24 Classic French Movies for Learners

It's widely recognized that watching French films is an enjoyable method for getting listening practice from the comfort of your home. Ranging from celebrated black-and-white masterpieces to more modern films, French cinema also delivers cultural context and engaging narratives.

Here is my list of 24 essential French films, covering a range of genres and historical periods, that every cinema enthusiast should see. We'll also look at where you can stream these classics online.

1. “La Règle du Jeu” (“The Rules of the Game”)

Where to watch: Criterion

Genre: Drama

Year: 1939

Director: Jean Renoir

“La Règle du Jeu” is considered the masterwork of Jean Renoir, the son of painter Auguste Renoir, and stood as one of the final French movies produced before the outbreak of World War II.

It portrays a society of affluent people passing their time idly while their world falls apart around them.

2. “Le Chomeur de Clochemerle” (“Easiest Profession”)

Where to watch: Amazon DVD

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1957

Director: Jean Boyer

“Le Chomeur de Clochemerle” (“The Unemployed of Clochemerle”) stars Fernandel, an iconic figure in French film for many years. Here, he portrays a thinker who attempts to receive payment as an officially "licensed" unemployed individual.

You can observe a distinct variation in film style between this movie—shot not long after WWII—and “La Regle du Jeu,” which was filmed before the war.

3. “Moderato Cantabile” (“Seven Days and Seven Nights”)

Where to watch: Amazon DVD

Genre: Drama

Year: 1960

Director: Peter Brook

The phrase “Moderato Cantabile” is actually a musical instruction from a sonatina, indicating the piece should be performed “at a moderate tempo and in a singing style” (modéré et chantant). While the film may not be fast-paced, it compensates with a compellingly straightforward storyline.

Adapted from the book of the same name by Marguerite Duras, this film follows a gloomy wife and mother who develops feelings for a laborer at her husband's firm—after both witness the same crime.

4. “Masculin Féminin” (“Male Female”)

Where to watch: Criterion and Amazon

Genre: Drama

Year: 1966

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

“Masculin Féminin” is likely the movie that most clearly represents the shift away from the style of the 1950s.

Guided by the essential New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard, a set of young city dwellers immerses itself in the new and vibrant youth culture surrounding them.

5. “Les Bidasses en Folie” (“Soldiers Fooling Around”)

Where to watch: YouTube

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1971

Director: Claude Zidi

The famous comedy music group, Les Charlots (The Clowns), find themselves in all kinds of mischief when they are required to report for military duty in “Les Bidasses en Folie”.

It's worth noting that “Charlot” is also what the French call Charlie Chaplin's character The Little Tramp.

6. “Au Revoir Les Enfants” (“Goodbye, Children”)

Where to watch: Criterion

Genre: Drama/War

Year: 1987

Director: Louise Malle

The occupation was a difficult chapter in French history, yet it was also a time marked by bravery and selflessness.

“Au Revoir Les Enfants,” tells the story of a friendship that develops between two students from different backgrounds at a Catholic boarding school.

7. “La Révolution française” (“The French Revolution”)

Where to watch: Amazon

Genre: Drama/War

Year: 1989

Directors: Robert Enrico and Richard T. Heffron

Produced for the bicentennial of the French Revolution, this two-part film effectively narrates this pivotal historical episode.

8. “Le Dîner de cons” (“The Dinner Game”)

Where to watch: Amazon

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1998

Directors: Francis Veber

A group of sophisticated Parisians starts a contest to see who can bring the most foolish guest to a dinner party, but the victorious "simpleton" ends up outsmarting them.

This is an excellent French comedy packed with humor that will have you laughing uncontrollably.

9. “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain” (“Amélie”)

Where to watch: Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Year: 2002

Directors: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Known simply as “Amélie” in English, though its original French title means “The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain,” this film was so successful that it earned well-deserved international acclaim.

Amélie, a young woman residing in Montmartre, lives largely in her own imagination. One day, after finding and returning a box of childhood treasures to its owner, she decides to perform good deeds for the people in her life.

