50 Best French Comedy Movies: List of rated films

Why is the world so fond of French comedies? The charm, the recognizable style, the elegance and the lightness of presentation are the hallmarks of French cinema. If you want to walk through Montmartre and the Champs Elysees, see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, smell the lavender fields of Provence and the famous wines of Bordeaux and Champagne provinces – watch the best French comedies, relax your soul.

Table of contents

Around the World in 80 Days

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, adventure
Production France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, UK / 2021
Worldwide gross: $2,164,782
Director Steve Barron, Brian Kelly, Charles Beeson
Cast: David Tennant, Ibrahim Koma, Leoni Benes, Jason Watkins, Peter Sullivan, Leon Kleingman, Anthony Flanagan, David Sherwood, Reza Diako, Jeff Rohl

And let the adventure begin! In order not to look like a coward in the eyes of others, a prim and insecure gentleman named Phileas Fogg makes a bet. He intends to circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Twenty thousand pounds sterling and a gentleman’s honor are at stake.

Fogg’s companions are the black French servant Passepartout and the journalist Abigail Fix. Not to be forgotten is the second disputant, Niall Bellamy, who will do everything in his power to make Phileas Fogg lose.

The creators of the series were inspired by the famous novel of the same name by Jules Verne. For the first time readers could read about Phileas Fogg’s circumnavigation of the globe in the newspaper Le Temps, which published parts of the novel from November 1871 to December 1872.

Some readers mistook the fictional adventures of the English gentleman for reality and placed bets on the outcome of the event.

Seventeen years after the novel’s publication, American journalist Nellie Bly surpassed Phileas Fogg’s record and circumnavigated the world in just 72 days.

Sol

Rating IMDB – 6.0
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2020
Worldwide gross: $853,323
Directed by Jesabel Marcus
Cast: Chantal Lobi, Camille Chamoux, Giovanni Pucci, Serge Bagdassarian, Yannick Renier, Dominique McAvoy, Jesabelle Marcus, Irina Ninova, Thierry Lopez, Cyril Garnier

The famous Argentine tango singer Sol returns to Paris. Seven years ago, the woman broke off relations with her son Rafael because of his marriage. Sol put him before a choice: either her or the bride. And the son chose love.

Now Sol flew in to meet her 7-year-old grandson Joe. But when the aging celebrity met her daughter-in-law, she didn’t dare introduce herself to her and settled incognito in the apartment next door.

The tango was first performed on September 30, 1897, at the Teatro Olimpo in Buenos Aires. Initially, the tango was danced exclusively by men who sought the attention of women. To avoid fights, they competed to see who would step on the opponent’s foot more times. And only later the music and the partner were added.

La Belle Époque

Rating IMDB – 7.4
Genre: Melodrama, drama, comedy
Production France, Belgium / 2019
Worldwide gross: $14,384,206
Directed by Nicolas Bedos
Cast Daniel Auteuil, Guillaume Canet, Doria Tillier, Fanny Ardant, Pierre Arditi, Denis Podalydes, Mikael Cohen, Jeanne Arenet, Bertrand Poncet, Bruno Raffaelli

Victor, a young, famous caricaturist of the past, cannot fit in with modern reality. He does not like using gadgets or watching soap operas. He likes to draw on paper and communicate in person. In addition, Victor’s marriage is falling apart, his wife Marianne has an affair with another.

Disappointed in the present, Victor decides to take advantage of an unusual gift from his son and return to the past, where he was young and happy.

One of the best French comedies in recent years has received eight César Award nominations (the French national film award), of which it won three: for Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress and Best Art Direction.

Mon inconnue

Rating IMDB – 6.9
Genre: Comedy, melodrama, fantasy
Production France, Belgium, South Korea / 2019
Worldwide gross: $5,996,929
Directed by Yugo Gelen
Cast: Francois Civil, Josephine Japy, Benjamin Laverne, Camille Lelouch, Amaury de Craincourt, Edith Scob, Juliette Dol, Samir Boitard, Christian Benedetti, Guillaume Bouched

The popular writer Raphael Ramis finds himself in a strange situation. A snowstorm transported him to another reality, as a result of which he lost everything. He is now a simple teacher, but most importantly, he is now single.

His housewife Olivia, who gave up her career as a pianist for him, has achieved amazing professional success in the new reality. But she does not remember Victor and prepares to marry someone else. A young man needs to figure out how to make Olivia fall in love again.

In order to accurately portray on the screen the role of talented pianist Olivia, actress Josephine Japi had to learn to play the piano four months.

Docteur?

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2019
Worldwide gross: $6,294,941
Directed by Tristan Seguela
Cast: Michel Blanc, Hakim Jemili, Solene Rigaud, Chantal Loby, Franck Gastambide, Artoo, Fadili Camara, Ophelia Kolb, Maxence Toile, Jacques Boudet

On Christmas Eve, Dr. Serge Mamou-Mani, tired of his patients, is in high demand. But he has no luck at all. At the most important moment the doctor has a lower back, and so badly that he can not go on calls.

To help the hapless doctor comes courier Malek. He poses as a medic and keeps in touch with Serge through headphones so he can understand the symptoms and make a correct diagnosis. In doing so, Malek has to manage and combine sick calls with his usual activities.

The role of courier Malek was the acting debut of comedian Hakim Jemili, who rose to fame thanks to his YouTube channel.

Tout le monde debout

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France, Belgium / 2018
Budget: €7 000 000
Worldwide gross: $19,405,540
Directed by Franck Dubosque
Cast: Francois Dubosc, Alexandra Lamy, Elsa Silberstein, Gérard Darmon, Caroline Anglade, Laurent Bateau, Claude Brasseur, François-Xavier Demaison, Christophe Canard, Christiane Millet

A successful Parisian businessman, Jocelyn is a real womanizer and an incorrigible liar. Ordinary flirting no longer turns him on, and he invents various tricks to lure frivolous ladies into his bed.

