Are you learning the Russian language? A daunting task. Isn’t it? If you enjoy watching films, there’s a fun way to improve your speaking and listening skills!
Whether you are just starting out or at an advanced level, this list of the 15 best movies to learn Russian can help you achieve fluency.
One such advantage of all the language benefits is enjoying movies in the original language as intended.
While Russian isn’t among the most sought-after foreign languages, it offers enough incentives and perks.
From cultural reasons to job opportunities, there are countless compelling reasons to learn Russian.
Yes, there are some helpful language-learning strategies you can use to study Russian.
If you’re a die-hard foreign language learner like me, relaxing with a textbook and a dictionary is an excellent way to fall asleep quickly.
Now, what about movies?
You can spend endless hours watching movies while developing your language skills at night.
Why Learning Russian Through Films Is Great
Movies are an affordable and effortless way to learn a new language.
You become immersed in what you are watching, and that engagement opens up your listening comprehension skills far more than you can imagine.
In return, you start building your thematic vocabulary (or developing a speaking appetite) while holding your attention and entertaining you.
Movies are an indispensable part of contemporary Russian society.
To study the Russian language successfully, you must immerse yourself in the culture. The only natural way to do that is to watch Russian movies.
Russian is a tricky and challenging language to learn.
And watching movies, even with subtitles, will vastly enhance your listening and speaking skills and provide a set of phrases for natural conversations.
Furthermore, it provides the audience with visual context for phrases and words they don’t understand, making it easier to learn new vocabulary as they watch.
15 Best Immersive & Enjoyable Movies to Learn Russian
Russian filmmaking is one of the leading film industries in the world.
While it does not have Hollywood’s popularity, it is a force to be reckoned with for creative, innovative, quality films.
So, grab your popcorn or candy, shut out the world, and get your TV remote.
It is time to improve your Russian learning.
Below are 15 movies to help you learn Russian and beat all the language-learning hacks you relied upon.
1. Moscow Does not Believe In Tears (Москва слезам не верит) — 1980
If you want to learn more about life during the Soviet era, watch this movie to study Russian.
The talkie tells the story of three girlfriends who went through a lot from their teenage years to middle adulthood.
The friends finally found promising careers and love in the Soviet capital, Moscow.
While this is not a typical action or engaging movie, it offers a firsthand view of what life is like in communist Russia.
It discusses the immense pressure on young girls to find and marry the perfect man of their dreams. The vocabulary is outlandish.
2. The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath! (Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром!) — 1976
This movie airs on Russian TV every New Year’s Eve. It tells the story of two people who unknowingly switch apartments after getting drunk one fateful night inside a Russian sauna bath.
The comedy combines romantic escapades with New Year/Christmas winter cheer and Brezhnev’s blandness.
Language learners can expect some seasonal and conversational vocabulary.
It is best for beginners and intermediate Russian learners interested in the TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language).
3. Hipsters (Стиляги) — 2008
Regarded as one of the best Russian high school Musical films, Hipsters delivers catchy songs with snappy dialogue.
It tells the story of a group of individuals who loved American culture in the 1950s during the Soviet era.
While you may lose some of the vocabulary in the beautiful songs, the film is an easy option for learners of all levels to follow.
4. Leviathan (Левиафан) — (R) 2014
Leviathan is one of the most modern Russian films and has gained immense popularity, winning awards.
The film tells the story of an ongoing battle between a politician and a local man.
The cause of disagreement is the acquisition of a tiny piece of land.
The film undoubtedly depicts the corruption menace in Russia and the plight of the ordinary person facing the people in the highest positions of power.
If you’re an advanced learner, this is the movie to see. The film, though, includes a lot of political and legal jargon.
5. The Cranes Are Flying (Летят журавли) — 1957
If you want to have a feel of the Soviet-era lifestyle, this is the film to watch.
Set during WW2, it is one of the few Russian movies to have won the Cannes Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Boris and Veronica and the inglorious war that separated them.
While they drafted Boris into the army to fight alongside Russia, Veronica faced many challenges in Moscow because of the war.
The cinema is an outstanding option for beginners and intermediate-level language learners.
You will gain a lot of vocabulary, verb expressions, and military terminology, even without subtitles.
6. Brother (Брат) — 1997
Here is a great flick with a thrilling storyline about a young, energetic ex-conscript who returned home from the first Chechen war and ended up in a life of crime.
Brother is an action-packed thriller that has gained widespread popularity both within and beyond Russia.
This crime film is better for advanced learners, thanks to its fast-paced dialogue, dialects, and slang.
7. Loveless (Нелюбовь) — (R) 2017
Loveless is an incredible drama that tells the story of two newlywed and divorced parents who temporarily reunite when their 12-year-old son goes missing.
The movie depicts the present state of modern Russian society.
It has a much more powerful vocabulary and complex grammar for language enthusiasts.
You can watch the film with Russian or English subtitles, depending on your proficiency level.
8. Ballad of a Soldier (Баллада о солдате) — 1959
If you love drama, this is one of the best to come out of Russia.
