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Did you know that French movies can help you improve your language skills?
Until several years ago, it was unimaginable that you could learn the language in some other way than from textbooks and sitting in full classrooms listening to teachers.
Luckily for all of us, that has changed.
Some creative people realized that learning a language can be fun, and it should be.
One of the entertaining and unconventional ways of learning the language and improving language skills is with movies.
So, the next time you can’t make yourself sit down and learn French from boring books, try practicing the language with movies.
In the following lines, we will provide you with the top 9 French movies you can enjoy and practice your French, as well.
And if you aren't sure, we can also show you how to learn French with movies.
Let’s dive in.
How to Learn French With Movies?
As you already know, watching French movies to learn and practice the language is both entertaining and useful.
Here are some tips that can help you use the benefits of watching movies to improve your overall language skills.
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Use the subtitles. If you find it challenging to watch movies without English subtitles, feel free to use them. Over time, you ll become more fluent, so the subtitles won't be necessary. If you are at a more intermediate level, you can turn on French subtitles. That way, you can practice spelling and reading skills as well.
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Rewind as many times as you need. Playing back some of the scenes or situations you haven't got yet is helpful and useful. Rewind the scene many times as you need to understand the part of the movie. When you speak with native French speakers, you won't have this opportunity, so go for it!
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Take notes. For a start, you can take notes whenever you hear some new word or phrase. You can also write down the situation you don't quite get, and you can replay it several times until you understand it.
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Watch movies regularly. In order to become better and more fluent, you have to make it your routine. Organize your time and choose two days a week, for example, for watching French movies.
Top 9 French Movies For Learning French
Astérix et Obélix, mission Cléopâtre (Asterix And Obelix, mission Cleopatra)
Astérix et Obélix is one of the most popular comic books for every generation.
Thanks to their popularity, they were adapted into movies.
The two guys are best friends and Gaulish warriors. Obelix is a super-strong guy because he fell into the potion as a baby, so he is literally undefeatable.
In this movie, Astérix et Obélix travels to Egypt to help an architect, Numérobis, build the most beautiful palace for Cleopatra.
An entertaining and funny movie will easily become one of your favorites, so if you want to continue “living the life” with Asterix and Obelix, you can enjoy other movies such as Asterix and Obelisk: Take the Ceasar, Asterix and the Olympic Games, and many more.
Because of the storyline, the movie is suitable for intermediate and advanced learners, while beginners should turn on subtitles.
Comme un Chef (Le Chef)
With the main character who plays amazing Jean Reno, this comedy will make you enjoy every single minute.
Jean Reno, is a chef who has run into some troubles and lost his job.
While trying to save and get his job back, he accidentally comes across a young, self-taught chef, who also happens to be his great admirer.
The two of them start working together and making old recipes in an innovative way.
This movie is great for vocabulary improvement especially food-related words and phrases, and therefore, ideal for all French learners.
Gemma Bovary
This French comedy is great for those students who are still on some beginner- low-intermediate level.
One of the main characters, a local baker, who is also a playboy draws attention to a British woman, who moved to the countryside with her husband.
Besides slow French, you can also hear these two characters speaking English. It is very easy to understand and follow the entire movie.
Kirikou Et La Sorcière (Kirikou And The Sorceress)
This French-animated movie is one of the favorites among French beginners.
The story is about an African boy, Kirikou, who lives in a small African village. The great village's sorceress casts a spell where the villagers start mysteriously disappearing, people are being blackmailed, and the entire peace and normal life has disappeared, and the chaos rules.
Kirikou wants to get rid of the curse, and he decides to start a journey to the Forbidden Mountain, where Wise Men live. They can help Kirikou with the secret about the sorceress to save the village.
The language used in this movie can be useful for many reasons: besides practicing listening skills and pronunciation, you can hear fascinating African French accents.
La Belle Verte (The Green Planet)
For sci-fi lovers, here's one great French movie you will enjoy.
It is about a 150-year-old alien, who accidentally arrives in Paris, after an intergalactic coalition.
While there, an alien tries to break harmony and positivity to Earth, talking about nature, the environment, and the importance of greenery.
The movie is ideal for intermediate students who can improve their vocabulary with words and phrases about the environment and saving nature and the planet.
La Grande Vadrouille
One of the favorites among the French, which war comedy is something any French learner should watch, no matter his proficiency level. If you are a beginner, we suggest you use English subtitles to understand the whole story. Besides, this way, you can follow the sentences actors are saying in French and see the proper translation.
The movie takes place during World War II when a British bomber group they are shot over France and a group of French villagers are trying to help them escape Paris.
Not only will you burst out in tears of laughter, but you will learn how French people act in different situations and specific stereotypes that are connected with the French.
Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie (Amélie)
The main character of this story is Amélie Poulain, a young girl with a specific sense of justice.
Brought up by eccentric parents and homeschooled, she developed a very active imagination. She left home at the age of 18 and started to work as a waitress, very shy, though.
Her life goal is to find a way to help people around her quietly, without them knowing that.
During her days of work and helping people, she falls in love.
The movie is one of the greatest successes in French and worldwide cinemas.
It is ideal for intermediate learners, who, while enjoying such a positive and charming atmosphere, improve their listening skills and boost vocabulary.
Les Intouchables (Untouchable)
Here's another beautiful and successful movie of how an unusual relationship can develop between two people.
The story is about an aristocrat, who survives a very bad paragliding accident, but stays paralyzed. He then becomes quadriplegic and hires a street immigrant as his caregiver. Over time, an immigrant has entered a completely different world, the world of art, music, and a nice life, while the nobleman gets a friend for a lifetime.
Conversations from the movie are an ideal practice for beginners and intermediate students to hear how everyday words and phrases are used in different dialogues.
Tanguy (Tanguy)
Tanguy is a 28-year-old man who lives a very active life and is a womanizer but there's one thing about him. He still lives with his parents. His parents think that it's time for him to move out of their house, so they decide to make his life miserable.
This black comedy will make your day full of laughter plus you will practice your listening skills, learn new words and expressions, and learn a little bit about French humor.
Final Thoughts
No matter your proficiency level, you can find something for yourself from the list above.
And now that you have entertaining learning material for learning French, the only thing you should do is make popcorn, sit on a cozy sofa, and enjoy.
You can use English subtitles, at times even French subtitles to practice reading as well, or you can watch movies even without subtitles.
The whole point is to practice the language but in a fun and entertaining way, which, we are sure, you will do with these awesome movies.
And when you want to practice your speaking skills and practice talking about the movies you've watched, French tutors are an ideal company.
