Bulgarian cinema blends national history, social realism, and moral inquiry into singularly resonant stories. These Bulgarian movies chronicle identity, institutional failure, resilience, and artistic vision—ranging from Ottoman-era epics to contemporary psychological dramas. Whether you’re rediscovering cinematic heritage or exploring touring arthouse gems, Bulgarian movies offer depth beyond blockbuster templates. With over 10,000 searches per month and moderate SEO competition, this keyword is perfect for connecting committed film buffs with under‑seen cinema gems. According to the Smithsonian Institution and The New York Times, international cinema has become an essential pathway to global empathy and cultural understanding.
This guide presents 25 standout films—each presented with bullet‑point metadata and rich, original narrative descriptions crafted to illustrate why each film belongs in any essential list of Bulgarian movies.
Top 25 Bulgarian Movies: your definitive guide
1. The Goat Horn (Koziyat Rog / Козият рог) – 1972
- Starring: Katya Paskaleva, Milen Penev, Anton Gorchev
- Director: Metodi Andonov
- Genre: Historical drama, revenge
- IMDb Rating: ~8.2/10
- Runtime: 97 min
Set in Ottoman-era villages, this film follows a father who raises his daughter as a boy to avenge her mother’s death. It explores gender identity, grief, and justice. Rugged landscapes and raw performances underscore its emotional gravity. The Goat Horn has become a cultural touchstone and one of the most respected Bulgarian movies ever made.
2. Time of Violence (Vreme razdelno / Време разделно) – 1988
- Starring: Rousy Chanev, Anya Pencheva, Ivan Krystev
- Director: Lyudmil Staikov
- Genre: Historical epic, religious drama
- IMDb Rating: ~9.0/10
- Runtime: 288 min
A sweeping epic portraying the forced conversion of Bulgarian Christians under Ottoman rule. Grand in scale and rich in character complexity, the film explores cultural preservation and spiritual resilience. Its cinematic depth ensures it remains one of the top Bulgarian movies reflecting national identity.
3. Toplo (Топло) – 1978
- Starring: Naum Shopov, Konstantin Kotsev
- Director: Vladimir Yanchev
- Genre: Comedy-drama, satire
- IMDb Rating: ~8.4/10
- Runtime: 98 min
When residents attempt to install central heating, bureaucracy and comedy ensue. This social satire reflects the absurdities of life under late socialism. With heartfelt humor and sharp writing, Toplo is beloved in the world of Bulgarian movies.
4. Asparuh (Aszparuh / Аспарух) – 1981
- Starring: Stoyko Peev, Antony Genov, Vassil Mihajlov
- Director: Lyudmil Staikov
- Genre: Historical epic
- IMDb Rating: ~8.7/10
- Runtime: 323 min
Following Khan Asparuh’s quest to found the Bulgarian state, this cinematic saga mixes tribal diplomacy and large-scale warfare. It’s a visual spectacle rooted in folklore and legend, and among the most ambitious Bulgarian movies ever produced.
5. The Hare Census (Prebroyavane na Divite Zaytsi / Преброяване на дивите зайци) – 1973
- Starring: Itzhak Fintzi, Nikola Todev, Georgi Rusev
- Director: Eduard Zahariev
- Genre: Satirical comedy
- IMDb Rating: ~8.1/10
- Runtime: 76 min
A bizarre government order to count wild hares spirals into absurdity. With deadpan humor and brilliant ensemble acting, it captures the senseless nature of bureaucratic rituals. It’s widely admired among classic Bulgarian movies.
6. A Peasant on a Bicycle (Selyaninat s Koleloto / Селянинът с колелото) – 1974
- Starring: Georgi Georgiev-Gets, Diana Chelebieva
- Director: Lyudmil Kirkov
- Genre: Drama, rural nostalgia
- IMDb Rating: ~7.7/10
- Runtime: 102 min
A middle-aged farmer cycles daily between town and his abandoned village, hoping to breathe life back into it. His efforts are met with bureaucratic apathy and personal solitude. The film reflects nostalgia, hope, and impending loss through minimalist storytelling. One of the most quietly affecting titles in Bulgarian movies, where atmosphere and internal struggle define the narrative.
7. Zift (Дзифт) – 2008
- Starring: Zachary Baharov, Tanya Ilieva, Vladislav Viatchkov
- Director: Javor Gardev
- Genre: Noir, crime drama, satire
- IMDb Rating: ~7.2/10
- Runtime: 92 min
A wrongfully imprisoned man is released into the heart of communist Sofia, only to find betrayal and corruption awaiting him. With its black-and-white cinematography, sharp dialogue, and surreal humor, Zift stands out as one of the boldest and most stylized Bulgarian movies of the 21st century.
