Best Cinemas in Rome for English Movies: Cinema Barberini, Troisi and More
Cinema Barberini
Since it’s autumn in Rome, the weather is getting colder (at least for Italian standards), and I’m slowly getting into my sweater vibes. Think baking cookies, drinking more tea, and of course, watching movies. One of my favourite things to do, alone or with friends, is going to the cinema. There’s just something about stepping into a cozy room for two hours, completely disconnected from the rest of the world, snacks in hand.
In Rome, and in Italy in general, most cinema movies are dubbed into Italian, which makes them quite hard to follow if you’re a tourist, expat, or international student. In this blog post, I’ll tell you all about the cinemas in Rome that show movies in V.O.S. (versione originale). This way you can enjoy the best cinemas in Rome while watching your favourite movies in English.
Cinema Barberini
My ultimate cinema in Rome is Cinema Barberini, and I can already tell you it is going to be my comfort spot again this autumn and winter. This beautiful cinema opened in 1930 and is conveniently located at Piazza Barberini, right outside the metro stop.
Cinema Barberini is elegant and stylish, and besides the cinema itself, they also have a restaurant with a panoramic terrace. It’s often the cinema in Rome that hosts movie premieres, and some of my friends even saw Zendaya here during the premiere of her movie Challengers.
There are several rooms in Cinema Barberini, ranging from big to small, and in my experience, they are all comfortable and clean. Most importantly, this cinema offers many movies in their original version, or versione originale (V.O.), and you can even filter them separately on their website.
When buying tickets, make sure to check for the V.O. or V.O.S. label, as this indicates the original version, or in the case of V.O.S., versione originale con sottotitoli, meaning the original version with Italian subtitles.
Cinema Barberini can get quite busy at times, especially for big releases, so if you prefer, you can easily order your tickets online through their website.
Cinema Troisi
If you are looking for a different vibe than that classic cinema feeling, I suggest visiting Cinema Troisi. Located in the Trastevere neighbourhood, Cinema Troisi describes itself as a unique cultural hub. I have actually written about Cinema Troisi before on my blog, because besides being a cinema, they also offer an amazing study room that is open to everyone.
Cinema Troisi is a historic movie theatre with 300 seats. As written on their website, they strive to be a new and inclusive cinema in terms of audience and programming, while still featuring the popular movies that are coming out. What I really like is that all their movies are shown in V.O.S., so you can easily visit and enjoy watching a movie in English!
Cinema Nuovo Olimpia
Third on the list is Cinema Nuovo Olimpia, located on Via in Lucina 16. This is literally right next to Via del Corso, so it’s very centrally located.
Cinema Nuovo Olimpia is part of Circuito Cinema, a film company that runs several cinemas in Rome and other Italian cities. When it comes to showing movies in English, this is definitely their best location in Rome, with most films being shown in V.O.S.
What I really like about this cinema is its convenient location and the fact that it feels like a cute little secret. The cinema is tucked away in a corner, and inside it feels quite intimate and vintage. If you prefer something grander, I would recommend Cinema Barberini, but if you’re looking for something old-school and more quiet, definitely check out Cinema Nuovo Olimpia!
Cinema Farnese
While doing research for this post, I came across a beautiful Italian review that translates roughly to: “In this fast-changing world, there are still a few steady places to hold on to.” I wanted to include it here because that is exactly what Cinema Farnese Arthouse feels like. Located right in the centre of Rome, on the side of Campo de’ Fiori, it is the perfect example of a classic, timeless cinema.
Cinema Farnese Arthouse is one of the cinemas in Rome showing English movies, offering screenings both in Italian and in V.O.S., so when checking their program it’s important to double-check that you’re choosing the right version. Besides the big international releases, they also show independent and arthouse films, though many of these are in Italian.
Among all the cinemas in Rome, this one probably has my favourite location, since I love the area around Piazza Navona. Nothing beats going to the cinema and then taking a walk here when it’s dark outside.
Cinema Multisala Lux
Last but not least is Cinema Multisala Lux, a cinema located not in the centre, but in the Trieste neighbourhood of Rome. Cinema Lux is one of the four locations of Cinema di Roma, and while all of them have some V.O.S. movie screenings, personally I think Multisala Lux is the best one.
What I really like about this cinema is that it feels very local. The Trieste neighbourhood is one of my favourite areas in Rome, full of small restaurants and cafés that I absolutely love. You can easily combine your movie night with an aperitivo or dinner, and just a couple of minutes from the cinema, there is also a great spot for matcha and bubble tea.
Inside, the cinema is modern, clean and comfortable, with several rooms and a great sound system. While they might not show as many English movies as Cinema Barberini or Nuovo Olimpia, they do have regular V.O.S. screenings, especially for the most popular releases.
If you are staying a little longer in Rome or want to explore a neighbourhood outside the historic centre, I definitely recommend checking out Cinema Multisala Lux for a more authentic Roman experience.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post helped you find the perfect cinema for your Roman adventure! I personally love all the cinemas on this list for different reasons, but most importantly, they all offer movies in English, so you can enjoy a cozy cinema trip while in Rome.
If you have a favourite cinema in Rome, or if you’ve visited one of these, let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
