Nothing To Hide (2018)

Titled Le Jeu in French, Nothing to Hide is a nightmarish French dramatic comedy movie that directed by Fred Cavayé. This film is an adaptation of the 2016 Italian film Perfect Strangers by Paolo Genovese.

Nothing to Hide, which debuted in October 2018, is even said to have beaten popular American horror film Nightmare on the Elm Street in scaring audiences. When it comes to social gatherings, this French dramatic comedy is an utterly most terrifying theatrical film you will ever watch.

The film starts off with the introduction of a trio of couples. They are Maria and Vincent who are both doctors as a profession, Charlotte and Marco, and Thomas and Lea. Then, there is Ben, a single guy.

After having dinner together, all seven of them agree to play what seems to start as simply a game. They have to share their texts, phone conversations, e-mails, and photos. However, it turns out to be a disaster and does not go well as they initially thought.

Despite being married, they receive lewd photos, voice mails from their other women, sex texts, and the like. Now, they wish they have not started this game at all because it appears that each one of them has secrets to hide.

Nothing to Hide stars Berenice Bejo, Suzanne Clement, Stephane De Groodt, Vincent Elbaz, Gregory Gadebois, Doria Tillier, Roschdy Zem, and Fleur Fitoussi.

Marguerite (2015)

Marguerite is 2015 critically acclaimed French movie, which is inspired by true events. Film critics and fans laud this foreign movie for the great performances by its actors, especially Catherine Frot who incredibly plays the titular character.

This French drama follows the colorful life story of Marguerite Dumont, a filthy rich and eccentric Parisian woman in the 1920s. She has a deep passion for music and opera to an extent that she dares to perform for an audience despite the fact that she does not have a golden voice.

If you dig the French cinema, Marguerite is a brilliant and captivating film that you will definitely love. This movie is able to perfectly mix melancholy with humor.

Marguerite is directed by Xavier Giannoli. The main cast includes Catherine Frot, André Marcon, Michel Fau, and Christa Théret. Paris.

Breathe (2014)

Breathe is a French coming-of-age movie directed by Director Mélanie Laurent. Released in 2014, Laurent is able to showcase her prowess in filmmaking, proving her rightful place in the future of French cinema.

The French drama movie sets itself apart from other typical coming-of-age plots with an exciting, fresh, and unique story.  Breathe narrates the story of Charlie, a French teenager who suffers from the self-doubt and solitude. Things change when she becomes friends with Sarah who has full confidence in herself.

Sarah and Charlie instantaneously become extremely close, they are inseparable. With this newfound friendship, Charlie feels happy, lively, and secure. However, the relationship between the two takes a toll when Sarah begins to find a new friend.

The friendship that Charlie and Sarah share has become so complicated and consuming in that this movie will entirely change what viewers have gotten used to seeing in movies.

Breathe is directed by Andy Serkis and stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Hugh Bonneville, and Ed Speleers.

Blind Date (2015)

Released in 2015, Blind Date is a comedy on the outside and a melodramatic romance on the inside. This French romance comedy treat is one of those that has quite an uncomplicated plot.

So, it hugely depends on the performances of the actors that portray the characters in the film. Nevertheless, Blind Date offers a heart-warming entertainment that would deeply touch the hearts of movie lovers.

It tells the story of Machine, a young pianist who dreams to become a professional in space. Living in an apartment next door to Machine is the workaholic, less sociable guy Machin, who just wants to sit around his couch and enjoy solitude.

Their separate worlds begin to intertwine when Machin finds out about the lady musician who just moved next door and makes fun of her. He sets up some spook for her new neighbor through the thin walls to scare her and make her believe the place is haunted.

But it takes less time for the two to start talking with each other and having dinners together with the thin wall in between, without even laying eyes on each other. Soon, their love grows intense and they start to sleep together, separated only by the same thin wall.

Will Machin and Machine finally see each other in person? Watch Blind Date to find out what happens next in the rest of the story of this French rom-com.

Blind Date is directed by Clovis Cornillac who also stars in the movie. The film cast includes Mélanie Bernier, Lilou Fogli, and Philippe Duquesne.

Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)

Blue is the Warmest Color is a French melodrama that debuted on the big screen in 2013. This highly acclaimed film follows the story of Adèle, a student in her high school years. At the age of 15, she starts exploring herself a woman. She tries dating the opposite sex, however, she is not into them.

Then comes the day when her world collides with Emma. Adèle and Emma’s relationship quickly develops into more than just friendship. Adèle knows that she can only be open and honest and just be herself around Emma.