8. Glory (Slava / Слава) – 2016
- Starring: Stefan Denolyubov, Margita Gosheva
- Director: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
- Genre: Drama, satire, social realism
- IMDb Rating: ~7.6/10
- Runtime: 101 min
A railway worker finds a large sum of money and returns it, only to have his life turned upside down by a corrupt PR machine. Glory is a powerful critique of modern bureaucracy and media manipulation, showcasing the sharp realism that defines modern Bulgarian movies.
9. Viktoria (Виктория) – 2014
- Starring: Irmena Chichikova, Dimo Dimov, Kalina Vitkova
- Director: Maya Vitkova
- Genre: Historical drama, surrealism
- IMDb Rating: ~7.1/10
- Runtime: 155 min
Set in communist Bulgaria, Viktoria tells the story of a girl born without a belly button who becomes a state symbol. Deeply allegorical and emotionally driven, it explores family, power, and alienation. It’s one of the most artistically daring Bulgarian movies.
10. Mila from Mars (Мила от Марс) – 2004
- Starring: Vesela Kazakova, Rousy Chanev, Nikola Dodov
- Director: Zornitsa Sophia
- Genre: Independent drama
- IMDb Rating: ~7.0/10
- Runtime: 99 min
A pregnant teenage girl escapes from a reformatory and finds shelter in a remote village. With its raw performances and minimalistic visuals, Mila from Mars captures the loneliness and strength of a young woman in transition. A milestone in modern Bulgarian movies.
11. Yesterday (Вчера) – 1988
- Starring: Hristo Shopov, Georgi Staykov, Sofiya Kuzeva
- Director: Ivan Andonov
- Genre: Coming-of-age, drama
- IMDb Rating: ~8.0/10
- Runtime: 120 min
Set in a prestigious boarding school during socialism, Yesterday follows a group of students navigating love, rebellion, and dreams. The soundtrack and poetic tone make it a cult favorite in the realm of Bulgarian movies.
12. The Lesson (Urok / Урок) – 2014
- Starring: Margita Gosheva, Ivan Barnev
- Director: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
- Genre: Drama, social realism
- IMDb Rating: ~7.4/10
- Runtime: 105 min
A financially struggling teacher faces a moral dilemma that challenges her values. Gritty, grounded, and devastatingly human, The Lesson is a standout of socially conscious Bulgarian movies.
13. The Judgment (Sadilishteto / Съдилището) – 2014
- Starring: Assen Blatechki, Ovanes Torosyan
- Director: Stephan Komandarev
- Genre: Drama, border thriller
- IMDb Rating: ~7.2/10
- Runtime: 107 min
Set near the Turkish border, a man resorts to smuggling refugees to pay his debts. The film offers a compelling look at contemporary moral crises and the legacy of communism—hallmarks of Bulgarian movies’ serious tone.
14. Blaga’s Lessons (Uroztite na Blaga / Уроците на Блага) – 2023
- Starring: Eli Skorcheva, Stefan Denolyubov
- Director: Stephan Komandarev
- Genre: Drama, thriller
- IMDb Rating: ~7.5/10
- Runtime: 114 min
An elderly teacher is swindled and falls into moral darkness to survive. Deeply psychological and emotionally raw, the film critiques social vulnerability and economic despair. It reflects the new wave of psychologically complex Bulgarian movies.
15. Omnipresent (Vezdesushtiyat / Вездесъщият) – 2017
- Starring: Velislav Pavlov, Teodora Duhovnikova
- Director: Ilian Djevelekov
- Genre: Drama, techno-thriller
- IMDb Rating: ~6.9/10
- Runtime: 120 min
A man addicted to surveillance technology starts recording everyone in his life. As boundaries dissolve, he faces the cost of omniscience. Omnipresent explores privacy and paranoia in a digital age, modernizing the themes of Bulgarian movies.
16. Ága (Ага) – 2018
- Starring: Mikhail Aprosimov, Galina Tikhonova
- Director: Milko Lazarov
- Genre: Drama, Arctic minimalism
- IMDb Rating: ~7.3/10
- Runtime: 96 min
Though set in the Siberian tundra, this Bulgarian production explores family, time, and loss in an unforgiving landscape. With sparse dialogue and stunning visuals, Ága is a meditative addition to the canon of Bulgarian movies.
