The camera simply loves Paris. Whether it is a realistic portrayal or a romanticised dream, the City of Lights shines brighter on screen. Over the years, through rom-coms, heart-wrenching melodramas, dazzling musicals, and even gritty thrillers, we have seen many iconic portrayals of the city. Here are the top 20 movies that made us fall in love with the city all over again.
20. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi classic might not be the first film that comes to mind when you think of movies set in Paris, but the way it portrays the city remains legendary. A thief who can infiltrate people’s subconsciousness is given the task of implanting an idea into a target’s mind. From folding streets to a bridge that seems to stretch on forever, the version of Paris we see in ‘Inception’ is mind-boggling, to say the least.
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19. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
This animated classic introduced many of us to Paris through one of its most iconic landmarks. The movie tells the story of Quasimodo, the lonely bell-ringer who dreams of experiencing the world outside the Notre Dame Cathedral. Set against the bustling streets of medieval Paris, the film tells a story of belonging and hope that remains timeless.
18. The Phantom Of The Opera (2004)
Another classic that remains inseparable from the city of Paris and one of its greatest landmarks, the Paris Opera House. Beneath its magnificent halls lives the mysterious Phantom, a disfigured musical genius who haunts the theatre and falls in love with the young soprano Christine. Its operatic spectacle, dramatic sabotages, and tragic romance are all timeless Parisian drama that we fall for every single time.
17. The Lovers On The Bridge (1991)
Set against the backdrop of Paris’s 1989 bicentennial celebrations, ‘The Lovers on the Bridge’ follows the story of two young vagrants. Alex is a street performer who has become addicted to alcohol and sedatives, and Michèle is a painter who is slowly losing her eyesight. While living on Paris’s historic Pont-Neuf Bridge, they find a connection. The Paris we fell in love with in this movie is wild, beautiful, and unexpectedly personal.
16. Paris, je t’aime (2006)
This anthology film is essentially a love letter to the City of Lights. With an ensemble cast of characters, the movie unfolds through 18 short stories set across different Parisian arrondissements. Each explores love in its many forms, from passion and desire to heartbreak and loneliness, while also capturing the distinct character of Paris’s different neighbourhoods.
15. The 400 Blows (1959)
This defining French New Wave classic makes Paris feel wonderfully alive. It tells the story of Antoine Doinel as he struggles with his parents, teachers, and his own rebellious nature. The city of Paris becomes much more than a backdrop to his coming-of-age story, instead capturing the freedom, loneliness, mischief, as well as restlessness of adolescence.
14. Hugo (2011)
This enchanting film lets us see Paris through the eyes of twelve-year-old orphan Hugo, who secretly lives inside the clock tower of Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris in the 1930s. From high above, he watches the city’s famous landmarks while spending his time tending to the clocks. The Paris we get to see in ‘Hugo’ comes straight out of a magical children’s storybook.
13. Gigi (1958)
With its lavish costumes, grand musical numbers, and charming sets, ‘Gigi’ captures the unmistakable elegance of Belle Époque-era Paris. At the turn of the century, we follow Gigi, a young girl being trained as a courtesan, and Gaston, a wealthy playboy who has known her since childhood. They share a close, platonic friendship amid the weary conventions of Parisian society, though it may not stay platonic for long.
12. Cléo From 5 To 7 (1962)
This groundbreaking film is both an intimate exploration of its heroine’s inner turmoil and a portrait of everyday life on the streets of Paris, capturing both with intimate detail and through a distinct female gaze. It follows Cléo on one evening from 5 to 6:30 as she anxiously awaits the results of a biopsy that will determine whether she has cancer.
11. Casablanca (1942)
Though most of the movie takes place in Casablanca, Paris remains an essential part of the story. When Rick agrees to help his former lover Ilsa and her husband, their old feelings quickly resurface. We see their whirlwind love affair through dreamy flashback montages, where Paris becomes the backdrop and a contrast to the wartime turmoil surrounding them. The movie also gave us one of the most iconic lines of all time: “We’ll always have Paris.”
