French cinema is a world where love unfolds in the most poetic, complicated, and beautiful ways. The 2000s brought a powerful wave of stories that captured the quiet glances, sweeping gestures, and aching silences that define romantic connection. French romance movies ​from this decade show that love can be whimsical, tragic, obsessive, or transformative. These films do not rely on clichés but rather on character, emotion, and atmosphere. Whether set in the heart of Paris or in sleepy villages, these 20 films demonstrate the strength of French storytelling in matters of the heart.

1. Amélie (2001)

No list of French romance movies would be complete without Amélie. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this film became an international sensation. Audrey Tautou plays the titular character, a shy waitress in Montmartre who secretly performs acts of kindness. Her journey to find love is quirky, gentle, and deeply moving. The saturated colors and playful cinematography set a magical tone. It is a story about noticing the small beauties of life and daring to connect with another soul.2. The Spanish Apartment (L’Auberge Espagnole) (2002)

Directed by Cédric Klapisch, this lively romantic comedy-drama follows Xavier, a French student who moves to Barcelona. While exploring friendships and multicultural living, he falls into complicated romantic entanglements. The film captures the chaos and wonder of youth, love, and identity. It reflects the uncertainty and discovery that come with relationships in your twenties. The sequels, Russian Dolls and Chinese Puzzle, continue Xavier’s journey.

3. Love Me If You Dare (Jeux d'enfants) (2003)

Yann Samuell’s film is a wild, stylized love story between two childhood friends who play a lifelong game of dares. Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet deliver electric performances. Their characters blur the line between affection and manipulation. It’s a bold film with a surreal touch and a bittersweet conclusion. It asks whether love can survive emotional immaturity and obsessive games.

4. A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiançailles) (2004)

Also starring Audrey Tautou and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this film combines the themes of war and romance. Mathilde searches for her fiancé, who was declared missing during World War I. The movie is a masterclass in storytelling, weaving hope, pain, and persistence. Its emotional weight and historical backdrop make it one of the most memorable French romance movies of the decade.

5. The Beat That My Heart Skipped (De battre mon cœur s'est arrêté) (2005)

Though more psychological drama than pure romance, this film features a compelling love subplot. Directed by Jacques Audiard, it follows Tom, a real estate thug with dreams of becoming a concert pianist. His complex relationship with his music teacher reveals tenderness behind his tough exterior. The film explores emotional vulnerability and the redemptive power of love.

6. Happily Ever After (Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d’enfants) (2004)

Yvan Attal directs and stars in this ensemble film about love, fidelity, and the challenges of marriage. With Charlotte Gainsbourg and Johnny Depp in supporting roles, it’s an intelligent, funny, and touching exploration of modern relationships. The film paints love as something constantly tested by routine and desire. It’s honest about the struggle to keep romance alive.

7. The Girl from Monaco (La fille de Monaco) (2008)

Anne Fontaine’s romantic dramedy blends humor and tension. A brilliant but awkward lawyer gets caught between a seductive weather presenter and his protective bodyguard. It’s a film about temptation, vulnerability, and misplaced trust. The romantic triangle is both comedic and tragic, showcasing how desire can derail even the most focused lives.

8. The Secret of the Grain (La graine et le mulet) (2007)

Abdellatif Kechiche's film isn’t a traditional romance, but its tender portrait of family and love stands out. The protagonist, a sixty-year-old dockworker, dreams of opening a couscous restaurant. The love and support of his stepdaughter play a key role in this emotional journey. The film speaks of love not as passion, but as commitment, sacrifice, and loyalty.

9. Not Here to Be Loved (Je ne suis pas là pour être aimé) (2005)

This delicate film by Stéphane Brizé tells the story of a lonely bailiff who joins a tango class and finds unexpected romance. With its quiet tone and slow pace, it portrays the gentle awakening of the heart. It’s about second chances, small gestures, and emotional courage. One of the more understated yet touching French romance movies of the 2000s.

10. Angel-A (2005)

Directed by Luc Besson, this monochrome fantasy romance features a down-on-his-luck man and a mysterious woman who may be an angel. Set against the backdrop of Paris, it blends stylized visuals with philosophical undertones. Their relationship slowly evolves from dependence to mutual love. The film challenges the viewer to consider self-worth and redemption through love.

11. Time to Leave (Le temps qui reste) (2005)

François Ozon directs this emotional tale about Romain, a young fashion photographer who learns he has only months to live. In the face of mortality, he revisits his relationships, including with his boyfriend. The film is a meditation on love, regret, and letting go. It is as much about saying goodbye as it is about cherishing what remains.

12. Red Lights (Feux rouges) (2004)

Though not a romance in the traditional sense, this thriller by Cédric Kahn delves into the psychology of a troubled marriage. A couple’s road trip spirals into a night of danger and revelations. It’s a study in mistrust, fear, and the way love can erode under pressure. It paints a grim but gripping picture of emotional breakdown and rediscovery.

13. Before the Winter Chill (Avant l’hiver) (2000)

This psychological drama touches on midlife crisis and emotional distance in marriage. A respected surgeon becomes involved with a mysterious woman, raising questions about fidelity and personal identity. It is a film of silence, tension, and subtle longing. A haunting and introspective entry in French romance movies of the era.

14. Changing Times (Les Temps qui changent) (2004)

André Téchiné’s film reunites Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu as former lovers whose paths cross again in Morocco. It's a tale of rekindled love, cultural tension, and emotional reckoning. The movie explores how people change over time, and whether love can survive those changes. It’s beautifully acted and emotionally layered.

15. Look at Me (Comme une image) (2004)

Agnès Jaoui’s sharp dramedy is about self-esteem, ambition, and love in the shadow of fame. The main character, Lolita, struggles with her identity and her relationships while living under her famous father's shadow. The film portrays romantic and familial love with equal complexity. It’s witty, painful, and thoroughly human.

16. Water Lilies (Naissance des pieuvres) (2007)

This coming-of-age story directed by Céline Sciamma centers on teenage girls discovering their sexual and emotional identities. Set in a suburban swimming pool community, the film is subtle and atmospheric. It captures the confusion and intensity of adolescent love with honesty and grace.

17. The Page Turner (La tourneuse de pages) (2006)

This quiet, chilling film blends romance with psychological revenge. A young woman becomes a page turner for a concert pianist, with hidden motives that complicate their growing bond. It’s a slow-burn tale of manipulation and suppressed emotions. The tension is intimate, and the romantic elements are darkly compelling.

18. Clara et moi (2004)

Arnaud Viard’s gentle film follows Antoine, a romantic idealist who falls for Clara, a woman with a complicated past. Their story is full of realistic highs and lows. It’s about how love demands compromise, growth, and acceptance. The film has warmth, humor, and honesty.

19. In the City of Sylvia (Dans la ville de Sylvia) (2007)

This almost wordless film by José Luis Guerín tells the story of a man searching for a woman he once met in Strasbourg. With its long, observational shots and poetic tone, it turns a simple pursuit into something hauntingly beautiful. It reflects the fragile nature of memory and the mystery of fleeting connections.

20. Romance (1999, honorary mention)

Though technically released in 1999, Romance by Catherine Breillat made waves in the early 2000s. It’s a daring, explicit exploration of a woman’s erotic life and emotional needs. The film is polarizing but undeniably influential in shaping the boundaries of French romance movies in the new millennium.

Conclusion

These twenty films represent the depth and variety of French romance movies in the 2000s. They prove that love, when captured through a French lens, becomes more than just a feeling—it becomes art. Whether through whimsy, tragedy, or realism, each of these stories reveals something profound about the human heart.