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    Home/Browse/1980s Movies/1980s French Movies

    1980s French Movies

    The 40 most popular 1980s french movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    Exploits of a Young Don Juan
    TMDB3.1

    Exploits of a Young Don Juan

    1986 · 1h 40m

    country: France

    In 1914, sixteen year old Roger returned home from boarding school during vacation to find his puberty hit hard in a house filled with beautiful women. These women have previous engagements with other men who are away, and during this time, Roger impregnates them all, including his aunt and sister, then devises plans to cuckold the men.

    L'été en pente douce
    TMDB3.3

    L'été en pente douce

    1987 · 1h 42m

    country: France

    When he inherits the family house and property after his mother's death, aspiring novelist Fane returns home with his bimbo girlfriend Lilas. He must care for his idiot brother Mo and contend with a greedy garage owner who covets Fane's property to expand his business. When efforts to buy the property are fruitless, the mechanic incites the townsfolk against the strange trio.

    The Name of the Rose
    TMDB3.7

    The Name of the Rose

    1986 · 2h 10m

    country: France

    14th-century Franciscan monk William of Baskerville and his young novice arrive at a conference to find that several monks have been murdered under mysterious circumstances. To solve the crimes, William must rise up against the Church's authority and fight the shadowy conspiracy of monastery monks using only his intelligence; which is considerable.

    Possession
    TMDB3.7
    FF4.3

    Possession

    1981 · 2h 4m

    country: France

    A young woman left her family for an unspecified reason. The husband determines to find out the truth and starts following his wife. At first, he suspects that a man is involved. But gradually, he finds out more and more strange behaviors and bizarre incidents that indicate something more than a possessed love affair.

    The Big Blue
    TMDB3.7

    The Big Blue

    1988 · 2h 48m

    country: France

    Childhood friends Jacques and Enzo share a passion for the danger of free diving. Jacques, following in the footsteps of his father, who died at sea when Jacques was a boy, harbors a remarkable ability to adjust his heart rate and breathing patterns in the water, with his vital signs more closely resembling those of dolphins than men.

    The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
    TMDB3.6

    The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

    1989 · 2h 4m

    country: France

    When churlish mobster Albert Spica acquires an upscale French restaurant in London, he dines there nightly, effectively scaring off the clientele with his bad manners. His wife, Georgina, is especially disgusted by him, and soon begins an affair with regular guest Michael. Despite their best efforts to keep it secret, Spica learns about their trysts, and he plots a terrible revenge.

    Quest for Fire
    TMDB3.5

    Quest for Fire

    1981 · 1h 40m

    country: Canada

    In the prehistoric world, a Cro-Magnon tribe depends on an ever-burning source of fire, which eventually extinguishes. Lacking the knowledge to start a new fire, the tribe sends three warriors on a quest for more. With the tribe's future at stake, the warriors make their way across a treacherous landscape full of hostile tribes and monstrous beasts. On their journey, they encounter Ika, a woman who has the knowledge they seek.

    Nuit d'ivresse
    TMDB3.0

    Nuit d'ivresse

    1986 · 1h 27m

    country: France

    Jacques Belin, presenter of a silly TV show, gets drunk after receiving an award and misses the train bringing his TV-soap-star fiancée. He meets up with Frède, just out of prison after a three year sentence and, in between numerous arguments and Jacques' break-up with his girlfriend, the two of them get drunker together, going across Paris in search of more alcohol and adventure.

    Fanny and Alexander
    TMDB3.9

    Fanny and Alexander

    1982 · 3h 8m

    country: Sweden

    As children in the loving Ekdahl family, Fanny and Alexander enjoy a happy life with their parents, who run a theater company. After their father dies unexpectedly, however, the siblings end up in a joyless home when their mother, Emilie, marries a stern bishop. The bleak situation gradually grows worse as the bishop becomes more controlling, but dedicated relatives make a valiant attempt to aid Emilie, Fanny and Alexander.

