Do you have a list of must-see movies for French class? I doubt you do. I know I didn’t until recently. For the longest time, I thought that showing movies to my students in French class would make me look like a lazy teacher who had nothing planned. It just felt wrong.
how must-see movies for french class support language learners:
I am not sure why did I felt this way? Movies and TV shows were such a key part of my journey to learn English. I watched all of the seasons of Desperate Housewives and The Bachelor. Not quite sure how much The Bachelor helped me but being able to listen and read subtitles at the same time was extremely helpful.
Eventually, I realized there was no shame in using movies in my French classroom. Movies help students train their ears, improve their listening comprehension, and practice their pronunciation. But they also expose your kiddos to French culture, allow them to learn the French sense of humor, and more importantly, HAVE FUN!
Before I share my list of 10 must-see movies for French class with you, I want to remind you that you should use your best judgment. You know your kids and your school’s rules and should use those things in order to decide if the movies are appropriate for your audience.
my top 10 must-see movies for french class
1 must-see movies for french class - Adèle Blanc-Sec (PG, 1h, 49min)
Based on the acclaimed fantasy books by Jacques Tardi, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec follows Adele, a fearless young reporter as she travels to Egypt to find a mummy that she hopes will help resuscitate her sister who has been in a coma. This is a very exuberant, silly, and visually appealing movie.
Your students will discover the Paris of Pre-World War 1, its classic automobiles, and its beautiful costumes.
2 must-see movies for french class - Kirikou et la Sorcière
Kirikou is THE perfect movie for any French learner. Written and directed by Michel Ocelot, it is inspired by West African folktales. Kirikou is the name of the main character, a little boy who wants to save his village from the terrible Karaba, a sorceress that has cast a terrible spell. Kirikou is tiny but he teaches us a big moral value: do not judge people by their appearance. The language is simple, and the storyline is easy to follow.
3 must-see movies for french class - Les Aventures de Tintin
Tintin is a French-language series of comic books written by Hérgé. In 2011 Steven Spielberg directed an adaptation called The Adventures of Tintin. This computer-animated film follows Tintin, a young reporter, and his dog as they embark on a fantastic journey around the world trying to find the Unicorn, a sunken ship that may hold treasure. Tintin is a timeless classic and a favorite among the French.
4 must-see movies for french class- Ratatouille
Do I even need to write about Ratatouille? I’m sure you already know as much as I do about it. While your students may have watched it a million times, they might not have watched it in French yet. It can be a great opening to any food unit or conversation about Paris. If you’ve never seen Ratatouille, in a nutshell, Remy is a rat who wants to reach his goal of becoming a chef.
5 must-see movies for french class- La Marche de l’Empereur
This beautiful French documentary depicts the arduous yearly journey the emperor penguins take in Antarctica in order to mate. The first-person narrative makes it easy to understand. French learners at all levels will enjoy this film if they are animal lovers or have curious minds.
6 must-see movies for french class- La Famille Bélier
La Famille Bélier is one of my favorite French movies! Set in a rural France, it is a sweet and poignant story about a deaf family. Their hearing daughter who has a talent for singing auditions for the prestigious Maîtrise de Radio France in Paris. But this decision would mean leaving her family. The acting is excellent and brought me to tears many times.
7 must-see movies for french class - Les Visiteurs
Godefroy de Montmirail, is a 12th-century Gallic knight who finds himself transported to 1993, along with his dim servant, Jacquouille la Fripouille. The plot of medieval characters adjusting to modern life and modern life coping with medieval actions provides endless laughs. It is a mixture of ridiculous humor, over the top characters and historical commentary.
8 must-see movies for french class - Le Petit Nicolas
When Nicolas finds out that he is about to have a baby brother he panics and worries that his parents will love him less. He and his friends come up with multiple plans to deal with the situation. The plot is easy to follow and kids quickly want to know what happens next. This movie is lighthearted and just an all-around fun family-friendly comedy.
9 must-see movies for french class - The Hundred Foot Journey
Okay so this one is a bit of an underdog. It’s the story of an Indian family who moves to rural France to start its restaurant that happens to be in front of a fancy award-winning French one. It’s a cultural shock on both sides. This movie gives students the opportunity to learn more about the French cuisine world, its star system of ranking, the changes in haute cuisine, and the hierarchy among chefs with an ongoing humoristic note. It isn’t a chef-d’œuvre but it is an entertaining tale with vivid characters in a multi-cultural setting.
10 must-see movies for french class - Être et Avoir
Être et Avoir is a documentary portrait of a one-room school in rural France. Georges Lopez teaches 12 kids, ages 4 to 11 with care and sensitivity. Touching and informative.
I hope that you no longer question the value of movies in your French class, and I hope my must-see movies for French class make it easier to incorporate them into your lessons.