12 Movies Like In the Hand of Dante You Must See

Based on the eponymous novel by Nick Tosches, ‘In the Hand of Dante’ is a US-Italian drama film directed by Julian Schnabel that unfolds across two interconnected timelines separated by seven centuries. In the present day, writer Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac), a fictionalized version of the novel’s author, is drawn into a dangerous underworld mission. A mafia boss, Joe Black (John Malkovich), recruits Nick to verify and eventually obtain a handwritten manuscript believed to be The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Accompanied by the unpredictable assassin Louie (Gerard Butler), Nick embarks on a violent journey in pursuit of the priceless manuscript, while facing romantic complications with Giulietta (Gal Gadot).

Running parallel to this story is the life of Dante Alighieri in the 14th century as he searches for inspiration and spiritual understanding while creating his literary masterpiece. As the narratives move between eras, the lives of Nick and Dante become linked through their shared pursuit of love, beauty, and art. As Nick delves deeper into his obsession with Dante, unexpected challenges and connections may change the course of his journey. This list features movies similar to ‘In the Hand of Dante’ that explore obsessive searches, the mystery of the mind, valuable artifacts, and the unpredictable journeys of complex characters.

12. The Monuments Men (2014)

‘The Monuments Men’ follows Frank Stokes (George Clooney), an art historian who becomes concerned by the systematic theft of Europe’s cultural treasures by Nazi forces during the Second World War. After persuading President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the importance of preserving these works, Stokes assembles a team of museum directors, curators, architects, and art experts to locate and recover the stolen masterpieces. Sent into war-torn Europe despite having little military experience, the group divides its efforts across multiple regions in search of priceless artworks before they disappear forever.

As the war nears its conclusion, the mission grows increasingly urgent when the Germans receive orders to destroy the collections and other powers begin pursuing the treasures for themselves, turning the search effort into a race against time. With George Clooney at the creative helm, the war film is based on the non-fiction book ‘The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History’ by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter. While ‘In the Hand of Dante’ deals with pursuing the legacy of the past through the depiction of a relentless hunt for Dante’s work, ‘The Monuments Men’ is about the preservation of legacy and saving the artifacts of history for the future.

11. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

Helmed by John McTiernan, ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is a romantic crime drama film and a remake of the eponymous movie. It centers on Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan), a wealthy businessman whose lifestyle leaves him searching for excitement beyond money and status. Thus, Thomas turns to an unusual habit of stealing priceless works of art. After a valuable painting by Claude Monet disappears, insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) becomes convinced that Thomas is responsible.

Determined to recover the artwork, she begins a relentless pursuit, setting off a cat-and-mouse game. While Catherine attempts to uncover the truth behind the theft, she finds herself drawn to Thomas and his world, creating a complicated relationship between the two. The romantic complexities and the character dynamics in the movie capture the essence of Nick’s journey in ‘In the Hand of Dante.’ The two movies focus on the material and the spiritual in equal measure, while also being fast-paced and unpredictable.

10. The Stendhal Syndrome (1996)

Adapted from Graziella Magherini’s eponymous book, ‘The Stendhal Syndrome’ or ‘La Sindrome di Stendhal’ is the tale of Detective Anna Manni (Asia Argento), a police investigator assigned to Florence to track down a serial rapist and killer. While pursuing the suspect, Anna experiences episodes of Stendhal Syndrome, a condition that overwhelms her when she encounters great works of art. Her vulnerability allows the killer to assault her, turning the investigation into a deeply personal ordeal. As Anna struggles to recover from the trauma, she receives support from psychiatrist Dr. Cavanna (Paolo Bonacelli) and Detective Marco Longhi (Marco Leonardi).

While it starts to look like the killer is inactive and no longer remains a threat, Anna still refuses to believe it, pushing her further into a situation that blurs the line between reality and obsession. The Italian psychological thriller film is penned and brought to life by Dario Argento. The theme of obsession plays a vital role in shaping the fates of the characters in both ‘The Stendhal Syndrome’ and ‘In the Hand of Dante.’ The two movies focus not only on the act of searching, but also on the characters’ insecurities.