    Caligula and Messalina
    TMDB2.3

    Caligula and Messalina

    1981 · 1h 41m

    country: Italy

    When the deranged emperor Caligula falls for an insatiable gladiatrix, their reign launches a mind-bending bacchanal of torture, sodomy, incest, castration, and aroused livestock.

    Beau Pere
    TMDB3.2

    Beau Pere

    1981 · 2h 3m

    country: France

    Rémi is a man trapped in a deteriorating marriage. When his wife is unexpectedly killed in a car accident, Rémi is left with his stepdaughter, Marion, who chooses to stay with him rather than live with her birth father. After the initial shock passes, Rémi is caught off-guard when Marion begins expressing her attraction to him. Initially repulsed, Marion's mature beauty wears him down as he finally caves to her seductions.

    Betty Blue
    TMDB3.6

    Betty Blue

    1986 · 2h

    country: France

    A lackadaisical handyman and aspiring novelist tries to support his younger girlfriend as she slowly succumbs to madness.

    Manon of the Spring
    TMDB3.8

    Manon of the Spring

    1986 · 1h 55m

    country: France

    In this, the sequel to Jean de Florette, Manon has grown into a beautiful young shepherdess living in the idyllic Provencal countryside. She plots vengeance on the men who greedily conspired to acquire her father's land years earlier.

    The Party
    TMDB3.3

    The Party

    1980 · 1h 50m

    country: France

    A thirteen-year-old French girl deals with moving to a new city and school in Paris, while at the same time her parents are getting a divorce.

    Asterix in Britain
    TMDB3.4

    Asterix in Britain

    1986 · 1h 19m

    country: Denmark

    One little ancient British village still holds out against the Roman invaders. Asterix and Obelix are invited to help. They must face fog, rain, warm beer and boiled boar with mint sauce, but they soon have Governor Encyclopaedius Britannicus's Romans declining and falling. Until a wild race for a barrel of magic potion lands them in the drink.

    Querelle
    TMDB3.3

    Querelle

    1982 · 1h 49m

    country: Germany

    French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice with Nono, Lysiane's husband: if you win, you are allowed to make love with Lysiane; if you lose, you have to make love with Nono... Querelle loses on purpose.

    The Bear
    TMDB3.6

    The Bear

    1988 · 1h 37m

    country: France

    An orphan bear cub hooks up with an adult male as they try to dodge human hunters.

    The Professional
    TMDB3.6

    The Professional

    1981 · 1h 48m

    country: France

    Josselin Beaumont, a French secret agent, is tasked with assassinating Njala, the president for life of Malawi in Africa. A shift in French policy means that assassinating Njala is no longer an option. But instead of recalling their agent, high-ranking officials deliberately sacrifice Beaumont by handing him over to the Malawian authorities. Arrested, tried, and imprisoned, he nevertheless manages to escape. Back in Paris after a two-year absence, he informs his superiors through Colonel Martin that he will fulfill his contract during Njala’s upcoming official visit to Paris between the 12th and 15th of this month, and that he has a few scores to settle with the D.G.S.E. The question is, should Beaumont be stopped or not?

    My Dearest
    TMDB2.4

    My Dearest

    1980 · 1h 27m

    country: France

    Jeanne has been divorced for seven years now and her life is centered around Sarah, her fifteen year-old daughter. They appear to have a perfectly harmonious life together, a relationship based on deep mutual understanding and trust. So when Sarah needs a contraceptive, it's her mother who goes alone to the drugstore with her. However, under this idyllic surface there are tensions at work. Jeanne's on and off affair with Pierre does not save her from feeling lonely, and Sarah is bored by school. Both of them dream of an independent life, though neither will admit it.

    Le Guignolo
    TMDB3.0

    Le Guignolo

    1980 · 1h 48m

    country: France

    After the failure of his recent criminal exploits, international con artist Alexandre Dupré sets off for Venice to try to dupe some Japanese business men into buying a fake copy of a stolen Caneletto. On the aeroplane, a stranger asks him to look after his briefcase until after they have landed. Alexandre agrees, but the stranger is shot dead soon after and Alexandre himself becomes the target of enemy agents who are keen to recover the briefcase...

