His 1961 film Divorce Italian Style earned him a Best Original Screenplay Oscar and a Best Director nomination at the 35th Academy Awards.

During his time in school, Germi supported himself by working as an extra, bit actor, assistant director, and, on occasion, writer.

His early work, this film included, were very much in the Italian neorealist style; many were social dramas that dealt with contemporary issues pertaining to people of Sicilian heritage.

Through the years, Germi shifted away from social drama towards satirical comedies, but retained his loved element of the Sicilian people.

He also won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for The Birds, the Bees and the Italians.