10. Les Misérables (2012)
Another classic that we can’t quite separate from Paris is ‘Les Misérables’. While there is nothing quite like seeing it on stage, the 2012 adaptation offers a picture of Paris that remains unforgettable. Set in the early 19th century, it follows escaped convict Jean Valjean as his past catches up with him during a political uprising in Paris. Its unforgettable music, drama, and spectacle create a version of Paris that is deeply troubled but equally captivating.
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9. Funny Face (1957)
There is something inherently special about the combination of Audrey Hepburn’s endless charms and the city of Paris. While there are many of her movies set in the city to choose from, ‘Funny Face’ remains the most charming. Hepburn portrays Jo Stockton, a shy bookseller from New York, who is discovered by photographer Dick Avery and whisked away to Paris to model for a renowned fashion designer.
8. La Haine (1995)
This powerful French social thriller offers a contrasting portrait of Paris, challenging the romantic image we often associate with the city. Filmed in stark black and white, it follows three friends living in a poor immigrant neighbourhood in the suburbs of Paris, as they confront social division and poverty. Its unflinching portrayal of life beyond the postcard version of Paris remains deeply relevant and unforgettable.
7. Breathless (1960)
Hailed as one of the most important films of the French New Wave, ‘Breathless’ takes us on a mesmerising tour of Paris as we follow the duo Michel and Patricia, wandering through the city’s narrow streets, grand boulevards, and bustling cafés. Michel is a charming thief who flees to Paris after shooting a policeman in Marseille, while Patricia is an American student dreaming of becoming a journalist one day.
6. Before Sunset (2004)
The second instalment in Richard Linklater’s acclaimed trilogy brings Jesse and Celine to Paris, nine years after their unforgettable time in Vienna. Much like the first film, the city becomes part of their conversation as we see them wander through streets, cafés, and neighbourhoods. Paris becomes the perfect backdrop for their rekindled romance and lingering connection.
5. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
There isn’t a match for something as visually extravagant or equally dreamlike as ‘Moulin Rouge!’ and its portrayal of Paris. It follows the penniless British poet Christian, who stumbles into the famous cabaret and falls for its dazzling star, Satine. With its showgirls, waltzes, extravagant sets, and dramatic love triangle, ‘Moulin Rouge!’ makes Paris feel like a world of pure spectacle.
4. An American In Paris (1951)
American Jerry Mulligan arrives in post-war Paris to try to succeed as an artist, only to fall for the already-engaged French girl Lise Bouvier. The movie transforms Paris into a vibrant canvas where love seems to flourish around every corner. With its iconic dance numbers and Seine-side scenes, ‘An American In Paris’ is dripping with elegance in every shot.
3. Ratatouille (2007)
This Pixar classic brought the spirit of Paris to life through animation. Who can resist the charm of Remy, a young rat who dreams of becoming a great French chef? Though he soon realises that people will never enjoy a meal knowing it was cooked by a rodent. So, he decides to form an unlikely partnership with restaurant worker Alfredo Linguini to make his dream come true.
2. Midnight In Paris (2011)
This fantasy comedy is a haven for anyone who has ever romanticised another era or place, especially one as romantic as Paris. While vacationing in the city, novelist Gil Pender mysteriously finds himself transported back to the 1920s, encountering the legendary Lost Generation of writers and artists. The version of Paris we find in this movie is impossibly romantic—one that may have never existed, yet feels so incredibly irresistible.
1. Amélie (2001)
This iconic rom-com is quite literally synonymous with falling in love with Paris. It follows the titular character as she wanders through her Montmartre neighbourhood, trying to change the lives of those around her for the better while dealing with her own loneliness. The film takes us through streets, cafés, markets, and so much more, featuring more than 80 Parisian locations. Its warm colours, playful spirit, and romantic charm show us a version of Paris that is unforgettably whimsical and dreamlike.
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