9. The Goldfinch (2019)

‘The Goldfinch’ chronicles the life of Theo Decker (Ansel Elgort), a young man whose life is forever shaped by a terrorist bombing at NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art when he is thirteen years old. The tragedy claims the life of his mother, leaving Theo burdened by grief and guilt that continue to define his future. In the aftermath of the attack, Theo is taken in by the Barbour family while his father remains absent. At the same time, he secretly acquires The Goldfinch, a famous painting believed to have been destroyed in the explosion. As the years pass, Theo forms important connections with Pippa Blackwell, another survivor of the tragedy, and antiques dealer James Hobart (Jeffrey Wright).

Theo’s decision to keep the painting hidden continues to influence the course of his life in unexpected ways. With John Crowley behind the lens, the drama film is an adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel of the same name. The movie shares a unique connection with ‘In the Hand of Dante’ through its commentary on the value of art. While not a heist thriller, ‘The Goldfinch’ is a deeper reflection of Theo’s passion for the painting, which is comparable to Nick’s admiration of Dante and his art.

8. The Book of Vision (2020)

Directed by Carlo S. Hintermann, ‘The Book of Vision’ is a psychological drama film that intertwines two stories separated by centuries. It follows Eva (Lotte Verbeek), a gifted young doctor who abruptly steps away from her medical career to pursue the study of the history of medicine at a remote university. As she immerses herself in her research, she begins questioning her own identity. Her journey becomes increasingly linked to the writings of Johan Anmuth (Charles Dance), an 18th-century Prussian physician caught between science and spiritual beliefs.

Through Anmuth’s manuscript, Eva finds herself drawn into a world where past and present seem to overlap. As the stories converge, Anmuth’s life and work begin to influence Eva’s understanding of herself and may determine her future. As in ‘In the Hand of Dante,’ the past and present converge mysteriously through the medium of art in ‘The Book of Vision.’ Aside from the themes, the visual styles and character motivations connect the two movies on a deeper level.

7. La Chimera (2023)

Penned and helmed by Alice Rohrwacher, ‘La Chimera’ (La chimera) marks a creative collaboration between Italy, France, and Switzerland. Set in coastal Italy during the 1980s, the comedy-drama follows Arthur (Josh O’Connor), a British archaeologist recently released from prison. He reunites with a band of grave robbers who make a living by uncovering Etruscan tombs and selling the artifacts they find. Possessing an unusual ability to locate buried sites, Arthur remains consumed by the memory of Beniamina, a lost love.

As he drifts between the world of the living and his obsession with the past, he forms a connection with Italia (Carol Duarte) while spending time at the estate of Flora (Isabella Rossellini). When the gang uncovers an extraordinary ancient statue, the discovery promises fortune but also threatens the fragile bonds holding the group together. A longing for meaning, obsession with ancient artifacts, romantic complexities, unexpected challenges, the art of theft, the atmosphere of doubt, and the redeeming power of passion are some of the commonalities between ‘La chimera’ and ‘In the Hand of Dante.’

6. The Best Offer (2013)

‘The Best Offer’ or ‘La migliore offerta’ unfolds in the world of elite art auctions. It centers on Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush), a brilliant auctioneer whose life revolves around priceless artworks, meticulous routines, and a carefully guarded private existence. His world is disrupted when Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks), an heiress, hires him to evaluate and sell a vast collection inherited from her parents. Despite their professional arrangement, Claire refuses to meet him directly. Intrigued by her unusual behavior, Virgil becomes increasingly invested in her life.

As fascination turns into something more personal, Virgil finds himself drawn into unfamiliar emotional territory where nothing is as simple as it seems. Giuseppe Tornatore serves as the writer and director of this English-language Italian psychological thriller film. The romantic complication and its role in the intertwining of the personal and professional lives of an obsessed character are common to both ‘In the Hand of Dante’ and ‘The Best Offer.’ The sense of unpredictability and eerie atmospherics in the two films also add to the overall narratives.

5. The Red Violin (1998)

With François Girard at the creative helm, ‘The Red Violin’ or ‘Le Violon Rouge’ is an Italian-British anthology drama film that traces the remarkable journey of a mysterious red violin across four centuries and multiple countries. The story begins in 1681 when master violin maker Nicolò Bussotti (Carlo Cecchi) crafts the extraordinary instrument. The violin then passes through the hands of numerous owners, each leaving their mark on its history as it travels across different eras and cultures.

