With its extraordinary landscapes and inspiring backdrop, France has been the darling of directors since the Lumière brothers showed the first moving picture in 1895. As a result, dozens of movies take France as their set or theme, making choosing the best films set in France something of a challenge!
But, we’ve risen to it and picked our absolute favourites, classed by region (like our website), simply because we feel there’s no better way to showcase this stunning country. Our tour of the best films set in France starts in the City of Light before moving outwards in all directions. So, lights, camera, action!
Best films set in Paris – Moulin Rouge, Amelie and Last Tango in Paris
Unsurprisingly, Paris has provided the backdrop for countless films – TimeOut lists 54 alone – so choosing just one is impossible. We’ve therefore gone for a trio:
Last Tango in Paris
The Bernardo Bertolucci classic from 1972 is not just one of the world’s greatest movies, it also reveals Marlon Brando at his smouldering best. The City of Light does the rest.
🎬 Watch the sultry original trailer for Last Tango in Paris
Moulin Rouge
An extravaganza in true Baz Luhrmann style, this film combines music, comedy, razzmatazz and romance as Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor romp their way through Montmartre. The “jukebox musical” soundtrack is the icing on the cake.
🎶 Join Christina Aguilera, Pink and Lil’ Kim in Lady Marmalade
Amélie
Something of a “love-it, hate-it” movie (we love it), Amélie will go down in the annals as Audrey Tautou’s signature role. Its positive take on life when the going gets tough is truly inspirational.
🎶 Listen to the Amélie soundtrack
Best film set in Paris and the Alps – The Intouchables
This runaway box-office success showcases an unlikely friendship rather than a particular location. But the Parisian mansion and Mont Bisanne in the French Alps provide the perfect backdrop for the feel-good movie that proves that two opposite worlds of a white, wealthy quadriplegic and black carer can come together in harmony.
🎬 Watch that foot-tapping dance scene from The Intouchables
Best film set in the Côte d’Azur – To Catch a Thief
The south of France inspires along its entire coastline and a long list of films have chosen this part of the country as their setting. We’ve chosen the Hitchcock classic because it takes one gorgeous Côte d’Azur location after another as Cary Grant and Grace Kelly drive, picnic, sunbathe and dance their way along it. Kelly obviously loved it so much that she went on to rule Monaco.
🎬 Join Grant and Kelly above Montecarlo
Best film set in Brittany – Portrait of a Lady on Fire
The wild coast of a remote spot in Brittany sets the scene for the forbidden love between a painter and her subject, whose wedding is imminent. Director Céline Sciamma won best screenplay at Cannes for her study of power and passion, played out in the stunning Saint-Pierre-Quiberon.
🎬 Watch the trailer for this film
Best film set in Normandy – Pauline at the Beach
Mont-Saint-Michel is the central location for this film by Éric Rohmer exploring young and old love. Windsurfing on glorious Normandy beaches mixes in with the love affairs of the inexperienced 15-year-old Pauline and her older cousin Marion.
🎬 See the trailer with tasters of all the liaisons
Best films set in Burgundy – Chocolat and Back to Burgundy
The scenic landscapes and vineyards offer great inspiration for movies, including these two:
Chocolat
Although the pretty village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy provides the main location for this romantic film, it’s the chocolate not the wine that sets your senses on fire. Add to this the love interest between Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp and you have a recipe for box office success.
🎬 Remember the I’m Throwing a Party scene
Back to Burgundy
Wine does take centre stage in this film, looking at sibling rivalry when the three children return to their family home. As well as a tale of family ups and downs and love, the movie showcases Burgundy wine and how to make it.
Best films set in Provence – A Good Year, Diary of a Chambermaid and Jean de Florette
Like Paris, Provence is a popular location for the best films set in France, so, we’ve allowed ourselves another trio of great movies.
A Good Year
The stunning scenery around Cucuron, Luberon and Vaucluse provides most of the backdrops for this Ridley Scott film starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. The resulting love affair and work-versus-play tussle are perhaps a little cliché but there’s no denying that Provence really does make one great location.
🎶 Lose yourself in Provence when you listen to the soundtrack
Diary of a Chambermaid
Three great film directors have chosen to adapt Mirbeau’s 1900 novel for the screen: Jean Renoir in 1946, Luis Buñuel in 1964 and Benoît Jacques in 2015. The newest version in colour rather than black and white showcases Provence to the extent that the region almost becomes a character in its own right.
Jean de Florette
The trials and tribulations of Provence country living come into their own in the period drama starring three of the most famous actors in France: Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu and Yves Montand. The film was an international success and is attributed to putting Provence on the tourist map.
Best film set in the Bordeaux-Gironde – Chéri
Bordeaux city and its surroundings have been featured in many films. For example, the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux takes centre stage in a scene in Mamma Mia!, and Robert Hossein chose several locations in the region for his 1982 version of Les Misérables. But we’ve chosen Chéri by Stephen Frears as our pick. We love the Belle Époque vibe and stunning shots of Biarritz as Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend play out their older woman – younger man love affair in 19th century France.
🎬 Discover why Michelle Pfeiffer says aging is easy
Find your own film set in France
If you like the idea of creating your own movie set in a stunning part of France and, of course, starring with your friends and family, book a holiday on the water. Whether you choose a luxury hotel barge getaway, a river cruise holiday or a self-drive vacation, you’re guaranteed to enjoy scenery and experiences worthy of the big screen.
Find out more about a holiday on the French waterways now
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