TV5 Monde USA brings you an unmissable selection of the best French movies and French films in the US — and a curated selection of hand-picked Cannes standouts — to help you sharpen your French language skills and immerse yourself in France’s rich storytelling tradition. Whether you’re a francophone craving a taste of home or a francophile eager to perfect your listening and vocabulary, our live channel and on-demand library have you covered.

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Spring and Summer 2025 Festival & Spotlight French Films

Peaux de vaches (France, 1989)
A searing family drama from Un Certain Regard. Two estranged brothers set their farm ablaze, unleashing tragedy and raw emotion. This French film is perfect for learners seeking authentic rural accents and intense vocabulary.

Adieu Berthe – L’enterrement de Mémé (France, 2011)
Bruno Podalydès’s bittersweet comedy blends humor and heartbreak. A grandson juggles funeral arrangements, a failing pharmacy, and new romance. One of the best French movies to learn everyday idioms and warm humor.

La dérive des continents (au sud) (Switzerland/France, 2022)
Directors’ Fortnight’s incisive political dramedy as world leaders visit a refugee camp. Ideal for advanced French language learners exploring politics, family dynamics, and international vocabulary.

Une aussi longue absence (France/Italy, 1960)
1961 Palme d’Or winner with poetic narration. A lyrical exploration of memory, loss, and hope—rich in period dialogue and expressive French films language.

Les Harkis (France, 2022)
A powerful drama about Algerian veterans abandoned after the war. Philippe Faucon’s unflinching portrait offers history-laden vocabulary and emotional registers—an essential French movie for serious learners.

Dalva (Belgium/France, 2022)
Grand Prize at Critics’ Week: a coming-of-age story exploring memory and redemption. A modern French film that teaches conversational phrases and familial expressions.

Les pires (France, 2021)
Cannes À Regard: four real teens blur fiction and reality. This fresh French movie brings youth slang and urban settings—perfect for learners aiming to understand contemporary street language.

Un petit frère (France, 2022)
A Cannes Palme d’Or nominee about a single mother’s immigrant journey. This moving French film offers authentic dialogue on integration, resilience, and family.

Àma gloria (France, 2022)
Critics’ Week opener: a tender tale of separation between a child and her nanny. Ideal for learners wanting emotional nuance in their French language practice.

Roubaix, une lumière (France, 2019)
Desplechin’s taut thriller set in Northern France. This atmospheric French movie is rich with regional accents and moral vocabulary.

La bataille du rail (France, 1945)
Early Cannes Jury Prize winner. Wartime railway sabotage in period French—perfect for history buffs and for expanding your French language register.

Goutte d’or (France, 2022)
A visceral Critics’ Week drama in Paris’s historic quarter—mixing occult practices with street-kid culture. Teaches urban idioms found only in the strongest French films.

La salamandre (Switzerland, 1971)
Tanner’s dark comedy of intrigue and paranoia. A cult French film full of Swiss-French expressions and black humor—perfect for advanced learners.

Yeelen la lumière (Mali/France, 1987)
Cannes Jury Prize: mystical epic rooted in Bambara culture. A cross-cultural French movie offering folk vocabulary and global context.

Series & Documentaries to Deepen Your French

Neumatt (Switzerland, Season 2) – A rural family saga about land inheritance and renewal. Watch now.

Zetwal caraïbes (Guadeloupe, Season 1) – A dramedy about ambition and identity in a Caribbean theater school. Watch now.

Toute la vie (Canada, Season 3) – Groundbreaking docudrama following pregnant teens—an immersive French language experience.

Juste une mise au point – Portraits of French cinema masters, from Baya Kasmi to Pascal Thomas. Watch now.

Libération(s), dans la joie et la douleur – 80th anniversary WWII testimonies in authentic period French films.

Romy Schneider, face à son destin – A loving tribute to Romy Schneider’s legacy. Watch now.

Le terminus des prétentieux – Unseen Michel Audiard screenplays reveal a master of French dialogue. Watch now.

All available on TV5MONDEplus beginning May 2025.

Learn French Through Cinema

French Subtitles: Match spoken lines to text to boost spelling and comprehension across all French movies.

Shadowing Technique: Pause, repeat, and mimic intonation from your favorite French films for clearer pronunciation.

Contextual Learning: From Parisian cafés in Amélie to rural farms in Peaux de vaches, each scene brings new vocabulary to life.

Our TV5 Monde USA Customers Often Ask

Which French movie should I watch?
• Beginners: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain—a top French movie with clear narration and whimsical Paris setting.
• Humor & Heart: Intouchables—one of the best French movies for modern slang and emotional depth.
• Animated Fun: Kirikou et la Sorcière—a beloved French film for all ages, blending folklore with accessible dialogue.

Where to start with French cinema?
• Golden-age comedy: La Grande Vadrouille, Astérix et Obélix – Mission Cléopâtre.
• Modern classics: Amélie, Intouchables, Kirikou.
This progression covers decades of French films and builds a robust French language foundation.

Is “film” feminine or masculine in French?
• Le film (masculine).

What do French people call the cinema?
• Le cinéma for movie theaters, and le septième art for the art of film.

What are French romance films called?
• Comédies romantiques or films d’amour, as exemplified by Amélie—arguably one of the best French movies in its genre.

Ready to Elevate Your French?

Subscribe Now to TV5 Monde USA for live French programming and unlock TV5MONDEplus’s on-demand library of the best French movies and French films.
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Vive le cinéma français et bonne immersion !

Further Reading: Enhance Your French Streaming

Why Streaming French Is a Great Way to Learn French
Proven tips to integrate French movies into your learning routine.

Stream the Best French Movies to Watch This Summer
Your guide to the top French films that boost vocabulary and cultural insight.