The best movies set in Paris
With its cobblestone streets, iconic landmarks, and rich cultural history, the French capital provides the perfect backdrop for stories of romance, intrigue, and adventure. Here are eight of the best movies that bring Paris to life on screen.
The Bet
Directed by Didier Bourdon and Bernard Campan, The Bet is a comedy about two brothers-in-law who make a bet to quit smoking, played by the directors themselves. Bernard is a suburban teacher while Didier is a wealthy pharmacist who lives in Paris. One night during a family dinner, the two make a bet to stop smoking until their next get-together in 15 days. Ever competitive, Bernard and Didier would do anything to curb their nicotine withdrawal—leading to a series of hijinks as they resort to increasingly bizarre measures to win.
Hilarious in the most French way possible, this comedy is both entertaining and insightful as it delves into the very relatable struggle of addiction.
Amélie
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the film revolves around Amelie (Audrey Tautou), a shy, imaginative young waitress living in the Montmartre district of Paris. One day, Amelie discovers a childhood keepsake of her apartment’s previous owner and decides to return it to him. After seeing the man’s joy upon getting his childhood stuff back, Amelie is inspired to do more acts of kindness toward the people around her. Over time, Amelie also learns to break out of her shell and embrace her own happiness.
Despite being set in contemporary time, there’s something magical about Amélie. We’re seeing the entire film through the lens of a naive girl with a whimsical imagination, rendering the Paris depicted in the story as some sort of modern fairytale land.
La Haine
Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, La Haine follows what happens in an immigrant neighborhood in Paris after a riot. French star Vincent Cassel as one third of a friend group navigating the chaotic scene after police brutality wreaked havoc and claimed casualties among their community. Like its title suggests—’La Haine’ means ‘hatred’ in English—the film explores the anger and grief felt by these marginalized communities of Jews, Africans, and Muslims in a diverse country that often treats them as third-rate citizens.
Chronicling 24 hours in the lives of the three friends, La Haine exposes a side of Paris that is darker and more grounded. A powerful look at social inequality and urban unrest in France, the film earned Kassovitz the Best Director prize at Cannes.
Before Sunset
Directed by Richard Linklater, Before Sunset is a sequel to the 1995 classic Before Sunrise. Nine years after parting ways in Vienna, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delphy) unexpectedly meet again in Paris. Catching up with each other, the two walk around Paris and, like the first film, begin discussing everything from their personal lives to their evolving outlook in life.
If Before Sunrise was about two idealistic youngsters with big dreams, Before Sunset finds them again a bit jaded about life. Shot in multiple single takes, the film follows the duo’s Paris rendezvous almost in real time. It makes you feel like being in a travel documentary with two deep-thinking characters.
BPM
Directed by Robin Campillo, BPM is a social drama set in the early 1990s and focuses on the AIDS activist group ACT UP in Paris. The film tells the story of the activists’ passionate fight for better treatment and public awareness of the AIDS epidemic, while also highlighting the emotional toll it takes on them. The central characters, Sean and Nathan, develop a deep connection, and the film captures both their personal and political struggles during the height of the crisis.
Midnight in Paris
Directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris follows Gil (Owen Wilson), an American screenwriter visiting Paris with his girlfriend (Rachel McAdams). One night, Gil is mysteriously transported to 1920s Paris where he meets a beautiful French flapper named Adriana (Marion Cotillard). Adriana takes Gil on a trip around the city, where he encounters cultural icons like Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Enamored with the allure of the past, Gil begins to question his present-day happiness.
The modern fantasy movie explores themes like nostalgia and living in the present, set against the backdrop of early 20th century Paris, the most romanticized version of the city. Throughout Gil’s soul searching journey, we get to witness the glamor and romance of flapper-era Paris with all its joyous festivities.
Moulin Rouge
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge follows the love story between a poor young playwright named Christian (Ewan McGregor) and Satine (Nicole Kidman), a star performer at the iconic Moulin Rouge in Paris. Their ill-fated romance unfolds over an extravagant jukebox musical that turns modern tunes such as Smells Like Teen Spirit and Material Girl into cabaret music. Spirited, lavish, and vibrantly over the top, Moulin Rouge presents an alt-world Paris filled with glamor and operatic tragedy.
Pink Panther
Directed by Blake Edwards, the Pink Panther film series revolves around the enormous pink diamond known as the Pink Panther, the jewel thieves who are eyeing it, and Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers), the French policeman who always gets tasked to recover the stolen diamond in every movie.
The highlights of these movies are Clouseau’s bumbling attempts to solve the cases and the appearance of the animated Pink Panther interspersed with the storylines. Like the Bond movies, every sequel stands on its own, but the throughline of the irreverent sense of humor and slapstick hijinks remain.
