The 50 best films about art

Adapted from Irving Stone’s bestselling novel, The Agony and the Ecstasy explores the fraught relationship between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II over the commission of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison bring artist and patron to life in a battle of wills, revealing the political, personal and spiritual tensions behind one of the Renaissance's defining masterpieces.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

Laura Poitras’ Academy Award-nominated documentary tells an intimate, moving biography of artist and activist Nan Goldin, culminating in her fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid crisis and interrogating their influence on the art world. The documentary includes rare and personal glimpses into Goldin’s life and art and is also a stirring tale of fighting for what you believe in.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Andrei Tarkovsky’s epic unfolds across eight chapters following the 15th-century icon painter Andrei Rublev through the upheavals of medieval Russia. From travelling performers and pagan ceremonies to Tatar raids and the extraordinary casting of a cathedral bell, the film becomes a profound reflection on faith and creativity. Its closing shift to colour reveals Rublev's surviving icons, offering a rare encounter with the artist’s work after more than three hours in black and white.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

Max Minghella stars as Art School Confidential’s protagonist, a freshman at a prestigious art school. Terry Zwigoff’s film follows him as he navigates this new environment, losing his young idealism as he learns what it takes to make it in the art world. Hilarious and instantly relatable to anyone who’s ever attended art school, Art School Confidential is one of the art world’s defining films.

As recommended by Casey Daurio, senior exhibition designer

As an artist himself, Julian Schnabel paints a vibrant portrait of Vincent van Gogh, capturing both the beauty of artistic creation and the suffering that so often accompanies it. With Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaac and Mads Mikkelsen, the cast is nothing short of extraordinary. One could watch this film a hundred times and still be as captivated as on the first viewing.

As recommended by Emily Ormen, content associate

When a long-lost Egon Schiele painting is discovered in the home of a young factory worker, André Masson (a shrewd Parisian auctioneer played by Alex Lutz) recognizes the find of a lifetime. Inspired by the rediscovery of Schiele’s Herbstsonne II — restituted and offered at Christie’s in 2006 — Pascal Bonitzer’s elegant drama follows the painting’s journey from forgotten attic to auction block, exploring provenance, restitution and the uneasy intersection of history, ethics and the art market with wit and quiet sophistication.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

Jeffrey Wright plays artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in Julian Schnabel’s biopic, which tracks Basquiat’s early life, rise to fame and addiction struggles in 1970s and ‘80s New York City. With an A-list cast (David Bowie plays Andy Warhol!) and an exceptional lead performance, Basquiat is well worth any art lover’s time.

As recommended by Casey Daurio, senior exhibition designer

Blurring the line between documentary and fiction, Jack Hazan’s cult classic imagines a turbulent period in the life of David Hockney following a split with his former partner Peter Schlesinger. Depressed and unable to paint, Hockney struggles to find inspiration in the wake of heartbreak. The film is titled after Hockney’s 1967 painting A Bigger Splash and the work is centred within the narrative. Featuring Hockney and members of his circle playing versions of themselves, the film captures the era’s vibrant art scene and considers the life that shaped Hockney’s paintings.

As recommended by William Featherby, auctioneer and junior specialist, Post War and Contemporary Art

Isabelle Adjani delivers an Academy Award-nominated performance as Camille Claudel, the gifted French sculptor whose life and work have too often been viewed through the lens of Auguste Rodin. Bruno Nuytten’s film places Claudel at the heart of her own story, celebrating her extraordinary artistic vision while confronting the tragic circumstances that led to the final three decades of her life in institutional confinement.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

The master painter Caravaggio led a tumultuous, made-for-Hollywood life, which director Derek Jarman dramatized in his 1986 biopic. Caravaggio depicts the artist working in Italy, getting involved in two intense love affairs, and becoming increasingly reckless as his work gains more success. It’s a fascinating real-life tale of one of history’s most interesting artists.