Here’s a short language lesson from our YouTube channel to give you a sense of the kind of language you'll learn from the film:

10. “Ils se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants” (“Happily Ever After”)

Where to watch: Apple TV

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Year: 2004

Directors: Yvan Attal

Featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg and with a brief appearance by Johnny Depp, “Ils se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants” (“They Got Married and Had Lots of Children”) follows the lives of three friends in their forties who are discontented with their situations.

11. “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (“Welcome to the Sticks”)

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Year: 2008

Directors: Dany Boon

A postal worker is relocated from southern France to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, where the residents—known as Ch’tis—have distinct ways of living and speak with a noticeably different accent.

12. “Rien à Déclarer” (“Nothing to Declare”)

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Genre: Comedy

Year: 2010

Directors: Dany Boon

“Rien à Déclare” is a humorous story about two border control officers—one French and one Belgian—who are forced to collaborate during the gradual integration of the European Union.

13. “Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie” (“The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie”)

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime and iTunes

Genre: Comedy, drama

Year: 1972

Director: Luis Buñuel

A circle of upper-middle class friends attempts to have dinner together, but this proves to be a challenging endeavor (for a variety of strange reasons). If you are new to surrealist cinema, this movie serves as a perfect introduction to its absurdity.

This film is an excellent option if you want a good laugh, a taste of (satirical) bourgeois life in France, and a historical treasure, all combined into one 90-minute work of art.

14. “Amour” (“Love”)

Where to watch it: Amazon and iTunes

Genre: Romantic drama

Year: 2012

Director: Michael Haneke

“ Amour” is a somewhat unconventional love story focusing on an elderly couple. When the wife has a stroke, it sets off a chain of events that will deeply tug at your emotions.

If you don't mind the tears you will likely shed, this film is beautifully cinematographed, powerfully performed, and maintains an unusual sense of suspense as its tension unfolds.

15. “Le gamin au vélo” (“The Kid with a Bike”)

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime

Genre: Drama

Year: 2011

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne

This film tells the story of a young boy whose father abandons the family. He finds solace in a local woman who essentially becomes his guardian.

The movie is a touching, yet sorrowful, reflection on childhood, violence, and maturing too quickly. The Dardenne brothers, the filmmakers behind this project, are renowned for their naturalistic approach—and are a great option if you wish to explore some Franco-Belgian cinema!

16. “Populaire” (“Popular”)

Where to watch it: Amazon and iTunes

Genre: Comedy, drama

Year: 2012

Director: Régis Roinsard

Released in 2012, it's a romantic comedy set in the late 1950s. The main character, a secretary, is motivated by her employer (who also becomes her love interest) to compete in speed-typing competitions.

Swoon (over the charming lead actors) and laugh (at the amusing concept of speed-typing) all set within a 1950s backdrop. It showcases the kind of flirtatious French that will remind you why you started learning the language.

17. “Les amants du Pont-Neuf” (“The Lovers on the Bridge”)

Where to watch it: YouTube

Genre: Romance

Year: 1991

Director: Leos Carax

The film opens with some rather bleak scenes, drawing attention to the homeless community in Paris. The main character is one of them, and is arguably experiencing one of his worst nights.

Then Michèle appears, who is suffering the tragedy of being a painter losing her eyesight. They become emotionally involved while illegally residing on the Pont-Neuf (the oldest standing bridge in Paris) during its restoration.

18. “Belle de Jour” (“Morning glory”)

Where to watch it: Amazon

Genre: Psychological drama

Year: 1967

Director: Luis Buñuel

Five years prior to “Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie,” Luis Buñuel collaborated with the stunning Catherine Deneuve for this story of a woman who casually experiments with prostitution.

Another surrealist piece by Buñuel, though perhaps more somber, this film offers plenty of striking imagery to observe as you train your listening skills.

19. “La Haine” (“Hatred”)

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime

Genre: Social thriller

Year: 1995

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz

Set in an impoverished Parisian suburb, three friends are drawn into a sequence of events after one of them acquires a gun.

All the action occurs within a single day, which amplifies the film's tension. The movie is full of everyday French language—and it will provide you with plenty of slang.

So whether you watch it for the trendy language or for Vincent Cassel's flawless acting, this one comes highly recommended.

20. “La Belle et le bête” (“The beauty and the beast”)

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime

Genre: Romantic fantasy

Year: 1946

Director: Jean Cocteau

You are likely familiar with Disney's rendition of “Beauty and the Beast.”

