My 25 Best French Romantic Movies Of All Time

Q: What French movies are like Amelie?

There is a lot French movies like "Amélie", for examples : Midnight in Paris (2011) Mood Indigo (2013) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) Delicacy (2011) About Time (2013) Please read above my personal list of best French romantic movies of all time.

Louise Simon

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.

Table Of Contents

25 Best French Romantic Movies List (My Selection)
What is considered to the #1 romantic movie?
What is the French movie about a love triangle?
What is the most beautiful romantic movie?
What French movies are like Amelie?

Bonjour bonjour !

Looking for a good French romantic movie to watch tonight with your family or your love?

After the success of my personal selection of my 19 best french comedy movies , I have selected for you my best French romantic movies of all time.

Did I forget your preferred romantic movie? Please comment below !

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

Louise xx

25 Best French Romantic Movies List (My Selection)

Here is my personal list of the best french romantic movies of all time with its IMDB rating.

Ranked from lowest to highest IMDb rating.

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

25. The Hairdresser’s Husband – 7.2/10

In French: Le Mari de la coiffeuse
Category: French romantic movie
Year: 1990
Director: Patrice Leconte
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean Rochefort, Anna Galiena, Roland Bertin, Maurice Chevit…
Synopsis: Antoine, a man obsessed with hairdressers, marries Mathilde, a talented and beautiful hairdresser. The couple shares an intense and passionate relationship, both emotionally and sexually. As time passes, their love becomes the center of their lives, but the intensity of their connection brings challenges as they navigate through the complexities of their relationship.
Trailer:

24. The Last Metro – 7.5/10

In French: Le Dernier Métro
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1980
Director: François Truffaut
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Jean Poiret, Andréa Ferréol…
Synopsis: Set during World War II in occupied France, the film follows the story of a theater director who hides her Jewish husband from the Nazis. While struggling to keep the theater running, she becomes involved in a passionate love affair with a talented actor, complicating her situation further.
Trailer:

23. The Lovers on the Bridge – 7.3/10

In French: Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1991
Director: Leos Carax
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant, Klaus-Michael Grüber, Marion Stalens…
Synopsis: On the oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont-Neuf, two homeless people find love and solace in each other’s company. As they navigate the hardships of life on the streets, their love becomes a beacon of hope amidst the darkness and despair.
Trailer:

22. A Man and a Woman – 7.6/10

In French: Un homme et une femme
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1966
Director: Claude Lelouch
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Anouk Aimée, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Pierre Barouh, Valérie Lagrange…
Synopsis: A widowed script girl and a widowed race car driver, each struggling to move on from their pasts, meet by chance and develop a deep and complex relationship. The film explores their love story, as they face their fears and try to find happiness together.
Trailer:

21. Beauty and the Beast – 7.9/10

In French: La Belle et la Bête
Category: French romantic fantasy
Year: 1946
Director: Jean Cocteau
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean Marais, Josette Day, Marcel André, Mila Parély…
Synopsis: Based on the classic fairy tale, a young woman named Belle sacrifices herself to save her father by agreeing to live with the cursed Beast in his enchanted castle. As she gets to know the Beast, she discovers his inner kindness and the possibility of true love, even in the most unexpected forms.
Trailer:

20. Jules and Jim – 7.8/10

In French: Jules et Jim
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1962
Director: François Truffaut
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jeanne Moreau, Oskar Werner, Henri Serre, Vanna Urbino…
Synopsis: Set in the early 20th century, Jules and Jim tells the story of two friends who fall in love with the same woman, Catherine. As their lives intertwine, they experience the complexities of love, friendship, and loyalty in the midst of war and changing societal expectations.
Trailer:

19. Hiroshima Mon Amour – 7.9/10

In French: Hiroshima mon amour
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1959
Director: Alain Resnais
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada, Bernard Fresson, Stella Dassas…
Synopsis: In post-war Hiroshima, a French actress has a brief but intense affair with a Japanese architect. As their relationship unfolds, they are haunted by their memories of war and past lovers, leading them to confront the nature of love, memory, and loss.
Trailer:

18. Claire’s Knee – 7.8/10

In French: Le Genou de Claire
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1970
Director: Éric Rohmer
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean-Claude Brialy, Aurora Cornu, Béatrice Romand, Laurence de Monaghan…
Synopsis: On the verge of getting married, Jérôme, a diplomat, spends his last holiday as a bachelor in the French countryside. There, he becomes infatuated with the teenage Claire, and develops an obsession with her knee. As he navigates his feelings and attraction, Jérôme must confront the complexities of desire and fidelity.
Trailer:

17. Elevator to the Gallows – 8.0/10

In French: Ascenseur pour l’échafaud
Category: French romantic crime thriller
Year: 1958
Director: Louis Malle
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin…
Synopsis: A carefully planned murder by a couple, Julien and Florence, goes awry when Julien becomes trapped in an elevator. As he tries to escape, a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate events unfold. The film intertwines a crime thriller with a passionate love story, as Florence searches the city for Julien, unaware of his predicament.
Trailer:

16. Cyrano de Bergerac – 7.5/10

In French: Cyrano de Bergerac
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1990
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber…
Synopsis: A brilliant poet and swordsman, Cyrano de Bergerac, is in love with his beautiful and intelligent cousin, Roxane. However, he is hindered by his enormous nose, which he believes makes him unattractive. Despite his feelings, Cyrano helps a young cadet, Christian, win Roxane’s heart by feeding him eloquent lines to woo her.
Trailer:

15. Love Me If You Dare – 7.6/10

In French: Jeux d’enfants
Category: French romantic comedy-drama
Year: 2003
Director: Yann Samuell
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Guillaume Canet, Marion Cotillard, Thibault Verhaeghe, Joséphine Lebas-Joly…
Synopsis: Julien and Sophie are childhood friends who share a love for dangerous games. As they grow up, their games become increasingly intense and the stakes higher. As adults, their relationship is tested when they have to face the consequences of their actions.
Trailer:

14. The Party – 7.7/10

In French: La Fête
Category: French romantic comedy
Year: 1968
Director: Claude Pinoteau
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Lino Ventura, Michel Serrault, Mireille Darc, Françoise Fabian…
Synopsis: A sophisticated and reserved man meets a woman at a party and they quickly fall in love. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate the challenges and secrets that arise from their pasts.
Trailer:

13. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg – 7.8/10

In French: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
Category: French romantic musical
Year: 1964
Director: Jacques Demy
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel…
Synopsis: In the French seaside town of Cherbourg, Geneviève, the daughter of a struggling umbrella shop owner, and Guy, an auto mechanic, fall in love. However, their relationship is challenged when Guy is drafted to fight in the Algerian War, forcing them to make difficult decisions about their future.
Trailer:

12. Pierrot le Fou – 7.6/10

In French: Pierrot le Fou
Category: French romantic crime drama
Year: 1965
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, Graziella Galvani, Aicha Abadir…
Synopsis: Unhappy with his life, Ferdinand Griffon, also known as Pierrot, abandons his wife and children to embark on a dangerous and passionate crime spree with his ex-girlfriend, Marianne Renoir.
Trailer:

11. The Double Life of Veronique – 7.8/10

In French: La Double Vie de Véronique
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1991
Director: Krzysztof Kieślowski
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Irène Jacob, Halina Gryglaszewska, Kalina Jędrusik, Aleksander Bardini…
Synopsis: This mystical tale follows the parallel lives of two women, Weronika, a Polish singer, and Véronique, a French music teacher. Both women share a mysterious connection despite never having met, and their lives intersect in unexpected ways.
Trailer:

10. La Piscine – 7.0/10

In French: La Piscine
Category: French romantic thriller
Year: 1969
Director: Jacques Deray
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, Jane Birkin…
Synopsis: Set in the French Riviera, Jean-Paul and Marianne, a couple enjoying a seemingly idyllic vacation, find their relationship tested by the arrival of Marianne’s ex-lover, Harry, and his teenage daughter, Penelope.
Trailer:

9. Amour – 7.9/10

In French: Amour
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 2012
Director: Michael Haneke
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud…
Synopsis: This poignant tale explores the love and dedication between an elderly couple, Georges and Anne, who face a life-altering event when Anne suffers a stroke. As her health deteriorates, Georges must come to terms with the inevitable outcome.
Trailer:

8. Betty Blue – 7.4/10

In French: 37°2 le matin
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1986
Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Béatrice Dalle, Gérard Darmon, Consuelo de Haviland…
Synopsis: The passionate and tumultuous relationship between Zorg, a struggling writer, and Betty, a free-spirited and impulsive woman, takes a dark turn as Betty’s mental health begins to deteriorate, leading them down a tragic path.
Trailer:

7. Tell No One – 7.5/10

In French: Ne le dis à personne
Category: French romantic thriller
Year: 2006
Director: Guillaume Canet
Famous French Actors and Actresses: François Cluzet, Marie-Josée Croze, André Dussollier, Kristin Scott Thomas…
Synopsis: Years after his wife’s brutal murder, pediatrician Alexandre Beck receives a mysterious email suggesting that she may still be alive. As he uncovers a web of secrets and lies, he must also elude the police who suspect him of the crime.
Trailer:

6. A Very Long Engagement – 7.6/10

In French: Un long dimanche de fiançailles
Category: French romantic war drama
Year: 2004
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Marion Cotillard, Dominique Pinon…
Synopsis: Set during World War I, a young woman named Mathilde embarks on a relentless quest to find her fiancé, who has been declared dead along with four other soldiers. Convinced he is still alive, Mathilde uncovers the truth behind their tragic fates.
Trailer:

5. The Big Blue – 7.6/10

In French: Le Grand Bleu
Category: French romantic adventure
Year: 1988
Director: Luc Besson
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Rosanna Arquette, Paul Shenar…
Synopsis: This visually stunning film tells the story of two childhood friends, Jacques and Enzo, who grow up to become rivals in the dangerous world of free-diving. Their intense rivalry is further complicated by the arrival of a beautiful woman, Johana.
Trailer:

4. Belle de Jour – 7.7/10

In French: Belle de Jour
Category: French romantic drama
Year: 1967
Director: Luis Buñuel
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli, Geneviève Page…
Synopsis: Séverine, a beautiful and seemingly content housewife, secretly indulges in her fantasies by becoming a prostitute at an upscale brothel during the day. As she navigates her double life, her desires and reality collide, leading to unexpected consequences.
Trailer:

3. The Artist – 7.9/10

In French: L’Artiste
Category: French romantic comedy-drama
Year: 2011
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell…
Synopsis: Set in the late 1920s, silent film star George Valentin struggles to adapt to the arrival of “talking pictures.” As his career spirals downward, an aspiring young actress named Peppy Miller rises to fame, and their paths intertwine in this charming, black-and-white homage to the golden age of cinema.
Trailer:

2. Amélie – 8.3/10

In French: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain
Category: French romantic comedy
Year: 2001
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta…
Synopsis: Amélie, a quirky and compassionate young woman, sets out on a journey to bring happiness to the people around her. In the process, she discovers love and the power of human connection as she navigates the vibrant streets of Paris.
Trailer:

1. Blue Is the Warmest Colour – 7.7/10

In French: La Vie d’Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2
Category: French romantic coming-of-age drama
Year: 2013
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
Famous French Actors and Actresses: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing…
Synopsis: Adèle, a young high school student, embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she meets Emma, a blue-haired artist. Their passionate and tumultuous relationship is portrayed over the course of several years, exploring the themes of love, identity, and growth.
Trailer: