Summary

• Movies about the French Revolution are diverse, including costume dramas, horror films, comedies, and more, all set during this turbulent time period.
• Some movies aim for historical accuracy and shed light on the horrors faced by ordinary people during the French Revolution.
• Notable films on the French Revolution include "The Affair of the Necklace," "Napoléon," "Brotherhood of the Wolf," and "Marie Antoinette," each offering a unique perspective on this significant historical event.

Few events in Western civilization have been as important as the French Revolution, and French Revolution movies prove its inspiration throughout the years. This expression of popular unrest that toppled the monarchy and ultimately led to a bloody era of repression known as The Terror (and the rise of Napoleon) has proven to be fertile ground for movies. The films have been around since the silent era and remain in demand in 2023, with Ridley Scott's Napoleon another addition to the historical subgenre.

While some filmmakers chose the genre of costume dramas to explore the issues of inequality and social decay, others are adaptations of famous works of literature, adapted from everyone from Charles Dickens to Baroness Emmuska Orczy. There are also horror movies and comedies based around this period. What they have in common is that they are set during this most turbulent period of French history. The best movies aren't afraid to shine a light on the horrors that happened to regular people during the French Revolution.

15 The Affair Of The Necklace (2001)

The Story Of The Necklace That Led To The French Revolution

• Stream now on Kanopy

The “Affair of the Necklace” is one of those events that historians have pinpointed as leading to a gradual disillusionment between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The film of the same name is a gorgeous one, with all the trappings that are typically associated with costume dramas. Where it is a bit unusual is in its casting of Hilary Swank as Jeanne, a notorious thief, given that she had never appeared in a costume drama (which has its own stylistic requirements). Critics were ultimately divided on whether the movie succeeded but audiences appreciated it more.

14 The Visitors: Bastille Day (2016)

The Third Movie In The Les Visiteurs Film Series

• Rent now on Apple TV & Prime Video

When thinking about French Revolution movies, images of rich nobles beheaded by the guillotine, angry mobs wearing their tri-colored cockades while fighting for justice, or major events like the Storming of the Bastille come to mind. The Visitors: Bastille Day (Les Visiteurs: La Révolution) is the rare movie that can find humor in such a tumultuous period. Heads may roll, but it was still lauded for being funny. It is also the third installment of the Les Visiteurs time-travel comedy series, which started in 1993.

13 One Nation, One King (2018)

One Of The More Historically Accurate French Revolution Movies

• Strem now on Roku & Vudu

This French film directed by Pierre Schoeller shows three of the most important scenes of the Revolution: the Storming of the Bastille, the Women’s March on Versailles, and the execution of King Louis XVI. It also manages to depict the evolution of the government bodies, from the Estates-General through the National Constituent Assembly up to the National Assembly, giving time to different Revolutionary leaders such as Danton, Marat, and Robespierre. This film can feel clunky, but it strives for cinematic grandeur and historical fidelity.

12 The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)

A Movie About A Man Trying To Save Those Persecuted During The Revolution

• Stream now on Max

In some ways, the 1930s was a golden age for adventure films, when various studios were trying to push out as many of these swashbuckling films as possible. This story, about an English aristocrat who adopts a different identity to help save those being persecuted by the Revolution, is a perfect fit. The characters are perfectly cast and, while it might lack some of the adrenaline of more modern movies about the French Revolution, it’s still a lovely film from a bygone era of Hollywood.

11 The French Revolution (1989)

A Six-Hour Epic Telling Of The Entire French Revolution

• Rent now on Prime Video

So much happened that most movies about the French Revolution fail to capture the scope. This movie (originally titled La Révolution française) was made to commemorate the bicentennial of the Revolution. It was divided into two parts: Years of Hope (les Années lumière) and Years of Rage (les Années terribles). It captures everything from the beginning, remaining true to history while letting the characters have a chance to feel like real people. This is the only movie that encompasses the entire French Revolution.

10 The Lady And The Duke (2001)

One Of The More Violent French Revolution Movies

• Not available to stream

While violence lurks just off the screen in many French Revolution movies, this one takes a few risks by showing the violence that the Terror perpetrated against the enemies of the Revolution. It was sharply criticized by many in France. However, it is a well-constructed film, and the narrative is full of suspense as the main character, an Englishwoman caught up in the Revolution, must try to stay alive. The movie shows more violence than other French Revolution films, but it also proves to be realistic.

9 Napoléon (1927)

A SIlent Era French Revolution Masterpiece

• Not available to stream

This silent film written, directed, and produced by Abel Gance is one of the masterpieces of early cinema and stands up well with most modern French Revolution movies. It follows Napoléon Bonaparte from his early military training through major events of his career, such as his victory at the Siege of Toulon, his early romance with Joséphine, and his control of the army in the wars with Italy. The movie was restored to its original glory in 1981, a second time in 2016, and a new Napoléon film based on the true story arrived in 2023.