To get a new victim, Julie’s nurse, the scoundrel pretends to be confined to a wheelchair. Julie introduces Jocelyn to her sister Florence, who also moves around in a wheelchair. Gradually, Joselin and Florence begin to communicate, and the man becomes seriously attracted to her. But how can he now confess his deception?

To play the role of Florence, the French actress Alexandra Lamy had to acquire new skills: learn to play the violin and filigree use of a wheelchair, including playing tennis on it.

Au poste!

Rating IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Comedy
Production France, Belgium / 2018
Worldwide gross: $1,988,526
Directed by Quentin Dupyeux
Cast: Benoît Pulvoord, Grégoire Ludig, Marc Frese, Anaïs Demoustier, Orelsan, Philippe Duquesne, Jackie Lambert, Jeanne Rosa, Vincent Grasse

At the police station, Commissioner Bourbon has been questioning for hours a man named Louis Fugain, who discovered a dead body in his driveway. The commissioner suspects the interrogator of murder because an iron belonging to him was found near the body.

Bourbon tries to wear down the tired suspect, but is distracted and leaves the office, leaving Fugain to his assistant, Commissioner Philip. During the chief’s absence, the dim-witted policeman manages to kill himself by falling on a sharp angle with his eye. What is Fugain to do now? There’s no way Bourbon is going to believe that the punk killed himself.

The director of the absurd French comedy Quentin Dupieux is better known in Russia as Mr. Oizo, a musician who experiments with electronic music.

Les dents, pipi et au lit

Rating IMDB – 5.3
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2018
Worldwide gross: $3,769,078
Directed by Emmanuel Gilibert
Cast: Arnaud Ducret, Louise Bourgoin, Timeo Bolland, Saskia de Melo Dilla, Lauren Ferraro, Mikael Cohen, Colette Kraff, Herve Masquelier, Roby Shinasi, Joana Preiss

Antoine, a 40-year-old Parisian, is enjoying life. His apartment, which he rents with his buddy Tom, has long been the scene of poker tournaments and parties. But Tom is transferred to work in Florida, and instead of him he finds a second tenant.

It turns out to be an attractive girl named Jeanne. But Jeanne wants to live in an apartment not by herself but with her children: 8-year-old Theo and 5-year-old Lou. The children make Antoine’s life hell, and he declares war on them.

The original title of the comedy translates as Teeth, Pee and Bed! Director Emmanuel Gillibert confessed that he himself faced a similar situation. As a desperate party boy and bachelor, he found himself under the same roof with young children and discovered a new world.

Demain tout commence

Rating IMDB – 7.3
Genre: Comedy, drama, family
Production France, Great Britain / 2016
Worldwide gross: $49 619 118
Directed by Yugo Gelen
Cast: Omar Sy, Clemence Poesy, Antoine Bertrand, Ashley Walters, Gloria Colston, Clementine Selarier, Anna Cottis, Ralph von Blumenthal, Ben Homewood, Alice David

For eight years Samuel has been raising his daughter Gloria alone. The cuckoo mom gave the man a baby girl at an early age. Gloria corresponds with her mother on social media, but her father actually answers the child’s letters.

One day Gloria’s mother shows up and claims custody of her daughter. The woman demands a paternity test and it turns out that Samuel has been raising someone else’s child for eight years.

The heartwarming family drama is a remake of the Mexican melodrama Instructions Enclosed.

Mr & Mme Adelman

Rating IMDB – 7.3
Genre: Comedy, melodrama
Production France, Belgium / 2016
Worldwide gross: $2,811,215
Directed by Nicolas Bedos
Cast: Doria Tillier, Nicolas Bedos, Denis Podalydes, Antoine Gouy, Christiane Millet, Pierre Arditi, Zabou Brightman, Julien Boisselier, Jean-Pierre Laurie, Jacques Lang

The story is about the relationship of a married couple for 45 years. Victor, a novice writer, and Sarah, a master of philology, met by chance. The pushy girl is not at all interested in the writer, even on the contrary, frightened by her excessive activity.

Victor begins to ignore her calls and visits, but inevitably runs into Sara again and again. In the end, the girl manages to win the heart of an unapproachable man. But was it worth it?

One of the most interesting movies among the good French comedies of recent years with a high rating. The director and lead actor Nicolas Bedos nurtured the idea of the film for fifteen long years. In real life, the main actors Nicolas Bedos and Doria Tillet are a couple.

Ce qui nous lie

Rating IMDB – 6.8
Genre: Comedy, drama
Production France / 2016
Budget: €7 870 000
Worldwide gross: $11,625,884
Directed by Cedric Klapisch
Cast: Pio Marmai, Ana Girardot, François Civil, Jean-Marc Roulet, Maria Valverde, Yame Couture, Jean-Marie Winlin, Florence Pernel, Eric Caravaca, Taufik Jallab

The news of his father’s illness and death forces Jean to return to Burgundy, where he has not been for more than ten years. His father leaves him, his brother Jérémie and his sister Juliette an estate with a vineyard to inherit.

But in order to get it, the heirs must pay a tax – 500 thousand euros. The family does not have that kind of money and there is only one way out – to sell the estate. But the decision to sell must be made together. None of the heirs can sell his share without the consent of the others.

Burgundy is a wine-producing region in eastern France, the second most famous after Bordeaux. But while Bordeaux wines are produced in huge batches, Burgundian wines are the product of high-tech small-scale production. Often the wines from vineyards 5-10 meters apart have a different and unique taste and aroma.