As recommended by Casey Daurio, senior exhibition designer

For this documentary, legendary director Werner Herzog was given rare access to film inside the Chauvet Cave in France, the site of some of the world’s oldest paintings. (Access to the cave is so restricted that the public is not typically allowed to enter.) Herzog combined footage from inside the cave with interviews from scientists and historians, making this film a fascinating look at our world’s oldest artworks.

As recommended by Charles Yesuwan, AVP, digital design manager

After two strangers (an author and an antiques dealer) meet and hit it off, they decide to spend the day together. As the film goes on and the two get to know each other better, however, they — and the audience — realize their relationship may hold a deeper connection. This perplexing, twisty film raises questions about forgery and authenticity that are ever-present in the art world: Can a copy ever carry just as much emotional weight as an original?

As recommended by Lisa Moon, AVP, associate director of copy

Danièle Thompson’s film depicts the real-life friendship between famed painter Paul Cézanne and the novelist Émilie Zola, who met in school and continued their relationship as both pursued their respective forms of art. An engaging movie about both men, the film is also a depiction of the ups and downs inherent in long-term friendships — especially among ambitious, artistic friends.

As recommended by Annabel Matterson, head of research, Impressionist and Modern Art

This documentary is set in a village in China where artists paint stunningly accurate replicas of Western masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh and other notable artists. Through the course of the film, we follow one specific painter as he transitions from making replicas to creating his own art.

As recommended by Marci Imamoglu, AVP, creative design manager

A concise two-hander, this film follows a once-famous artist and the forger secretly hired by his children to finish his masterpiece before he dies. Featuring astounding performances from Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, The Christophers raises questions about the relationship between art and commerce, authorship and more.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Luchino Visconti’s eccentric drama follows a reclusive art professor whose carefully ordered life is disrupted when a chaotic aristocratic family rents a floor of his Roman palazzo in exchange for a painting. The film’s title references a genre of 18th century English portraiture called ‘conversation pieces’, which captured candid domestic scenes. Filled with lavish sets and references to European art history, the film explores desire, isolation and the clash between old and new.

As recommended by Josh Edmonds, executive editor

Peter Greenaway’s period mystery follows an arrogant artist commissioned to produce a series of drawings of an English country estate. The film examines the act of looking itself: As Mr. Neville, the artist, works on his meticulous drawings, he uncovers hidden details of his surroundings and becomes entangled in a web of deception, power and desire. Rich with sly humour (and extravagant costumes and staging), the film raises the question of whether art can ever truly capture reality.

As recommended by Josh Edmonds, executive editor

Charles and Ray Eames were among the most influential creative partnerships of the 20th century. Named for their respective disciplines, with Charles as the architect and Ray as the painter, this documentary was the first film made about the couple and the only one to explore both their artistic collaboration and marriage. Narrated by James Franco, the documentary weaves together archival material, photographs, artefacts, tours of their studio and home and even love letters to create a revealing reflection of the couple’s creative life.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Directed by famed street artist Banksy, this Academy Award-nominated documentary follows Thierry Guetta, who films street artists at work in Los Angeles. It almost feels like a prank, and there has been much speculation in the years since its release about whether it is a genuine documentary or a mockumentary. Either way, it’s worth a watch for insight into the street art scene of an earlier decade.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

This tender documentary follows the acclaimed French director Agnès Varda and artist JR as they travel throughout rural France, meeting with strangers along the way and forming a generation-spanning friendship. Charming and a breezy watch, it’s fascinating to see two forms of art — filmmaking and muralism — in conversation, and the film has become even more poignant since Varda’s death in 2019.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

2006’s Factory Girl follows one of Andy Warhol’s most enigmatic muses, Edie Sedgwick, as played by Sienna Miller. The story begins during the mid-1960s, when the artist discovers the beautiful yet troubled socialite, who becomes a Factory fixture. The movie portrays the rise and fall of the experimental film star as she battles drug addiction, which she succumbs to at just 28 years old.

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

One of the most fascinating documentaries about one of the most fascinating artists. The voices of those who knew Francis Bacon best reveal how he transformed personal anguish into paintings of extraordinary emotional intensity. Anyone curious about the forces that shaped his work will find it an essential watch.

