Best French Movies
by jorge_barrio_uribarri | created - 13 Feb 2016 | updated - 3 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The Woman Next Door (1981)
R | 106 min | Drama, Romance
Two ex-lovers wind up living next door to each other with their respective spouses. Forbidden passions ensue.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant, Henri Garcin, Michèle Baumgartner
Votes: 8,824
2. I'm the King of the Castle (1989)
90 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
Thomas is the 12-year-old son of a millionaire who lives in a big mansion surrounded by woods in France. When his mother dies, his father hires a widowed maid to take care of everything ... See full summary »
Director: Régis Wargnier | Stars: Jean Rochefort, Dominique Blanc, Régis Arpin, David Behar
Votes: 626
3. Contempt (1963)
Not Rated | 102 min | Drama, Romance
A French writer's marriage deteriorates while working on Fritz Lang's version of "The Odyssey", as his wife accuses him of using her to court favor with the film's brash American producer.
Director: Jean-Luc Godard | Stars: Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance, Michel Piccoli, Giorgia Moll
Votes: 36,052 | Gross: $0.04M
4. The Big Feast (1973)
NC-17 | 130 min | Comedy, Drama
A group of men go to a villa in the French countryside where they resolve to eat themselves to death.
Director: Marco Ferreri | Stars: Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret, Ugo Tognazzi
Votes: 14,715
5. Army of Shadows (1969)
Not Rated | 145 min | Drama, War
An account of underground resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied France.
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville | Stars: Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret
Votes: 25,865 | Gross: $0.74M
6. Goodbye, Children (1987)
PG | 104 min | Drama, War
A French boarding school run by priests seems to be a haven from World War II until a new student arrives. Occupying the next bed in the dormitory to the top student in his class, the two young boys begin to form a bond.
Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Votes: 36,131 | Gross: $4.54M
7. Skylab (2011)
114 min | Comedy
In July 1979, during the Summer holidays, in a house somewhere in Brittany, a whole family (parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and other relatives) are gathered to celebrate Granny Amandine's ... See full summary »
Director: Julie Delpy | Stars: Bernadette Lafont, Emmanuelle Riva, Eric Elmosnino, Julie Delpy
Votes: 2,112
8. 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: 128,118
9. Le Dîner de Cons (1998)
PG-13 | 80 min | Comedy
A few friends have a weekly fools' dinner, where each brings a fool along. Pierre finds a champion fool for next dinner. Surprise.
Director: Francis Veber | Stars: Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret, Francis Huster, Daniel Prévost
Votes: 44,365 | Gross: $4.07M
10. Two Men in Town (1973)
Not Rated | 100 min | Crime, Drama
A former bank robber is released after 10 years in prison. He gets help from a social-worker, but gets harassed by an old cop from his past.
Director: José Giovanni | Stars: Alain Delon, Jean Gabin, Mimsy Farmer, Victor Lanoux
Votes: 5,041
11. The Hole (1960)
Not Rated | 131 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Distrust and uncertainty arise when four long-term inmates cautiously induct a new prisoner into their elaborate prison-break scheme.
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: André Bervil, Jean Keraudy, Michel Constantin, Philippe Leroy
Votes: 20,389 | Gross: $0.03M
12. Jacquot of Nantes (1991)
PG | 118 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A boy growing up in Nantes during World War II around his father's auto shop has a love for puppet shows and cinema and develops it into his own art. Jacques Demy, the artist at the end of his life, reflects on his childhood influences.
Director: Agnès Varda | Stars: Philippe Maron, Edouard Joubeaud, Laurent Monnier, Brigitte De Villepoix
Votes: 1,999 | Gross: $0.15M
13. Delicatessen (1991)
R | 99 min | Comedy, Crime
Post-apocalyptic surrealist black comedy about the landlord of an apartment building who occasionally prepares a delicacy for his odd tenants.
Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Stars: Marie-Laure Dougnac, Dominique Pinon, Pascal Benezech, Jean-Claude Dreyfus
Votes: 90,079 | Gross: $1.79M
14. My Uncle (1958)
Not Rated | 116 min | Comedy
Monsieur Hulot visits the technology-driven world of his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, but he can't quite fit into the surroundings.