Microbe et Gasoil

Rating IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Drama, comedy, adventure
Production France / 2015
US fees: $63,802
Directed by Michel Gondry
Cast: Ange Darjean, Théophile Baquet, Diane Besnier, Audrey Tautou, Vincent Lamouret, Agatha Peigner, Douglas Brosset, Charles Raymond, Ferdinand Roux-Balme, Marc Delarue

Daniel’s nickname at school is Microbe, a puny little boy. The boy is short and looks like a girl. He is not at all like the brash Theo, nicknamed Benzin, a rebel and a jack-of-all-trades. What the boys have in common is their dislike of their classmates and their domestic problems. The two outcasts quickly become friends, assemble a homemade car, and go traveling.

The lyrical drama was directed by French director Michel Gondry, who won an Oscar in 2004 for his script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and shot the most famous commercial of all time, the Levi’s Jeans commercial.

Asphalte

Rating IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Drama, comedy
Production France / 2015
Worldwide gross: $880 180
Directed by Samuel Benchetrit
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Gustave Kervern, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Tassadyte Mundy, Jules Benchetrit, Michael Pitt, Michael Graling, Larouche Didi, Abdelmajid “Mickey” Barja, Thierry Jimenez

People unknowingly reach out to each other, but sometimes they just need a companion. The three novellas of the unhurried comedy drama are united only by the place of events – an apartment building in a poor neighborhood of a French town. The storylines link such incompatible people as an astronaut and an elderly Algerian, an aging movie star and a teenager, a grumpy lodger and a nurse. Despite their problems and estrangement, they all find common ground with each other.

One of the heroes of the film was a NASA astronaut who landed on the roof of a French high-rise. In reality, American astronauts land on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Babysitting (dilogy)

Rating IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2014
Budget: €4,000,000
Worldwide gross: $20,334,564
Directed by Nicolas Benhamou, Philippe Lachot
Cast: Philippe Lachot, Alice David, Vincent Desagna, Tarek Boudali, Julien Arrouty, Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais, Gerard Junho, Clotilde Coureau, Philippe Duquesne

This tape was not to be seen by anyone. Tikhon Frank Emory was made an offer by his boss that he could not refuse. The guy is supposed to stay on as a babysitter with the boss’s son for just a few days. But, as luck would have it, the next day off is Frank’s birthday, which his best friends can’t miss. It is decided to celebrate at the boss’s fancy mansion. Upon returning home, Frank’s boss finds a destroyed house, cops, and a roll of film of the evening’s events.

Frank Emory’s adventures don’t end there. The guy flies to Brazil with his girlfriend Sonia and his friends. In this paradise corner Frank plans to propose to his beloved and get acquainted with her relatives. Sonia’s father is not happy with his daughter’s choice, but he entrusts the future cousin to look after his grumpy mother. By evening, the heroes do not return to the hotel, and Sonia’s father gets his hands on Frank’s camera with the crazy adventures of the Frenchman and the grandmother.

To make the parachute jump in the second part of the dileology look convincing, the actors spent several months learning how to skydive. Nevertheless, the episode succeeded only the second time and almost ended in disaster.

Réalité

Rating IMDB – 6.9
Genre: Comedy
Production France, Belgium, USA / 2014
Worldwide gross: $423,619
Directed by Quentin Dupyeux
Cast: Alain Chabat, Jonathan Lambert, Elodie Boucher, Kayla Kenedy, Jon Heder, Eric Wareheim, John Glover, Lola Delon, Matt Battaglia, Susan Diol

An inconspicuous operator of a cheap talk show, Jason dreams of making a horror movie. The title of the future masterpiece is Microwaves. Plot: Television sets are massacring humanity. Producer Bob Marshall agrees to finance the operator’s debut, but on one condition – Jason must find the “perfect scream” of horror, worthy of an Academy Award.

Screaming is one of the most spectacular tricks of horror films. Most often filmmakers use women’s and children’s screams, because the greater the speed and height of the scream, the scarier it is. A child’s scream can be heard in front of a passing airplane or during a noisy party.

Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au bon Dieu?

Rating IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2014
Budget: $13,000,000
Worldwide gross: $65,000,000
Directed by Philippe de Chavron
Cast: Christian Clavier, Chantal Lobi, Ari Abittan, Medi Sadoon, Frederic Shaw, Num Diawara, Frederic Belle, Julia Pyaton, Emily Kahn, Elodie Fontan

A provincial bourgeois couple, Monsieur Claude Verneuil and his wife Marie are very conservative in their judgment. To the displeasure of their parents, their three daughters have joined their fortunes to a Chinese, an Arab, and a Jew. But the youngest, the fourth daughter announces to her parents that she is marrying a Catholic named Charles. Claude and Marie’s joy knows no bounds. However, the elation soon gives way to disappointment, because the daughter’s choice is a black man from Côte d’Ivoire.

The creators of the film came up with the idea of a politically incorrect comedy after statistics were made public. 20% of French people marry partners of other nationalities and religions. In the rest of the European Union this figure is about 3%.

Libre et assoupi

Rating IMDB – 6.6
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2013
Worldwide gross: $786,962
Directed by Benjamin Guedj
Cast: Baptiste Lecaplain, Charlotte Le Bon, Felix Moati, Denis Podalydes, Isabelle Candelier, Jean-Yves Berthelot, Soulian Brahim, David Baiot, Lou Chauvin, Benjamin Laverne

Sebastian Morin, 29, struggles to avoid work. All the young rogue does is sleep until lunchtime, stare at the ceiling, read books and watch videos. He talks to the nurse about Proust, recites Rilke, devours texts by Bukowski and Márquez, lives on welfare and is quite content with life. But soon he has to leave his comfort zone.

A screen adaptation of the novel by writer Romain Monnery Free, Lonely, Sleepy, who served as the screenwriter of the film.