They both discover the emotional spectrum of their relationship as it grows more mature. Together, the two explore their sexuality and societal acceptance. This French melodrama, in fact, beautifully captures the prevalent issues of the LGBT community across countries in the world.

Blue is the Warmest Color offers the audiences an emotional story, great performances by its actors, nevertheless, its impressive cinematography.

This movie is co-written, co-produced, and directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. The cast includes Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, and Aurélien Recoing.

Divines (2016)

Divines is a 2016 French-language film that received a nomination for a Golden Globe. It is all about survival in a wild, crazy world wherein the characters seem remarkably real in the movie.

This crime drama tells the tale of a teenager who has a dysfunctional family from Paris.  They cross paths with a young dancer who lives a rather chaotic life. Despite that this French film has a common plot, it is, in fact, a complex one.

How so? The characters, settings, relationships, as well as its elements,  get incredibly powerful. Whether it is a mother-daughter confrontation or a debate in a classroom, Divines delivers heart-wrenching scenes.

The film’s stars Oulaya Amamra and Déborah Lukumuena are both brilliant in their roles, it won’t be surprising to see more of them in upcoming movies. Divines is directed by French director and screenwriter Uda Benyamina.

Fatima (2015)

Fatima is a French-Canadian drama released in 2015. The film’s story centers on an immigrant from North Africa named Fatima, hence the movie’s title.

In her mid-40s, Fatima is a single parent to her two daughters, Nesrine, age 18, and the 15-year-old Souad who is living in Lyon, France. This French-language movie highlights the stereotypes concerning immigrant workers seeking sanctuary in a peaceful country like France.

She works various shifts as a cleaning lady in a foreign country and tries so hard to learn how to speak their language. Fatima wants to be able to communicate with her daughters in French, especially her younger daughter who speaks the language really well.

A sad twist of fate happens one day, however. She injures herself when she slips while cleaning the stairwell. Now bed-ridden, Fatima is able to do something she wants to do in a long time. She expresses everything she feels in letters to her daughters written in Arabic.

Fatima is definitely a heart-wrenching French film to watch. It is directed by Philippe Faucon and starring Zita Hanrot, Mehdi Senoussi, and Franck Andrieux.

Ares (2016)

French cinema is not well-known for sci-fi films, which is why the 2016 dystopian film Ares may be one of the French movies that have a futuristic backdrop. Set in the dystopian future, this film is specifically set in the 2030s when the economy of France is in a bad shape.

Inspired by the Blade Runner’s futuristic setting, Ares depicts chaotic streets with digital signs, as well as thick smog covering the atmosphere. It is also common to see an extremely corrupt government and large corporations control the police.

The main plot of Ares revolves around the narrative of unemployed humans, mostly those who engage in sports, become the lab rats of gigantic pharmaceutical corporations in testing their products.

The lead character in the movie is named Ares, hence, the film’s title. Ares is a top-caliber boxer within his ranks. He allows himself to be a guinea pig for a drug in exchange for money that he will post as bail for her sister who is in prison.

Directed by Jean-Patrick Benes, Ares stars Ola Rapace, Micha Lescot, Thierry Hancisse, and Hélène Fillières.

Disorder (2015)

Disorder is a 2015 French-Belgian drama thriller that tells the story of Vincent, a former soldier of French Special Forces who recently got home from Afghanistan. Just like other soldiers who came home from war, Vincent also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

As he is recovering from the perils of war, Vincent is employed as a private bodyguard for Jessie, the wife of the rich Lebanese businessman, and her son. It’s unsurprising that the subsequent turn of events show Vincent having a growing fondness for his client’s wife. Amid looming threats on his life and that of Jesse’s, Vincent is able to thwart an attack that attempted on their lives.

Apparently, Disorder has quite a common plot that is a standard for movies and there is nothing new about the film. Movie critics, however, laud this French movie for its engaging and engrossing story, so, it is still a gritty movie to watch.

This film is directed by Alice Winocour with Matthias Schoenaerts, Diane Kruger, Paul Hamy, and Zaïd Errougui-Demonsant.

He Even Has Your Eyes (2016)

He Even Has Your Eyes is a 2016 French film that follows the lives of Paul and Sali, an Afro-American couple who can’t have a child of their own. Hence, they decide to apply to adopt a kid.

Finally, they receive a call that their application to adopt a child has been approved but there is a problem. The story takes a turn as the black couple is going to adopt a 6-month-old baby boy named Benjamin is white, with adorable blue eyes.

