28 Fantastic Movies & TV Shows Set in Paris, You Need to Watch Before Visiting
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There’s something undeniably magical about Paris on screen.
Whether it’s the cobblestone streets of Montmartre bathed in golden light, couples strolling along the Seine, or dramatic chases past the Eiffel Tower, the City of Light has captivated filmmakers and audiences for generations.
From classic Hollywood musicals to binge-worthy Netflix series, movies, and TV shows set in Paris transport us to a world of romance, intrigue, and timeless beauty.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris and want to get inspired, dreaming of the city from your couch, or simply love watching beautiful locations come to life on screen, you’re in the right place. This curated guide features the best films and television series set in Paris, spanning everything from whimsical comedies to pulse-pounding thrillers.
Whether you’re searching for romantic Paris movies like Amélie and Before Sunset, action-packed shows like Lupin, or guilty-pleasure favorites like Emily in Paris, this list has something for every type of viewer.
Many of these productions were actually filmed on location in the French capital, giving you an authentic glimpse of iconic landmarks like the Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, and charming neighborhood cafés you can visit yourself.
Ready to discover your next favorite Paris film or series? Let’s explore the fantastic movies and TV shows that bring the magic of Paris right to your screen.
Note: I’ve pulled these film descriptions from IMDB
Films Set in Paris
1. A Little Chaos (2014)
Famed builder Le Notre is tasked with building an ethereal palace for King Louis XIV that transcends beauty. Le Notre hires Sabine de Barra to design and construct the outdoor ballroom at the Gardens of Versailles (find out if visiting is worth it), and is soon captivated by her beauty.
Filmed in Paris?: Although set in France, all filming was done in England.
Rated: R
2. Amélie (2001)
Despite being caught in her imaginative world, young waitress Amelie decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey during which she finds true love.
Filmed in Paris?: This film is completely set in Paris, and you can easily get yourself into Amélie’s quirky world by walking around the sites.
But the most notable is Amélie’s apartment, which is located at 56 rue des Trois Frères, while the grocery store is now called Au Marché de la Butte, and can be found at rue des Trois Frères at rue Androuet.
Rated: R
3. An American in Paris (1951)
Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.
Filmed in Paris?: Unfortunately, while this is a movie set in Paris, the film was shot almost entirely on MGM’s Lot 44 in Hollywood, California. Although director Vincente Minnelli wanted to shoot in Paris, the studios declined.
Instead, they recreated the Left Bank, the Café Bel Ami near the Seine, and the iconic fountain in Place de la Concorde.
Rated: Approved
4. Before Sunset (2004)
Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met, they encounter each other again on the French leg of Jesse’s book tour.
Filmed in Paris?: The movie was filmed entirely on location in Paris. It opens inside the Shakespeare and Company bookstore on the Left Bank (this bookish location is on my 3-day Paris itinerary).
Other locations include their stroll through the Marais district in the 4th arrondissement, Le Pure Café in the 11th arrondissement, the Promenade Plantée park in the 12th arrondissement, a bateau mouche trip from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Henri IV, the inside of a taxi, and finally, “Céline’s apartment.”
Rated: R
5. French Kiss (1995)
A woman flies to France to confront her straying fiancé but gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling.
Filmed in Paris?: French Kiss was filmed on location in Paris, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur région of southeastern France, and Cannes.
The Paris scenes were shot at the Hotel George V, where the main character has her encounters with the supercilious concierge. This 5-star hotel, I’m sure, is wonderful, but there are more affordable Parisian neighborhoods.
Rated: PG-13
6. Funny Face (1957)
An impromptu fashion shoot at a book store brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk.
Filmed in Paris?: The film was shot on location at several of Paris’s most renowned sites, such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, the Seine, and Opéra Garnier (which can also be seen in an Interview With The Vampire).
Rated: Not Rated
7. Hugo (2011)
In 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.
Filmed in Paris?: Featured in the film is the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Théâtre de l’Athénée, and the world-renowned Parisian University, the Sorbonne.
Rated: PG
8. Julie & Julia (2009)
Julia Child’s story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book.
Filmed in Paris?: One of the most notable Parisian scenes in the movie was filmed over several days on the narrow, winding market street of Rue Mouffetard in the Latin Quarter. This outdoor market has been here for centuries, making it one of the oldest streets in Paris.
They also shot at the St. Medard church.
Rated: PG-13
9. Marie Antoinette (2006)
An Austrian teenager (Kirsten Dunst) marries the Dauphin (Jason Schwartzman) of France and becomes that country’s queen following the death of King Louis XV (Judy Davis) in 1774.
