French movies
by joe-642-606880 | created - 07 Jun 2016 | updated - 02 Apr 2023 | PublicGood French movies or popular French movies I intend to watch
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1. Les gamins (2013)
95 min | Comedy
A frustrated young musician finds unexpected kinship with his girlfriend's father.
Director: Anthony Marciano | Stars: Alain Chabat, Max Boublil, Sandrine Kiberlain, Mélanie Bernier
Votes: 3,402
2. Marius (2013)
Not Rated | 93 min | Drama
"Marius" takes place in Marseilles' Old Port, at the La Marine Bar, owned by César and his son Marius. Marius' biggest dream is to embark on one of the boats passing by his dad's bar and to... See full summary »
Director: Daniel Auteuil | Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Raphaël Personnaz, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Victoire Bélézy
Votes: 1,168 | Gross: $0.11M
3. Haute Cuisine (2012)
PG-13 | 95 min | Biography, Comedy
The story of Danièle Delpeuch and how she was appointed as the private chef for François Mitterrand.
Director: Christian Vincent | Stars: Catherine Frot, Arthur Dupont, Jean d'Ormesson, Hippolyte Girardot
Votes: 6,866 | Gross: $0.21M
4. Two Days, One Night (2014)
PG-13 | 95 min | Drama
Liège, Belgium. Sandra is a factory worker who discovers that her workmates have opted for a EUR1,000 bonus in exchange for her dismissal. She has only a weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses in order to keep her job.
Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne | Stars: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée, Baptiste Sornin
Votes: 50,548 | Gross: $1.44M
5. No Limit (2012– )
TV-MA | 52 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A terminally ill French secret service agent is hired by Hydra, a mysterious black ops organization set up by the government, to fight crime by any means necessary and receive experimental treatment in return. Also, his daughter hates him.
Stars: Vincent Elbaz, Anne Girouard, Sarah Brannens, Philippe Hérisson
Votes: 454
6. Orchestra Seats (2006)
PG-13 | 106 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young woman arrives in Paris where she finds a job as a waitress in bar next on Avenue Montaigne that caters to the surrounding theaters and the wealthy inhabitants of the area. She will meet a pianist, a famous actress and a great art collector, and become acquainted with the "luxurious" world her grandmother has told her about since her childhood.
Director: Danièle Thompson | Stars: Cécile de France, Valérie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Claude Brasseur
Votes: 4,440 | Gross: $2.04M
7. Z (1969)
M/PG | 127 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The public murder of a prominent politician and doctor amid a violent demonstration is covered up by military and government officials. A tenacious magistrate is determined not to let them get away with it.
Director: Costa-Gavras | Stars: Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, François Périer
Votes: 31,359 | Gross: $0.08M
8. Il ne faut jurer... de rien! (2005)
101 min | Comedy
Paris, 1830. Valentin loses himself in alcohol, gambling and women. He does not believe in life and especially not in love. His uncle Van Buck believes only in the virtues of money and ... See full summary »
Director: Eric Civanyan | Stars: Mélanie Doutey, Gérard Jugnot, Jean Dujardin, Marie-France Santon
Votes: 651
9. The Players (2012)
R | 109 min | Comedy
A series of short films set around the theme of infidelity.
Directors: Emmanuelle Bercot, Fred Cavayé, Alexandre Courtès, Jean Dujardin, Michel Hazanavicius, Jan Kounen, Éric Lartigau, Gilles Lellouche | Stars: Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Géraldine Nakache, Priscilla de Laforcade
Votes: 8,721 | Gross: $0.01M
10. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009)
R | 119 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The ... See full summary »
Director: Jan Kounen | Stars: Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen, Elena Morozova, Natacha Lindinger
Votes: 7,038 | Gross: $1.72M
11. Le Jour Se Leve (1939)
Not Rated | 93 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
After committing a murder, a man locks himself in his apartment and recollects the events that led him to the killing.