This is a live-action version of the classic story, with a somewhat darker tone and conclusion (Oh, the French!).

The main appeal of this film is its visual style. The costumes and sets are magnificent, surreal, and truly breathtaking. The film can also act as an introduction to the novels (including “Les Enfants Terribles”) and artwork of the film's director, Jean Cocteau.

21. “Alphaville”

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime

Genre: Science fiction

Year: 1965

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

This era of 1960s French cinema is defined by a naturalistic approach, abrupt editing, filming on location, and natural sound. It also inspired numerous directors in the years that followed.

For both experienced film scholars or French learners searching for something different, “Alphaville” offers all the science fiction, Anna Karina, and Jean-Luc Godard one could want. It's witty, enigmatic, and timeless.

22. “Le Passé” (“The Past”)

Where to watch it: iTunes and Filmdoo

Genre: Drama

Year: 2013

Director: Asghar Farhadi

If you've seen “The Artist” (arguably the least suitable French film for learning French—since it's silent), then you might know Bérénice Bejo.

“The Past” is an award-winning drama about a couple finalizing their divorce (after being separated for some time). The ex-wife is preparing to remarry, and circumstances become complicated and take a dark turn quite rapidly.

23. ” Jules et Jim” (“Jules & Jim”)

Where to watch it: YouTube and iTunes

Genre: Romantic drama

Year: 1962

Director: François Truffaut

Truffaut, like Godard (mentioned earlier in “Alphaville”), was one of the pioneers of the French New Wave movement. Delving into the history of French film is an excellent way to practice comprehension, and Truffaut is a great director to follow.

This film is based on a novel by Henri-Pierre Roché, in case you want a literary companion for your French reading list. The movie itself is filled with emotion, drama, and history as it is set around the time of WWI.

24. “Heartbeats”

Where to watch it: iTunes

Genre: Romantic drama

Year: 2010

Director: Xavier Dolan

Let's show some appreciation for French Canadians! This film not only gives you a slight flavor of the Quebec accent but also provides plenty of beautiful slow-motion scenes to absorb.

The director, Xavier Dolan, is well-regarded in France, Canada, and the US for his work writing, directing, and starring in “I Killed My Mother.”

If you enjoy indie cinema, this is a fantastic French-Canadian director to be familiar with!

Where to Watch French Movies Online

Netflix

One naturally cannot write a post about viewing French films online without bringing up Netflix.

Netflix provides a little over 150 titles in the French language. In some instances, you can even watch English-language movies or TV shows with French dubbing. This is ideal because if you've already seen a particular show or film in English, you can watch it again in French and already know the plot.

Frequently, you can switch subtitles on and off. When watching in French, subtitles in either French or English will be helpful so you can follow along more easily. Subtitles will also assist you in identifying unfamiliar words and adding them to your vocabulary list.

For additional learning support, Lingflix now allows you to transform any Netflix video (or YouTube video) into a language learning lesson. Lingflix takes authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and converts them into personalized language learning lessons. You can try Lingflix for free for 2 weeks. Visit the website or download the iOS app or Android app. P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Hulu

When you think of Hulu, you probably think of binge-watching your favorite TV series. And yes, it's definitely good for that.

What makes Hulu one of the top places to watch French films is its collection of over 700 Criterion Collection titles. If you're not familiar with the Criterion Collection, it's a compilation of classic films from around the globe (including art house, historically important, and other significant works). Since France is a cornerstone of world cinema, the collection includes many French films.

In addition to nearly every classic French film you need to see to become an expert on the topic, there's also a substantial selection of contemporary French films and even a few French TV shows like “Spiral” (a crime investigation drama).

YouTube

YouTube is an excellent resource for learning French. Most videos include subtitles that are either part of the video itself or available in the video player. Be aware, however, that unofficial subtitles can sometimes contain mistakes or transcription errors.

YouTube offers more than just French tutorials and comedy sketches, though. Fun fact: you can rent movies on YouTube, and the selection is great!

Make it a special event and find a friend (who speaks French or not) willing to watch foreign masterpieces, and get that popcorn ready!

iTunes

If you're going on a trip and need to load your devices with movies, iTunes is an excellent source for accessing French films.