Director: Jacques Tati | Stars: Jacques Tati, Jean-Pierre Zola, Adrienne Servantie, Lucien Frégis
Votes: 24,264
15. Montparnasse 19 (1958)
Not Rated | 108 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
About the last years of the life of the great artist Modigliani. A poor Italian artist suffering from alcoholism and opium addiction falls in love with Jeanne, a girl from a wealthy family whose parents are categorically against it.
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: Gérard Philipe, Lilli Palmer, Anouk Aimée, Lila Kedrova
Votes: 1,678
16. Jean de Florette (1986)
PG | 120 min | Comedy, Drama
A greedy landowner and his backward nephew conspire to block the only water source for an adjoining property in order to bankrupt the owner and force him to sell.
Director: Claude Berri | Stars: Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil, Elisabeth Depardieu
Votes: 27,553 | Gross: $4.94M
17. My Night at Maud's (1969)
GP | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A devout Catholic man's rigid principles are challenged during a one-night stay with Maud, a divorced woman with an outsize personality.
Director: Éric Rohmer | Stars: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Françoise Fabian, Marie-Christine Barrault, Antoine Vitez
Votes: 14,558
18. The Aviator's Wife (1981)
PG | 106 min | Comedy, Romance
A young student is devastated when he finds that his girlfriend is cheating on him. In order to find out why she did it, he decides to spy on her and her lover.
Director: Éric Rohmer | Stars: Philippe Marlaud, Marie Rivière, Anne-Laure Meury, Mathieu Carrière
Votes: 5,180
19. Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966)
G | 132 min | Adventure, Comedy, War
Several ordinary Frenchmen go on an epic voyage through the occupied country to the free zone as they help British pilots avoid German captivity.
Director: Gérard Oury | Stars: Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Claudio Brook, Andréa Parisy
Votes: 20,235
20. I've Loved You So Long (2008)
PG-13 | 117 min | Drama
A woman struggles to interact with her family and find her place in society after spending fifteen years in prison.
Director: Philippe Claudel | Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Grévill
Votes: 20,712 | Gross: $3.17M
21. The Soft Skin (1964)
Not Rated | 113 min | Drama, Romance
Pierre Lachenay is a well-known publisher and lecturer, married with Franca and father of Sabine, around 10. He meets an air hostess, Nicole. They start a love affair, which Pierre is hiding, but he cannot stand staying away from her.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Jean Desailly, Françoise Dorléac, Nelly Benedetti, Daniel Ceccaldi
Votes: 8,424
22. Hell (1994)
Not Rated | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Paul and Nelly have everything to be happy: a dream wedding and a hotel. Until Paul starts to doubt Nelly.
Director: Claude Chabrol | Stars: Emmanuelle Béart, François Cluzet, Nathalie Cardone, André Wilms
Votes: 6,441 | Gross: $0.19M
23. Caché (2005)
R | 117 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A married couple is terrorized by a series of surveillance videotapes left on their front porch.
Director: Michael Haneke | Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou, Annie Girardot
Votes: 85,269 | Gross: $3.63M
24. 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: 18,319
25. Diabolique (1955)
Not Rated | 117 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot | Stars: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel
Votes: 69,424 | Gross: $1.09M
26. Three Colors: Red (1994)
R | 99 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
A model discovers a retired judge is keen on invading people's privacy.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Irène Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Frédérique Feder, Jean-Pierre Lorit
Votes: 110,054 | Gross: $4.04M
27. The Devils (2002)
105 min | Drama
Orphaned 12-year-old twins Joseph and Chloé have been on the run together. Chloé is autistic, non-verbal and fears being touched. Joseph dearly loves her and dreams she will recover if they find their parents and fight the system.
Director: Christophe Ruggia | Stars: Vincent Rottiers, Adèle Haenel, Rochdy Labidi, Jacques Bonnaffé
Votes: 1,361
28. The Phantom of Liberty (1974)
R | 104 min | Comedy
A series of surreal sequences that critique morality and society in a stream of consciousness style.
