Last Updated on 28 June 2025 by frenchflicks
If you think French cinema classics begin and end with Amélie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain) or Intouchables, think again. France’s film history overflows with hidden gems, irresistible comedies, and moving dramas waiting to be rediscovered. TV5MONDEplus offers a treasure trove of French movies to stream from anywhere.
Here are 10 of the best French classics you can watch right now on TV5MONDEplus.
1. Up to His Ears (Les Tribulations d’un Chinois en Chine)
A riotous adventure starring the incomparable Jean-Paul Belmondo, this 1965 comedy follows a wealthy man bored with life who hires someone to kill him—only to change his mind when he falls in love. Jacques Besnard’s adaptation of Jules Verne is part globe-trotting farce, part existential romp. If you love classic French comedy, this is essential viewing.
Stream Les Tribulations d’un Chinois en Chine on TV5MONDEplus
2. Peppermint Soda (Diabolo Menthe)
Diane Kurys’s semi-autobiographical tale captures adolescence in 1960s Paris with grace and authenticity. The film delicately balances humor and emotion as two sisters navigate school, first loves, and family upheaval. Diabolo Menthe is a coming-of-age gem that deserves to stand alongside Amélie and other beloved French films.
Stream Diabolo Menthe on TV5MONDEplus
3. Kings and Queen (Rois et Reine)
Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, Rois et Reine is an ambitious drama starring Emmanuelle Devos and Mathieu Amalric. Blending dark comedy and tragedy, it tells the intertwined stories of a woman caring for her dying father and her ex-husband struggling with mental illness. A powerful example of modern French cinema that defies easy categorization.
Stream Rois et Reine on TV5MONDEplus
4. Keep Talking, My Rabbit (Cause Toujours… Mon Lapin)
This delightful comedy offers a portrait of clumsy romantic entanglements and misunderstandings worthy of classic boulevard theater. If you enjoy witty banter and gently absurd situations, Cause Toujours… Mon Lapin will charm you from start to finish.
Stream Cause Toujours… Mon Lapin on TV5MONDEplus
5. Husbands, Wives, Lovers (Les Maris, Les Femmes, Les Amants)
A nostalgic comedy about summer holidays in Île de Ré, where family tensions and flirtations unfold under the sun. This ensemble film brims with affection for the little dramas of everyday life—perfect for fans of lighthearted French movies about amour, family, and seaside escapes.
Stream Les Maris, Les Femmes, Les Amants on TV5MONDEplus
6. A Parisian Woman (Une Parisienne)
Brigitte Bardot stars in this 1957 romantic comedy as a young wife determined to make her diplomat husband jealous. With Bardot’s radiant screen presence and a playful script, Une Parisienne is a reminder that French comedies have always celebrated love’s complexities.
Stream Une Parisienne on TV5MONDEplus
7. A Couch in New York (Un Divan à New York)
Chantal Akerman’s culture-clash comedy pairs Juliette Binoche and William Hurt as strangers who swap homes—and lives—between Paris and New York. This charming film shows that the French cinema of the 1990s had a flair for international romance without losing its uniquely French wit.
Stream Un Divan à New York on TV5MONDEplus
8. Paris Is Always Paris (Paris est Toujours Paris)
This 1951 classic transports you to postwar Paris, where a group of Italians arrive hoping to see the city of dreams. An affectionate portrait of Parisian life, with all its illusions and disappointments, it’s a vintage slice of les aventures that still feels relevant.
Stream Paris est Toujours Paris on TV5MONDEplus
9. The Mother and the Whore (La Maman et la Putain)
Jean Eustache’s landmark of French cinema is a raw, intimate portrait of post-1968 Paris, starring Jean-Pierre Léaud. Often cited alongside the films of François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, this daring exploration of love, boredom, and identity remains one of the best French movies ever made.
Stream La Maman et la Putain on TV5MONDEplus
10. Where Are You From, Johnny? (D’où viens-tu Johnny?)
Part musical, part romantic comedy, this cult classic features rock ‘n’ roll idol Johnny Hallyday. A carefree slice of 1960s pop culture, it’s a fun reminder that the French film scene has always embraced youthful rebellion and catchy tunes.
Stream D’où viens-tu Johnny? on TV5MONDEplus
Whether you’re discovering the playful side of Brigitte Bardot, the melancholy of La Maman et la Putain, or the exuberance of Belmondo’s adventures, these films prove that French cinema is much more than Amélie and Intouchables. So grab a glass of wine and explore some of the most fascinating titles France has to offer.
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