The film shows Paul and Sali’s struggle with their desire to raise the child as their own while their parents and relatives disapprove having one of a different color.

He Even Has Your Eyes is an enjoyable, touching, and light-hearted comedy film that boasts a well-written script and powerful performances of the actors. It is directed by Lucien Jean-Baptiste with main stars Aïssa Maïga, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Zabou Breitman, and Vincent Elbaz.

In The Shadow Of Iris (2016)

In the Shadow of Iris is an erotic French thriller drama released in 2016. It revolves around the life of Iris, a lost woman who suffers despite that her moral compass points north.

The movie opens with Irish dining at a restaurant with her hubby Antoine. Just as soon as they’re done, Antoine settles the bill. But Iris is gone missing and she appears to be taken by kidnappers.

It did not take long for the police to do their investigation shortly after the kidnappers called Antoine. They are asking for a ransom from him in exchange for Iris.

In the Shadow of Iris has a bittersweet twist. It turns out that Iris made the whole thing up and faked her abduction. She found out Antoine is cheating on her with a woman known as Claudia amid their dull sex life and her husband’s fondness for BDSM.

This French crime drama is co-written and directed by Jalil Lespert who also appears in the movie and stars Romain Duris, Charlotte Le Bon, and Camille Cottin.

I am Not an Easy Man (2018)

I am Not an Easy Man is an unexpectedly enlightening French sex comedy movie that you should not miss to watch on Netflix. Released in 2018, this foreign film casts a significant milestone in the French cinematic industry as it revolves around feminism vis-à-vis the prevalent male chauvinism.

This French comedy tells the story of Damien, a male chauvinist but a relentless flirt with the opposite sex. He likes to show off his masculinity over women. The tables start to turn on him when one day, he passes out when he hit his head on a pole.

The following morning, Damien wakes up to what seems to be a parallel dimension where the women dominate. The world he once knew turns upside down as he himself has to handle household chores, shave parts of his body, and find women’s clothes inside his closet. Women now get to be on top during sex or kiss him goodbye as they leave for work.

I am Not an Easy Man introduces a whole fresh perspective to guys and offers men a peek at what’s it like to be a woman.

Directed by Éléonore Pourriat, I am Not an Easy Man features Vincent Elbaz, Marie-Sophie Ferdane, Pierre Benezit, and Blanche Gardin.

Headwinds (2011)

Headwinds is a 2011 must-watch French film that will surely impress movie fans. It tells the story of Paul. He became a single father who is faced with life’s difficulties while doing his best in taking care of two children.

Paul is in a bad marriage with Sarah but the two still try to keep things together for their kids, Clement and Manon. Sarah, who is a doctor, is the provider of their family. Paul apparently is a novelist who barely makes a fortune out of his books.

In his desire to write a hit novel, Paul tells Sarah to get a vacation from work. However, Sarah disagrees, resulting in a big fight between them. She then leaves their house and now goes missing.

Everyone now thinks she is being kidnapped or now dead. Amid an investigation, Paul denies he has something to do with his wife’s disappearance.

Headwinds is directed by Jalil Lespert. It stars Benoit Magimel, Audrey Tautou, Isabelle Carre, Antoine Dulery, Ramzy Bedia, Bouli Lanners, Marie-Ange Casta, and Lubna Azabal

My Golden Days (2015)

My Golden Days also makes it to our best 25 French movie picks to watch on Netflix. This nostalgic 2015 French drama takes viewers to France in the 80s.

This movie follows the life of the lead character, Paul Dedalus who is leaving for Tajikistan. Prior to his departure, he fondly recalls his teen years and his childhood memories, especially his trip to Russia where he first experienced being with a woman, and most of all, Esther, Paul’s ultimate love.

While My Golden Days movie tells a rather generic tale of love, it stands out with how it is narrated. The audiences get hooked with Paul’s interesting life story.

My Golden Days received positive reviews from film critics and fans when it premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. This drama film is directed by Arnaud Desplechi with the main cast Quentin Dolmaire, Lou Roy-Lecollinet, Mathieu Amalric, and Dinara Drukarova

Much Loved (2015)

One of the best French movies that make it to this list is the 2015 drama titled Much Loved. This film is a dual language movie produced in French and Arabic.

Much Loved is a revolutionary movie that tackles the dangers of prostitution in Morocco. The film’s narrative follows the story of Noha, who appears to be the “queen” of the circle of prostitutes. Noha’s family condemns her source of living, but it is ironic that they ask financial help from her.

