Back to trending
Valentino: The Last Emperor

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Documentary · 2008

Film which travels inside the singular world of one of Italy's most famous fashion designers, Valentino Garavani, documenting the colourful and dramatic closing act of his celebrated career and capturing the end of an era in global fashion. However, at the heart of the film is a love story - the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. Capturing intimate moments in the lives of two of Italy's richest and most famous men, the film lifts the curtain on the final act of a nearly 50-year reign at the top of the glamorous and fiercely competitive world of fashion. (Storyville)

Movie details

Valentino: The Last Emperor

2008 Documentary 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

Film which travels inside the singular world of one of Italy's most famous fashion designers, Valentino Garavani, documenting the colourful and dramatic closing act of his celebrated career and capturing the end of an era in global fashion. However, at the heart of the film is a love story - the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. Capturing intimate moments in the lives of two of Italy's richest and most famous men, the film lifts the curtain on the final act of a nearly 50-year reign at the top of the glamorous and fiercely competitive world of fashion. (Storyville)

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Valentino: The Last Emperor?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

MoviePass, MovieCrash

MoviePass, MovieCrash

Documentary · 2024

Exploring the company founding and the implosion of the business by outside investors who took over the company, left it bankrupt and under investigation.

A Toxic Love Story

A Toxic Love Story

Documentary · 2026

A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.

Gilbert

Gilbert

Documentary · 2017

The life and career of one of comedy's most inimitable modern voices, Mr. Gilbert Gottfried.

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Documentary · 2025

Vulgar, taunting texts blow up the phones of a teen and her boyfriend. Who's sending them — and why? This twisty documentary reveals the shocking answer.

Frida

Frida

Documentary · 2024

An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo. Told through her own words for the very first time — drawn from her diary, revealing letters, essays, and print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

Documentary · 2013

An impressionistic portrait of the iconic actor Harry Dean Stanton comprised of intimate moments, film clips from some of his 250 films and his renditions of American folk songs.

De Palma

De Palma

Documentary · 2016

An intimate conversation between filmmakers, chronicling De Palma’s 55-year career, his life, and his filmmaking process, with revealing anecdotes and, of course, a wealth of film clips.

Pamela, A Love Story

Pamela, A Love Story

Documentary · 2023

In her own words, through personal video and diaries, Pamela Anderson shares the story of her rise to fame, rocky romances and infamous sex tape scandal.

Come See Me in the Good Light

Come See Me in the Good Light

Documentary · 2025

In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.

Making The Witcher

Making The Witcher

Documentary · 2020

Journey into the extraordinary world of "The Witcher" — from casting the roles to Jaskier's catchy song — in this behind-the-scenes look at the series.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Matt Tyrnauer

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani

Self

Valentino

Valentino

Self

G

Giancarlo Giammetti

Self

Doutzen Kroes

Doutzen Kroes

Self

Nati Abascal

Nati Abascal

Self

J

Jeannie Becker

Self

Marisa Berenson

Marisa Berenson

Self

Court is in session

Put Valentino: The Last Emperor on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.