So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to go on a hunt to find some art movies worth watching. And let me tell you something: I don’t watch a lot of movies. It’s not that I don’t like movies; it’s just that I don’t like to start things and not finish them. Movies are such a time commitment for me; I always feel like I have better things to do while watching a movie. Or when I start a movie before bed, I end up falling asleep and never finding the time to finish it again. And very often, I start watching movies and end up not liking them as much. So with me being such a picky cinephile, I thought it would be fun to judge art movies and pick an absolute favorite.

If you are not a movie person and would rather read books, check out these articles:

The Artist’s Bookshelf: Practical Art Books To Help You Improve

Books that changed my life as an Artist

The list of art movies I ended up watching through this marathon:

  • Loving Vincent (2017)
  • Renoir (2012)
  • Frida (2002)
  • Caravaggio (1986)
  • Moulin Rouge (2001)
  • Girl with a pearl earring (2003)
  • The Da Vinci Code (2006)

I will tell you in the upcoming parts if these art movies are worth watching or not.

1. Loving Vincent (2017)

This is a hand-painted animation that was highly recommended and heavily talked about. I personally think that Loving Vincent is an art movie worth watching because it’s a genius work in terms of technique. I was honestly mesmerized by the fact that the team was able to hand-paint each and every scene in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. However, the storyline, if you ask me, wasn’t really wowing to me. I feel like it could’ve been so much better if it was done in a different context (let me not spoil the movie for you).

One additional thing is that I couldn’t find the movie on Netflix, so I used an alternative to watch it, I don’t know if it was because of the quality of the image, but the movement of the animation was really stressful to my eye. Overall, I would say Loving Vincent was a 7/10.

2. Renoir (2012)

I started watching this film with little to no expectations, and I would say it was surprisingly good. The story was great. The movie didn’t only focus on Renoir’s story; it also put his model and his son’s (who later became a world-renowned Hollywood film director) stories in perspective. What I appreciated the most about the movie was the aesthetic and the color palette. Absolutely soothing and warm. However, the movie has some scenes, including nudity, in case you mind that. Overall, an 8/10. It’s definitely an art movie worth watching.

3. Frida (2002)

Amazing storyline. The movie Frida just delivered. It was really what you would expect from an art movie. Zoom into the personal life of the female Mexican artist Frida as well as her career, her inspirations, and her mental and physical state that really affected her works and the nature of the subjects she focused on in her paintings. I loved everything about this movie, including the authentic Mexican touch on the decor, the fashion, and the persona of the artist and her lifestyle. A 9.5/10. I highly recommend you watch it, as it was super inspirational and emotional.

4. Caravaggio (1986)

It has to be one of my least favorites because I didn’t like the chaotic nature of the movie. It was a bit too abstract, and it lacked context to some extent. I feel like it’s one of those movies that you either love or hate. To me, it wasn’t really an art movie worth watching. I’d rate it a 5/10. Caravaggio was one of the most remarkable artists in the history of Italian art, and the movie didn’t do his career quite right, in my opinion.

5. Moulin Rouge (2001)

I really don’t know where to stand with this movie. It’s a musical that bases its events on a true story (it’s not all a real story) where an English writer travels to Paris to join the Bohemian Revolution and ends up falling in love with the main star performer and courtesan of the famous nightclub Moulin Rouge. I do not mind the story; it is entertaining, and the overall aesthetic is nice as well, but the drama element in this movie is a bit too much for what I like. Also, this movie is promoted as an art movie, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider it one. Overall, a 6/10 for me.

6. Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

9.9/10! It would’ve been a 10 if it was longer. I just did not want this movie to end. The feeling of wanting to know more killed me. Knowing more about the journey of Griet with art and about the relationship between Johannes and his wife. I just wanted to know more about everything lol. I loved the storyline, the aesthetic, the look into history, and the overall story of one of my all-time favorite artworks. If there’s one art movie really worth watching. It’s this one.

7. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

We love the Da Vinci code. I feel like it was everyone’s favorite art movie at the time. The storyline, plot twists, the excitement, the art analysis here and there, the mystery, and everything about this art movie is just so spot-on. I enjoy watching it over and over again and I can not wait to go see The Last Judgement in person (It’s in Milan, Italy in case you’re wondering) and visit the Louvre Museum (Paris, France) and all that jazz. A 9.7/10. Well worth watching and great for family movie nights as it contains no nudity and no explicit content whatsoever.

Conclusion

Okay let’s make a list with my ratings so you can choose where to start:

  • Number one on my list of art movies worth watching will have to be Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) with a 10/10 rating
  • Number two is The Da Vinci Code (2006) with a 9.7/10
  • Number 3 is Frida (2002) with a 9.5/10
  • Renoir (2012) with an 8/10
  • Loving Vincent (2017) with a 7/10
  • Moulin Rouge (2001) with a 6
  • and lastly, Caravaggio (1986) with a 5/10

Overall, they were almost all worth watching for me, except Caravaggio. This list is not final, as I am determined to watch as many art movies as possible, so you don’t have to.

Enjoy creating <3