Noha is closest to Soukiana and Randa. Soukiana is the shy one who is still new with the trade while Randa is gay and the newest to join the flock. Another sex worker, Hilma, also became close to the three. All four of them become friends and have fun partying when they are not working.

Much Loved tells a tale of lust and money and reflects a grating, bittersweet, and poignant reality of life. This film stars Loubna Abidar, Asmaa Lazrak, Halima Karaouane, and Sara Elhamdi Elalaou. It is directed by Morrocan-French filmmaker Nabil Ayouch.

Nocturama (2016)

Nocturama is a gripping 2016 French movie that all movie aficionados should not miss. Movie critics say this movie offers nerve-wracking and riveting entertainment with its original and compelling narrative.

This thriller drama focuses on the ideology known as hipster terrorism. The opening sequence shows a group of youngsters roaming around Paris. Audiences see timestamps placed at the bottom of the screen each time following a huge incident and criminals are being rounded up by the police.

You could see the movie’s lead characters feeling a bit terrified, uneasy, and vigilant as well. The subsequent scenes, however, show the group having fun window shopping in a mall and listening to music amid the looming threat perceived as one of the biggest incidents in the city of love’s history.

Nocturama is directed by Bertrand Bonello with cast Finnegan Oldfield, Hamza Meziani, Manal Issa, Vincent Rottiers, and Laure Valentinelli.

The African Doctor (2016)

The African Doctor also joins our best 25 French movies to watch on Netflix. This 2016 French-language movie offers a light, heart-warming tale spiced with humor.

The film’s narrative highlights the struggle of Seyolo Zantoko, a Congolese descent in France, to become part of the society. It also focuses on a never-ending tale of family problems and immigrants’ battles in a foreign land.

Now a certified doctor of medicine, he is on to a new challenge. He, together with his family, have to move to a small suburban area in France. There, he tries to become one of the respectable doctors practicing in the village.

The African Doctor shows brilliance in delivering the parody of racial and cultural struggles as well as seeking societal acceptance. The film is helmed by Julien Rambaldi. Its main cast includes Marc Zinga, Aïssa Maïga, Bayron Lebli, and Médina Diarra.

Mercenary (2016)

Called Mercenaire in French, Mercenary is a French drama film that debuted in 2016. It revolves around the life of Soane, a 19-year-old lad from a town in Polynesia whose body build is perfectly suited for a prop forward position in Rugby.

Reluctant at first, Soane agrees to play for a Rugby sports team in mainland France. However, his father, Leone, does not permit Soane to go. Disobeyed by his son, Leone now deems Soane dead before sending him away.

As soon as he arrives in France, things go south for Soane when it is found later that for an undisclosed reason, he is not fit to play Rugby. This turn of event leads Soane to land a job as a bouncer and turns to drugs, wasting his life away.

Mercenary mainly revolves around the major changes and struggles Soane has to face as he accepts his new identity. Directed by Sacha Wolff, this French drama stars Toki Pilioko, Iliana Zabeth, Laurent Pakihivatau, Petelo Sealeu, and Maoni Talalua.

Slack Bay (2016)

Slack Bay is a 2016 French dark comedy that has received positive reviews from the critics as well as the movie fans for its script. This movie is also touted as one of the best French-language movies to watch on Netflix.

Slack Bay, which takes place in 1910, is titled after an infamous area that is close to the Chanel coast. This place has become notorious when lots of tourists have gone missing as the sea and river meet during the high tide.

As people flock in the area for holidays in the summer season, two corrupt police officers are doing the investigation. In the middle of all that, new alliances are forged and love is in the air.

Several numbers of families live around Slack Bay. The most known family is the Bourgeois who are degenerate. Such was a result of inbreeding within their family for generations.

This French comedy is directed by Bruno Dumont starring Juliette Binoche, Fabrice Luchini, Dumont himself, and more

The Climb (2017)

The Climb (L’Ascension) is an inspiring French adventure movie with some fine and entertaining scenes. Released in 2017, this film tells the tale of Sam, an unemployed man who is head over heels in love with Nadia.

To prove his true feelings for her, Sam vows to climb the world’s highest peak, the Mt. Everest. That is despite the fact that he has not climbed one mountain in his whole life.

He goes to Nepal, with only a book and a jar of Nutella. Sam is initially shocked to experience the ascent, as he comes closer to the mountain. On his way there, what he does is not give up, make friends with fellow climbers, and live in this momentous journey.

