My 16 Best French Crime Movies

Updated :
| By : Louise
Born in Cameroon and adopted at 1 year in France. I spent all my childhood in Alsace before studying in Paris. I like to defend my beautiful country with its strengths and weaknesses. Find me on Linkedin and CV.

Bonjour bonjour les amis !

French crime movies are known for being full packages of thrill, curiosity, action, and drama.

If you are an adventure-loving streamer browsing for the best French crime movies to add to your wishlist and stream on weekends with your buddy?

After the success of the best French Comedy movies list, I am back with the list of the best French crime movies of all time.

Work is in progress (post updated in July 2023) ! 🙂

Louise 

See Also : My 18 Best French Animation Movies

16 Best French Crime Movies (My Selection)

Here is my personal ranking of the 16 best French crime movies with its IMDB rating.

Ranked from lowest to highest IMDb rating.

Please check the trailer before watching the complete movie (by experience) ! 😉

16. See How They Fall (1994) – 6.6 / 10

French TranslationRegarde les hommes tomber

Summary: Parallel stories of two pairs of friends in which one becomes the killer of the other.

Trailer:

15. The Crimson Rivers (2000) – 6.9 / 10

French TranslationLes Rivières pourpres

Summary: A murder detective must follow the footsteps of a brutal killer within the secrets of a classist college.

Trailer:

14. The Connection (2014) – 7.1 / 10

French TranslationLa French

Summary: A French police magistrate spends years trying to take down one of the country’s most powerful drug rings.

Trailer:

13. 36 Quai des Orfevres (2004) – 7.1 / 10

French Translation36 Quai des Orfèvres

Summary: Two police officers with contrasting methods are after a gang committing a series of robberies.

Trailer:

12. The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005) – 7.2 / 10

French TranslationDe battre mon coeur s’est arrêté

Summary: The story of a man torn between his criminal life and his love of music.

Trailer:

11. Read My Lips (2001) – 7.3 / 10

French TranslationSur mes lèvres

Summary: A secretary at a construction company secretly helps a deaf ex-convict by using her lip-reading skills.

Trailer:

Top 10 French crime movies

Here is my selection of top 10 best French crime movies :

10. La Femme Nikita (1990) – 7.3 / 10

French TranslationNikita

Summary: Convicted felon Nikita, instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained to kill.

Trailer:

9. Mesrine Part 2: Public Enemy #1 (2008) – 7.4 / 10

French TranslationL’ennemi public n°1

Summary: The story of notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine.

Trailer:

8. Tell No One (2006) – 7.5 / 10

French TranslationNe le dis à personne

Summary: After eight long years since his beloved wife’s hideous murder, unexpectedly, an accidental discovery of two bodies near a Doctor’s estate will stir things again.

Trailer:

7. Mesrine Part 1: Killer Instinct (2008) – 7.5 / 10

French TranslationL’instinct de mort

Summary: The story of French gangster Jacques Mesrine before he was called Public Enemy N°1.

Trailer:

6. Breathless (1960) – 7.7 / 10

French TranslationÀ bout de souffle

Summary: A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a policeman.

Trailer:

5. A Prophet (2009) – 7.8 / 10

French TranslationUn prophète

Summary: A young man rises in the criminal hierarchy while in prison.

Trailer:

4. Braquo (2009) – 7.9 / 10

French TranslationBraquo

Summary: A group of police officers in Paris use violence and intimidation to solve crimes.

Trailer:

3. Rififi (1955) – 8.1 / 10

French TranslationDu rififi chez les hommes

Summary: Ex-con plans a heist in the jewelry district of Paris.

Trailer:

2. La Haine (1995) – 8.1 / 10

French TranslationLa Haine

Summary: 24 hours in the lives of three young men in the French suburbs the day after a violent riot.

Trailer:

1. Army of Shadows (1969) – 8.1 / 10

French TranslationL’armée des ombres

Summary: An account of underground resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied France.

Trailer:


That was all about my top 16 selections of the best French crime movies.

If you want to create a romantic ambiance with your loved one on a movie night out, check out my list of the best French romantic movies of all time!

Also, I am excited to know about your best French crime movies!

Be sure to let me know about your fav choices in the comments section below.

Stay tuned for more!

— Louise



People also ask about the best French crime movies :

Does Netflix Have French Movies?                        

Yes, Netflix offers a lot of French movies.

Let’s have a look at a few of the top-rated ones:

  • Le Monde est à toi (The World Is Yours) – 2018
  • Funan – 2018
  • La Vie scolaire (School Life) – 2019
  • Le Chant du loup (The Wolf’s Call) – 2019
  • Anelka: Misunderstood – 2020
  • ………

Where Can I Watch Old French Movies?                       

You can watch old French movies on the following streaming platforms:

  • Netflix
  • Hulu
  • YouTube
  • iTunes
  • …..

Read my above-mentioned selection of the best French crime movies !

What Is Special About French Movies?     

French movies are special for the endless entertainment they offer.

From romantic and animated to crime and thrill, the French movie industry excels in all genres.

French films are often a reflection of life. They feature more drama and dialogue as compared to action, which distinguishes them from American movies.

Read my above-mentioned selection of the best French crime movies !

What Is the Best Channel to Watch French Movies? 

TV5MONDE is the best channel to stream French movies. Other important channels include:

  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime
  • HBO Max
  • France2
  • France4
  • France Channel
  • …..

About Culture In France :

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