Director: Marcel Carné | Stars: Jean Gabin, Jacqueline Laurent, Arletty, Jules Berry
Votes: 8,275 | Gross: $0.03M
12. Bob the Gambler (1956)
PG | 98 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After losing big, an aging gambler decides to assemble a team to rob a casino.
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville | Stars: Roger Duchesne, Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy, Guy Decomble
Votes: 13,362 | Gross: $0.02M
13. Arsène Lupin (2004)
Not Rated | 125 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
As the daring thief Arsène Lupin (Romain Duris) ransacks the homes of wealthy Parisians, the Police, with a secret weapon in their arsenal, attempt to ferret him out.
Director: Jean-Paul Salomé | Stars: Romain Duris, Kristin Scott Thomas, Pascal Greggory, Eva Green
Votes: 7,455
14. Summer Hours (2008)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama, Family
Two brothers and a sister witness the disappearance of their childhood memories when they must relinquish the family belongings to ensure their deceased mother's succession.
Director: Olivier Assayas | Stars: Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jérémie Renier, Edith Scob
Votes: 8,175 | Gross: $1.64M
15. The Sweet Escape (2015)
Not Rated | 105 min | Comedy, Drama
Michel, a fifty year old man, graphic designer, decides to change the urban lifestyle and go on an adventure. Fascinated by airmail, he dreams at Jean Mermoz when he's on scooter. One day, Michel sees a picture of a kayak.
Director: Bruno Podalydès | Stars: Bruno Podalydès, Sandrine Kiberlain, Agnès Jaoui, Vimala Pons
Votes: 1,670
16. Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)
NC-17 | 180 min | Drama, Romance
Adèle's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire and to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adèle grows, seeks herself, loses herself, and ultimately finds herself through love and loss.
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche | Stars: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing
Votes: 163,109 | Gross: $2.20M
17. Serial Bad Weddings (2014)
97 min | Comedy
A French Catholic couple sees their life get turned upside-down when their four daughters get married to men of different nationalities and religions.
Director: Philippe de Chauveron | Stars: Christian Clavier, Chantal Lauby, Ary Abittan, Medi Sadoun
Votes: 45,455
18. Fragile(s) (2007)
107 min | Drama
Six characters cross paths in Paris and Lisbon.
Director: Martin Valente | Stars: François Berléand, Caroline Cellier, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Marie Gillain
Votes: 184
19. The Purple Taxi (1977)
R | 107 min | Drama
With his mauve taxi, the old philosopher Dr. Seamus Scully (Fred Astaire) runs around the small green roads of the south of Ireland, becoming confident of his patients, while trying to help them find their way.
Director: Yves Boisset | Stars: Charlotte Rampling, Philippe Noiret, Peter Ustinov, Agostina Belli
Votes: 659
20. Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
95 min | Drama, War
During World War II, French commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert.
Director: Denys de La Patellière | Stars: Hardy Krüger, Lino Ventura, Maurice Biraud, Charles Aznavour
Votes: 2,088
21. Qui a tué Cendrillon? (2012)
85 min | Comedy, Crime
Coralie Bonnet, the young star who had triumphed on the screen 3 years ago in the role of Cinderella, died this morning in Burgundy during the shooting of episode 2. She fell from her room ... See full summary »
Director: Laurent Ardoint | Stars: Louise Ardoint, Cédric Ben Abdallah, Renaud Calvet, Arnaud Cosson
Votes: 11
22. Love at First Child (2015)
G | 91 min | Comedy, Romance
Ange Pagani, womanizing architect, is having a normal day until a woman, Gabrielle, arrives at his office accusing his son of being pregnant to her daughter. But Ange has no children!
Director: Anne Giafferi | Stars: Isabelle Carré, Patrick Bruel, Alice de Lencquesaing, Thomas Solivérès
Votes: 1,088
23. Children of Paradise (1945)
Not Rated | 189 min | Drama, Romance
The theatrical life of a beautiful courtesan in 1830s Paris and the four men who love her.
Director: Marcel Carné | Stars: Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir
Votes: 21,173
24. Children of the Century (1999)
135 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A story of doomed passion between two genius writers of the 19th century - novelist George Sand and poet Alfred de Musset.
