Greatest French Films List
What are the best French movies? The cinema of France has contributed to a very great degree in the world cinema. In fact statistically, French cinema is the most profitable cinema after Hollywood of United States and Bollywood of India. If you take a look on best movies (Foreign Language) winners and nominees in Academy awards list then you will find a lot of french movies in it.
The history of France cinema dates back to the late 19th century when movies were not globally known. Until World War I, French Cinema produced many classic silent films. Who could forget that it was the popular french film A Trip to the moon in 1902 that inspired a lot of people. It inspired scientists to stay on the dream of Landing on Moon while it motivated film makers that science fiction films could also be produced with the right equipment.
French cinema suffered a lot after world war I and it continued to produce films at loss for next two decades. If there was no World War, then probably French cinema would have been much more popular than Hollywood. After World War II, French cinema once again saw brighter days when french movies became popular outside the home country. The popularity of French films continued to increase and by 1980s, French cinema became one of the most profitable cinema in the world.
It was the golden decade of 1990s when the French Cinema held a distinct and reputable place among critics. Thanks to directors like Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Luc Besson, that French films found their true fame outside the country. Even ciritcs from foreign countries like United States and United Kingdom, praised French movies made by these directors.
One thing that i like very much in particular about French movies is that they focus a lot on their female characters. Unlike movies Hollywood and Bollywood where the male lead is real star of the film, French movies focus heavily of female leads. You will find many french movies where the lead character is a female. Interestingly such films not only won praise of critics and fans but has held several records at box office too.
Here we have compiled a list of 50 greatest french movies of all time. Please note that we have not included french animated movies and french documentary films in the list. So check out the list of best french films ever made:
50. Inside
49. Holy Motors
48. Coco Before Chanel
47. Asterix and Obelix Series
46. Welcome to the Sticks
45. The Double Life of Veronique
44. JCVD
43. The Dinner Game
42. The Past
41. The Class
40. Red Violin
39. The Tenant
38. Jules and Jim
37. High Tension
36. The Piano Teacher
35. Man Bites Dog
34. The Spanish Apartment
33. Tell No One
32. Cache (Hidden)
31. La Samourai
30. Belle De Jour
29. Rust and Bone
28. The Chorus
27. Taxi
26. Martyrs
25. Brotherhood of the Wolf
24. Love Me If You Dare
23. La Femme Nikita
22. Breathless
21. District B13
20. La Vie en Rose
19. Paris, je t’aime
18. The City of Lost Children
17. The Science of Sleep
16. A Very Long Engagement
15. Irreversible
14. Delicatessen
13. Amour
12. A Prophet
11. Blue is the Warmest Color
10. Incendies
9. The Wages of Fear
8. The Battle of Algiers
7. Diabolique
6. The Intouchables
5. The Diving Bell and Butterfly
4. La Haine
3. Amelie
2. The 400 Blows
1. Three Colors Series
Which french film do you like the most? French cinema has given a lot to the world. Who could forget that one of the most popular film festival i.e. Cannes Film Festival is held in Cannes (city of France) every year. It was France that started the Independent film festival culture and given chance to young and aspiring actors and directors around the world.
