So, I'm an Iranian-American who's interested in exploring Iranian cinema since it's well-regarded. So far, the only Iranian movies I've seen are Taste of Cherry and Taxi (2015); I thought the former was OK, though it only really shined for me when it got to the old man, as it was kind of boring otherwise. I f****** hated the latter for being extremely boring, to the point I stopped paying attention at points and was on my phone. Given my experiences with those films, I'm not really sure what to check out next.
It was just an accident came out last year and it’s really good.
5
Zassolluto711Apr 2, 2026
+3
Close-Up is one of my favourite movies of all time.
Maybe check out the Oscar nominated film from last year, It Was Just an Accident. It’s great.
3
Desperate_Algae_40Apr 2, 2026
+1
I was gonna comment Close Up (1990), too! That's a great one.
A Hero (2021) was pretty good too.
The Persian Version (2023) wasn't bad either.
1
_Skybloo_Apr 2, 2026
+2
Persepolis (2007)
From Marjane Satrapi
2
Meyou000Apr 2, 2026
+1
This is a French/US produced film set in Iran
1
VusarixApr 2, 2026
+1
Made by an Iranian woman and adapted from her autobiographical graphic novel though, so it's still worth a look
1
mrjasongApr 2, 2026
+3
It Was Just an Accident is a masterpiece, you need to see it
3
ireallyamsomethingApr 2, 2026
+2
Children of Heaven
A Separation/About Elly/The Past/A Hero (pretty much any Asghar Farhadi film)
Ballad of a white cow
2
Traditional-Size3076Apr 2, 2026
+1
Children of heaven, بچہ ھاۓفلق
1
Individual_Bill323Apr 2, 2026
+1
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024) is astonishing.
1
Consistent_Case_5048Apr 2, 2026
+1
The Color of Paradise
1
ChipperYTApr 2, 2026
+1
It's British-Iranian I think, but I cannot recommend Under The Shadow highly enough
1
Meyou000Apr 2, 2026
+1
Borderless (2014)
1
KittyDreeApr 2, 2026
+1
About Elly
1
Legitimate_Artist689Apr 2, 2026
+1
Not actually Iranian movie, but I think you’d be interested in the French movie Persepolis, set in Iran
1
xCherryBossApr 2, 2026
+1
Taste of Cherry – Meditative and philosophical, exploring life and death.
1
jrd_73Apr 2, 2026
+1
You might try Universal Language. It's an odd Canadian movie that takes place in a world where much of Canada is populated by Iranians. I loved it, but it's not fore everyone.
As for Iranian cinema, I really liked the documentary The House Is Black about a leper community and the work of Majid Majidi (Baran, Children of Heaven, Color of Paradise). Majidi's work is a bit more accessible than Abbas Kiarostami's work (Taste of Cherry).
1
hallaburgerApr 2, 2026
+1
check out A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night!! very cool take on a modern vampire tale
21 Comments