Best TV shows and movies set in Paris to stream

By Neia Balao 1:07pm PDT, Oct 9, 2020

A major draw of television? The fact that it has the ability to transport us to cities and lifestyles so disparate from our own! In celebration of the recent debut of Darren Star's latest dramedy series, Netflix's "Emily in Paris" — which stars Lily Collins as a Chicago marketing exec who begins an adventurous new life working for a firm in France — Wonderwall.com is taking a look at the best television shows and movies set in the City of Love that you can stream. Keep reading for more content to add to your watchlist…

"The Hook Up Plan" on Netflix

A possible result of being unlucky with love for far too long? Your friends may intervene. In "The Hook Up Plan," single girl Elsa (Zita Hanrot) is set up with Jules (Marc Ruchmann), a supposed teacher, by her friends… only he's not a teacher at all — he's a male escort in disguise! As Elsa comes to realize the truth about her potential love interest, she begins to doubt her willingness to date him and in the process comes to terms with the fact that she might also have feelings for him. "The Hook Up Plan" is available to stream on Netflix.

"Amélie" on HBO Max, Hulu & Amazon Prime Video

Who could forget this beloved French film? Starring Audrey Tautou as the titular character, "Amélie" tells the story of an introverted, charming young woman who whimsically explores Parisian life and changes the lives of those around her in the process. "Amélie," which was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, earned five Academy Award nominations in 2002 including best original screenplay, best cinematography and best international feature film. The gorgeous French flick is available to stream on HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

"Ratatouille" on Disney+

An unlikely pair that we are absolutely here for! "Ratatouille," which debuted in 2007, follows street rat Remy, who dreams of becoming a chef at a well-respected restaurant in Paris. With the help of clumsy kitchen worker Linguini, Remy finally devises a way to bring his dream to fruition — but how far can he go without his rodent identity being revealed? This heartwarming culinary tale, which earned an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay, is available to stream on Disney+.

"Julie & Julia" on Hulu & Amazon Prime Video

Written by Nora Ephron, the mind behind romantic flicks like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle," "Julie & Julia" follows the journey of Julie Powell (Amy Adams), a dissatisfied New Yorker who attempts to recreate all of acclaimed chef Julia Childs' (Meryl Streep) recipes from her famed "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" cookbook. The film, which simultaneously charts Julie's culinary quest while exploring Julia's own journey to becoming an expert in French cuisine, is incredibly charming. "Julie & Julia" is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

"The Eddy" on Netflix

Starring André Holland as Elliot Udo, "The Eddy" chronicles a club owner and father of a rebellious teen (Amandla Stenberg) as he tries to run a jazz club in Paris. The first two episodes of the musical drama series were directed by Damien Chazelle, who wrote and directed Academy Award-winning films "Whiplash" and "La La Land." The show, which RogerEbert.com praised for its "joyous representation of creative expression," is a worthwhile option for any jazz enthusiast. All eight episodes of "The Eddy" are available to stream on Netflix.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" on Disney+ & Amazon Prime Video

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" tells the story of Notre Dame Cathedral's bell ringer, the deformed Quasimodo (Tom Hulce), who, after meeting Gypsy Esmeralda (Demi Moore) by happenstance, begins to develop feelings for her. When his guardian, the diabolical Frollo (Tony Jay), hears of Esmeralda, Quasimodo does everything in his power to keep her safe. The film, which is set in Paris in 1482, chronicles the experiences of a man who yearns desperately for society's acceptance. It's available to stream on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

"Les Misérables" on Netflix, YouTube & Amazon Prime Video

Based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel of the same name, "Les Misérables" stars Hugh Jackman as French peasant Jean Valjean, a man who seeks absolution after being imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread in an effort to feed his family. Exploring themes such as politics, justice and morality, "Les Misérables" has been regarded as one of the greatest pieces of literature from the 19th century. The musical film — which earned a best picture nomination at the 2013 Academy Awards and features an all-star cast that also includes Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe — is available to stream on Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

"Sabrina" on CBS, YouTube & Amazon Prime Video

Starring Julia Ormond as the titular character, "Sabrina" tells the story of a chauffeur's daughter who comes back to Long Island, New York, after landing an internship in Paris with Vogue. Upon returning, she's noticeably different — she's alluring and sophisticated and suddenly the man of her dreams, newly engaged playboy David Larrabee (Greg Kinnear), is finally paying attention to her! However, afraid that his brother's recent engagement to another woman may be endangered by his abrupt, ill-timed interest in Sabrina, Linus (Harrison Ford) takes it upon himself to make Sabrina fall for him instead. His plan works, only there's one thing he didn't account for: that he'd fall for her too. "Sabrina" is available to stream on CBS, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

"Vampires" on Netflix

What happens when you not only realize you're part human and part vampire but that there's a secret society of vamps trying to pursue you? "Vampires" explores this dilemma. Oulaya Amamra stars as Doina Radescu, the aforementioned Parisian teen who has difficulty navigating her hybrid life and the powers that come along with it. All six episodes of the horror series' first season are available to stream on Netflix.

