The 27 Best French Films of All Time

Hollywood may be the undisputed king of global film industries, but modern cinema owes its entire existence to the French. In 1895, brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière invented a motion-picture camera called the cinematograph and made their first feature, the 46-second long La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon, which they screened for a private audience that March, making it the first presentation of projected film. In the 126 years since, the French movie industry has grown into one of the most highly regarded in the world, credited with giving rise to influential movements like the Nouvelle Vague (French New Wave) in the late '50s, and with creating generations of talent, from Brigitte Bardot to Léa Seydoux, Alain Delon to Omar Sy, Jean Renoir to Olivier Dahan.

Lately, French TV has been having a moment (see: the brilliantly meta Call My Agent! and the slick caper Lupin), reaching a wider American audience thanks in part to Netflix's commitment to produce more content in the country. The best movies, on the other hand, have long been accessible, if only for a small rental fee on Amazon. So whether you are a diehard Francophile, need to brush up on your French, or just want an excuse daydream about—and plot—your next trip to Paris, we've curated a list of 27 French masterpieces to consider for your next movie night.