After graduating from Liceo Scientifico, Risi joined the faculty of philosophy, but abandoned his studies after two years.

[1] He began his career as an assistant of his uncle, Nelo Risi, for A Season in Hell (1971) and thereafter for directors such as Duccio Tessari, Steno, Alberto Sordi.

[3] He made his directorial debut in 1977, with the RAI television documentary Appunti su Hollywood.

[3] After three quite successful comedy films, since 1987 Risi's cinema focused into more complex social and political issues, such as the military service seen as a traumatic experience (Soldati - 365 all'alba), the juvenile delinquency in and out of prison (Forever Mary and Boys on the Outside), the crash of Itavia Flight 870 (The Invisible Wall), the gang rape phenomenon (Il branco) and the murder of journalist Giancarlo Siani (Fort Apache Napoli).

[3] In 1989 Risi's Forever Mary won the Special Grand Prize of the Jury at the Montreal World Film Festival.