As recommended by Emily Ormen, content associate

This Academy Award-winning biopic depicts the life of Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera. We follow Frida (played by Salma Hayek) from young adulthood to death, exploring queer sexuality in early 20th-century Mexico, her monumental contributions to a political and artistic revolution and her relationship with Rivera.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

William Wyler’s delightful art heist film stars Audrey Hepburn as the daughter of an art forger. When one of her father’s faked sculptures ends up in a prominent art museum by mistake, Hepburn’s character hires a burglar (played by Peter O’Toole) to steal the sculpture back from the museum. Funny and entertaining, it’s a movie that’s guaranteed to put you in a better mood after you watch it.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Made near the height of his career, Hans Namuth’s short film captures Pollock’s unique 'drip' painting method, ultimately cementing him as the embodiment of the ‘Action Art' movement. The film shows Pollock painting on a sheet of glass, documenting his process from beneath the surface in a uniquely immersive style. The footage helped to further transform public perception of Pollock’s work and artistic process and serves as an important landmark in his rise as a major media figure.

As recommended by Jackson Fischbach, image coordinator

Absurd yet tender, unsparing yet salvific, Joy Street’s magic is inseparable from the way it was created. The film illustrates the journey of a woman navigating her struggle with depression and eventual spiritual renewal with the help of an inventive spirit guide: a cartoon mouse. Painted entirely by hand, Pitt travelled to remote rainforest regions of Mexico and Guatemala to paint stills of nearly extinct patches of forest, which were later animated for the film. Finding hope in nature, the innocence of childhood and companionship, Joy Street’s dizzying portrayal of resilience is a story of vitality above all else.

As recommended by Helena Johnson, social media coordinator

Jacques Rivette’s meditative masterpiece centres on an ageing painter coaxed out of retirement to create one final portrait. Over nearly four hours, the film observes the intense relationship between artist and model, seamlessly transmuting the artistic process to the big screen. Now a classic, La Belle Noiseuse, which means ‘The Beautiful Troublemaker’ in English, won the 1991 Grand Prix du Jury at Cannes and remains one of cinema’s most powerful portrayals of artistic obsession, in which the boundaries between art and real life dissolve.

As recommended by Josh Edmonds, executive editor

Lee Miller was a photographer and war correspondent during World War II who recorded some of the most important moments of the war, including the Blitz and the first wartime use of napalm. But before her experience as a war correspondent, she was a model in New York City and struck up a relationship with the legendary Surrealist photographer Man Ray in Paris. Though this film is mostly about her experiences in war, it’s worth watching for an astounding Kate Winslet performance and to learn more about the life of this extraordinary woman.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

For lovers of Surrealism, this 2025 biographical drama on the fascinating life of Leonora Carrington, played by Olivia Vinall, is a must-see. Focusing on the British-born artist and novelist’s years in Paris and Mexico, the movie features a veritable who’s who of Surrealist stars, from André Breton to Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst, with whom Carrington had a passionate, yet turbulent relationship. Ultimately, the film is a tale of self-discovery, where Carrington builds a creatively fulfilling life in Mexico City.

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

Derek Jacobi, Daniel Craig and Tilda Swinton star in this biopic of Francis Bacon. The film focuses on Bacon’s volatile relationship with George Dyer, a thief who became the artist’s lover after an attempted break-in of his apartment. The production is notable for its striking visual style, which mirrors Bacon’s visceral paintings. Eschewing a conventional narrative approach, it immerses viewers in the emotional and psychological turmoil of one of the last century’s most uncompromising artistic voices.

As recommended by Josh Edmonds, executive editor

Speculating on Vincent van Gogh’s final days, Loving Vincent is an artwork in its own right. Each of the film’s 65,000 frames was painted as an oil on canvas in the style of the Dutch master and was made possible by a team of 125 international artists. Initially conceived as a short film in 2008, the historic drama was released as a feature film in 2017, becoming the first fully painted animated feature film. (It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.)

