The 15 Best French Romantic Movies (That Aren’t “Amélie”)
France has become synonymous with all things romance.
Fortunately for you, you don’t even need to stray from your couch to experience a little passionate French romance of your own.
Just watch a French flick!
There are tons of French romantic movies to choose from, and each one has its own unique advantages for language learners. I’ve picked some of my favorites to get you started.
Enjoy these 15 fabulously romantic French films that are guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and swoon with every scene!
Contents
- “Joséphine”
- “Paris-Manhattan”
- “Les Émotifs Anonymes” (Romantics Anonymous)
- “La fille sur le pont” (The Girl on the Bridge)
- “Les Parapluies de Cherbourg” (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)
- “La Délicatesse” (Delicacy)
- “Ma première fois” (My First Time)
- “3 Cœurs” (3 Hearts)
- “L’Histoire d’Adèle H.” (The Story of Adele H.)
- “Sur mes lèvres” (Read My Lips)
- “Prête-moi ta main” (I Do)
- “Tout le monde debout” (Rolling to You)
- “Amour”
- “La Vie d’Adèle” (Blue is the Warmest Color)
- “Jeux d’enfants” (Love Me If You Dare)
- Why Learn French with Romantic Movies?
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“Joséphine”
Available on: Apple TV
If you’re looking for a hilarious romantic comedy, then the 2013 hit “Joséphine” is the perfect choice!
Based on the popular comic strip by Pénélope Bagieu, this movie follows the life of Joséphine, played by Marilou Berry, as she invents a rich Brazilian boyfriend to get her family and friends to stop pressuring her to find a husband.
As can be expected, her seemingly harmless lie begins to interfere with everything, including her job and a potential real-life romance.
This film is great for those looking to learn the stress and intonation of humor in French, and if you like it as much as I do, there’s also a great sequel.
“Paris-Manhattan”
Available on: Amazon | Apple TV
Starring Alice Taglioni, “Paris-Manhattan” (2012) follows the story of pharmacist Alice, a woman defeated by love ever since the man she thought was perfect for her fell in love with her sister.
In the end, she turns to Woody Allen’s movies to fill the romantic void in her life and becomes obsessed with the famous director. When she befriends a man named Victor, she’s unable to envision being in a relationship with him until she receives some much-needed advice from Woody Allen himself.
This charming film about love contains a wide range of vocabulary for French learners, covering everything from cinema to medicine to romance.
“Les Émotifs Anonymes” (Romantics Anonymous)
Available on: Amazon
This adorable, quirky film that premiered in 2011 stars Isabelle Carré as Angélique, a woman working in a chocolate factory, and Benoît Poelvoorde as Jean-Réne, her boss.
Both Angélique and Jean-Réne are extremely emotional people, each lacking confidence in certain areas and suffering from anxiety. As they fall in love, Jean-Réne must find a way to get over his fear of women, and Angélique must overcome her timidity in order to be with him.
I recommend this film for beginner learners because both the principal actors speak very clearly and enunciate more than most actors.
“La fille sur le pont” (The Girl on the Bridge)
Available on: Canal+
In lieu of a trailer, you can watch the opening scene of this movie above. Already considered a staple in French films, “La fille sur le pont” was released in 1999 and is a must-see for those looking for an introduction to the wonderful world of French cinema.
The movie, shot in black and white, stars Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil as characters Adèle and Gabor. The film begins as Gabor, a struggling entertainer, finds Adèle about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.
After saving her from a tragic end, Gabor hires her to be the target of his knife-throwing act, and the rest of the film follows their lives and romances while working together as performers.
“La fille sur le pont” is a great option for all levels of learners with its attention to both dramatic dialogue and striking visual scenes.
“Les Parapluies de Cherbourg” (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)
Available on: Amazon | Apple TV
A true French classic, this musical was released in 1964 and stars Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo as 16-year-old Geneviève and her love, Guy.
The two young lovers are separated for several years when Guy must fight in the war in Algeria. During their separation, Geneviève’s mother wants her to marry another man, and as the years pass with little communication between the young couple, the decision to wait for Guy becomes more and more difficult.
This film is a real tear-jerker, so be ready for a truly moving story. The fact that it’s a musical—even the dialogue is sung—can make it slightly more difficult for French learners but will improve your listening skills all the more.
“La Délicatesse” (Delicacy)
Available on: Google Play
Released in 2011, “La Délicatesse” stars the famous Audrey Tautou as Nathalie who’s still mourning the passing of her husband three years earlier.
As she begins a romance with her Swedish colleague Markus, played by François Damiens, she’ll have to face a myriad of emotions that arise from entering a relationship after being widowed.
The dialogue in this moving film is pretty standard, so it’s a good choice for those looking to practice a neutral French accent.
“Ma première fois” (My First Time)
Available on: Orange
“Ma première fois” (2012) is a traditional story of unexpected young love.
The film follows the unlikely love affair between 20-year-old Zachary, played by Martin Cannavo, and 18-year-old Sarah, played by Esther Comar. Zachary is a typical rebellious “bad boy” while Sarah is a devoted good student, but despite these differences, the two share an incredibly passionate romance.
Learners can expect a lot of different vocabulary, including words and phrases having to do with education, love and growing up.
“3 Cœurs” (3 Hearts)
Available on: Apple TV
Released in 2014, “3 Cœurs” is the story of the ultimate love triangle starring Benoît Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Chiara Mastroianni.
After a chance encounter in Valence due to a missed train, the characters Sylvie and Marc instantly fall for one another (despite Sylvie’s marriage) and decide to meet again in Paris.