Amour & turbulences

Rating IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2013
Worldwide gross: $9,836
Directed by Alexander Castagnetti
Cast: Ludivine Sagnier, Nicolas Bedos, Jonathan Cohen, Arnaud Ducret, Brigitte Catillon, Jacqui Berroyer, Clementine Selarier, Michel Vuyermoz, Lila Sale, Ina Castagnetti

A transatlantic flight with a surprise. The last thing Antoine expected in life was to meet his former lover, Julie, on the plane. But here she is, sitting in the seat next to her. During the seven-hour flight from New York to Paris, the former couple will recall all the joys and sorrows, worries and resentments they endured together. Antoine and Julie had time to quarrel and reconcile, and most importantly, to understand that they still care about each other.

About three thousand planes fly from Europe to America and back each day. In 1996 the fastest transatlantic flight from London to New York took 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds. The average flight time is currently five and a half hours.

Paulette

Rating IMDB – 6.6
Genre: Comedy, crime, drama
Production France / 2012
Worldwide gross: $14,656,687
Directed by Jerome Enrico
Cast: Bernadette Lafont, Carmen Maura, Dominique Lavanan, Françoise Bertin, André Penverne, Ismael Drame, Jean-Baptiste Anumon, Axel Lafont, Paco Boublard

Paulette, a mean old lady, hates everyone around her. She can’t live within her means and is threatened with eviction from her apartment. Paulette finds a clever way out of her predicament. She becomes the best supplier of dope on the block. But the local drug dealers aren’t willing to put up with the decrease in income, and they score with Paulette.

The oldest drug dealer in the world was Leonard Sharp, an 87-year-old World War II veteran. There was no way the police could have suspected that the venerable old man was an experienced drug dealer. In an old pickup truck Sharp transported from 100 to 300 kilograms of cocaine at a time from the southern U.S. border to Michigan.

Comme des frères

Rating IMDB – 6.4
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2012
Directed by Yugo Gelen
Cast: François-Xavier Demaison, Nicolas Duvauchel, Pierre Nine, Mélanie Thierry, Florence Thomassen, Cécile Cassel, Micheline Prél, Philippe Lodenbash, Jacques Franz, Lannick Gautry

In any case, go on a trip. Businessman Boris, famous screenwriter Eli and student Max meet at the funeral of a young woman, Charly. After receiving a postcard from her with a view of Corsica, they immediately embark on a 900-kilometer journey to their cherished home on the island. After all, each of them has promised Charly to go there with her. Who is she to each of them? Who are they to each other? After all, they are too different to be friends.

The film’s director, screenwriter and producer, Jugo Gélin, dedicated the film to his friend, the actor Jocelyn Kivren, who tragically died while working on the film in a car accident.

Un bonheur n’arrive jamais seul

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2012
Budget: €15,000,000
Worldwide gross: $16,840,841
Directed by James Ute
Cast: Sophie Marceau, Gad Elmaleh, Maurice Barthelemy, François Berleand, Mikael Abitboul, Julie-Anne Roth, Macha Meril, Litzi Végy, Cyril Gouy, François Vincentelli

He is a poor jazz pianist and composer who is used to living his life for his own pleasure. She is an accomplished woman with three children, an expert in the arts. But one day their paths crossed and they fell in love. The main character will have to beat his beloved boss, gain her trust and, of course, to compose beautiful music. But she is not ready for a new relationship, and he hates children. Will they be able to be together?

The film is constantly included in the rating of the best French comedies. The original title of the film is Happiness Never Comes Alone.

20 ans d’écart

Rating IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2012
Worldwide gross: $12,604,999
Directed by David Moreau
Cast: Virginie Efira, Pierre Ninet, Charles Berlin, Gilles Cohen, Amélie Glenn, Camille Japy, Mikael Abitboul, Jenna Azoulay, Camille Chalon

It would seem that there are no perfect people. But Rebelle editor-in-chief Alice Lantens is exactly that. She is beautiful, successful in her career, and also an excellent mother. However, her superiors consider Alice too boring for a youthful publication and refuse to promote her.

Accidently, the press gets an innocent picture of Alice with a student named Balthazar, who is much younger than the woman. Alice is horrified and the management is thrilled. In order to move up the ranks, Alice suggests that Balthazar pursue a fictitious affair.

The original French title of the film is a difference of twenty years, while in reality the difference in age of the performers of the main roles was only twelve years.

Intouchables

Rating IMDB – 8.5
Genre: Drama, comedy, biography
Production France / 2011
Budget: €9 500 000
Worldwide gross: $426,588,510
Directed by Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Cast: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleureau, Josephine de Meux, Clotilde Mollet, Alba Gaia Kragede Bellugi, Cyril Mendy, Salimata Kamate, Absa Dyatou Tour

Philip, a paralyzed aristocrat, hires a Senegalese black man, Driss, as his personal assistant. Driss lives in the ghetto and has just been released from prison. Philippe is overcome by a severe depression and believes that Driss can relieve him of his hopeless boredom and ennui. Philip turns out to be right. The slumdog was able to restore Philip’s taste for life and became his best friend.

The comedy has a real basis. The prototypes of the main characters were the French aristocrat Philippe Di Pozzo and the ex-convict from Algeria Cellou Abdel.

La tête en friche

Rating IMDB – 7.2
Genre: Drama, comedy
Production France / 2010
Worldwide gross: $14,175,221
Directed by Jean Becker
Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesu, Moran, Sophie Guillemin, Patrick Bouchite, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Claire Maurier, Anna Le Guernec, Bruno Ricci, Lie Salem

A tender story of a mother’s love and sincere friendship. Germain, 50, lives in a small provincial town, where everyone considers him shallow. But the man has a good heart, he warmly cares for his mother, who does not appreciate him at all.

One day in the park he meets a friendly old woman named Margaretta. Jermaine introduces her to his fellow pigeons, and she reveals to him a whole world previously inaccessible to him – the world of books.

At the time of filming the movie the performer of the role of Margaretta (Giselle Casadesu) was 96 years old.

