Actor James D’Arcy, known as Agent Carter in the MCU and for his roles in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Oppenheimer, made his debut as a feature director with the 2020 dramedy, Made in Italy. Liam Neeson, on a break from a decade as an action hero, was cast as one of the leads alongside his real-life son Micheál Richardson in his first major role. The two play an estranged father and son — both artists, one roguish and aging, one young and determined — who travel to Italy to restore a villa left to them by their late wife/mother, who passed away in a car accident.
Neeson and Richardson Had a Personal Connection to ‘Made in Italy’
D’Arcy has been public about how Made in Italy was inspired by his own mother’s death and was even planning to star in the film, but he had become too old to play the younger lead by the time he finished the screenplay. However, his casting choices were still poignant — the story contains some parallels to Neeson and Micheál’s lives as well, as they lost Liam’s wife / Micheál’s mother, The Parent Trap actress Natasha Richardson, in a skiing accident in 2009.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Neeson described receiving the script for Made in Italy: “It was kind of fate. I just felt like I had to do it. It was fantastic to work with my son.” Richardson seconded his dad’s sentiment and went on to explain to the Observer how the process of filming was an opportunity for him to grieve his mother. “You think, especially for the more loaded scenes, that all this grief is going to come up, and it’s going to be this big cathartic moment, and mainly, the whole filming of it was catharsis,” he said. “It was just the whole experience where I felt her love and that of the story and the crew. That’s where I felt her.”
Between the heartfelt connections that D’Arcy, Neeson, and Richardson have to the subject matter, the emotional story (with bits of humor thrown in), and the picturesque backdrop of the Tuscan countryside, one might assume that Made in Italy was destined to be a success. But that wasn’t the case.
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The Success of ‘Made in Italy’ Was Hindered by COVID-19
Unfortunately, Made in Italy, with its August 2020 release date, was one of many projects affected by the onslaught of COVID-19. With global lockdowns and social distancing rules in place, movie theaters were one of the very first establishments to shut down. Despite how streaming platforms have largely changed the way the public interacts with media (much to Quentin Tarantino’s chagrin), the pandemic still had a drastic effect on the entertainment industry. According to Statista, worldwide box office revenues dropped from $44.5 billion to $16.3 billion from 2019 to 2020. That amount has slowly begun to rise in the years since but has yet to reach pre-COVID numbers as of 2025.
Can ‘Made in Italy’ Be Saved By Streaming?
The pandemic is likely a large factor in why Made in Italy only grossed $2.9 million worldwide despite its estimated $18 million budget. However, like other projects that were negatively affected during this time, Made in Italy has the chance for redemption. Streaming has become an even greater asset for major studios and small, independent productions alike since the pandemic and has been proven to be a second life for many films that drowned in the wake of COVID. In fact, you can find Made in Italy available to view on Prime Video, AppleTV+, and Netflix. Unfortunately, harsh reviews from audiences and critics suggest there might be much more wrong with the film than just its previously limited reach.
‘Made in Italy’ Had Bigger Problems Than Its Release Date
Lionsgate
Much of the criticism around Made in Italy points to James D’Arcy’s script as the movie’s weakest point. Though there is potential for depth in the premise of the film, critics felt that the pacing of the story was off, the dialogue and relationships were one-dimensional, and the juxtaposition of drama and comedy was awkward at best and disorienting at worst. Everything outside the specific relationship between Neeson and Richardson’s characters came off as underdeveloped, such as Valeria Bilello’s Natalia, a restaurant owner and single mother who is supposed to be a love interest for Richardson’s Jack but is mostly there to frolic around in sundresses and be a not-so-subtle catalyst for him to think about his own mother.
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Inexperience Contributed to ‘Made in Italy’ Flopping
While Neeson’s portrayal of Robert was solid, unsurprisingly, his son’s was weak in comparison. At 25 years old, it’s hard for Richardson to pull off a soon-to-be-divorced art gallery owner in his 30s. He probably could have used some pointers from his iconic old man, but Neeson was particular about not getting involved in his performance. Neeson told Parade, “I stayed out of the way. I did not want to direct my son. James is the writer and director, so I left it to him … I think he has a lot of potential as a director.”
Understandably, a first-time director coupled with a new actor aren’t likely to be at the top of their game, but perhaps D’Arcy should have cut his teeth on a different project before attempting to tell such a personal story. And while it lends to the sweetness of the story to have Richardson appear alongside Neeson, he probably wasn’t the best choice to lead, despite his connection to the narrative.
However, while there are plenty of critiques to be made about Made in Italy, and its potential for success was no doubt crippled by the pandemic, it’s still worth seeing if you cap your expectations. It might not be one of the best movies that flopped during COVID, but perhaps the captivating Italian scenery, Liam Neeson’s soulful performance, and the backstory behind the film are enough to entice viewers to stream it on a lazy evening. That might be Made in Italy’s only saving grace.
Release Date
August 7, 2020
Runtime
94 Minutes
Stream
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