Through unavoidable events, Marc is prevented from showing up at the rendezvous, and Sylvie moves to the US with her husband. Later, Marc falls in love with the charming Sophie—only to discover that she’s Sylvie’s sister.
Learners will get a glimpse into both Paris and the French provinces, which differ in both landscape and French accent.
“L’Histoire d’Adèle H.” (The Story of Adele H.)
Available on: Apple TV
“L’Histoire d’Adèle H.” is another French classic released in 1975 and starring Isabelle Adjani. The film is based on the real-life diary of Adèle Hugo, the daughter of the famous author Victor Hugo.
The story follows Adèle’s intense love for Lieutenant Pinson, who doesn’t return her affections. This unrequited love turns to obsession and Adèle begins following Pinson and harassing him, leading to her self-destruction.
This tragic story is appropriate for all learners interested in gaining exposure to a wide variety of vocabulary, plus the dialogue is fairly easy to understand.
“Sur mes lèvres” (Read My Lips)
Available on: Canal+
Released in 2001, this film stars Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Devos in a truly unconventional love story.
The movie follows Carla, 35, who’s stuck in a boring job and overlooked by her coworkers in part because she suffers from a loss of hearing and must read lips to understand people.
Things change when she hires Paul, a 25-year-old ex-convict, to be her assistant. The two develop a strange but equally beneficial relationship that includes many unexpected adventures, such as robbing a dangerous nightclub owner.
Appealing to both romance and crime lovers, learners can expect to hear a lot of different vocabulary, including words relating to work, crime and relationships.
“Prête-moi ta main” (I Do)
Available on: Canal+
This delightful romantic comedy from 2006 will captivate you with its charm and humor.
Luis, a successful 43-year-old bachelor, seems to have it all, except for one thing—a wife. His family can’t understand why he’s still single, so Luis concocts a plan to hire his best friend’s sister, Emma, to pose as his fiancée and then jilt him at the altar.
Whether you’re a fan of romantic comedies or simply looking for an entertaining French film that will leave you smiling, “Prête-moi ta main” is a must-watch movie that will introduce learners to vocabulary related to love, family and romantic entanglements.
“Tout le monde debout” (Rolling to You)
Available on: Google Play
“Tout le monde debout” (2018) is a heartwarming and hilarious French romantic movie that challenges societal norms and explores the transformative power of empathy and love.
The film follows Jocelyn, a successful, selfish and misogynistic businessman, who pretends to be paraplegic to seduce his beautiful caregiver. His plan turns sour when he meets his caregiver’s sister, who really uses a wheelchair.
Learners can discover French vocabulary related to the challenges faced by those with disabilities as “Tout le monde debout” tackles societal stereotypes with warmth and wit.
“Amour”
Available on: Apple TV
A poignant, emotionally powerful French drama released in 2012, “Amour” explores the depths of love and the realities of aging. It won Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards.
Viewers follow the lives of Anne and Georges, an elderly couple in their 80s. When Anne’s health rapidly deteriorates after a stroke, their love and commitment are put to the ultimate test.
“Amour” paints a raw and intimate portrait of love in the face of hardship, and viewers will witness passionate, emotional dialogue that explores themes of aging, loss and the profound impact of caregiving.
“La Vie d’Adèle” (Blue is the Warmest Color)
Available on: Amazon
“La Vie d’Adèle” (2013) is a captivating French coming-of-age drama covering the complexities of love, identity and self-discovery. Note that this film is for mature audiences.
Adèle, a young woman in her late teens, embarks on a transformative journey of love and personal awakening when she meets Emma, an enigmatic and confident art student with blue hair.
As their connection deepens, Adèle experiences a passionate and all-consuming love that challenges societal norms and forces her to confront her own desires and insecurities. Viewers can learn French LGBTQ+ terms with this award-winning film.
“Jeux d’enfants” (Love Me If You Dare)
Available on: Orange
“Jeux d’enfants” (literally “Children’s games”) premiered in 2003. This unconventional French romantic comedy explores the extraordinary bond between two childhood friends.
Julien and Sophie have engaged in a series of playful and daring games since they met as children. As they grow older, their games become increasingly elaborate and unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous.
The movie includes more simple dialogue and vocabulary when you see the characters as children, and more complex terms and discussions when they’re older, so this is a great movie to come back to again and again as your French level advances.
Why Learn French with Romantic Movies?
Movies are great for improving your foreign language skills! They can:
- Introduce you to new and diverse vocabulary while having fun
- Help you practice a wide range of language skills, including listening, contextual learning and even speaking if you repeat lines aloud
- Teach you the correct spelling and better your French reading skills if you use French subtitles
- Present new accents and colloquial speech, such as idioms and slang
Of course, for many French learners, there’s always the worry that you won’t understand fast speech or colloquialisms. Have no fear!
The more you expose yourself to authentic French media, the faster you’ll be able to understand everything only in French. For instance, beginners can use subtitles in English rather than French to aid in understanding new words and following the plot.
You can also enlist the support of a language learning program. FluentU, for example, lets you learn French in context with a library of videos made by and for native speakers.
Each clip has English and French subtitles, which you can hover over or click to get definitions of French words, slang and expressions as you watch.
When you watch French movies with the eyes and ears of a language learner, films can become very powerful resources for your studies. Of course, romantic movies have their own unique pluses that can make them extra appealing and engaging to learn from!
Now that you’ve got some new movies in mind, it’s time to grab some popcorn—and maybe some tissues as well—and curl up in front of a steamy French romance!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