    Emmanuelle 4
    TMDB2.4

    Emmanuelle 4

    1984 · 1h 29m

    country: France

    In order to escape from her former lover Marc, Sylvia goes to Brazil where Dr. Santamo transforms her into the beautiful Emmanuelle...

    Tender Cousins
    TMDB2.9

    Tender Cousins

    1980 · 1h 32m

    country: Germany

    Teenage Julien loves his teenage cousin Julia among flowers in summer of '39 France.

    Gwendoline
    TMDB2.5

    Gwendoline

    1984 · 1h 28m

    country: France

    A beautiful woman hires an intrepid adventurer to help find her father, who has disappeared in the jungle while searching for a rare and priceless butterfly. Along the way they run into cannibals, a race of Amazon warriors and all the usual attractions one would expect to find in a lost jungle.

    Asterix and the Big Fight
    TMDB3.2

    Asterix and the Big Fight

    1989 · 1h 21m

    country: France

    Due to an unfortunate accident involving Obelix throwing a menhir, Getafix the druid not only loses his memory, but goes completely mad. Now deprived of the wisdom of their beloved druid and the protection provided by his magic potion, the Armorican village falls prey to a proclaimed soothsayer who comes with ominous predictions and overweening ambitions. It's up to Asterix to keep his villager friends within reason and hopefully get Getafix to remember the magic potion's recipe before the impending Roman attack.

    The Story of O Part 2
    TMDB2.1

    The Story of O Part 2

    1984 · 1h 47m

    country: France

    James Pembroke, a powerful industrialist, has become a nuisance to his rivals. That is the reason why they have decided to neutralize him. To this end they call on O, who has turned from victim to dominatrix. Her mission is to compromise not only James in person but his whole family as well. And to tell the truth, O does not find much resistance on her way...

    Asterix vs. Caesar
    TMDB3.3

    Asterix vs. Caesar

    1985 · 1h 19m

    country: France

    Obelix falls for a new arrival in his home village in Gaul, but is heartbroken when her true love arrives to visit her. However, the lovers are kidnapped by Romans; Asterix and Obelix set out to rescue them on a dangerous journey that will involve gladiators, slavers and beauracracy - and a personal encounter with the Emperor himself, Julius Caesar...

    Jean de Florette
    TMDB3.8

    Jean de Florette

    1986 · 2h 2m

    country: France

    In a rural French village, an old man and his only remaining relative cast their covetous eyes on an adjoining vacant property. They need its spring water for growing their flowers, and are dismayed to hear that the man who has inherited it is moving in. They block up the spring and watch as their new neighbour tries to keep his crops watered from wells far afield through the hot summer. Though they see his desperate efforts are breaking his health and his wife and daughter's hearts, they think only of getting the water.

    Les enragés
    TMDB3.5

    Les enragés

    1985 · 1h 32m

    country: France

    Marc and Laurent, two worrying misfits, break into a large isolated property in the middle of the countryside. Marc discovers with amazement that the place belongs to his idol, the movie star Jessica Melrose, of whom he is crazy. After a strange night, in the morning, Jessica meets the two "explorers" who will make her live a day of waking nightmare .

    The Party 2
    TMDB3.2

    The Party 2

    1982 · 1h 49m

    country: France

    A young French teenage girl after moving to a new city falls in love with a boy and is thinking of having sex with him because her girlfriends have already done it.

    The Public Woman
    TMDB3.0

    The Public Woman

    1984 · 1h 53m

    country: France

    An inexperienced young actress is invited to play a role in a film based on Dostoyevsky's 'The Possessed'. The film director, a Czech immigrant in Paris, takes over her life, and in a short time she is unable to draw the line between acting and reality. She winds up playing a real-life role posing as the dead wife of another Czech immigrant, who is manipulated by the filmmaker into commiting a political assassination.

