.”

★ 8.4(14,069)19971h 56m

Life Is Beautiful is streaming on Netflix in New Zealand, and available to rent or buy on JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. Availability checked 21 July 2026.

Where to watch Life Is Beautiful

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Good to know

Director: Roberto Benigni
Release date: 1997-12-20
Runtime: 1h 56m
Language: IT
Box office: $230,098,753
Budget: $20,000,000
Status: Released
Country: Italy
Studio: Mario e Vittorio Cecchi Gori - C.E.I.A.D.

Life Is Beautiful — trailer

Our take

Roberto Benigni's Holocaust fable is impossible to make and somehow he pulls it off — the second half re-contextualises everything that came before. Earnest in a way modern films usually aren't, and devastating because of it.

Good for: Viewers willing to be ambushed by emotion.

— the LetsFindMovie desk

About Life Is Beautiful

Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 movie in the Comedy and Drama genres, directed by Roberto Benigni, starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini. It has a runtime of 1 hour 56 minutes. It holds an average rating of 8.4/10 from 14,069 viewers. Below you can see where to watch Life Is Beautiful in New Zealand — across streaming, rental and purchase options — along with the full cast, trailer and viewer reviews.

Synopsis

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries to convince his son that the whole thing is just a game.

Cast

Roberto Benigni

Guido

Nicoletta Braschi

Dora

Giorgio Cantarini

Giosué

Giustino Durano

Zio

Sergio Bini Bustric

Ferruccio

Marisa Paredes

Dora's Mother

Horst Buchholz

Doctor Lessing

Lidia Alfonsi

Mrs. Guicciardini

Giuliana Lojodice

School Principal

Amerigo Fontani

Rodolfo

Pietro De Silva

Bartolomeo

Francesco Guzzo

Vittorino

Themes & keywords

dying and deathbookshoplove of one's lifenaziself sacrificeloss of loved oneitalyriddlemass murderconcentration campfascismholocaust (shoah)world war iideportationjew persecution