The most romantic city in the world is shared on the silver screen for moviegoers all over the world.
Paris is more than pleasant to look at, but as seen through the right lens, it can be the setting for blood-curling horror, slapstick comedy, animated fun, and so much more.
Pack the popcorn and watch these movies set in Paris before your live debut.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Grant Faint. Image Location: Pont des Arts, Paris, France.
Top Filming Locations in Paris
Scope out some of our scenes that feature the French capital.
Pont des Arts | Taken
Nearest station: Pont Neuf
At least one-fourth of Taken acts like a love letter to the Seine: from the Ile Saint-Louis to the Square du Vert Galant, we get plenty of shots featuring the lovely river. We particularly love the Pont des Arts scene where Liam Neeson leaps off of the bridge and onto a boat in the film’s finale.
Place de la Concorde | The Devil Wears Prada
Nearest station: Concorde
The Devil Wears Prada pulled a few Hollywood tricks on us, namely letting a few sites in the Big Apple stand-in for Parisian places. Thankfully, they did film a handful of scenes in Paris proper, including when Andy ditches her phone in the Place de la Concorde fountain.
Gare de l’Est | Amélie
Nearest station: Gare de l’Est
Amélie has loads of great filming locations in Paris: Café des Duex Moulins, Canal Saint-Martin, and Sacré-Coeur among them. But look at us: we’re train people. Of course, we’re going to pick Gare de l’Est as our fav. Pop in for a few shots at the photo booth just like Mademe Amélie did.
Shakespeare and Company | Before Sunset
Nearest station: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame
The ‘Before’ treats moviegoers to quite a lot of globetrotting and it’s no surprise that Paris pops up in this romantic flick. At the start of the film, Ethan Hawke’s character, Jesse, hosts a book reading in the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. The librairie is located near Notre-Dame Cathedral and is a wonderful real-life place for a meet-cute if you’re single.
Grand Palais | Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Nearest station: Champs- Élysées - Clemenceau
The Mission: Impossible series has left a whole lot of wreckage in its wake. Praise the heavens that Tom Cruise and company kept Paris looking pretty. Ethan Hunt parachutes down onto a faux version of the Grand Palais’ roof (the real one isn’t sturdy enough to carry the weight of the franchise). However, the rest of the Parisian action was shot on the real city streets and you can visit the Grand Palais if you promise no secret agent shenanigans on the roof.
Image Credits: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France.
Films set in Paris: What to watch before you visit the City of Light
Consider this your cinematic primer to the City of Lights, Camera, Action!
For the romantics
It’s the most romantic city in the world; spend the flight over getting in the right headspace with these romance and romantic comedies set in Paris.
🎬 We’ll Never Have Paris (2014)
🎬 Midnight in Paris (2011)
🎬 2 Days in Paris (2007)
For the horror fans
What happens when darkness falls on the City of Light? See what goes bosse in the night with these horror movies set in Paris.
🎬 As Above So Below (2014)
🎬 Martyrs (2008)
🎬 An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
For the edge-of-your-seaters
Because you can relax when you get to Paris, so spend turn your plane ride into a thrill ride.
🎬 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
🎬 Bastille Day (2016)
🎬 Frantic (1988)
For the thespians
From the stage to the screen, these musicals set in Paris will have you belting show tunes from the back of coach.
🎬 Moulin Rouge (2001)
🎬 Les Misérables (2012)
🎬 The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
For the cinephiles
They’re classics for a reason and a perfect excuse to brush up on your French.
🎬 Les Enfants du Paradis (1943)
🎬 Le Balloon Rouge (1956)
🎬 An American in Paris (1951)
Image Credit: Getty Images, John Harper. Image Location: Place de la Concorde, Paris, France.
For the children
They may be cartoons, but some animated films were based on real-life castles and legends. Give the kids a primer to Paris with these family-friendly movies.
🎬 Ratatouille (2007)
🎬 The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1996)
🎬 A Monster in Paris (2011)
For the ‘90s kids
Dust off those thick VHS cases and try not to cry when you realize that these childhood favorites came out over 20 years ago.
🎬 Rugrats in Paris (2000)
🎬 Passport to Paris (1999)
🎬 Anastasia (1997)
Did you know that you can watch movies for free on French trains? Download the Trainline app and transport onto your favorite movie set.
SNCF trains offer free WiFi so you can stream films while you travel to and from Paris. Download the Trainline app to buy your etickets today.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.