They have a very extensive selection, including timeless classics and newer releases in French cinema. Your chances are best with iTunes if you're searching for a specific French title and can't locate it elsewhere.

Another advantage of iTunes is that you often have greater control over subtitles compared to other platforms. Once it's on your device, you can turn English subtitles on or off and, in some cases, enable French subtitles.

Mubi

Catering to those who appreciate film as an art form (with many indie hits, art house films, and foreign masterpieces), it adds a new film every day and removes it after thirty days.

This leaves you with a manageable number of films to browse. What makes this site particularly ideal for watching French films is that there's usually a selection of French titles available.

One last point… it's simple to adjust subtitle settings. Hooray!

Filmdoo

Filmdoo has an extensive library of French films available for online viewing. Currently, it boasts over 2500 films in its collection, so you should have no shortage of French movies to choose from.

There are older French classics as well as newer ones. So you can stream timeless films or a surprising number of recent releases (less than 10 years old). Many of these films come with English and/or French subtitles, though not all.

Best of all, Filmdoo does not require a membership fee. Simply create an account and pay for each film you watch. Some films are even available for free!

Tips for Learning French With Classic French Movies

Since France possesses a vibrant and rich modern film industry and history, the possibilities for watching and learning are endless. Just ensure you are maximizing the experience and not simply reading English subtitles from start to finish, thereby missing out on the valuable comprehension practice these fantastic films can offer!

What to Do About Subtitles

This is a genuine dilemma (no one claimed that learning a language was straightforward).

If you are an advanced French speaker and wish to keep your ears sharp while appreciating the beauty of French cinema, then you already know the answer. Remove the subtitles and dive right in. It's fine if you don't catch every word; that's how you get better!

If you are a beginner, it might be useful to watch the film once with English subtitles to grasp the plot, and then a second time with French subtitles or without any to test how much you can understand independently. Just don't become disheartened. It can sometimes take a while before you comprehend conversational French as it is spoken in French movies.

Then there's that intermediate stage that every French learner encounters. Depending on how your comprehension is progressing, you could go either way here. Watching French films with French subtitles can be very beneficial if your reading skills are decent, but attempting without subtitles might surprise you with how much you actually understand!

How you select your subtitles is your decision, but keep two quick points in mind:

1. Watching a French film with English subtitles more than once to understand the story is not advised. You'll likely stop listening to the French and begin reading the English, and at that point, the film could be in any language!

2. Watching a French film with French subtitles is often a perfect choice regardless of your level, but remember that the written text doesn't always match the spoken dialogue exactly, so don't depend on it more than the context.

Filling in the Gaps

For beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students who desire the complete French learning experience, there are many ways to ensure you understand the film fully.

Look Up Words

Don't understand a word you heard in the dialogue or saw in the subtitles? Take that word from the movie and search for it in a dictionary.

I recommend writing down the word and its translation. The act of writing it will help cement the meaning in your memory.

If your level isn't advanced enough to look up every unfamiliar word (which is probably true for most learners), concentrate on language that interests you or seems practical, and notice how it's used in context.

French Wikipedia

Read the film's page after watching it (in French)! You could do this beforehand if spoilers don't bother you, but where's the excitement in that?

All the relevant vocabulary is right there—and you can always switch between the French and English Wiki pages. This can also lead you to similar films or information about the film's history and production. It might even guide you to source material like French novels or plays.

Watch Again

The secret to maximizing the benefit of any French movie is to watch the entire film, and then watch it once more.

The first viewing will familiarize you with the story, the characters, and all the French words you don't yet know. The second time you watch, you can refer to your translated French word list from that movie and gain a more detailed understanding of the plot and its vocabulary.

This repetition will further reinforce the vocabulary in your mind. Besides, who doesn't enjoy watching good movies multiple times?

Watch and Discuss

French is more enjoyable with friends!

If you have French-speaking friends, organize a movie night and then talk about the film together. It might help you fill in understanding gaps and get further suggestions. Most importantly, it's a chance to practice speaking French!

Thanks to the Internet and all the available streaming sites, aiming to watch one French movie per week is a realistic (and entertaining) goal.

Happy viewing!