Years later, after a life of luxury and privilege, Marie Antoinette loses her head during the French Revolution.
Filmed in Paris?: Filming locations included Chateau de Versailles, Opéra National de Paris, Hôtel de Soubise, and Basildon Park.
Many other palaces and stately homes were used as sets outside of Paris as well.
I didn’t love this film as it was more about aesthetics in my opinion, but I did love the series Versailles, which is listed below, it’s one of my favorite TV shows set in Paris. While it doesn’t include Antoinette, it is set in the same Palace.
Rated: PG-13
10. Midnight in Paris (2011)
While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée’s family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.
Filmed in Paris?: In this film, you can see numerous Paris sights, but notably the Palace of Versailles, the Musée Rodin, and the Hotel Le Bristol, which is the center of the high-fashion shopping street.
The hotel has been popular with the famous actors and actresses since the time of Kim Novak, Rita Hayworth, and Charlie Chaplin.
Rated: PG-13
11. Monte Carlo (2011)
Three young women vacationing in Paris find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress.
Monte Carlo is one of my guilty pleasure movies. It brings back memories of the slightly cheesy Mary Kate and Ashley adventure films I enjoyed growing up, but this version features Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester (who is also in one of the TV shows set in Paris below).
Filmed in Paris?: Monte Carlo was filmed in Paris, France, at the sights of Arc de Triomphe, Musée du Louvre, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, and the Eiffel Tower.
If you’re moving as quickly as these girls through Paris, you’ll want my 2-day Paris itinerary!
Rated: PG
12. Moulin Rouge (2001)
In the Montmartre Quarter of Paris in 1899, a penniless writer falls in with famed artist/socialite Toulouse Lautrec and in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, the doomed Satine.
Filmed in Paris?: While the film’s director, Baz Luhrmann, conducted extensive research on the atmosphere of Montmartre, most of the film was shot in a studio in Australia.
A Paris safety tip, I’m told, the area around Moulin Rouge is a bit sketch due to many people drinking, so stay vigilant in that area.
Rated: PG-13
13. Murder Mystery 2 (2023)
Murder Mystery is about a New York cop and his wife going on a European vacation to reinvigorate the spark in their marriage. A chance encounter leads to them being framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire.
Murder Mystery 2 is about the now private detectives launching their own agency; Nick and Audrey Spitz, land at the center of an international investigation when a friend is abducted.
Filmed in Paris?: You can see several locations in this Netflix movie sequel, such as the Arc de Triomphe, Café Le Beau, Palais Garnier opera house, the Eiffel Tower, and Passerelle Léopold Sédar Senghor.
Rated: PG-13
14. Paris Can Wait (2016)
The wife of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband’s associates.
Filmed in Paris?: We see little of Paris in this film, mostly in the ending. The only major landmark shown is the Arc de Triomphe.
Rated: PG
15. Paris j’taime (2006)
Through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented, and awakened.
Filmed in Paris?: Filming locations include the Eiffel Tower, Oscar Wilde’s grave, Quartier Latin, Pont Alexandre III, and Pigalle.
Rated: R
16. Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
The sprightly young assistant of a Hollywood screenwriter helps him over his writer’s block by acting out his fantasies of possible plots.
Filmed in Paris?: Several locations can be seen throughout Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Pont Alexandre III, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Jardins du Trocadéro, Restaurant Le Tabaris, and the Moulin Rouge.
Rated: Approved
17. Passport to Paris (1999)
Twelve-year-old twins Melanie and Allyson Porter spend spring break in Paris with their grandfather, the U.S. ambassador to France. The sights of Paris create a magnificent backdrop for the twins’ adventures.
Filmed in Paris?: Unfortunately, not much info on what was actually shot in Paris, but IMDB does note they filmed there.
But I can take a guess and say that I believe they shot at the Seine, Sacré-Cœur, Notre Dame, amongst other famous Paris attractions.
Rated: G
18. Ratatouille (2007)
A rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous restaurant.
Filmed in Paris?: Obviously, it’s hard to ‘film’ an animation in Paris, but a fun fact is that late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain declared that Ratatouille is “the best food movie ever made.”
Rated: G
19. Sabrina (1954)
After her return from school in Paris, a playboy finally takes notice of his family’s chauffeur’s daughter, who’s long had a crush on him, but he questions his more serious brother’s motives when he warns against getting involved with her.
Filmed in Paris?: Sabrina heads to ‘Paris’, but despite the carefully composed view of the Eiffel Tower from the window, the European scenes were shot on the Paramount lot in Hollywood.
