Paris is commonly described as the city of light, and it's not hard to see why. A beautiful and ancient multicultural city with many sights to see, Paris has captured the hearts of billions of people around the globe. Its Eiffel Tower is the destination of millions of tourists monthly, and the Louvre is the largest art gallery and museum in the entire world.
All of this means that Paris has spawned many films, TV shows, games, and songs that are influenced by it. A lot of the films set about living in Paris have been very popular and are well worth a watch for viewers who are fond of the French capital city. Paris is a beautiful city that rivals even the most creative open-world Playstation games.
8 Midnight In Paris (2011)
Midnight in Paris is a popular fantasy comedy film set in Paris, in case the name wasn't clear enough. Dealing with a screenwriter who travels back in time each midnight and has a tumultuous relationship with their fiancee, it's a Woody Allen flick remarkably similar in theme to his Manhattan (1979) film, which dealt with living in New York.
The winner of multiple Academy Awards, the film has been considered one of the best Woody Allen films in recent years. Its unique concept crossed with beautiful exterior shots of the city of light makes it a great film for movie fans who admire Paris.
7 Hugo (2011)
A Martin Scorsese film that adapts The Invention of Hugo Cabret book, Hugo is an adventure drama film that deals with the titular character dealing with a mystery around his father. The adventure in this movie rivals even the best adventure anime.
While the plot drifts away from being solely about Paris, the location does feature heavily. Hugo lives in the Gare Montparnasse railway station during the 1930s, leading to lots of Parisian exterior shots. While the film was considered a box office failure, it spawned 11 Academy Award nominations and was received positively by audiences.
6 From Paris With Love (2010)
An action-thriller starring John Travolta in the lead role, From Paris With Love deals with a US ambassador living in Paris who tries to move up the CIA hierarchy and deal with gangs that rival even the most powerful Cyberpunk gangs.
While this film wasn't as well-received as other films set in Paris, it is well worth a watch, especially for fans of the titular city as well as the lead man John Travolta. With sleeper agents, terrorists, and French-Chinese triads, it is packed with interesting and varied villains that don't often get much screentime in modern cinema.
5 The Bourne Identity (2002)
While The Bourne Identity largely off-shoots into a James Bond-esque thriller, Paris features quite heavily for a large portion of the film, offering a window into early-21st century France.
It sees a good performance from lead man Matt Damon and spawned an entire movie franchise based on the titular character, Jason Bourne. Particularly during the car chase scene, lots of great exterior shots of Paris can be seen that admirers of the city will enjoy.
4 Amelie (2001)
Amelie has long been considered one of the best movies about Paris, putting the city on full display for audiences to enjoy. The lead titular character deals with contemporary Parisian life as a shy waiter trying to break out of her shell. Movie-goers who enjoy this may also enjoy running a restaurant in a game.
Reaching critical acclaim, this movie features a capable ensemble cast with compelling performances all around. Unlike other films set in Paris, Amelie is a much more grounded flick, making it more relatable to the average movie-goer. For fans of cinema and Paris, this film is sure to impress.
3 Last Tango In Paris (1972)
Last Tango in Paris is infamous for its controversy, but it is still worth a watch despite that. A Bernardo Bertolucci film with Marlon Brando in the lead role, it deals with a middle-aged widowed American who begins an anonymous sexual relationship with a young Parisian woman.
The film is compelling in its depiction of love and animalistic romance, as well as the complexities concerning the lead characters' relationship; namely the age gap and relative anonymity the two share. While it ended up being very controversial and actors spoke out about their unhappiness with events on the set, it was well-received by audiences and remains one of the best films set in Paris.
2 The 400 Blows (1959)
While the French language may be a bit of a barrier to those who don't speak it, The 400 Blows is considered to be one of the best French films ever made. The lead character at times could be straight out of the Bully game by Rockstar.
A bit more down-to-Earth than other movies set in Paris, The 400 Blows deals with a misunderstood adolescent who struggles with parents and his teachers due to his rebellious behavior. It has received lots of awards and consistently ranks highly on 'Best Films' polls. It also spawned four sequels, so fans who enjoy this will be able to keep the enjoyment of the story and their connection to the characters going for a while.
1 Before Sunset (2004)
A sequel to Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset deals with the characters of Jesse and Celine as they reunite nine years after the first movie, this time in Paris. The romance depicted between the leads rivals even the best video game couples.
A romantic story that is very grounded, this movie features the romantic city of Paris as a perfect backdrop that helps to add to the ambiance of the story. It reached widespread critical acclaim and was followed by a popular sequel Before Midnight (2013).