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

For generations of moviegoers, Lust for Life was the definitive screen portrait of Vincent van Gogh. Adapted from Irving Stone’s bestselling novel, the film stars Kirk Douglas in an Academy Award-nominated performance that shaped the popular image of Van Gogh as the archetypal tortured artist, while Anthony Quinn won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Paul Gauguin. Filmed on location across France, Belgium and the Netherlands, where Van Gogh lived and worked, the film brings viewers into the landscapes that inspired many of his greatest paintings.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

In 1970s America, a working-class father (played by Josh O’Connor) devises a plot to steal paintings from the local art museum in his suburban town. After pulling off the heist, he goes on the run. Director Kelly Reichardt’s character study, told alongside the changing political tides in America during the Vietnam War, makes for a compelling story of art and class. (Plus the autumnal colours prominent in the cinematography are works of art in themselves.)

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

A time capsule of early-aughts Hollywood, Mona Lisa Smile stars Julia Roberts alongside Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dominic West and Ginnifer Goodwin. Set at 1950s Wellesley College, Roberts plays a progressive art history professor whose unconventional teaching challenges the expectations placed on her students. Works by Chaïm Soutine, Jackson Pollock and Vincent van Gogh — absent from the school’s conservative syllabus — become catalysts for conversations about ambition, independence and the lives women choose for themselves.

As recommended by John Jannuzzi, SVP, global head of content, creative and social

The Monuments Men is based on the true story of a group of art curators and art historians who attempt to retrieve masterpieces stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, among other stars, the film shares an under-told story with humour, action and heart.

As recommended by Annabel Matterson, head of research, Impressionist and Modern Art

Mike Leigh turned his signature naturalistic, improvisational filming style to a period piece in this movie about the last years in the life of famed British painter J.M.W. Turner. As portrayed by the impeccable Timothy Spall, Turner is eccentric, lively and flawed, making the film a must-watch portrait of a complicated artist.

As recommended by Annabel Matterson, head of research, Impressionist and Modern Art

A French avant-garde documentary, The Mystery of Picasso follows the artist as he creates 20 works in real time. The camera captures this act of creation from behind the easel, at first chronicling quick ink drawings which bleed through the paper and then more involved oil paintings. Henri-Georges Clouzot uses stop-motion to depict the works as they're created, crafting a unique view of a master artist at work.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

When Jake, a commodities broker, finds himself unable to pay the bills, he turns to his lover to suggest she sell her beloved Henry Moore statue for profit. In a moment of acute embarrassment, the high-society couple decides to fake the theft of the statue in return for a large sum of insurance money. However, where the wealthy protagonists view the Moore work as a commodity, their chambermaid, Jenny, is deeply moved by its beauty and steals it before they can carry out their plan. The comedy explores how wealth and superficiality can corrode one’s relationship with art, and how these oversights can inspire a humorous journey of self-discovery.

As recommended by William Featherby, auctioneer and junior specialist, Post War and Contemporary Art

The second movie in the beloved Ocean’s trilogy, Ocean’s Twelve follows the titular heist crew (led by George Clooney’s Daniel Ocean) as they attempt to steal an important Fabergé egg. The egg depicted in the film was based on the real Imperial Coronation Fabergé egg, made in 1896 and now worth tens of millions. (An identical replica was created for the film by luxury maker Vivian Alexander.) The crew steals the egg during a remarkable train heist sequence that makes the movie essential viewing no matter the viewer’s interest in art.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

‘My feminist statement is surviving,' said Pat Steir, the late pioneer of Conceptual Abstraction, in her eponymous 2020 documentary. Filmed largely in the artist’s Greenwich Village townhouse and Chelsea studio, this documentary offers an intimate glimpse into Steir’s life and career. Watching Steir, 80 at the time of the film’s release, create her signature ‘Waterfall' paintings is as mesmerising as it is inspiring.

