Not sure which French movie to watch next? If you need some inspiration, have a look at the list here below! All of these 22 films are top rated and have received a rating of at least 7.0 on IMDb. There’s a bit of everything on this list – it even includes an animated movie and a documentary – so you’ll be sure to find something to your liking. Happy movie time!
1. Intouchables (2011)
English title: The Intouchables
Driss interviews for a job he doesn’t really want, but to his surprise he ends up getting it. The new job as Philippe’s caregiver is the start of a beautiful friendship. Intouchables is a definite must-see movie – you’ll find yourself both laughing and moved to tears.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
2. 120 battements par minute (2017)
English title: 120 BPM
This movie is about the members of the group ACT UP Paris in the early 1990s. We get to follow them in their fight to get pharmaceutical companies and the government to put in serious efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic. A truly moving story.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
3. La haine (1995)
La haine takes you to the French suburbs, where the three main characters have grown up. We get to see what the three friends are experiencing over a span of 24 hours, the day after a violent riot.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
4. Une belle course (2022)
English title: Driving Madeleine
The time has come for Madeleine to move to a nursing home. In the taxi on her way there she shares her life story with Charles, the driver. They take their time and drive through Paris all day with a few stops on the way. A beautiful story with lovely Paris vibes.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
5. La Môme (2007)
English title: La Vie En Rose
The story of Édith Piaf, the famous French singer. From singing in the streets of Paris when she was young to being discovered and taking on the big stages, her life was full of passion and tragedy.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
6. Le scaphandre et le papillon (2007)
English title: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
After a stroke, Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of the fashion magazine Elle, becomes nearly completely paralyzed. He finds a way to communicate by blinking his left eye, and with this method he writes a book. Le scaphandre et le papillon is a true story, and it won several awards and was nominated for four Oscars.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
7. Ma vie de Courgette (2016)
English title: My Life as a Zucchini
This animated movie tells the story of Icare, a boy who prefers to be called Courgette. When Courgette loses his mother he is taken to an orphanage, and after a tough start there, he eventually starts to find his place.
This movie is perfect for when you’re in the mood for something heart-warming.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
8. Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001)
English title: Amélie
Amélie is working as a waitress in Paris, and in her own imaginative ways, she sets out to spread joy to those around her, and to find true love.
This is probably one of the most well-known French movies and definitely one you should add to your watchlist!
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
9. Hors de prix (2006)
English title: Priceless
Irene is all about living a lavish lifestyle that wealthy men pay for. She thinks she has found her next provider when she meets Jean in a fancy hotel. Jean is, however, not a guest at the hotel – he works there.
Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh are great in their roles as Irene and Jean, so if you are the mood for some comedy, Hors de prix won’t let you down!
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
10. Jeux d’enfants (2003)
English title: Love Me If You Dare
Sophie and Julien’s game start when they are children. The two friends dare each other to do different things, and as they grow older, their game becomes increasingly extreme. A movie you won’t forget about in the first place!
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
11. La belle époque (2019)
Victor, a man in his sixties, is going through a rough patch. When a company offers him the chance to recreate a certain time of his life, he chooses to relive the week he met his wife 40 years ago.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
12. L’auberge espagnole (2002)
English title: The Spanish apartment
Xavier, a French student, moves to Barcelona to learn Spanish. Different cultures and languages meet when he moves into an apartment with six room mates who are all from different countries. And so the adventure begins..! An entertaining story about friendship and love.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
13. Les poupées russes (2005)
English title: Russian Dolls
If you watched L’auberge espagnole, you might wonder what became of the characters. In Les poupées russes we get to see the characters reunite five years after they met in Barcelona.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
14. De rouille et d’os (2012)
English title: Rust and Bone
Alain moves from Belgium to the south of France together with his son. He gets a job as a bouncer in a night club where he meets Stéphanie. Their journey together takes a different turn when Stéphanie, who is a killer whale trainer, has a horrible accident.
This is a beautiful story, and Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts are superb in their roles as Stéphanie and Alain.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
15. Les misérables (2019)
Another movie where we are taken to the French suburbs. In this crime thriller we get to follow several characters in the commune of Montfermeil in Paris. This award-winning movie is based on real-life events.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
16. Le premier jour du reste de ta vie (2008)
English title: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
In this drama we get to see one day in different phases of a family’s life. An entertaining movie with great acting!
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
17. Les petits mouchoirs (2010)
English title: Little White Lies
The drama starts when a group of friends go on vacation and decide to leave one friend behind, who is in the hospital after having survived a serious accident.
If you are into French movies and series, you will recognize many of the cast members in this film, including Marion Cotillard, Benoît Magimel, and François Cluzet.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
18. Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas (2006)
English title: Don’t worry, I’m fine
When Lili comes home from vacation, she finds out that her brother has left home. No one knows where he is, but she is determined to find him.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
19. Être et avoir (2002)
English title: To Be and to Have
This award-winning documentary is about a school in a village in Auvergne. The teacher has 13 students, from ages four to eleven, to teach. Être et avoir is a wonderfully warm film.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
20. Close (2022)
The thirteen-year-old boys Léo and Rémi are best friends. Their friendship is put to the test when they start school, and one day something tragic happens.
Close is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
21. La famille Bélier (2014)
English title: The Bélier family
Sixteen-year-old Paula has a beautiful voice, and her music teacher encourages her to audition for a music college in Paris. She is, however, not sure if she can leave her her deaf parents and brother behind, as well as their family farm.
Louane Emera, the talented French singer Louane, is excellent as Paula.
Watch the trailer on IMDb here.
22. Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (2008)
English title: Welcome to the Sticks
Philippe, a post office administrator, lives with his family in Provence. Due to an incident at work, he is forced to leave his family behind and relocate to the north of France. He is expecting the worst of the small town of Bergues and dreading the cold, so his plan is to go back to the south as soon as possible. An entertaining comedy that is a bit of a classic!