    English Education
    TMDB2.4

    English Education

    1983 · 1h 28m

    country: France

    After losing both her parents, young Sylvie is enrolled in a strict boarding school of Victorian English education. The school readily and willingly resorts to a very strict regime of correction and corporal punishment to discipline its female pupils and the young girls compensate for the rigors of their education by devoting themselves to all kinds of kinky schoolgirl sexual encounters.

    Au Revoir les Enfants
    TMDB3.8

    Au Revoir les Enfants

    1987 · 1h 45m

    country: Germany

    Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.

    First Desires
    TMDB2.2

    First Desires

    1983 · 1h 33m

    country: France

    Three teenage girls decide to visit a romantic island and find love. They get shipwrecked and end up on different sides of the island. Each girl begins her own romantic adventure either with a man, a boy or even another girl.

    Three Moods

    TMDB3.5

    Three Moods

    1980 · 7m

    country: France

    The last film made by Alexander Alexeieff and Claire Parker. Trois thèmes was made on the pinscreen, and first shown in Milan, Italy, in March 1980. It was based on three works by Mussorgsky.

    The Lady Banker
    TMDB2.7

    The Lady Banker

    1980 · 2h 11m

    country: France

    Ambitious Emma Eckhert successfully makes her way into a world previously reserved for men: that of high finance. She quickly becomes popular with small savers, but leads a scandalous life that will cost her.

    Mad Love
    TMDB2.9

    Mad Love

    1985 · 1h 41m

    country: France

    After a successful bank robbery, Micky hopes to take back his girlfriend Marie who has been taken from him. On the way to Paris he meets Leon, a neurotic dreamer whom he considers an idiot. Leon can hardly understand what Micky is up to but he follows him everywhere and soon falls in love with Marie.

    Les Conquérants de l'impossible - Portrait de René Desmaison
    TMDB5.0

    Les Conquérants de l'impossible - Portrait de René Desmaison

    1985 · 52m

    country: France

    This episode is part of the series "The Conquerors of the Impossible (2/3)". From the 1950s to the 1980s, René Desmaison achieved a large number of "firsts". A specialist in normal routes (west face of Les Drus, Pilier du Freyney, Shroud...), he experienced a tragedy at the Grandes Jorasses, where his exceptional resistance allowed him to survive against all logic. He is the first to claim the practice of the mountain as a high level sport. A man of contrasts, his apparent strength hides great shyness and an unalterable enthusiasm despite the years. Beyond mountaineering, it is the spirit of adventure that has always inhabited him. A whole life devoted to mountaineering.

    L'Apparition

    TMDB4.3

    L'Apparition

    1986 · 11m

    country: France

    A man's bathroom routine triggers a miraculous vision in a nearby church.

    La Pirate
    TMDB2.4

    La Pirate

    1984 · 1h 28m

    country: France

    Shortly after returning home one evening with her husband, Alma is visited by her one-time lesbian lover Carole. In the ensuing emotional torrent, Alma allows herself to be abducted by Carole and taken to a hotel, pursued by a young girl - an unnamed friend of Carole - and an eccentric bystander posing as a private detective. Before Alma and Carole can resolve their situation, Alma's husband Andrew appears on the scene and, in a mad frenzy, attempts to reclaim his wife…

    The Last Metro
    TMDB3.6

    The Last Metro

    1980 · 2h 11m

    country: France

    In occupied Paris, an actress wed to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Nazis while doing both of their jobs.

    About 1980s French Movies

    The 1980s

    The 1980s codified the blockbuster — high concept, wide release, heavy merchandising — while home video quietly built a second life for films that flopped in theaters. Practical effects hit their peak just before CGI arrived.

    French cinema

    French cinema invented much of what we consider film language, then reinvented it again with the Nouvelle Vague of the late 1950s. It remains Europe's most prolific film industry, with a strong tradition of state support for auteur work.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Fanny and Alexander (7.8)
    Most common genres
    Drama, Comedy, Romance

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s French movies?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Exploits of a Young Don Juan, L'été en pente douce, and The Name of the Rose. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any movie for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s French movies are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these movies?
    Every movie page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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