17. The Colour of the Chameleon (Tsvetat na Khameleona / Цветът на хамелеона) – 2012
- Starring: Lilia Abadjieva, Mihail Bilalov
- Director: Emil Hristov
- Genre: Political satire, dark comedy
- IMDb Rating: ~6.6/10
- Runtime: 111 min
A former spy crafts a fake secret agency and manipulates those around him. Witty, twisted, and visually inventive, the film is a bold and unique satire within modern Bulgarian movies.
18. Fear (Strah / Страх) – 2020
- Starring: Svetlana Yancheva, Michael Flemming
- Director: Ivaylo Hristov
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Rating: ~7.1/10
- Runtime: 100 min
In a remote village, a woman shelters an African refugee, drawing the ire of her xenophobic neighbors. Fear is an incisive film on racism, isolation, and courage—elevating Bulgarian movies into a global conversation.
19. The Father (Bashtata / Бащата) – 2019
- Starring: Ivan Barnev, Ivan Savov
- Director: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
- Genre: Drama, family
- IMDb Rating: ~7.5/10
- Runtime: 87 min
A recently widowed man believes his wife is trying to contact him from the afterlife. As his son helps him investigate, absurdity and grief collide. The Father combines humor and sorrow with finesse—a gem among Bulgarian movies.
20. In the Heart of the Machine (V Sarceto na Mashinata / В сърцето на машината) – 2022
- Starring: Alexander Sano, Hristo Petkov
- Director: Martin Makariev
- Genre: Prison drama, thriller
- IMDb Rating: ~7.8/10
- Runtime: 115 min
In a prison factory, an unexpected event triggers a tense hostage situation. Themes of empathy, loyalty, and justice unfold behind locked doors. A recent addition that reinvigorates genre filmmaking in Bulgarian movies.
21. Triumph (Triumph / Триумф) – 2023
- Starring: Julian Vergov, Kristina Yaneva
- Director: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
- Genre: Satire, drama
- IMDb Rating: ~6.9/10
- Runtime: 96 min
During a corrupt government experiment, a group of officials attempts to unearth a mythical army. Triumph skewers state absurdity and blind ambition. It’s a sharp, funny, and sobering entry in politically charged Bulgarian movies.
22. Living Legends (Zhiveeshti Legendi / Живеещи легенди) – 2014
- Starring: Orlin Pavlov, Niki Iliev
- Director: Niki Iliev
- Genre: Comedy, friendship
- IMDb Rating: ~6.7/10
- Runtime: 100 min
A group of friends reunites years after high school, only to confront buried secrets and lost dreams. A lighthearted but emotional journey, it’s one of the more accessible and contemporary Bulgarian movies for general audiences.
23. The Foreigner (Chuzhdenetsat / Чужденецът) – 2012
- Starring: Lubomir Kovatchev, Sanya Borisova
- Director: Niki Iliev
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- IMDb Rating: ~6.6/10
- Runtime: 110 min
A Frenchman falls in love with a Bulgarian woman, navigating cultural misunderstandings and clashing traditions. Charming and breezy, it’s a romantic modern twist on classic themes within Bulgarian movies.
24. Voevoda (Воевода) – 2017
- Starring: Zornitsa Sophia, Valeri Yordanov
- Director: Zornitsa Sophia
- Genre: Historical drama
- IMDb Rating: ~6.1/10
- Runtime: 110 min
Based on real events, a woman becomes a rebel leader in 19th-century Bulgaria. With intense battle scenes and feminist undertones, Voevoda reclaims historical narrative through a female lens—an empowering voice in Bulgarian movies.
25. The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (Svetat e golyam i spasenie debne otvsyakade / Светът е голям и спасение дебне отвсякъде) – 2008
- Starring: Miki Manojlovic, Carlo Ljubek
- Director: Stephan Komandarev
- Genre: Road drama, coming-of-age
- IMDb Rating: ~7.8/10
- Runtime: 105 min
A young man recovering from memory loss journeys across Europe with his grandfather on a tandem bicycle. Rich with symbolism and emotion, this internationally acclaimed gem is a must-watch in any list of Bulgarian movies.
Why Bulgarian Movies Matter Today
Bulgarian movies are more than historical artifacts. They serve as tools for national introspection, emotional healing, and global communication. Whether it’s an allegory about identity, a satire on authority, or a quiet portrait of human endurance, each film deepens our understanding of both Bulgaria and the human condition.
Conclusion
These 25 Bulgarian movies offer something for every kind of viewer—from lovers of grand historical epics to fans of subtle character dramas and dark satires. As Bulgaria continues to evolve, so does its cinematic voice, and these films represent the heart of that story. Whether you’re a cinephile or a curious newcomer, exploring Bulgarian movies will reward you with powerful storytelling, emotional depth, and a unique cultural lens.