Director: Luis Buñuel | Stars: Jean-Claude Brialy, Adolfo Celi, Michel Piccoli, Monica Vitti
Votes: 17,194 | Gross: $0.01M
29. The Clockmaker (1974)
105 min | Crime, Drama
A Watchmaker finds out one day that his son has become a murderer. He tries to understand for whom and why.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Jacques Denis, Yves Afonso
Votes: 2,835
30. It All Starts Today (1999)
Not Rated | 117 min | Drama
A teacher from a small, depressed town is trying to do something useful.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Philippe Torreton, Maria Pitarresi, Nadia Kaci, Véronique Ataly
Votes: 2,897 | Gross: $0.01M
31. Germinal (1993)
R | 160 min | Drama, Romance
In mid-nineteenth-century northern France, a coal mining town's workers are exploited by the mine's owner. One day, they decide to go on strike, and the authorities repress them.
Director: Claude Berri | Stars: Renaud, Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Jean Carmet
Votes: 5,748 | Gross: $0.38M
32. Daddy Nostalgia (1990)
PG | 105 min | Drama, Romance
A retired English businessman has just been through heart surgery but it has, apparently, done little to relieve his constant pain or improve his long-term survival prospects.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Jane Birkin, Odette Laure, Emmanuelle Bataille
Votes: 847 | Gross: $1.11M
33. Playtime (1967)
Not Rated | 155 min | Comedy
Monsieur Hulot curiously wanders around a high-tech Paris, paralleling a trip with a group of American tourists. Meanwhile, a nightclub/restaurant prepares its opening night, but it's still under construction.
Director: Jacques Tati | Stars: Jacques Tati, Barbara Dennek, Rita Maiden, France Rumilly
Votes: 25,961
34. 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: 21,174
35. Irreversible (2002)
Not Rated | 97 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in an underpass tunnel.
Director: Gaspar Noé | Stars: Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel, Philippe Nahon
Votes: 147,754 | Gross: $0.75M
36. Three Men and a Cradle (1985)
PG-13 | 106 min | Comedy
Jacques, Pierre, and Michel are three adult friends who enjoy single life until they find themselves stuck with a baby.
Director: Coline Serreau | Stars: Roland Giraud, Michel Boujenah, André Dussollier, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Votes: 3,954 | Gross: $2.05M
37. With a Friend Like Harry... (2000)
R | 117 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Harry knew Michel in high school; they meet again by accident, Harry inserts himself in Michel's life... and things take a sinister turn.
Director: Dominik Moll | Stars: Laurent Lucas, Sergi López, Mathilde Seigner, Sophie Guillemin
Votes: 11,962 | Gross: $3.82M
38. My Son (2006)
79 min | Drama
Tragedy strikes a young boy and his over-protective mother.
Director: Martial Fougeron | Stars: Nathalie Baye, Victor Sévaux, Olivier Gourmet, Marie Kremer
Votes: 835
39. White Mane (1953)
Approved | 40 min | Short, Adventure, Drama
In the Camargue, France, a young boy bonds with a white haired horse that escaped from ranchers.
Director: Albert Lamorisse | Stars: Alain Emery, Laurent Roche, Clan-Clan, Pascal Lamorisse
Votes: 2,320
40. A Prophet (2009)
R | 155 min | Crime, Drama
A delinquent Muslim man struggles to get by in prison until he is taken under the wing of a powerful mob boss. But his gradual rise through the mob's ranks brings him in conflict with his mentor.
Director: Jacques Audiard | Stars: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb
Votes: 102,213 | Gross: $2.08M
41. The Cow and I (1959)
TV-PG | 118 min | Adventure, Comedy, War
In 1942, a French prisoner of war in Germany decides to escape to France using a cow held by a lunge as a decoy. He crosses all Germany in this way.
Director: Henri Verneuil | Stars: Fernandel, Pierre-Louis, Ellen Schwiers, Ingeborg Schöner
Votes: 1,732
42. A Sunday in the Country (1984)
G | 90 min | Drama
An elderly painter whose son visits with his family on the weekends, is also surprised by a visit from his still-single daughter.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Louis Ducreux, Michel Aumont, Sabine Azéma, Geneviève Mnich
Votes: 3,130 | Gross: $2.41M
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