We’ve compiled a list of French Christmas movies and discovered that most French holiday movies aren’t romantic or sentimental.
For example, Le père noel est une ordure (Santa Clause is a stinker) is a dark comedy, arguably the best-known French Christmas movie.
Additionally, if noir comedies aren’t your style, don’t worry; you’ll still be able to discover a classic holiday film on our list of best French Christmas movies.
1. Love Actually (2003)
In the five weeks leading up to Christmas, several interconnected stories about romantic love. And the obstacles to happiness through love for Londoners are presented against the backdrop of aged has-been rock star Billy Mack’s Christmas-themed comeback cover of “Love Is All Around.”
Which he knows is crap and makes no bones about it, much to his manager Joe’s chagrin as he promotes the record. Starring Gregor Fisher, Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson.
2. A Christmas Tale (2008)
A Christmas tale is one of the best French Christmas movies to watch. Junon and Abel, daughter Elizabeth and her son Paul, Henri and his girlfriend, Ivan, his wife Sylvia, their small sons, and cousin Simon make up the Vuillard family.
Elizabeth had paid Henri’s bills six years previously and requested that he never see her or revisit their parents’ house.
Additionally, 16 years old, Paul has mental health issues and will be subjected to a clinical examination. Furthermore, Junon learns she requires a bone marrow transplant to survive more than a few months, bringing everyone together.
Although two family members have compatible marrow, spats, fights, bitter words, drunken toasts, and relatively civilized bad behavior pose a threat to all; also, Junon may resist treatment. Do we know who we are? Starring Jean-Paul Roussillon, Catherine Deneuve, Mathieu Amalric, Melvil Poupaud, Anne Consigny.
3. Joyeux Noel (2005)
While we were still enthralled by World War II stories (and we still are), writer and director, Christian Carion adapted the true story of the 1914 “Christmas truce.”
Soldiers from both sides rose from their trenches to wish each other Merry Christmas and turned it into a film. Starring Diane Kruger and Guillaume Canet from Inglorious Basterds and Love Me If You Dare, respectively.
Starring Benno Furmann, Diane Kruger, Natalie Dessay, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis.
4. Santa Claus Is a Stinker (1982)
Santa Claus is a stinker is one of the best French Christmas movies. Félix, dressed as Father Christmas, distributes flyers for a steamy Christmas party.
An African Santa Claus takes his place, and he returns to his caravan to discover his girlfriend Josette on the verge of leaving him.
Additionally, when he comes after her, she seeks refuge at “SOS Distress,” administered by Thérèse and Pierre, two neurotics. Starring Josiane Balaske, Anemone, Marie-Anne Chazel, Gerald Jugno, Christian Clavier.
5. Santa Clause Has Blue Eyes (1967)
This black-and-white, 50-minute film has some primary credentials. To provide an overview of how males meet ladies, director Jean Eustache combined his footage with a video provided by Jean-Luc Godard.
Additionally, the protagonist, Daniel, needs money to buy a trendy coat, so he agrees to work for a photographer who needs him to dress up as Father Christmas.
However, he quickly realizes that meeting girl is more superficial when dressed up. Starring Jean-Pierre Leaud, Gerard Zimmermann, Jean Eustache, Rene Gilson.
6. Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone is one of the best French Christmas movies of all time. It’s Christmastime, and the McCallisters are getting ready for a trip to Paris, France.
Kevin, the family’s youngest member, got into a fight with his older brother Buzz and was sent to his room on the third story of his house.
The following morning, when the rest of the family was rushing to get to the airport on time, they entirely forgot about Kevin, who now had the entire house to himself.
Kevin enjoyed being home alone, having his pizza, jumping on his parent’s bed, and making a mess. Then, on Christmas Eve, Kevin learns that two burglars, Harry and Marv, plan to plunder his house.
Kevin moves quickly by wiring his own home with handmade booby traps to thwart the robbers and bring them to court. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Robert Blossom, John Heard.
7. French Fried Vacation 2 (1979)
A group of pals go skiing in the French Alps and get themselves into a series of funny mishaps. Including getting caught on a ski lift overnight, competing in a disastrous downhill ski competition, and getting lost on an off-piste ski trip.