Rated: Approved
20. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
A murder inside the Louvre, and clues in Da Vinci paintings, lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years, which could shake the foundations of Christianity.
Filmed in Paris?: The film’s dramatic opening takes us into the Louvre, where the murder took place, we then race across Paris to locations such as the Saint-Sulpice Church and the Ritz Paris on Place Vendôme, one of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
Rated: PG-13
21. The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
The cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother whom he keeps imprisoned. Can the twin be substituted for the real king?
Filmed in Paris?: IMDB notes the film was partially shot in Paris, but the only named location is the Notre Dame Cathedral. However, there is a load of locations outside of Paris, such as the Château of Fontainebleau.
Rated: PG-13
🍿 Looking for movies set in Europe? Check out my list of 57 epic films!
TV Shows Set in Paris
22. Emily in Paris (2020-)
A young American woman from the Midwest is hired by a marketing firm in Paris to provide them with an American perspective on things.
Filmed in Paris?: Probably one of the most popular TV shows set in Paris, there are SO many Emily in Paris filming locations it would be hard to list here, but if you’re looking for some help finding them, book the official Emily in Paris walking tour!
Rated: TV-MA
23. Gossip Girl (2007- 2012)
Narrated by a mysterious vicious blogger, this show follows a set of wealthy teenagers through their day-to-day scandalous lives as Manhattans Elite, and how they betray each other for each other’s gain.
Filmed in Paris?: While most of the show is based in New York City, Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2 find the leading ladies, Blair and Serena, in Paris.
For these episodes, the series moved to the City of Light and shot at several locations, some of which are Chez Julien, Café Louis Philippe, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Baccarat, Fontaine Louvois, Gare du Nord, Rue de Charenton & Rue Traversière, Pont des Arts, and Hotel Bel Ami.
Rated: TV-14
📺 Looking for travel shows? Check out my list of the best travel TV shows to inspire
24. Killing Eve (2018-2022)
After a series of events, the lives of a security operative and an assassin become inextricably linked.
Filmed in Paris?: As a series about a spy, it’s of little wonder that Killing Eve is a globetrotting show filmed in five countries: France, Italy, Germany, Romania, and England.
But as for Paris, you can spot the Place Vendôme, Jardin des Tuileries, Rue de la Paix, Cité du Wauxhall, and Gare de l’Est.
Rated: TV-14
25. Lupin (2021-)
Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.
Filmed in Paris?: This action-packed series is filmed at several locations in Paris such as the Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, Saint-Ouen flea markets, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Fontaine de l’Observatoire, La rue de Rivoli, and much more!
It’s also the only one of these TV shows set in Paris that’s in the French language.
Rated: TV-MA
26. Outlander (2014-)
Claire Beauchamp Randall, a nurse in World War II, mysteriously goes back in time to Scotland in 1743. There, she meets a dashing Highland warrior and gets drawn into an epic rebellion.
Filmed in Paris?: Season 2 is set in Paris; however, the City of Light was recreated using different locations. Some interior scenes were filmed on the show’s Scotland soundstages, while Prague served as the location for exterior street scenes and the Palace of Versailles. Additionally, certain palaces in southern England, featuring French-style rooms and architecture, doubled as Parisian interiors and parts of Versailles.
Rated: TV-MA
27. Versailles (2015-2018)
After the Fronde in 1667, the French nobility began to rebel against the monarchy. Young King Louis XIV decides to move the court from Paris to his father’s old hunting lodge in Versailles, as a way to force their submission.
The Versailles series follows Louis as he renovates and expands his Palace of Versailles. Because of this, the nobles are displaced from their usual surroundings, which causes them to cluster around the king and creates increasingly dangerous problems for the court.
Filmed in Paris?: Since Versailles Palace is such a popular tourist location, I really did not expect them to actually film there until I watched the series and saw how expansive the scenes were, so I knew they couldn’t have filmed elsewhere else it would require massive sets!
Some of the palace’s most famous features, including the Marble Court, the Hall of Mirrors, and the luxurious gardens, served as filming locations for the series.
The other filming locations for the series are castles, palaces, and stately homes around Paris, but a favorite of mine is Chateau de Pierrefonds, which was used as Camelot in the BBC series Merlin. Versailles and Merlin both star the epic actor, Alexander Vlahos.
Rated: TV-MA
28. World On Fire (2019-2023)
World War II-era drama centered on the lives of ordinary people affected by the war.
Filmed in Paris?: As for parts of the show taking place in Poland, Berlin, and Paris, almost all of those scenes were shot in Prague.
Rated: TV-14
📺 Looking for TV shows set in Europe? Check out 17 binge-worthy options!
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