"Before Sunset" on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube & Amazon Prime Video

"Before Sunset" — the sequel to Richard Linklater's 1995 film "Before Sunrise" — chronicles the relationship between an American traveler (Ethan Hawke) and a French woman (Julie Delpy) as they happen to cross paths once again, nine years later, in Paris. The romantic drama, which charts their afternoon spent wandering around the city together, earned critical acclaim including an Academy Award nod for best adapted screenplay. "Before Sunset" will have you yearning for the opportunity to rekindle a flame by happenstance in a city as dreamy as Paris! The flick is available to stream on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

"Anastasia" on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube & Amazon Prime Video

Excuse us while we belt out the lyrics to "Once Upon A December." The 1997 animated movie "Anastasia" revolves around Anya, an amnesiac orphaned teen who teams up with two con men, Dimitri and Vlad (who take note of her uncanny resemblance to the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia) in hopes of finding out more about her own past. The film — which was nominated for two Oscars in musical categories — beautifully visualizes the allure of Paris. It's available to stream on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

"Find Me in Paris" on Hulu

What's so perplexing about a gifted ballerina in Paris? The fact that she's actually a Russian princess from the 1900s! Starring Jessica Lord as Lena Grisky, "Find Me in Paris" chronicles the experiences of a displaced princess who ends up in the 21st century after receiving a magical piece of jewelry from her boyfriend, Henri (Christy O'Donnell). Now, stuck in a time so different from her own, Lena is forced to cope with her new reality while waiting for Henri to travel into the future to rescue her. All three seasons of "Find Me in Paris" are available to stream on Hulu.

"Moulin Rouge!" on Hulu, HBO Max & Amazon Prime Video

Co-written by multi-hyphenate Baz Luhrmann, "Moulin Rouge!" is a musical drama that focuses on Christian (Ewan McGregor), a poet who falls for Satine (Nicole Kidman), a performer at the cabaret. The film, which is the third installment of Baz's "Red Curtain Trilogy," which also includes the films "Strictly Ballroom" and "Romeo + Juliet," earned eight nods at the 74th Academy Awards including for best picture, best actress for Nicole and best cinematography. "Moulin Rouge!" is available to watch on Hulu, HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.

"Madeline" on Amazon Prime Video

"Madeline" starring Hatty Jones as the titular schoolgirl tells the story of a student who devises a plan to try to prevent her home and boarding school from being closed down by the intense Lord Covington (Nigel Hawthorne) after his wife passes away. Based on four "Madeline" books, the film earned praise for Hatty's charming and endearing portrayal of the beloved storybook character. The 1998 family-friendly flick is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

"An American in Paris" on HBO Max, YouTube & Amazon Prime Video

Starring Gene Kelly and based on the orchestral work of George Gershwin, 1951's "An American in Paris" chronicles the experiences of Jerry Mulligan, an eccentric expatriate residing in Paris who attempts to make it as a painter. The musical film, which includes the songs "I Got Rhythm" and "Love Is Here to Stay," was a frontrunner at the Academy Awards, earning eight nominations including one for best picture. "An American in Paris" is available to stream on HBO Max, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

"Osmosis" on Netflix

Starring Hugo Becker and Agathe Bonitzer (pictured), "Osmosis" focuses on a dating app that works to decode data in each user's brain in an effort to match them with their perfect partner. Likened to "Hang the DJ," the fourth episode of the fourth series of Charlie Brooker's "Black Mirror," the French sci-fi series has been commended for its twisted storylines and exploration of love and relationships. The entire first season of the show, which was canceled in January 2020, is available to stream on Netflix.

"Call My Agent!" on Netflix

After the founder of their lucrative talent agency suddenly passes away, hardworking agents Andrea (Camille Cottin), Mathias (Thibault de Montalembert), Gabriel (Grégory Montel) and Arlette (Liliane Rovère) are forced to do everything in their power to keep the business from crumbling. Celebrity, drama and glamour are all exposed in this hilarious comedy series. All three seasons of "Call My Agent!" are available to stream on Netflix.