Your Next Obsession: 10 French Rom-Coms to Fall in Love With

1. Romantics Anonymous (2010)

In Romantics Anonymous, the romance brews not just between the characters, but also with chocolate. This film tells the story of Angélique, a talented chocolatier crippled by social anxiety, and Jean-René, a similarly anxious owner of a chocolate factory. Their shared passion for chocolate and their mutual social awkwardness make for an endearing, and often hilarious, love story.

Jean-Pierre Améris directed this charming tale, and it stars Benoît Poelvoorde and Isabelle Carré. Fun fact: Isabelle Carré actually suffers from stage fright in real life, just like her character!

2. Heartbreaker (2010)

Imagine being paid to break up relationships. That's exactly what happens in Heartbreaker, a hilarious film about a man, Alex, who is hired by concerned family members or friends to end undesirable relationships. But things get complicated when he's hired to prevent a wedding, and he ends up falling for the bride-to-be. This film, directed by Pascal Chaumeil, stars Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis. Despite the film's romantic themes, Duris claimed he's a terrible romantic in real life during interviews for the film!

3. Priceless (2006)

Priceless, directed by Pierre Salvadori, is a comedic take on gold-digging. It stars Audrey Tautou as Irène, a woman who enjoys the high life by dating rich men. However, things go awry when she mistakes a lowly bartender, Jean, for a wealthy suitor. When the truth comes out, the two engage in a hilarious game of one-upmanship to attract wealthy partners. To prepare for the film, Tautou spent some time observing people at high-end hotels in French Riviera to better understand her character.

4. The Valet (2006)

In Francis Veber's The Valet, a parking valet, François Pignon, becomes an unlikely player in a high-stakes love triangle involving a supermodel and a wealthy businessman. When a paparazzo snaps a photo of the businessman and the supermodel, François is accidentally in the frame, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings. The film stars Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, and Daniel Auteuil. Interestingly, Elmaleh, a popular French-Moroccan stand-up comedian, is often referred to as the Seinfeld of France.

5. I Do (2006)

I Do or Prête-moi ta main in French, is a delightful rom-com where 43-year-old bachelor, Luis, schemes to hire a woman to pretend to be his fiancée and then jilt him at the altar, just so his family would stop pestering him about marriage. However, as rom-coms would have it, the plan spirals out of control when Emma, the hired woman, starts integrating herself a bit too well into Luis's life.

The film, directed by Eric Lartigau, stars Alain Chabat and Charlotte Gainsbourg, who is not only a renowned actress but also a successful singer, lending her diverse talent to the French arts scene.

6. The Spanish Apartment (2002)

A delightful look at the joys and struggles of living abroad, The Spanish Apartment, directed by Cédric Klapisch, follows the life of a Frenchman, Xavier, who moves to Barcelona to finish his studies. The catch? He's sharing an apartment with a wildly diverse group of European students. Romance and hilarity ensue, particularly when Xavier falls for his friend's girlfriend. This film was so successful that it spawned two sequels, making it a trilogy. Romain Duris, the film's lead, actually learned Spanish for this role.

7. Love is in the Air (2013)

Love is in the Air, or Amour & turbulences in French, is a laugh-out-loud film about two exes, Julie and Antoine, who unexpectedly meet on a long-haul flight from New York to Paris. As they reconnect, flashbacks bring up the highs and lows of their past relationship, making for an awkwardly hilarious transatlantic journey. Ludivine Sagnier and Nicolas Bedos star in this airborne romantic comedy, directed by Alexandre Castagnetti.

8. Happiness Never Comes Alone (2012)

In Happiness Never Comes Alone, Sacha, a committed bachelor and jazz musician, finds his life turned upside down when he meets Charlotte, a divorced mother of three and an ex-wife of his potential employer. Their unlikely romance leads to a string of comedic events, beautifully captured by director James Huth. The film stars legendary French actress Sophie Marceau, who you might remember as Elektra King in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

9. Populaire (2012)

Set in the 1950s, Populaire spins the rom-com genre with a competitive typing angle. Yes, you heard it right, typing! Rose, a small-town girl, becomes a secretary and accidentally discovers her phenomenal typing speed. Her boss, Louis, decides to coach her for the speed typing championship, and amidst flying keys and carriage returns, love blossoms.

Déborah François and Romain Duris star in this charmingly unique film directed by Régis Roinsard. Duris even took typing lessons to make his performance in the film more believable.

10. The Names of Love (2010)

The Names of Love, directed by Michel Leclerc, presents a quirky and funny take on politics and love. Baya, a young, liberal woman, has an unusual political strategy: she sleeps with her conservative opponents to convert them to her cause. However, things take an amusing turn when she falls for Arthur, a middle-aged, ethnically Jewish, and politically conservative man. This film, starring Jacques Gamblin and Sara Forestier, won two César Awards in 2011 – Best Actress for Forestier and Best Original Screenplay.