Director: Diane Kurys | Stars: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Stefano Dionisi, Robin Renucci
Votes: 2,022 | Gross: $0.05M
25. Bonjour Tristesse (1958)
Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Romance
Spoiled Cecile, 17, spends her summer at the French Riviera with her rich, widower, playboy dad and Elsa. Anne, her late mom's friend, visits and brings changes to all.
Director: Otto Preminger | Stars: Jean Seberg, David Niven, Deborah Kerr, Mylène Demongeot
Votes: 5,581
26. Le marquis (2011)
Not Rated | 88 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Thomas Gardesse, a traveling alarm systems salesman, is arrested for a minor offense and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Mistaken for a criminal mastermind, he is sprung by a gang that expects him rob an armored car for them.
Director: Dominique Farrugia | Stars: Franck Dubosc, Richard Berry, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Luisa Ranieri
Votes: 848
27. The 400 Blows (1959)
Not Rated | 99 min | Crime, Drama
A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, Claire Maurier, Guy Decomble
Votes: 128,103
28. Heartbreaker (2010)
Not Rated | 105 min | Comedy, Romance
Alex and his sister run a business designed to break up relationships. They are hired by a rich man to break up the wedding of his daughter. The only problem is that they only have one week to do so.
Director: Pascal Chaumeil | Stars: Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis, Julie Ferrier, François Damiens
Votes: 27,647 | Gross: $0.50M
29. Marseille (2016–2018)
TV-MA | 41 min | Drama
A tale of power, corruption and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city of Marseille.
Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Magimel, Géraldine Pailhas, Stéphane Caillard
Votes: 5,614
30. Le sauvage (1975)
PG | 107 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Martin lives alone on a Caribbean island. On an excursion to the port city, he helps Nelly, who has fled from her groom.
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau | Stars: Yves Montand, Catherine Deneuve, Luigi Vannucchi, Tony Roberts
Votes: 2,137
31. The Minister (2011)
115 min | Drama
Transport Minister Bertrand Saint-Jean is awoken in the middle of the night by his head of staff. A bus has gone off the road into a gully. He has no choice but to go to the scene of the ... See full summary »
Director: Pierre Schoeller | Stars: Olivier Gourmet, Michel Blanc, Zabou Breitman, Laurent Stocker
Votes: 2,910
32. Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008)
R | 113 min | Action, Biography, Crime
The story of the notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine, with the focus on his life before the early 1970s and the events that led to him being declared Public Enemy No. 1 in France.
Director: Jean-François Richet | Stars: Vincent Cassel, Cécile de France, Gérard Depardieu, Gilles Lellouche
Votes: 35,297 | Gross: $0.55M
33. Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (2008)
R | 133 min | Action, Biography, Crime
The story of the notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine, with the focus on his life and death as France's Public Enemy No. 1 in the 1970s.
Director: Jean-François Richet | Stars: Vincent Cassel, Ludivine Sagnier, Mathieu Amalric, Samuel Le Bihan
Votes: 31,246 | Gross: $0.28M
34. Bernie (1996)
87 min | Comedy, Drama
A 30 year old orphan finds his life's official version hard to swallow. His parents couldn't possibly have abandoned him in a trash can as a baby. No, they were victims of a mafia plot and today, if they're still alive, they need his help.
Director: Albert Dupontel | Stars: Claude Perron, Albert Dupontel, Roland Blanche, Hélène Vincent
Votes: 4,038
35. What's in a Name? (2012)
PG | 109 min | Comedy, Drama
Vincent is about to become a father. At a meeting with childhood friends he announces the name for his future son. The scandalous name ignites a discussion which surfaces unpleasant matters from the past of the group.
Directors: Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte | Stars: Patrick Bruel, Valérie Benguigui, Charles Berling, Guillaume de Tonquédec
Votes: 18,318
36. A Very Secret Service (2015–2018)
TV-MA | 26 min | Comedy
Andre Merlaux, a young officer, under the leadership of his three seniors, needs to protect and defend the interests of France and participate in dangerous operations.