Directed by Ludovic Bernard, The Climb stars Ahmed Sylla, Alice Belaïdi, Romane Portail, and Moussa Maaskri.

Un + Une (2015)

Un + Une is a 2017 French-language adventure comedy that takes viewers in a journey to a vibrant, colorful landscape of India. The audiences get to have a look at the country’s busy streets, various transportation vehicles, food, as well as the people.

This must-watch French film follows the story of Antoine, a music composer whose job mainly involves music composition for movies. Although he has a girlfriend, Antoine appears to be a “casual” relationship kind of guy.

The movie gets more interesting when his line of work brings him to a road of self-discovery as he travels to India. Antoine has to go there to create music for India’s rendition of Shakespeare’s classic novel Romeo and Juliet.

Antoine’s seemingly ordinary life takes a turn when he went to a gala and met Anna, the wife of France’s Ambassador to India. The story gets even more complicated now that Antoine falls in love with her.

What happens next to the love story of Antoine and Anne? There’s one way to find out. Watch Un + Une right now on Netflix.

Un + Une is directed by Claude Lelouch. The cast includes Jean Dujardin, Elsa Zylberstein, Christopher Lambert. Alice Pol, Rahul Vohra, and more.

The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (2015)

The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun debuted in theaters in 2015. This film gives the audiences a bizarre ride with its dark, frisky plot that adds a twist of intriguing ambiguity.

The story of this movie begins when Dany Dorémus, a secretary, carnapped her boss’s car. What seems to be a simple carnapping has gone worse as she finds a body in the trunk of the vehicle. This now makes her the primary suspect of a murder.

Critics say The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun is an engrossing movie that is extremely visual and has a ton of soundtrack. It might not be a piece for every movie fan, but it’s not that bad, you can still check it out.

The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun stars Samantha Eggar, Oliver Reed, John McEnery, and Stéphane Audran. The film is directed by Joann Sfar.

Things To Come (2016)

Things to Come, otherwise called L’avenir, is one of the hit French films that see huge success in the box office from its global release. It has also received various accolades and critical acclaim upon its worldwide theatrical debut.

The story of Things to Come centers on Nathalie, played by Isabelle Huppert, a wife and a mother of two. Apart from being a mother, she has a career as a philosophy professor at a high school in Paris.

Nathalie is the quintessential wife and mother who is able to keep a balance between her personal life and work. She still communicates with her former students and takes care of her controlling mother.

The day comes, however, when the world she knows starts to crumble. Her husband leaves her for another woman after 25 years of marriage. She, however, feels emancipated and eager to start anew.

Things to Come is about letting go, moving on, and holding on to hope amid life’s continuous misadventure. This French-German drama film is written and directed by Mia Hansen-Løve.

We Are Family (2016)

If you are in the mood for laughs, We Are Family, titled C’est quoi cette famille ?! in French, is one to die for from this guide. This movie is rather known as one of the most hilarious French comedies that will surely make you laugh hard until your side hurts.

We are Family follows the story of Bastien, a kid who lives with all his six half-siblings. How did this happen? His mom and dad have been into marrying, separating, and remarrying over and again, which explains why he ended up with several half-brothers and half-sisters.

Bastien and his half-siblings are getting tired of moving from one place to another just as quick as their parents get a divorce and remarry one after the other. So, they all stand up to their parents as they all agree that it should not be the case anymore. They want their respective parents instead to take turns in coming and staying along with them.

Directed by Gabriel Julien-Laferrière, We Are Family stars Julie Gayet, Thierry Neuvic, Julie Depardieu, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Claudia Tagbo, and more.

Wedding Unplanned (2017)

Released in 2017, Wedding Unplanned is an enjoyable French cinematic treat to watch. This French feature is baffling yet a funny take on relationships.

Wedding Unplanned tells a heart-wrenching love story of an engaged couple who gets their wedding planned in an unconventional sort of way. Mathias and Alexia have been together for some time but things get complicated when the groom-to-be began cheating on Alexia with Juliette, who is a wedding planner.

Then comes the day when Alexia discovers the visiting card of Juliette in Mathias’ pocket. Here, the audience is persuaded to think that the bride-to-be now has doubts about Mathias’ fidelity.

However, Alexia rather believes that Mathias comes to visit Juliette because she is their wedding planner. She does not have a clue that as she agrees to marry Mathias, he is now falling in love with Juliette.

Wedding Unplanned is directed by screenwriter and TV host Reem Kherici who also stars as Juliette in this movie along with Nicolas Duvauchelle, and Julia Piaton.