Monica Bellucci is one of the entertainment world's most prolific and recognizable stars. Not only is she famous on the big and small screens when it comes to live-action (and in three languages, being fluent in English, French, and Italian), but she's also provided the voices for characters in cartoons and video games.
Bellucci's career dates back to 1991, and she's still going strong with her latest movie, the crime thriller Memory. Here are a few movies on her resume that are also worth seeing, but never got the attention they deserved.
Updated October 1, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Monica Bellucci's career is still going strong and there are some hidden gems still to be discovered, stored away from past decades or hidden in the more obscure, lower-budget European section of the streaming service library. These movies are all great for what they are, with various budgets and genres, and even some kids' movies and comedies. Some of the new additions might not be underrated but Bellucci's performance in them certainly is.
9 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
The Matrix Reloaded is a direct sequel to the original movie, The Matrix, which was released in 1999. It wasn't exactly everyone's favorite sequel, but it had its moments even if none of them were action sequences.
All the best scenes included the intrigue of the Merovingian and his estranged wife, Persephone, played by Monica Bellucci. This character wants revenge on her husband for his roving digital eye and gives Neo and his allies access to the Keymaker to get it. It's a minor part but essential to the plot and one of the few compelling moments in an otherwise dull and overthought script.
8 La Riffa (1991)
Its English title is The Raffle, and the plot focuses on a simple scheme to pay off some pesky debts. Bellucci plays the main character, Francesca, whose husband Maurizio has passed on, and she has to pay for some of his bad financial decisions. After she's sold some furniture and other accessories on the estate, she comes up with a plan to raffle off Maurizio's most valuable asset: herself. It sounds dramatic, but it's really an Italian melodrama combined with a comedy.
It's called a "raffle," but it's more of a bidding war, as various men bid for the prize, which is four years of Francesca's time and total compliance. After some twists and turns, one of which includes a relationship based on love instead of money, Francesca is free of her husband's financial ghosts. It's worth seeing as an early example of Monica Bellucci movies.
7 Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
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There are a few different versions of this Monica Bellucci movie depending on whether the viewer is in the UK, the United States, or its homeland of France. There's also the Director's Cut, the longest version of all, which is available on home video. No matter what, it's pretty cool to see Monica Bellucci in a French movie, although she does play an Italian character.
The time is post-Revolutionary France, making this a nice selection for those who like period movies as well. Monica Bellucci plays the supporting character Sylvia, who is a secret agent for the Holy See. She's not exactly allied with the protagonists, but they are looking for the same thing. The film was more popular in France, but as a foreign film, it never really got the attention it deserved in North America.
6 Tears of the Sun (2003)
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Tears Of The Sun is one of the few Monica Bellucci movies that have ever been made about that non-war in Nigeria that nobody except almost everyone is involved in somehow. The politics of the movie could be the reason why it never really received the attention from fans that it deserved, although critics liked it just fine.
It's both an action movie and a drama. Lieutenant Waters, played by Bruce Willis, is leading a team of Navy SEALs to get Dr. Kendricks, Monica Bellucci's character, out of Nigeria before local rebels reach her field hospital. Once Waters arrives, however, he discovers the hospital is also being used as a haven for refugees, and the stakes are higher than they originally thought.
5 Ne Te Retourne Pas (2009)
In English, the title is Don't Look Back and although this French movie is officially considered a thriller it could also be fantasy, magical realism, or even psychological horror. Most of the accolades for this movie come from the performances of the two lead actresses, Sophie Marceau and Monica Belucci.
Jeanne, played by Marceau, seems to be living a normal life with her husband and three kids when she notices some profound changes in her reality. Not just her possessions but her home and even her appearance, as if such a thing is possible. The plot follows her journey to Italy, a trip prompted by a mysterious photograph, to discover the truth.
4 Malèna (2000)
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It's described as an erotic comedy-drama, a combination that's popular in Italian cinema. Malèna takes place in the fictional town of Castelcutò in Sicily during and after World War II. The protagonist is Renato Amoroso, and the story is told from his point of view. It begins on the day the war started when he also gets his new bike and sees Malèna for the first time.
The plot follows both Renato and Malèna as they make their way through the social and political minefields of small-town Italian life during wartime. Although this Monica Bellucci movie is billed as a comedy, it has a few harrowing moments, and the ending is as happy as a realistic ending can be.
3 Under Suspicion (2000)
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A French-American production that stars big names from both sides of the pond, Under Suspicion, is a murder mystery with some political intrigue and personal drama thrown in to make the formula more interesting. There are more than a few red herrings deliberately planted in the storyline to throw off the viewer, and the resolution is a surprising one.
This Monica Bellucci movie was nominated for several awards and was considered for screening at the Cannes Film Festival, and despite positive reviews thanks to the writing and acting, a limited release meant fewer people got to experience this underrated movie.
2 Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002)
Also known as Asterix and Obelix Meet Cleopatra, this movie is based on the popular comic book series featuring the adventures of two mischievous Gauls, Asterix and Obelix. Most of the series, which was written by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, involves famous historic events, places, and people of the ancient world including iconic figures like Cleopatra.
Bellucci looks perfect as the Egyptian Queen, and she speaks French the whole time because this wacky comedy is filmed in the same language in which the comics were first published. That's not just for the sake of authenticity, but also because this movie is an entirely French production, which is the main reason not many people outside of Europe ever saw it.
1 The Whistleblower (2010)
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This is a drama and a thriller, but it was inspired by the true story of Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac, who was recruited as a UN peacekeeper and uncovered a sex trafficking ring while on her special assignment. The main role in The Whistleblower is played by Rachel Weisz, and Monica Bellucci takes a supporting role as UN official Laura Leviani.
The main plot is actually about the plight of two Ukrainian women who are sold to a Bosnian sex-trafficking ring by a relative. This Monica Bellucci movie received critical acclaim for its realistic and honest depictions of human trafficking, while others cited the excessive violence depicted in the film as exploitative. Ironically, the producers claim the violence in the movie had to be toned down in order to make it past the script-writing stage in the first place.