In 1997, the instrument resurfaces at a prestigious auction in Montreal, where expert appraiser Charles Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson) is tasked with authenticating it. As the bidding process unfolds, the violin’s past is gradually revealed through a series of interconnected stories. Just as Dante’s work plays a pivotal role in determining the fates of the characters in ‘In the Hand of Dante,’ the fascinating violin has a similar effect in the world of ‘The Red Violin.’

4. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Adapted from Dan Brown’s eponymous novel, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ begins with the death of the aging curator of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Found alongside the remains is a series of cryptic symbols and clues that appear to point toward a deeper mystery. As authorities investigate, cryptographer Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), the victim’s granddaughter, joins forces with renowned symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) to decipher the clues. Their search leads them into a labyrinth of secret societies and other historical mysteries. As clues hidden in Leonardo da Vinci’s works begin to reveal a larger conspiracy, Sophie and Langdon embark on a race across Europe in pursuit of answers.

Pursued by powerful groups, the pair must unravel a mystery that stretches back centuries and could challenge widely accepted beliefs. Ron Howard steers this mystery thriller film, which, like ‘In the Hand of Dante,’ delves into the cost of secrets, the issue of legacy, and the epic journeys of complex characters whose actions could redefine history in unexpected ways.

3. The Ninth Gate (1999)

‘The Ninth Gate’ deals with Dean Corso (Johnny Depp), a cynical New York rare-book dealer with a reputation for tracking down valuable and hidden texts. His latest assignment comes from occult scholar Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), who hires him to authenticate a mysterious 17th-century book believed to hold the key to summoning the Devil. As Corso travels across Europe comparing rare copies of the book, he becomes entangled in a web of murders, secret societies, and supernatural intrigue. The deeper he delves into the manuscript’s origins, the more dangerous his investigation becomes. He is followed by an enigmatic woman whose motives remain unclear.

With each new clue, Corso moves closer to uncovering the hidden purpose behind his own involvement in the quest. Shaped by the vision of Roman Polanski, the French-Spanish neo-noir horror thriller film is loosely based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel ‘The Club Dumas.’ While the movie captures the spirit of ‘In the Hand of Dante’ through its focus on the efforts of characters to unravel the truth, it also adds a layer of complexity with its exploration of horror and a different visual style.

2. The Name of the Rose (1986)

Crafted under the guidance of Jean-Jacques Annaud, ‘The Name of the Rose’ is set in a remote Benedictine abbey in 1327. Adapted from Umberto Eco’s novel of the same name, the English-language historical mystery film is a creative collaboration between West Germany, France, and Italy. It follows Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) and his young novice, Adso of Melk (Christian Slater), who arrive at the abbey ahead of an important religious gathering. Things take an unexpected turn when William is asked to investigate the suspicious death of a monk.

As he begins examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, additional deaths occur, spreading fear throughout the abbey and convincing many that supernatural forces are present. Relying on his considerable intellect, William searches for answers while confronting resistance from those determined to keep the monastery’s secrets hidden. While ‘In the Hand of Dante’ is primarily a hunt for a manuscript of great historical significance, ‘The Name of the Rose’ unfolds in a religious setting, with the mystery centering on the complexities of faith, history, and secrecy.

1. Inferno (2016)

‘Inferno’ follows symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), who awakens in a Florence hospital with no memory of the events that led him there. Suffering from a head injury and plagued by disturbing visions, Langdon is targeted by unknown individuals shortly after being placed under the care of Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones). As Sienna and Langdon flee across Italy and beyond, Langdon uncovers clues connected to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno and a mysterious object hidden among his own belongings. Their investigation leads them to the work of Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster), a billionaire scientist whose radical views on overpopulation inspire a dangerous plan with potentially catastrophic consequences.

With multiple groups pursuing them and time running out, Langdon and Sienna must piece together a complex trail of symbols, secrets, and historical references before millions of lives are placed at risk. Directed by Ron Howard and loosely based on the eponymous novel by Dan Brown, the action mystery thriller film is a sequel to both ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and ‘Angels & Demons.’ The key thematic and spiritual connection between ‘Inferno’ and ‘In the Hand of Dante’ lies in the works of Dante Alighieri and the ways they shape people’s lives in the modern world. Along with the visual similarities and character dynamics, the stakes of the two films connect them on a deeper level, making them engrossing and unpredictable.