12 Classic French Movies to Put on Your Must-Watch List
France has impacted world cinema just as much as Hollywood has—proving that their classics are equally worthy of a trip to the cinema.
Watching a range of French movies from different genres and eras not only gives you a glimpse into how French culture has changed throughout the years, but how the cinematic production of films has as well.
Keep reading to discover our favorite picks of 12 classic French films from the 1930s to 2010—from classic black and white to vivid color!
Contents
- 1. “La Règle du Jeu” (“The Rules of the Game”)
- 2. “Le Chomeur de Clochemerle” (“Easiest Profession”)
- 3. “Moderato Cantabile” (“Seven Days and Seven Nights”)
- 4. “Masculin Féminin” (“Male Female”)
- 5. “Les Bidasses en Folie” (“Soldiers Fooling Around”)
- 6. “Au Revoir Les Enfants” (“Goodbye, Children”)
- 7. “La Révolution française” (“The French Revolution”)
- 8. “Le Dîner de cons” (“The Dinner Game”)
- 9. “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain” (“Amélie”)
- 10. “Ils se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants” (“Happily Ever After”)
- 11. “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (“Welcome to the Sticks”)
- 12. “Rien à Déclarer” (“Nothing to Declare”)
- And one more thing...
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. “La Règle du Jeu” (“The Rules of the Game”)
Genre: Drama
Year: 1939
Director: Jean Renoir
Where to watch: Criterion
“La Règle du Jeu” is the crowning achievement of Jean Renoir, son of painter Auguste Renoir and was one of the last French films made before World War II.
It depicts a world of privileged individuals whittling their time away while the world crumbles around them.
2. “Le Chomeur de Clochemerle” (“Easiest Profession”)
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1957
Director: Jean Boyer
Where to watch: YouTube
“Le Chomeur de Clochemerle” (“The Unemployed of Clochemerle”) features actor Fernandel, a legend in French cinema for several decades. In this film, he plays a philosopher who tries to get paid as a “licensed” unemployed person.
There’s a noticeable difference in cinematography between this movie—filmed not long after WWII—and “La Regle du Jeu,” filmed before the war.
3. “Moderato Cantabile” (“Seven Days and Seven Nights”)
Genre: Drama
Year: 1960
Director: Peter Brook
Where to watch: Amazon DVD
The words “Moderato Cantabile” are actually directions from a piece of music, a sonatina, and mean the piece should be played “moderately and singingly” (modéré et chantant). What the movie lacks in fast-paced action, it makes up for with its powerfully simple plot.
Based on the eponymous book by Marguerite Duras, this movie shows a morose wife and mother falling for a dock worker at her husband’s company—each witnessing the same murder.
4. “Masculin Féminin” (“Male Female”)
Genre: Drama
Year: 1966
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Where to watch: Criterion and YouTube
“Masculin Féminin” is probably the film that best illustrates the departure from the ’50s.
Under the direction of quintessential New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard, a group of urban youth takes advantage of the new and exciting youth culture around them.
5. “Les Bidasses en Folie” (“Soldiers Fooling Around”)
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1971
Director: Claude Zidi
Where to watch: YouTube
The popular band made of hilarious comedians, Les Charlots (The Clowns) get into all sorts of trouble when they have to show up for military service in “Les Bidasses en Folie”.
Note that “Charlot” is also the French name for Charlie Chaplin’s character The Little Tramp.
6. “Au Revoir Les Enfants” (“Goodbye, Children”)
Genre: Drama/War
Year: 1987
Director: Louise Malle
Where to watch: Criterion
The occupation was an unfortunate time in French history, but also a time of courage and altruism.
“Au Revoir Les Enfants,” recounts a friendship formed by two students in different circumstances at a Catholic boarding school.
7. “La Révolution française” (“The French Revolution”)
Genre: Drama/War
Year: 1989
Directors: Robert Enrico and Richard T. Heffron
Where to watch: Amazon
Filmed for the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution, this two-part movie does a great job recounting this major historical event.
8. “Le Dîner de cons” (“The Dinner Game”)
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1998
Directors: Francis Veber
Where to watch: Amazon
When a group of elite Parisians decides to see who can bring the most idiotic person to dinner as a competition, the winning “idiot” turns the tables on them.
This is a great French film filled with a load of laughs that will have your sides splitting.
9. “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain” (“Amélie”)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Year: 2002
Directors: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Where to watch: Disney+
Titled just “Amélie” in the English version, but with an original French title that translates to “The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain,” this movie was such a success that it received well-deserved notice worldwide.
Amélie, a young woman living in Montmartre, lives in her own little world. One day, after returning a candy box of childhood mementos to its owner, she sets out to do good deeds for those around her.
10. “Ils se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants” (“Happily Ever After”)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Year: 2004
Directors: Yvan Attal
Where to watch: AppleTV
Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and with a cameo appearance by Johnny Depp, “Ils se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants” (“They Got Married and Had Lots of Children”) traces the life of three, 40-something friends unsatisfied with their lives.
11. “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (“Welcome to the Sticks”)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Year: 2008
Directors: Dany Boon
Where to watch: Disney+ and Amazon
An employee is transferred from the south of France to Nord-Pas-de-Calais where the locals—called Ch’tis—live different lifestyles and speak a noticeably different accent.
12. “Rien à Déclarer” (“Nothing to Declare”)
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2010
Directors: Dany Boon
Where to watch: Amazon
“Rien à Déclarer” is a comedy about two customs workers—one French and one Belgian—who have to work together during the gradual process of EU integration.
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If you get through these classics, you can check out some excellent movies for French learners next.
There’s a whole cinematic world out there for you to discover. Enjoy!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And one more thing...
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