Les invités de mon père

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2010
Directed by Anne Le Ni
Cast: Carine Viart, Floor Bubled, Michel Aumont, Fabrice Luchini, Marie Agnes Brigaud, Valerie Benguigui, Luc-Antoine Diquero, Olivier Rabourdin, Max Renaudin, Emma Siniavsky

Grey in the Beard and Hell in the Rye? Babette and Arnaud, the adult children of 80-year-old human rights activist Lucien Pomel, were stunned by the news. Not only did the elderly father shelter a 28-year-old Moldovan woman, Tatiana, and her daughter Sorina in his apartment. He also married a sexy immigrant. What is it? High principles or did the old man fall under the spell of a young woman?

The comedy is based on a true story in the family of the director and screenwriter of the film Anne Le Nie.

Les femmes du 6e étage

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2010
Budget: €7 000 000
Worldwide gross: $23,267,311
Directed by Philippe Le Guet
Cast: Fabrice Luchini, Sandrine Quiberlain, Natalia Verbeke, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas, Berta Ohea, Nuria Sole, Concha Galan, Marie-Armel Degui, Muriel Solvay

France, 1960s. The Franco regime has forced many Spaniards to flee their homeland and seek refuge in foreign lands. In the life of Jean Louis, a conservative broker, everything goes according to plan until a new maid, the proud Spaniard Maria, shows up at the house.

Spanish temperament and cheerfulness cannot leave Jean Louis indifferent and he falls in love with the new maid. After getting acquainted with Maria’s friends, the same maids, Jean Louis realizes that they are much happier than he with all his apparent prosperity.

The Frankist regime lasted in Spain for almost forty years. It was one of the longest periods of authoritarian rule in the modern history of Western Europe.

Rien à déclarer

Rating IMDB – 6.4
Genre: Comedy
Production France, Belgium / 2010
Budget: $32,000,000
Worldwide gross: $90,182,295
Directed by Dani Boon
Cast: Benoît Pulvoord, Dani Boon, Christel Pedrinelli, Karine Viart, Joaquim Ledegank, Philippe Magnan, Julie Bernard, Nadej Bosson-Dianier, Jean-Paul Dermont, Zinedine Soualem

A border crossing between Belgium and France. French border guard Mathias Ducatel is in love with the sister of his Belgian colleague Ruben Vandevorde. Mathias decides to make contact with his future relative and volunteers for the French-Belgian mobile brigade. But Ruben sincerely hates the French, and Matthias will have to work hard to get Vandevorde to like him.

The enmity between the French and the Belgians is deeply rooted in history. The stiff-necked French regard their nation as intelligent and refined, while the Belgians, to them, are primitive simpletons. The Belgians, on the other hand, regard the French as braggarts, upstarts, and idlers.

Le Petit Nicolas

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, family
Production France, Belgium / 2009
Worldwide gross: $59,486,494
Directed by Laurent Tirard
Cast: Maxime Godard, Vincent Claude, Charles Wellen, Victor Carles, Benjamin Everty, Germain Petit Damico, Damien Ferdel, Virgil Tirard, Eliza Heusch, Valerie Lemercier

One day a classmate shared his grief with a boy named Nicolas. He wanted a bicycle, and got a perpetually yelling little brother. Before he showed up, the buddy’s father became very attentive and gentle with his mother. After a while, Nicolas began to notice that his father was also very protective of his mother and did not argue with her at all. The boy concluded that he would soon have a younger brother. That’s when Nicolas will be sent to live in a garage or taken to the woods to be abandoned there. The boy decides to fight for his destiny.

A cute family movie based on the Little Nicolas series of books by writer Gene Gosinny.

Le missionnaire

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy, crime
Production France / 2009
Worldwide gross: $2,808,769
Directed by Roger Delattre
Cast: Jean-Marie Bigard, David Strimeister, Thiam Aissatu, Jean Dell, Michel Chesnot, Benjamin Feitelson, Jean-Gilles Barbier, Sidney Wernicke, Philippe Faure, Francois Ciener

The rugged and unsmiling thief Mario is free after seven years in prison. On the outside, Mario hid a tidy sum of stolen jewelry, and his former associates are demanding their share. To avoid sharing, Mario decides to “lay low”. He disguises himself as a priest and heads to a small country town. Here Mario has his first surprise. Father Etienne, who was supposed to help him, is dead, and the locals mistake him for the new parish priest.

The producer of the crime comedy was the famous French film director Luc Besson, the creator of such cult films as Nikita, Blue Abyss, Leon, Taxi, Crimson Rivers and The Fifth Element.

Le mac

Rating IMDB – 6.0
Genre: Comedy, crime
Production France / 2009
Worldwide gross: $14,849,183
Directed by Pascal Bourdieu
Cast: José Garcia, Gilbert Melky, Carmen Maura, Arsène Mosca, Joe Prestia, Catalina Denis, Alain Fromaget, Laurent Bateau, Dudu Masta, Marie-Létitia Bettencourt

The police operation to catch local mob boss Mendez is in jeopardy. Ace, an informant pimp working for the police, burned to death in his own car. But his twin brother Gilbert falls into the hands of the cops, which gives him a chance to continue the case.

Unlike the swaggering and brash Ace, Gilbert is a quiet and modest bank clerk. But the poor guy is left with no choice, and he is forced to participate in the capture of the criminal. Gradually the new criminal life drags the former bank clerk. But then Ace shows up.

The screenwriter and producer of the film was Tom Langmann, who won the Best Picture Oscar for The Artist in 2012. Langmann got the idea for the comedy from an American talk show about a pimp competition.

Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2008
Budget: €11,000,000
Worldwide gross: $246,606,461
Directed by Dani Boon
Cast: Kad Merad, Dany Boon, Ann Marivin, Zoë Felix, Philippe Duquesne, Guy Lecluis, Lin Renaud, Michel Galabru, Stéphane Freiss, Fred Personne

Philippe Abrams, a postal clerk, and his entire family are shocked. Instead of being transferred to the Côte d’Azur, Abrams is reprimanded and sent to head a branch in northern France. According to Abrams, life in the north is terrible, and the northerners themselves are rude bastards. But when Philippe arrives, he realizes that it’s not all bad. He is greeted by kind, friendly people, and the town of Berg proves to be a very nice place.

At the French box office, the film attracted an audience of 20.5 million people and broke the record of the comedy The Big Walk, which held the primacy for more than forty years. The film Beaver is only slightly behind American Titanic, which drew 20.7 million people to cinemas.

Seuls Two

Rating IMDB – 5.4
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2008
Worldwide gross: $9,285,568
Directed by Ramzi Bedia, Eric Judor
Cast: Ramzi Bedia, Eric Judor, Hafid F. Benamar, Elodie Boucher, Kristin Scott Thomas, Benoît Magimel, Edouard Baer, Omar Sy, Fred Testo, MC Jean Gabin

For many years now there has been a confrontation between the dull-witted police inspector Gervais Blondeau and the recidivist thief Curtis. One day, when Gervais was once again chasing Curtis, all the people in Paris suddenly disappeared. The only two left were Gervais and Curtis. Now no one will stop them from figuring things out all the way to the end. But what’s the point now?

The filmmakers were inspired to create a film with such an unusual plot by the famous case of the disappearance of an entire village in the United States. According to urban legends, in 1964 a village in Nevada disappeared for a full day and emerged forty kilometers from its previous location.

Musée haut, musée bas

Rating IMDB – 5.4
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2008
Budget: €9 000 000
Directed by Jean-Michel Ribet
Cast: Michel Blanc, Simon Abkarian, Victoria Abril, Pierre Arditi, Alfredo Arias, John Arnold, Sophie Arthur, Josiane Balasco, Jean-Damien Barben, Emeline Bayard

Indeed, France is a country of high culture. Who doesn’t want to look at the works of old masters and masterpieces of modern art, exhibited in the MHMB museum. Here are the ladies in search of Kandinsky, and noisy schoolchildren, and “I’m a mother”, introducing children to the works of world culture, and guide, vainly trying to teach English tourists to pronounce the names of artists.

And, of course, from morning till night the museum staff are up to their ears in art: director Michel Mosk destroying all the vegetation around him, group guides, museum curators, and a regularly falling down employee.

This sparkling comedy about the life of the fictional MHMB museum and its employees was filmed in several museums in Paris, including the Louvre, the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Paris, the National Museum of Oriental Arts and many others.

De l’autre côté du lit

Rating IMDB – 5.4
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2008
Worldwide gross: $17,141,221
Directed by Pascal Puzadu
Cast: Sophie Marceau, Dany Boon, Antoine Duléry, Roland Giraud, Annie Duperet, Juliette Arnault, Ninon Mauger, Clemo Couture, François Vincentelli, Delphine Rivière

Ariana and Hugo’s marriage is bursting at the seams. The man is dissatisfied with how his wife is coping with the children and the household. In turn, Ariana accuses her husband of being away at work all day. In order to save the family, the couple decide to exchange responsibilities for exactly one year. Now Ariana will manage her husband’s construction firm and Hugo will take care of his children, home and wife’s small business. Will this help the couple?

The best of the good French comedies worth watching. A film adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name by the French writer Alix Giraud de l’Enne.

Rumba

Rating IMDB – 6.8
Genre: Comedy
Production France, Belgium / 2008
Directed by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno Romy
Cast: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Philippe Martz, Bruno Romy, Clemente Morel, Teresa Fischer, Claire Dubier, Tatiana Géroux, Michel Valonnier, Johan Fauré

Love, Latin dancing, and a suicidal loser. Dominic and Fiona work as teachers in a rural school, but their hearts are completely devoted to dance. The couple are excellent dancers and constantly win competitions. Their hobbyhorse is the passionate rumba. But everything changes after the lovers meet a ridiculous suicidal man who can’t get under any passing car for an hour.

Rumba is the sequel to the 2005 comedy Iceberg, which tells the story of Fiona and Dominic’s meeting.

99 francs

Rating IMDB – 7.2
Genre: Drama, comedy
Production France / 2007
Budget: €12 500 000
Worldwide gross: $13,189,281
Directed by Jan Koonen
Cast: Jean Dujardin, Jocelyn Quivren, Patrick Millet, Vaina Giocante, Elisa Tovati, Nicolas Marie, Dominique Bettenfeld, Antoine Basler, Fosco Perinti, Cendrine Orcier

Creative Octave is incredibly talented. He can sell anything. The money flows to the man like a river, and he spends it on women, booze and drugs. One day, Octave has a lucid feeling, and he falls in love with a girl named Sophie. However, the love does not take hold of the advertising man for long, and he leaves his beloved when he learns that she is pregnant. Suddenly Octave gets tired of deceiving gullible common people, and he rebels against the system, revealing the truth about the advertising business.

After the film’s final credits, an episode of the Lumière brothers’ 1906 film Sunshine, titled The Laundresses, is shown, which is the first commercial in the world.

L’auberge rouge

Rating IMDB – 5.9
Genre: Comedy, crime
Production France / 2007
Budget: $50,000,000
Worldwide gross: $8,048,943
Director Gerard Krawczyk
Cast: Christian Clavier, Josiane Balasco, Gerard Junho, Jean-Baptiste Monnier, Sylvie Joly, Anne Girard, Urbain Cancellier, François-Xavier Demaison, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Laurent Gamelon

Running a hotel is not always a profitable business, especially if the hotel is high in the mountains and not many people want to stay there. But a creative approach to business can always help change the situation for the better. The innkeeper decided to kill the guests for their simple belongings.

