10 Romantic French Movies for Date Night

How to watch: Amazon

One of the most critically acclaimed recent movies, “Amélie” tells the whimsical story of a shy waitress in the Parisian neighborhood of Montmartre. She was homeschooled because her parents incorrectly diagnosed her with a heart condition. She developed an active imagination, and would find simple pleasures in bettering the lives of those around her. She convinces her father to tour the world by mailing pictures of his stolen garden gnome posed at landmarks around the world. When Amélie develops feelings for a quirky guy named Nino, she creates a cat-and-mouse game around Paris for him to retrieve his belongings.

How to watch: YouTube (Free)

Young lovers in Cherbourg, Guy and Geneviève, are separated when Guy is drafted to serve in the Algerian War. Now-pregnant Geneviève begins to question his commitment after only receiving a few sporadic messages here and there. She ultimately is encouraged to move on to another pursuer who promises a good life for her and her child. When Guy returns injured from the war, he struggles to return back to his normal life after finding out Geneviève is married and no longer in Cherbourg with their child.

How to watch: YouTube

“Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles,” or “A Very Long Engagement,” is a French-American romantic movie released in 2004, starring Audrey Tautou and Marion Cotillard. After five French soldiers were convicted to no man’s land after trying to escape the corrupt French military system during World War I, they were presumed dead after a subsequent battle. One of the soldier’s fiancée goes on a mission to find out what actually happened on the battlefield. The story takes place in Paris and the French countryside during the 1920s.

How to watch: Tubi (Free)

A classic love triangle, “Ensemble, C'est Tout” — also called “Hunting and Gathering” — is a romantic film about a young artist and cleaning lady named Camille who lives alone in a small attic in Paris. She begins a relationship with a shy and wealthy postcard salesman in temporary custody of a beautiful apartment in her building. His roommate for the time is a local cook named Franck who takes care of shopping and other tasks on his behalf. The two are complete opposites, and Camille immediately takes a liking to soft-spoken Philibert. Through countless disruptions, the two face trouble getting on the same page in their relationship.

How to watch: Amazon

“Prête-Moi Ta Main” translates to “lend me your hand.” This romantic comedy is about Luis Campos, a 43-year-old happily single perfumer. His family council, the “G7”, decides he must be married within a year, which Luis doesn’t like because their involvement ruined his relationship with his true love. He develops a plan around the G7’s request, and “rents” his best friend's sister, Emma, as the perfect bride-to-be. The plan is to have her leave him at the altar on their wedding day, but things turn around when his family takes a liking to Emma and blames him for her running away.