Avati moved into production with Lamberto Bava's horror film "Macabro/Macabre" (1980) and several years later he and Antonio formed another company, Duea Films. For most of the 80s, he concentrated on such enjoyable entertainment as the comedies "Impiegati/Employees" (1984) and "Festa di Laurea/Graduation Party" (1985) and the sports drama "Ultimo Momento/The Last Minute" (1987). Avati did not receive widespread attention in America, though, until he filmed the semi-autobiographical chronicle of his parents' courtship, "Storia di Ragazzi e de Ragazze/The Story of Boys and Girls" (1989).
In the 90s, Avati made his first English-language, American-shot film, "Bix" (1991), an intriguing examination of the meteoric rise and rapid descent into alcoholism, oblivion and death at age 28 of jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke. He followed with work of varying quality including "Magnificat" (1993), a beautifully filmed historical drama about faith and manners that echoed aspects of Pasolini's work. While he had success with "Bix", partly because of his own love of jazz, Avati stumbled with his second English-language film, "The Childhood Friend" (1994), a rambling and improbable tale about a journalist affected by the death of a buddy. The director was back on surer ground with the horror-themed "The Arcane Enchanter" (1996) and 1997's acclaimed "The Best Man", selected as Italy's entry in the annual Oscar sweepstakes. While it failed to secure a spot in the final five chosen by the Academy, the lush film, about a wedding set during the waning days of the 19th Century, won critical kudos.