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

This documentary from director Lisa Immordino Vreeland traces the extraordinary life of art world legend Peggy Guggenheim, whose patronage propelled many of the defining artists of the postwar era. Drawing on archival footage, personal interviews and Guggenheim’s own reflections, the film explores her relationships with artists including Jackson Pollock and Max Ernst, while revealing the personal sacrifices behind her enduring cultural legacy. It is a fascinating and honest portrait of a woman who transformed the cultural landscape on her own terms.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Few artist biopics capture the act of painting as convincingly as Pollock. The film follows Jackson Pollock’s rise from struggling artist to the leading figure of Abstract Expressionism, alongside his relationship with fellow artist Lee Krasner. Ed Harris, who also directed and co-produced the film, spent years studying Pollock’s technique, bringing remarkable authenticity to the artist’s revolutionary process. And Marcia Gay Harden’s Academy Award-winning performance as Krasner restores one of the era’s most important artists to the centre of the story.

As recommended by Candace Wetmore, editorial writer

This gorgeous film from Céline Sciamma chronicles the relationship between a wealthy woman and the painter hired to paint her wedding portrait. Full of longing, beauty and seeing, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a work of art in itself thanks to Sciamma’s eye for composing shots. This film will stick with you long after watching.

As recommended by Lisa Moon, AVP, associate director of copy

This new documentary from Tyler Oliver details the lives and legacy of art-collecting couple John and Kimiko Powers, who had a pivotal role in the growth of the Pop Art movement in the 1960s. Featuring conversations with Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg and more, The Powers: A Life in Art is a fascinating look at Pop Art up close — and a loving tribute to the Powers, who amassed one of the most impressive collections of Pop Art in the world.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

For nearly half a century, Marilyn Minter has been provoking the art world with her subversive and entrancing œuvre. In this 2025 documentary, delve deeper into her trailblazing practice, as she chronicles her history of being a ‘pro-sex feminist,’ once considered a ‘traitor’ to feminism. While there’s no shortage of cheeky quips from Minter, what comes through clearly is the artist’s resilience and unapologetic commitment to her vibrant vision.

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

How is value assigned to an object? This 2018 documentary examines the forces that drive the art market from a multitude of perspectives, whether it’s gallerists and auction specialists or artists and collectors. Among the impressive roster of interviewees are artists Jeff Koons, Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Gerhard Richter, as well as collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson and art critic Jerry Saltz.

As recommended by Stephanie Sporn, editorial writer

Kelly Reichardt’s Showing Up is one of the best movies ever made about what it means to actually try to live and work as an artist. The movie follows Lizzy (a sculptor, played by Michelle Williams) as she tries her best to create art despite the daily dramas of her friends, her landlords and her colleagues. In a world where being creative often gets overtaken by the realities of navigating modern life and the ever-present need to make money, Showing Up is a darkly funny, relatable movie for anyone who dreams of creating.

As recommended by Helen Murphy, managing editor

Set inside a prestigious contemporary art museum in Stockholm, Ruben Östlund's Palme d’Or-winning satire follows Christian (Claes Bang), a curator whose carefully cultivated public image begins to unravel. As his museum’s latest installation, The Square — a work promoting trust and altruism — spirals into controversy, the film punctures the art world’s pretensions with deadpan humour and excruciating precision in a comedy that is as uncomfortable as it is darkly comic.

As recommended by Rachel Ng, specialist, 20th Century Evening Sale

Though not the original film version of the story, the 1999 adaptation of The Thomas Crown Affair added an art element to the classic heist story first told in the 1968 film. Starring Pierce Brosnan and an electric Rene Russo, the romantic comedy/art heist film combines the best of both genres to create an endlessly entertaining thriller that ends with a spectacular set piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As recommended by Marci Imamoglu, AVP, creative design manager

This blockbuster film starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds tells the true story of a landmark restitution case involving one of Gustav Klimt’s masterpieces. Sixty years after fleeing Nazi occupation in Vienna, Maria Altmann enters a protracted legal battle to reclaim possession of a painting stolen from her family during the Holocaust. The film memorialises a poignant and fascinating story and raises important questions around ownership, provenance and art’s role as both public symbol and personal artefact.

As recommended by John Jannuzzi, SVP, global head of content, creative and social