Stars: Hugo Becker, Wilfred Benaïche, Christophe Kourotchkine, Karim Barras
Votes: 3,909
37. Braquo (2009–2016)
TV-14 | 52 min | Crime, Thriller
A dark realistic cop series follows a squad of Paris cops who exist in the blurred boundaries at the very edge of the law, often using violence and intimidation to get the job done.
Stars: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Joseph Malerba, Karole Rocher, Nicolas Duvauchelle
Votes: 4,111
38. Chocolat (2016)
119 min | Biography, Drama
The rise and fall of the famous clown Chocolat, the first black circus performer who revolutionised the stagnant circus acts and conquered Paris of the Belle Époque with his exuberance and originality.
Director: Roschdy Zem | Stars: Omar Sy, James Thierrée, Clotilde Hesme, Olivier Gourmet
Votes: 8,232
39. Call My Agent! (2015–2020)
TV-MA | 52 min | Comedy, Drama
French serial about the lives and jobs of people working at a talent agency in Paris.
Stars: Camille Cottin, Thibault de Montalembert, Grégory Montel, Liliane Rovère
Votes: 16,733
40. Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
PG | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, History
Famed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber
Votes: 25,953 | Gross: $15.14M
41. Beau-père (1981)
13+ | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After her mother dies, fourteen-year-old Marion falls in love with her stepfather, Remy.
Director: Bertrand Blier | Stars: Patrick Dewaere, Ariel Besse, Maurice Ronet, Geneviève Mnich
Votes: 3,710
42. The Lovers (1958)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama, Romance
Saddled with a dull husband and a foolish lover, a woman has an affair with a stranger.
Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Jeanne Moreau, Alain Cuny, Jean-Marc Bory, Judith Magre
Votes: 5,923
Referenced in Miles Davis Birth of The Cool
43. Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
Not Rated | 91 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.
Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin
Votes: 28,655 | Gross: $0.11M
Referenced in Miles Davis Documentary Birth of the Cool 16th March 2020 1h27mins into doco.
44. Le choc (1982)
100 min | Action, Crime, Romance
An assassin tries to retire against his bosses' will.
Directors: Robin Davis, Alain Delon | Stars: Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, Philippe Léotard, Etienne Chicot
Votes: 1,062
45. Choice of Arms (1981)
Not Rated | 114 min | Crime, Drama
The powerful story of a reformed underworld kingpin whose stable lifestyle is turned upside-down when a desperate, escaped killer hides out at his rural estate.
Director: Alain Corneau | Stars: Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Michel Galabru
Votes: 2,032
46. Tout feu tout flamme (1982)
PG-13 | 108 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
Victor Valance, an absent father who likes to gamble, returns home in order to take money from his family and gamble with it. His daughter is suspicious of her father's activities and ... See full summary »
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau | Stars: Yves Montand, Isabelle Adjani, Lauren Hutton, Alain Souchon
Votes: 901
47. Police Python 357 (1976)
Not Rated | 126 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
An inspector is having a secret relationship with a woman. When she is murdered by his boss, all proof is against him.
Director: Alain Corneau | Stars: Yves Montand, François Périer, Simone Signoret, Stefania Sandrelli
Votes: 2,076
48. Deadly Games (1989)
Not Rated | 92 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
On Christmas Eve, a resourceful young boy has to defend himself and his grandfather from a killer dressed as Santa Claus.
Director: René Manzor | Stars: Brigitte Fossey, Louis Ducreux, Patrick Floersheim, Alain Lalanne
Votes: 2,784
49. The Innocent (2022)
99 min | Comedy, Crime, Romance
When Abel learns that his mother is about to marry a man in prison, he freaks out. With the help of his best friend, he will do whatever it takes to protect her. But meeting his new stepfather may well offer him a new perspective.
Director: Louis Garrel | Stars: Louis Garrel, Roschdy Zem, Noémie Merlant, Anouk Grinberg
Votes: 3,773
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