But one day a group of pilgrims, led by a priest, show up at the door of the Godforsaken hotel. The owner of the hotel, a true Catholic, confesses to the priest the whole truth about the family’s illegal business. The priest has a difficult task – to keep the secret of the confession and save the tourists.

The plot of the black comedy is based on real events. In the mid-19th century, the hotel owners, the Martens, were guillotined for numerous murders of their guests.

Molière

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, biography
Production France / 2007
Budget: €16,000,000
Worldwide gross: $10,878,867
Directed by Laurent Tirard
Cast: Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Laura Morante, Edouard Baer, Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Valette, Gonzaga Montuel, Gilian Petrovsky, Sophie-Charlotte Husson, Anna Suarez

A story of passion, love, and amusing adventures. Paris, 1645. The playwright Jean-Baptiste Paquelin, better known as Molière, is having money problems. A certain merchant, Jordain, who has developed a passion for the widow Selimena, offers Moliere to solve his problems in exchange for acting lessons. The playwright is presented to his wife and children as a zealous Catholic called Tartuffe. It is not difficult to guess that Molière becomes a party to his own comedy.

The director of the film deliberately avoided reproducing Molière’s classic biography on the screen. He placed the playwright in his own works and surrounded him with characters from his own plays.

Mon meilleur ami

Rating IMDB – 6.6
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2006
Worldwide gross: $14,687,738
Directed by Patrice Lecomte
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Dani Boon, Julie Gayet, Julie Durand, Jacques Mathou, Marie Pilet, Elisabeth Bourgin, Henri Garcin, Jacques Spiesser, Philippe du Janeran

What is friendship? The funeral of an acquaintance, to which no one showed up, forces the successful antiques dealer François to ponder this question. His business partner Catherine believes that such a selfish and arrogant man cannot have friends, and François cannot introduce her to his true friend. A valuable Greek vase is at stake, and the man begins his search. He begins to look among colleagues, classmates and competitors, asking for help from passersby and the book How to Make Friends. All to no avail. Is Catherine really right?

It takes a lifetime to understand the meaning of friendship… François has ten days.

Hors de prix

Rating IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2006
Worldwide gross: $27,857,439
Directed by Pierre Salvadori
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmalech, Marie-Christine Adam, Vernon Dobtcheff, Jacques Spiesser, Anneliese Esme, Charlotte Vermeil, Claudine Baschet, Laurent Claret, Jean De Coninck

You never know with whom you will wake up in the morning. The heart of a simple waiter, Jean, is once and for all stolen by the femme fatale Irene. The girl is a hunter for rich men and is only interested in money and luxury. Irene mistakes Jean for a wealthy man, and when she learns the truth, she immediately leaves him. But the beautiful girl cannot get rid of the poor man in love that easily, for he is ready to do anything for his beloved.

The original French title of the romantic comedy was Unpriced, and at the U.S. box office the film was shown under the title Priceless.

Prête-moi ta main

Rating IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France / 2006
Budget: €8 900 000
Worldwide gross: $779,106
Directed by Eric Lartigo
Cast: Alain Chabat, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Bernadette Lafont, Vladimir Iordanov, Gregoire Estermann, Véronique Barrault, Marie-Armel Degui, Katya Levkovich, Louise Monod, Lucie Mouchel

Mother and sisters pester Louis, 40, with demands to marry and have children. To deceive his loved ones, the man devises a plan. He hires his best friend’s sister, the unemployed Emma, to play the role of bride on one condition. The girl must leave him right at the altar in front of the whole family. But Louis’ cunning plan doesn’t work. He fell in love with the fictitious bride for real.

The role of Emma embodied on the screen a talented Anglo-French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of the legendary poet and composer Serge Gainsbourg and actress Jane Birkin.

Tais-toi!

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, crime
Production France, Italy / 2003
Budget: €27 440 000
Worldwide gross: $27,720,972
Directed by Francis Weber
Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Jean Reno, Richard Berry, André Dussolier, Jean-Pierre Malo, Jean-Michel Noiry, Laurent Gamelon, Aurelien Recoin, Vincent Moscato, Tikki Olgado

It’s hard to imagine two people more unlike each other. Ruby, a silent killer, finds himself in the same cell as Quentin, a talkative and short-tempered thief. Ruby has pocketed twenty million dollars belonging to the mafia. Now the killer is contemplating an escape plan, and the dull-witted big man Quentin is constantly getting in the way, and getting rid of him is not so easy.

In 1981, comedy director Francis Weber had already made a film with the same title. In it, Gerard Depardieu, the performer of the role of Quentin, starred in a pair with the famous comedian Pierre Richard. But in the 1981 film, Depardieu played the role of a private detective, and in the modern film, he played the role of a chatty, understudied man.

Père et fils

Rating IMDB – 6.6
Genre: Comedy
Production France, Canada / 2003
Worldwide gross: $6,935,839
Directed by Michel Bougena
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Charles Berlin, Bruno Puzulu, Pascal Elbe, Marie Tifo, Genevieve Brouillette, Pierre Lebeau, Jacques Boudet, Matthieu Bougnat, Celine Thio

Leo, a seventy-year-old widower, is very upset because his three sons have quarreled and have not spoken to each other for five years. In order to reconcile the sons, Leo tries a trick. The pensioner concocts that he is sick and has to go to Canada for an operation. He hopes that the little trip will help mend the family relationship.

One of the purposes of the family’s trip to Quebec was to see whales. Indeed, in this province of Canada, 13 species of whales and dolphins can be seen in Saganet Fjord National Park, which come down the St. Lawrence River every year in search of food.

