Following the war, between 19, the studios of Cinecittà were used as a displaced persons' camp for a period of about two years, following German occupation and Allied bombing that destroyed parts of the studio. The studios were bombed by the Western Allies during the bombing of Rome in World War II. Seven thousand people were involved in the filming of the battle scene from Scipio Africanus, and live elephants were brought in as a part of the re-enactment of the Battle of Zama. Early films such as Scipio Africanus (1937) and The Iron Crown (1941) showcased the technological advancement of the studios. Post-production units and sets were constructed and heavily used initially.

Mussolini himself inaugurated the studios on 21 April 1937.

The purpose was not only for propaganda, but also to support the recovering Italian feature film industry, which had reached its low point in 1931. The studios were founded in 1937 by Benito Mussolini, his son Vittorio, and his head of cinema Luigi Freddi under the slogan ' Il cinema è l'arma più forte' ('Cinema is the most powerful weapon').

Cinema studio romana