8 Saint-Just And The Force Of Things (1975)

A Forgotten French Revolution Movie

• Not available to stream

Saint-Just and the Force of Things is a movie about the French Revolution that has all but been forgotten. Directed by Pierre Cardinal, Saint-Just and the Force of Things follows the Jacobin leader Louis Antoine de Saint-Just (Patrice Alexsandre), who was Robespierre’s friend during the Reign of Terror. In the movie, Alexsandre portrays the titular hero as an erudite and impassioned radical who tries to reshape his nation. It all finally comes to an end with his execution via the guillotine. This was a two-part movie released on French television.

7 History Of The World, Part 1 (1981)

Mel Brooks Spoofs The French Revolution

• Rent now on Apple TV

Mel Brooks’ send-up of the historical drama is a great comedy movie about the French Revolution. Brooks, of course, has always had an eye for finding those things that make seemingly serious genres (horror, epic, western) unintentionally hilarious. While the Revolution only takes up a part of this film, it’s memorable in large part because Mel Brooks himself portrays the hapless Louis XVI. It’s a truly glorious spoof of the costume drama. It also remains a cult classic and got a sequel over 40 years later on Hulu.

6 Brotherhood Of The Wolf (2001)

A Supernatural Horror Movie In The French Revolution

• Stream now on AMC+ & Shudder

Though most films about the Revolution are either biopics or costume dramas, this one is a little different. Told in flashback by a nobleman about to be executed during the Revolution, it focuses on a huntsman and his efforts to track down an elusive beast that is slaughtering people in one of the provinces.

It’s a rather haunting film, to be sure, though it also has moments of excess that look rather ridiculous in hindsight. One of the few films about the French Revolution that played out as a straight horror story, it remains one of the best French horror movies of all time.

5 Farewell, My Queen (2012)

A Look At The Revolution From The Servants' Point Of View

• Stream now on Tubi

While most of the films about Marie Antoinette focus on the queen, this film follows one of her servants, who finds her loyalties to her mistress challenged when the Revolution sweeps over their lives. Unlike many costume dramas, this film takes a rather detached view of its subjects, keeping the viewer away from the action. It does provide a new perspective on the way that the Revolution affected those who were not royal but depended on them for their livelihoods. The movie was a huge festival circuit film.

4 A Tale Of Two Cities (1935)

A Charles Dickens Story Based In The French Revolution

• Rent now on Prime Video & Apple TV

Charles Dickens was one of the most famous and successful Victorian novelists, and many of his novels have been made into films. A Tale of Two Cities is a stately yet searing look into some of the fundamental hypocrisies that existed at the heart of the French Revolution. It’s a truly tragic romance about how even innocents can get caught up amid terrifying historical events that are far beyond their ability to control. It remains one of the best Charles Dickens adaptations to date, regardless of the story.

3 Marie Antoinette (2006)

A More Nuanced Look At Marie Antoinette

• Rent now on Prime Video & Apple TV

Marie Antoinette has the dubious distinction of being seen as one of the key figures of the French Revolution. Her conspicuous consumption and perceived lack of compassion were seen as key factors in the uprising. Directed by Sofia Coppola, this movie takes a generous and nuanced view of the title character, portrayed by Kirsten Dunst. It’s a beautifully shot film, and it shows how this young woman was in many ways a victim of a system that cared little for her desires. It also won an Oscar win for Best Costume Design.

2 Danton (1983)

The Story Of A Key Player In The French Revolution

• Stream now on Criterion Channel

This French/Polish production takes as its subject Georges Danton, one of the key players in the French Revolution who was ultimately destroyed by the Reign of Terror. It’s a haunting film, and Gérard Depardieu is masterful in his portrayal of the title character. it is a chilling reminder of the ways political movements that begin with the noblest of intentions are compromised by the frailties of the human ego. This remains one of the best French Revolution movies, winning Best Foreign Language Film at the BAFTA Awards.

1 Marie Antoinette (1938)

The Best French Revolution Movie About Marie Antoinette

• Rent now on Prime Video & Apple TV

Norma Shearer, one of the most glamorous stars of old Hollywood, put her stamp on the role of Marie Antoinette in one of the best French Revolution movies ever made. Shearer’s combination of charisma and glamor proves a perfect combination to convey the complexities of the queen’s personality. It is also a tremendously beautiful film, a reminder of just how opulent the old Hollywood studios could be. The movie earned four Oscar nominations, two for the actors, one for the art direction, and one for the original score.