Volpone

Rating IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2002
Directed by Frederic Auburtin
Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Prevot, Gerard Junho, Robert Hirche, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Ines Sastre, Yves Verhoeven, Jacques Matou, Michel Viviere, Alain Prevost

Volpone, an elderly Neapolitan merchant, decided to have some fun. The man has no relatives, so he decides to pretend to be dying. To the house of the imaginary dying man, like vultures, lovers of easy money flock. The notary Grappione, the merchant Bertuccio and the moneylender Seco try to outdo each other in flattery and false politeness. Volpone’s henchman, the cunning Mosca, who is pursuing his own interests, helps to hoodwink those who want an inheritance.

The plot of the comedy is based on the satirical comedy of English playwright Ben Jonson Volpone, or the Fox.

Absolument fabuleux

Rating IMDB – 4.5
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2001
Budget: FRF 76,000,000
Directed by Gabriel Aghion
Cast: Josiane Balasco, Natalie Bai, Marie Gillain, Vincent Elbaz, Claudie Jansac, Yves Ranier, Said Tagmaoui, Chantal Goya, Stéphane Berne, Catherine Deneuve

The lives of Eddie and Patricia, the party girls, are made up of risky escapades and fantastic binges. The women are in their fifties, but they don’t stop acting like twenty-year-olds. Champagne for breakfast, champagne for lunch and champagne for dinner. Eddie, who makes no attempt to stay young and fashionable, is forced to keep an eye on her daughter, Safran. To the displeasure of her friends, the girl has grown serious, does not follow fashion at all and is not interested in men.

The minx is an adaptation of the English TV series of the same name, based on a sketch by British actresses Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Modern Mother and Daughter.

Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain

Rating IMDB – 8.3
Genre: Melodrama, comedy
Production France, Germany / 2001
Budget: €10,000,000
Worldwide gross: $173,921,954
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta, Serge Merlin, Jamel Debbouse, Clotilde Mollet, Claire Maurier, Isabelle Nanty, Dominique Pinon

Because of a medical error, a French girl, Amelie Poulin, could not attend school and grew up in complete isolation. The girl is very shy and timid, but has an incredibly rich imagination. One day, Amelie discovered her ability to make those around her happier. Since then, the girl decided to dedicate her life to caring for the welfare of others. But somewhere there is happiness waiting for her, too.

According to Empire magazine, the film was the second in the list of the 100 best films of world cinema is not in English.

Le placard

Rating IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2001
Budget: FRF 95,130,000
Worldwide gross: $50,104,745
Directed by Francis Weber
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte, Michel Laroque, Jean Rochefort, Alexandra Vandernot, Stanislas Crevillen, Michel Aumont, Edgar Givry, Thierry Ashanti

Loser Francois Pignon works as an accountant in a condom factory. After learning that his job is about to be downsized, François wanted to commit suicide. But his neighbor offers an unusual way out. To keep his job, Pignon declares himself gay and, strangely enough, his life changes for the better. His son admires his courage, women become interested in him, and his bosses are afraid to fire him.

A more accurate translation of the title of the incendiary French comedy is The Man in the Box.

Le libertin

Rating IMDB – 6.0
Genre: Comedy, history
Production France / 2000
Directed by Gabriel Aghion
Cast: Vincent Perez, Fanny Ardant, Josiane Balasco, Michel Serro, Arielle Dombasle, Christian Charmetin, Francoise Lepin, Audrey Tautou, Francois Lalande, Bruno Todeschini

Would man be free if the word freedom had not been invented? France, 18th century. The freethinker and philosopher Denis Diderot is secretly working on his famous Encyclopedia. Work on the philosophical treatise takes place in the castle of the Baron d’Goldbach, where Diderot tries to balance his mistresses, his hysterical wife, and his growing up daughter. The sudden arrival of the Cardinal, the Baron’s brother, threatens to put the whole illicit venture in jeopardy.

The great philosopher Denis Diderot worked on the Encyclopedia, or Explanatory Dictionary of Sciences, Arts, and Crafts for more than 20 years. The thinker compiled an encyclopedia in 17 volumes, 128 authors worked on the articles. Catherine II, having learned about the threat of prohibition of the Encyclopedia in France, suggested that Diderot publish the work in any city of Russia.

Un crime au paradis

Rating IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy
Production France / 2000
Directed by Jean Becker
Cast: Jacques Villeret, Josiane Balasco, André Dussolier, Suzanne Flon, Gerard Hernandez, Roland Magdan, Valerie Meresse, Maryse Deol, Jenny Clev, Daniel Prevost

Spouses Jojo and Lulu Braconnier hate each other more than anything else in the world. But if Jojo is a mild and pleasant person, his wife is a devil in the flesh. Jojo can no longer endure his wife’s abuse. He goes to see a lawyer who recently set a record and achieved the twenty-fifth acquittal of his career. The man tries to gently elicit from the lawyer under what extenuating circumstances he can avoid imprisonment if the insufferable Lulu is killed.

The screenwriter of the crime comedy was the most famous author of suspense novels Sebastian Japrizo.

Les ripoux (trilogy)

Rating IMDB – 7.2
Genre: Comedy, crime
Production France / 1984
US fees: $1,984,315
Directed by Claude Zidi
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lermitte, Régine, Grace De Capitani, Claude Brosset, Albert Simoneau, Julien Guiomar, Henri Attal, Abu Bakar, Pierre Baton

The lives of policemen René Boiron and François Lebouche were closely intertwined for many years. It all began back in the eighties, when young François became a partner of the experienced Rene. A seasoned policeman taught the newcomer to live his life in the patrolled neighborhood in the open without taking bribes.

François very quickly adopted the tricks of the patron and once even surpassed the teacher. In ten years of friendship, the buddies will be imprisoned, leave the service, and return to it again. Rene will retire, and François will raise a new partner.

At the end of the first part of the trilogy, René, who has been released after two years in prison, meets François. He gives his partner a racehorse and tells him that he has bought a small café for him. In the USSR, in order to reverse the meaning of the film, the picture was shown without this final scene. The film ended with a scene of an aging Rene walking out of the prison gate alone.