The film is about a soldier returning from the battlefield after a successful campaign in WWII. And only to fall in love while on the way.
The vocabulary in this movie is overwhelmingly easy, making it perfect for learners at all levels of the Russian language.
It also offers some helpful military terminology you can learn throughout the film.
9. Stalingrad (Сталинград) — (R) 2013
Stalingrad’s name should ring a bell if you’re a student of political history and the event that defined WWII. It is also one of my favorite Russian movies.
Stalingrad is a fabulous epic action movie that tells the story of the Battle of Stalingrad.
It was in this city that the Russian army and civilians held out against the German invaders for many months, a decisive factor in the war.
The vocabulary is straightforward throughout the entire film.
No Russian-language students should struggle to pick up words while watching the movie.
10. Solaris (Солярис) — 1972
A 167-minute-long motion picture is a must-watch mystery if you love sci-fi.
This movie follows the emotional, turbulent story of the crew of a space station and the crisis that challenges them.
The film is based on a science fiction novel written in 1961.
The dialogue in this film isn’t that fast. However, some words are highly tricky and suitable only for intermediate and advanced learners.
Beginners will find the lexicon and thesaurus slightly hard to understand.
11. Legend No. 17 (Легенда №17) — 2013
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union team was history’s most exceptional international ice hockey team.
The best players of the time crossed spectacularly: each match and victory cost a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
The Legend No. 17 (Легенда №17), directed by Nikolai Lebedev, is a 2013 Russian biographical sports film based on the well-known ice hockey player Valeri Kharlamov.
It has won several nominations and awards worldwide.
While some plots are a bit clichéd, the film remains charismatic in its introduction of an exciting sport.
The biopic follows the life of legendary player Valeri Kharlamov from his adolescence through the peak of his career to his tragic death.
As one of the most remarkable sportspeople of his time, the picture brings back to life the sports of his time in the most entertaining way.
12. The Postman’s White Nights (Белые ночи почтальона Алексея Тряпицына) — 2014
Russia is a nation that extends across a vast expanse of Northern Asia and Eastern Europe.
The irresistible beauty, mind-blowing landscape, natural splendor, and diversity give unforgettable impressions,
Because of the sheer size, many villages remain cut off from other parts of the country.
A postman is often the only way to connect with these people in remote areas. The movie The Postman’s White Nights narrates the story of one of the postmen, Aleksey Tryapitsyn.
The script tells stories based on real characters. Most of the actors, including Aleksey Tryapitsyn (Lyokha), are not professional actors but villagers.
The film makes a familiar story into an engaging drama for those inspired to learn Russian.
It will surely bring you closer to the real-life characters. Plus, the movie’s vocabulary and expressions are not difficult to understand.
13. Burnt by the Sun (Утомлённые солнцем) — (R) 1994
Nikita Mikhalkov recreated the 1930s era through this historical movie.
The film narrates an intelligent allegory about a retired Russian officer, Sergei Kotov. When Dimitri visits his calm place outside Moscow, he discovers he can’t escape Stalin’s purges.
The story centers upon a single day in Serguei Kotov’s life.
Despite its dark subject, this Russian cinema shows a terrifying picture of those times through an actual storyline.
It portrays each complex character in detail and with love, directed by the renowned Nikita Mikhalkov.
Burnt by the Sun won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1994 and the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.
14. Russian Ark (Русский ковчег) — 2002
Over the last century, the Russian film industry has dominated the international film scene with innovative masterpieces, and The Russian Ark is no exception.
It is a terrific movie that condenses three centuries of Russian history, out of chronological order, into a single, uninterrupted 90-minute take.
The film centered on St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.
The movie, shot in one take, is an experimental historical drama by Alexander Sokurov. This one-of-a-kind flick will take you to Russia’s fascinating and vivid imagination.
Of course, this isn’t for everybody. But this is a must-watch Russian movie if you want to experience an incredible, unique experience.
It provides an essential supplement to your Russian classes on historiography and Slavic culture.
15. The Mirror (Зеркало) — 1975
Andrei Tarkovsky directed several impressive films, and The Mirror (Zerkalo) is the most acclaimed.
It’s a colorful mixture of childhood memories, historical events, and monochrome cinematic of Russia’s history.
The film is about a dying man in his forties who recalls his childhood, mother, war, and personal moments through flashbacks and historical footage.
The story mixes thoughts about Russian history and society.
This movie is an awesomely simple idea, yet hugely complicated. However, if you’re an intermediate-level learner, you can enjoy it with English subtitles.
This is one of the most incredible movies for learning Russian.
Final Thought on Learning Russian with Films
Learning the Russian language doesn’t have to be an arduous task.
You can become a professional in the language you love by watching movies.
With Russian films, the opportunity to get immersed in the language and its culture is endless.
Although there is an abundance of good Russian movies to learn Russian, the films, as mentioned above, can help you with your language studies. You’d better begin today.
If you have questions or suggestions, leave a comment below.