8 Best Dramas to Watch if You Love 'Malena', Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
These movies prove that true beauty is always more than just an image.
In cinema, beauty is rarely just beauty, especially for women – their appearance becomes the driving force behind the plot, not just a backdrop.
Giuseppe Tornatore's Malena is a perfect example of such a movie – here, the main character's beauty determines her fate, the townspeople's attitudes, and the development of the story.
If you're captivated by the on-screen magic that transcends aesthetics, we've recalled eight more films in which female attractiveness becomes the catalyst for action.
8. 'Young & Beautiful', 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
17-year-old Isabelle, from an intelligent family, becomes a prostitute not for money, but to seek freedom and explore her sexuality.
The young Frenchwoman realizes the power of her attractiveness and tests her charms on men of varying ages and statuses. One day, one of her elderly clients dies during sex.
After a course of psychotherapy, the young woman tries to return to a normal life and date men her own age, but she finds them too boring. Suddenly, the deceased client's wife contacts her and asks to meet.
7. 'Atomic Blonde', 2017
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
1989, MI6 sends one of its top spies, Lorraine Broughton, to Berlin to find a stolen list of agents. The leak threatens an international scandal that could lead to World War III.
Although Lorraine is fluent in several languages, skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and proficient with all types of firearms, she still faces challenges in the grim city a week before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
6. 'Broken Embraces', 2009
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Fourteen years ago, Mateo Blanco, a director, lost his sight and his beloved Lena in a car accident. He now lives a solitary life, writing screenplays and trying to forget the past.
Painful memories resurface when Ray X – the son of the businessman from whom Blanco once stole Lena – shows up on his doorstep.
Director Pedro Almodóvar often celebrates the strength and beauty of women in his work. His muse, Penélope Cruz, plays the leading role in Broken Embraces.
5. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', 1961
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
One early morning in sleepy New York City, an elegantly dressed woman could be seen admiring jewelry while eating breakfast at a Tiffany & Co. storefront.
Her name is Holly Golightly, and she dreams of marrying a wealthy man – she is actively seeking a suitor at parties. When she's not out and about, she cares for her cat, who has no name, hangs out with her neighbor Paul, and visits an inmate in the county jail.
4. 'Jackie', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the 35th President of the United States, became a true style icon and trendsetter. On November 22, 1963, the day of her husband's death, she was by his side in the car when he died in her arms.
Despite her immense loss, Jackie could not grieve – she had to organize the funeral, answer reporters' questions, and prevent her enemies from celebrating.
3. 'Gia', 1998
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
In the late 1970s, supermodel Gia Carangi graced the covers of fashion magazines. At 17, she set out to conquer New York City.
Thanks to her striking looks and rebellious spirit, she quickly landed a spot at the renowned Wilhelmina Models agency and became a star who rose quickly but burned out.
Gia is based on true events. Producers searched not only for an actress who resembled Carangi, but also for a star with equal parts beauty and magnetism. Angelina Jolie resisted the role for a long time, but her outstanding performance ultimately made the film memorable.
2. 'La Dolce Vita', 1960
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
In glittering Rome, social receptions attract hereditary aristocrats, the nouveau riche, playboys, prostitutes, celebrities, and beautiful women by the dozen.
Among the members of high society is the scandalous journalist Marcello, who is distinguished not only by his beauty and wealth, but also by his amorous nature. He throws himself into the arms of every woman he meets, seeking refuge from the melancholy gnawing at him from within.
However, a series of fleeting romances fails to melt his heart. Neither the enamored Emma, the wealthy heiress Maddalena, nor the movie star Silvia evoke any feelings in him. Perhaps only the modest waitress Paola left him with warm memories.
1. 'The Mirror', 1975
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Aleksei was born on the eve of the war. His parents divorced, and his mother, Maria, raised him alone. Years later, Aleksei followed in his parents' footsteps when he abandoned his wife, Natalia, and their son.
When Aleksei becomes bedridden due to a serious illness, he immerses himself in memories and bitterly realizes how much pain he has caused his loved ones.
The Mirror focuses on the female characters, with Margarita Terekhova playing two pivotal roles: the protagonist's mother and wife. Terekhova is captivating even without the elaborate outfits, makeup, and expensive jewelry.
