Cavalleria rusticana is a 1982 Italian film directed by Franco Zeffirelli based on Pietro Mascagni's 1890 opera of the same name.

It stars tenor Plácido Domingo, mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova, and baritone Renato Bruson, all singing their own roles.

Georges Prêtre conducted the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Choir for the movie's soundtrack.

Initially, the Italian television network RAI expressed interest in recording the live opening night double-bill of Franco Zeffirelli's stage productions of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci at the Teatro alla Scala.

Over the course of two days, he filmed both operas on the stage of La Scala without an audience and in segments of ten minutes or less.