10 Iranian Films To Watch This Ramadan, About Elly, Hit The Road, Taxi, and Many More

Hit the Road (2021) is a road comedy-drama directed by Panah Panahi. The film follows a family traveling across the Iranian countryside toward the Turkish border, which at first seems like a chaotic road trip full of humor and music. However, the journey hides a serious mission, to secretly help their eldest son escape the country due to political trouble. Starring Hassan Majuni, Pantea Panahiha, Rayan Sarlak, and Amin Simiar, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021 and received several international awards.

Sun Children (2020) is a powerful drama directed by Majid Majidi. The film follows 12-year-old Ali and his friends, street children who struggle to survive by doing small jobs. When Ali is told about a hidden treasure under a cemetery, the boys enroll in a charity school near the site to search for it. The film highlights serious issues like child labor and poverty, and young actor Rouhollah Zamani won an award at the Venice International Film Festival for his performance. 

A Hero (2021) is an acclaimed Iranian-French drama directed by Asghar Farhadi. The story follows Rahim, played by Amir Jadidi, a man in prison for unpaid debt who becomes a public hero after returning a bag of gold coins—only to face growing doubts and social media scrutiny. The film, also starring Mohsen Tanabandeh and Sahar Goldoost, won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and was widely praised for its gripping moral drama.

There Is No Evil (2020) is an Iranian anthology drama directed by Mohammad Rasoulof that explores the moral dilemmas surrounding the death penalty in Iran. The film tells four separate but connected stories about men who must decide whether to carry out executions as part of their duty or refuse the order. Through these powerful stories, the film questions responsibility, choice, and conscience, and it won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. 

Law of Tehran (2019), originally titled Metri Shesh-o Nim, is a gripping Iranian crime thriller directed by Saeed Roustayi. The film follows determined narcotics officer Payman Maadi as Samad, who is trying to capture powerful drug lord Naser Khakzad, played by Navid Mohammadzadeh. As the investigation unfolds, the story exposes corruption, social struggles, and the harsh reality of Iran’s drug crisis. The film became one of Iran’s highest-grossing non-comedy movies and won major awards at the Fajr Film Festival. 

The Salesman (2016) is a powerful Iranian-French drama directed by Asghar Farhadi. The film follows a married couple in Tehran, played by Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti, whose lives change after Rana is attacked in their new home. As they deal with the trauma, the story explores themes of pride, justice, and revenge, while paralleling the play Death of a Salesman that they are performing. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017.

Taxi (2015) is a unique docufiction film written, directed, and starring Jafar Panahi, who secretly made the movie while under a filmmaking ban in Iran. The story takes place inside a yellow taxi driving through Tehran, where Panahi acts as the driver and records conversations with different passengers. Through these interactions, including debates on social issues and everyday life, the film offers a powerful and realistic look at Iranian society.

A Separation (2011) is an award-winning Iranian drama directed by Asghar Farhadi. The story follows a married couple, Nader and Simin, who disagree about leaving Iran for their daughter’s future while Nader wants to stay and care for his father with Alzheimer’s. When Simin moves out and Nader hires a caretaker, a tragic incident leads to a legal conflict that entangles both families.

About Elly is a gripping psychological drama directed by Asghar Farhadi. The story follows a group of friends from Tehran who take a trip to the Caspian Sea, but their holiday turns tense when Elly, a kindergarten teacher, suddenly disappears. As they search for her, hidden secrets and lies begin to surface, revealing the complexities of truth and honor. The film stars Taraneh Alidoosti, Golshifteh Farahani, and Shahab Hosseini, and earned Farhadi the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival. 

Baran (2001) is a touching Iranian drama directed by Majid Majidi. Set on a construction site in Tehran, the story follows a young worker named Lateef who becomes upset when an Afghan laborer takes his easier job. He later discovers the worker is actually a girl named Baran disguised as a boy to support her family, and he quietly sacrifices a lot to help her. Starring Hossein Abedini and Zahra Bahrami, the film won major awards at the Montreal World Film Festival and the Fajr International Film Festival.