1. Les Choristes (the Chorus)

Les Choristes is set in post-war France at Fond de l'Étang, a strict boarding school for troubled boys, although many of them are simply war orphans with nowhere else to go. When a compassionate new supervisor, Clément Mathieu, arrives, he forms a school choir to give the boys a creative outlet and discovers extraordinary vocal talent along the way. As an acclaimed French boarding school movie and French film about a school choir, it balances humor and emotional depth effortlessly. Check out the IMDb page for Les Choristes for full cast details. It’s such a fabulous French film because it’s moving yet funny, and the choral soundtrack is unforgettable: you’ll be humming the tunes for days afterwards!

2. Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain (Amélie)

This isn’t one of the most famous French films outside of France for no reason. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou, it follows a delightfully quirky Parisian waitress who decides to orchestrate small acts of kindness to improve the lives of those around her while searching for her own true love. If you're searching for French films like Amélie or romantic movies with whimsical visuals, this beloved masterpiece is mandatory viewing. Explore the Amélie IMDb page to see its award history. If you need to learn to enjoy the little things in life, or just want to smile, watch Amélie—it’s fabulous! (If you love moving character-driven stories like this, you might also enjoy the emotional journey in La Vie En Rose.)

3. Au Revoir Les Enfants (Goodbye, Children)

Au Revoir Les Enfants is set in a French Catholic boarding school during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Deeply autobiographical, director Louis Malle draws from his own childhood memories to tell the story of a courageous headmaster who secretly shelters three Jewish students from the Nazis. Much like Les Choristes, this landmark French orphanage and school film explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and lost childhood innocence under terrible circumstances—three elements that always make for an unforgettable film.

4. La Haine (Hate)

Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, this fabulous French film follows three young men—a Black boxer, a Jew, and an Arab—who have grown up in a French suburban ghetto following a violent riot. It deals fearlessly with issues of racial tension, systemic disenfranchisement, and friction between the public and the police. Considered one of the definitive French ghetto movies, its raw energy and gritty black-and-white cinematography make it essential viewing. You can read more about its historical impact on its IMDb details page.

5. Jules Et Jim (Jules and Jim)

François Truffaut was like the French equivalent of Spielberg and this is possibly his best film. It shows a compelling love triangle involving two close friends and the free-spirited object of their affections before, during, and after the First World War. For anyone putting together a French romantic movies list, Jules Et Jim is a deeply moving masterpiece that defined French New Wave cinema.

6. La Reine Margot (Queen Margot)

You may want to brush up on your French history a little before tackling this film, but do tackle it as it is one of the most fabulous French films ever made. It tracks the intense events of the French Wars of Religion in the 16th Century where French Catholics fought to the death with the Huguenots (Protestants). A bloody film full of historical intrigue and tragedy, the superb acting by Isabelle Adjani elevates it to a true classic.

7. La Vie En Rose (Life in Pink)

La Vie En Rose is the captivating life story of Édith Piaf, who was arguably France’s best and most popular singer ever. Marion Cotillard won the Best Actress Academy Award for her powerful portrayal of Piaf, and the rest of the cast are also fantastic. If you appreciated the dramatic scale and period atmosphere of Un Long Dimanche De Fiançailles, you will find this biopic deeply resonant. Just be prepared for lots of emotional ups and downs and have some tissues ready!

8. Un Long Dimanche De Fiançailles (a Very Long Engagement)

The film follows Mathilde and Manech whose childhood romance blossoms into love, before Manech goes away to fight in World War I. When Manech is declared Missing in Action, Mathilde cannot believe that he is dead and begins a relentless search to discover what has happened to him. It’s a fabulous French film because it has everything: a brilliantly-constructed plot, great acting, and battlefield scenes that rival those of Saving Private Ryan. As one of the best french language films ever made, it will keep you hooked from start to finish.

The list of fabulous French films is endless, but those are some of my top favorites. I realize that knowing French gives me an advantage, but watching films with subtitles opens up a world of brilliant cinema. Here are a few key reasons why French cinema is worth diving into:

There are some absolutely terrific foreign language films out there. What would be on your list of must-see movies?