11 Best French Romantic Movies You'll Love

Few countries do romance better than France. To prove it, we have picked 11 of the best French romantic movies from the land of amour.

Funny, tear-jerking, thoughtful or surreal: whatever you are in the mood for, if you love French movies, we have something for you.

Which French Romantic Movie Should You Watch Tonight?

Movie	Year	Mood	IMDb
La Fille sur le Pont	1999	Quirky, stylish	7.5
A Very Long Engagement	2004	Epic tear-jerker	7.6
Cyrano de Bergerac	1990	Poetic classic	7.5
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg	1964	Sung musical	7.8
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf	1991	Dark, gritty	7.6
César et Rosalie	1972	Love triangle	7.4
Love Me If You Dare	2003	Playful, wild	7.6
The Sense of Wonder	2015	Gentle, warm	6.8
A Man and a Woman	1966	Timeless classic	7.6
Populaire	2012	Feel-good rom-com	6.9
Jules et Jim	1962	New Wave masterpiece	7.8

1. La Fille sur le Pont / The Girl on the Bridge (1999)

French romantic movies mostly fall into two categories: effervescent rom-coms, or heartbreaking dramas that dissect the human condition. La fille sur le pont is a bit of both.

French acting legend Daniel Auteuil plays a circus knife-thrower. He enlists the titular girl on the bridge, played by Joe le Taxi singer Vanessa Paradis, to be his assistant and potential pincushion.

Shot in black and white with a mood-enhancing score, La fille sur le pont stands out from most French romantic movies. Do not expect anything too deep, but if you love quirky style and humor, this could be your Saturday night movie.

IMDb rating 7.5 | Rotten Tomatoes score 88%

2. Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles / A Very Long Engagement (2004)

An uplifting tale of love and devotion sees Mathilde (Audrey Tautou, of Amélie fame) searching for her fiancé, sentenced to an unimaginable fate by his military superiors.

The premise is bleak: the fate of soldiers accused of self-mutilation during World War I. But that does not stop this from being one of the most uplifting French romantic movies, filled with heartfelt performances from leading French actors (and even a French-speaking Jodie Foster).

A real tear-jerker. Not a first-date movie, but a must-watch if you love French cinema.

IMDb rating 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes score 78%

3. Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)

No list of French romantic movies would be complete without a box office smash, and Cyrano de Bergerac is a bona fide classic.

Adapted from Edmond Rostand's 1897 play, which was loosely inspired by the real 17th-century writer, this version has never been bettered on the big screen. Not even by Steve Martin's Roxanne.

It is an epic, poetic tale of love, tragedy and missed opportunity. And a magnificent nose. Gérard Depardieu fits the lovable rogue's boots perfectly and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor; according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the film won the Oscar for Best Costume Design.

IMDb rating 7.5 | Rotten Tomatoes score 100%

4. Les Parapluies de Cherbourg / The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

Number 4 is an offbeat film cherished by French cinema fans. Les Parapluies de Cherbourg is a musical in which every line of dialogue is sung.

That could be a recipe for serious cringe. Yet 14 years before Grease got people dancing in theaters, Michel Legrand's captivating score and the colorful sets cast a spell over global audiences, with a young Catherine Deneuve in the lead.

Subtitles are recommended, but even if you miss a word, it is a Technicolor feast from start to finish. The perfect movie to banish rainy-day blues.

IMDb rating 7.8 | Rotten Tomatoes score 99%

5. Les Amants du Pont-Neuf / The Lovers on the Bridge (1991)

Yes, another French romantic movie starring a bridge. Love stories are made for bridges, ideally silhouetted against moonlit Paris skies.

Strip away the dreamy setting, though, and this is a dark, gritty love story set among people living on the streets of Paris. With a memorable performance from Juliette Binoche and music that includes David Bowie, it is one of the most poignant, yet cool, French romantic movies.

If you love French movies but hate feel-good frothiness, this one is for you.

IMDb rating 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes score 85%

6. César et Rosalie (1972)

In the popular imagination, France is a place where dangerous liaisons are never far away. César et Rosalie, starring Romy Schneider and Yves Montand, leans into that with a fraught love triangle.

The plot does not play out as you might expect. It is not really a movie about César and Rosalie at all. Instead, it puts a gentle spin on a timeless question: do you choose the one who loves you, or the one you love?

Light on substance, yet oddly endearing.

IMDb rating 7.4 | Rotten Tomatoes score 100%

7. Jeux d'enfants / Love Me If You Dare (2003)

If you like French romantic movies with big laughs, Jeux d'enfants ("child's play") is worth a look. It taps into a familiar trope: childhood friends growing up and falling in love.

The twist? These clueless romantics play an ever-escalating game of dares to test their love. It is an unhealthy way to grow a relationship, but very entertaining, with Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard (who later became a couple in real life) in the leads.

There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The real question is: do they deserve a happy ending?

IMDb rating 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes score 44%

8. Le Goût des Merveilles / The Sense of Wonder (2015)

Le Goût des merveilles is an understated movie that slipped past most audiences on release, but if you love French cinema you will enjoy this uplifting love story.

A widowed fruit grower falls for a man with Asperger's syndrome after she hits him with her car. Romantic clichés aside, it is tightly written and beautifully shot.

Grab the tissues and drink in the gorgeous orchards of the Drôme countryside in one of the gentlest French romantic movies.

IMDb rating 6.8 | Rotten Tomatoes score 67%

9. Un Homme et une Femme / A Man and a Woman (1966)

No surprise: this is a story about a man and a woman. More than that, it is an artfully directed character study by Claude Lelouch. In short, the archetypal French movie.

The switches between color and black and white, reportedly partly to save money, add to the gentle mood, as does Francis Lai's famous "ba-da-ba-da" theme.

Un homme et une femme charmed viewers worldwide in 1966, winning a top prize at Cannes and, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, two Oscars (Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay). It is still winning fans today.

IMDb rating 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes score 75%

10. Populaire (2012)

Populaire is a modern film telling a quirky love story set in 1958.

The premise, a boss who falls for the secretary he is coaching to become a speed-typing champion, may sound démodé. But the core story never grows old: a shared obsession revealing a shared passion for each other.

If you are new to French movies, Populaire is the perfect introduction: funny, upbeat and nostalgic. One of the rare French romantic movies made for a first date.

IMDb rating 6.9 | Rotten Tomatoes score 73%

11. Jules et Jim (1962)

Jules et Jim belongs on any list of great French romantic movies. It is a true chef-d'oeuvre of French cinema, directed by François Truffaut.

Like César et Rosalie, the title leaves out the third wheel: Catherine, played by Jeanne Moreau. The First World War is the backdrop, yet the friendships and romance across borders feel carefree and casual.

A shattering conclusion awaits, but there is plenty of romance and happiness along the way. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it is a must-see if you love French movies.

IMDb rating 7.8 | Rotten Tomatoes score 93%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous French romantic movie?

Amélie (2001) is the best-known worldwide, but classics like Un homme et une femme, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Jules et Jim are the ones film lovers name most often.

What is a good French romantic movie for a first date?

Populaire (2012) is light, funny and easy to follow. La Fille sur le Pont is a stylish second choice.

Which French romantic movies won Oscars?

On this list, Un homme et une femme won two Oscars (Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay) and Cyrano de Bergerac won Best Costume Design.

Should I watch French movies with subtitles or dubbed?

Subtitles are best. You keep the original performances and pick up a few romantic French phrases along the way.

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