Furthermore, the group is rescued by locals, who force them to try horrible local dishes and drinks in one of the film’s most iconic scenes. Starring Michael Blanc, Josiane Balasko, Christain Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Gerard Jugnot.
8. La Buche (Season’s Beating)
La Buche is one of the best French Christmas movies to watch this season.Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emmanuelle Béart feature in La Bûche [1999].
And it follows the experiences of the women in one family as they come to terms with their own terrible personal situations following the loss of their father.
Furthermore, “Family,” as the tagline puts it. You won’t be able to live with them. “I couldn’t imagine spending the holidays without them.” Starring Charlotte Gainsborough, Emmanuelle Beart, Francoise Fabian, Sabine Azema.
9. The Magic Snowflake (2013)
Nicholas, a young kid on the verge of becoming Santa Claus, must first dodge a catastrophe that threatens the holiday’s charm before he can succeed in his new role.
Starring the voices of Nathan Simony, Vincent Grass, Benoit Allemane, Alexis Tomassian, Jean-Claude Donda.
10. Charlie’s Christmas (1998)
Grand-Jacques, the postman, observes a wicker basket slowly fall from the sky one frigid winter day, and within the basket is a baby.
Furthermore, Charlie, the baby, carries around his rattle, which contains a multitude of mysteries. Starring Bernard Latham, Christine Pritchard, Nicholas McGaughey, Sian Rivers.
11. The Fox and The Child (2007)
The fox and the child is one of the best French Christmas movies. A romantic ten-year-old red-haired farm girl, riding her bicycle to school, chooses to take a shortcut through a reddish and lush fall forest, somewhere in the mountainous region of eastern France.
However, the young girl unexpectedly discovers a bright-eyed red fox. But the feral wild animal departs instantly, leaving her yearning for another encounter.
Since then, a whole winter has passed with no sign of the elusive fox, but as spring approaches, the girl desperate to find the animal finally locates its den, and an ambitious effort to become acquainted with each other begins.
Starring Isabelle Carre, Bertille Noel-Bruneau, Camille Lambert, Thomas Laliberte, Kate Winslet.
12. Inside (2007)
Sarah and Matthieu Scarangelo were in a car accident four months before Christmas, and Sarah and her unborn baby were the only ones to survive.
In addition, Sarah spends Christmas Eve alone at home, grieving over her spouse and preparing to deliver the following day at the hospital. A woman knocks on Sarah’s door late at night, requesting to use the phone.
Furthermore, the woman discloses that she knows Sarah and tries to push her way in when she refuses. Sarah phones the cops, who come to the house and find that the woman has departed but pledge to watch Sarah all night.
Sarah locks herself in the bathroom when the woman returns to abduct Sarah’s unborn child. She is tormented all night by a mysterious woman who kills everybody who tries to aid her. Starring Alysson Paradise, Claude Lule, Dominique Frot, Jean-Baptise Tabourin, Beatrice Dalle.
13. Divin Enfant (2014)
Divin Enfant is one of the best French Christmas movies of all time. Additionally, when the hostess announces she’s pregnant despite her husband’s infertility, a Christmas Eve party in a blended family takes a turn for the worse.
Starring Emillie Dequenne, Geraldine Pailhas, Sami Bouajila, Geraldine Palihas, Linh-Dan Pham.
14. Who killed Santa Clause (1941)
Who killed Santa clause is one of the best French Christmas movies. Additionally, the plot revolves around an elderly globe maker tragically slain while depicting Pere Noel on his way through town (“Father Christmas” aka Santa Claus).
Starring Harry Baur, Raymond Rouleau, Marie-Helene Daste, Renee Faure,
15. Red Nose (2003)
Red Nose is one of the best French Christmas movies of all time. Additionally, for Operation Nez Rouge, a critic and a writer meet up by chance.
It plots vengeance on him for a harsh critique until she falls in love with him. But what if he’s playing a double game with her? Starring Pierre Lebeau, Michele-Barbara Pelletier, Patrick Huard, Christian Begin, Dany Laferriere.
