The 100 Greatest Foreign Language Films

The 100 Greatest Foreign Language Films's icon

Created by LuisCosta.

Favorited 2 times, disliked 0 times, added to 1 watchlist.

Three years ago, BBC Culture ran its first major critics’ poll, to find the 100 greatest American films. Two further polls looked for the best films of the 21st Century and the greatest comedies ever made – and those also ended up with films from the US in the top spot.

This year, we felt it was time to direct the spotlight away from Hollywood and celebrate the best cinema from around the world. We asked critics to vote for their favourite movies made primarily in a language other than English. The result is BBC Culture’s 100 greatest foreign-language films.

Remove ads

Pssst, want to check out the The 100 Greatest Foreign Language Films list in our new look?

  1. 5 -

    La règle du jeu

    1939 — a.k.a. The Rules of the Game, in 24 top lists Check
  2. 9 -

    Fa yeung nin wah

    2000 — a.k.a. In the Mood for Love, in 30 top lists Check
  3. 11 -

    À bout de souffle

    1960 — a.k.a. Breathless, in 29 top lists Check
  4. 12 -

    Ba wang bie ji

    1992 — a.k.a. Farewell My Concubine, in 18 top lists Check
  5. 25 -

    Yi yi

    2000 — a.k.a. Yi Yi: A One and a Two..., in 19 top lists Check
  6. 34 -

    Der Himmel über Berlin

    1987 — a.k.a. Wings of Desire, in 21 top lists Check
  7. 38 -

    Guling jie shaonian sharen shijian

    1991 — a.k.a. A Brighter Summer Day, in 19 top lists Check
  8. 46 -

    Les enfants du paradis

    1945 — a.k.a. Children of Paradise, in 21 top lists Check
  9. 50 -

    L'Atalante

    1934, in 21 top lists Check
  10. 51 -

    Les parapluies de Cherbourg

    1964 — a.k.a. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, in 18 top lists Check
  11. 54 -

    Yin shi nan nu

    1994 — a.k.a. Eat Drink Man Woman, in 4 top lists Check
  12. 55 -

    Jules et Jim

    1962 — a.k.a. Jules and Jim, in 21 top lists Check
  13. 56 -

    Chung Hing sam lam

    1994 — a.k.a. Chungking Express, in 19 top lists Check
  14. 58 -

    Madame de...

    1953 — a.k.a. The Earrings of Madame De..., in 13 top lists Check
  15. 63 -

    Xiao cheng zhi chun

    1948 — a.k.a. Spring in a Small Town, in 10 top lists Check
  16. 66 -

    Angst essen Seele auf

    1974 — a.k.a. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, in 13 top lists Check
  17. 69 -

    Amour

    2012, in 15 top lists Check
  18. 71 -

    Chun gwong cha sit

    1997 — a.k.a. Happy Together, in 13 top lists Check
  19. 74 -

    Pierrot le fou

    1965 — a.k.a. Pierrot le Fou, in 16 top lists Check
  20. 78 -

    Wo hu cang long

    2000 — a.k.a. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, in 27 top lists Check
  21. 82 -

    Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain

    2001 — a.k.a. Amélie, in 27 top lists Check
  22. 86 -

    La jetée

    1962 — a.k.a. La Jetée, in 19 top lists Check
  23. 89 -

    Smultronstället

    1957 — a.k.a. Wild Strawberries, in 23 top lists Check
  24. 90 -

    Hiroshima mon amour

    1959 — a.k.a. Hiroshima Mon Amour, in 17 top lists Check
  25. 95 new

    Ukigumo

    1955 — a.k.a. Floating Clouds, in 7 top lists Check
Remove ads
Show all 100 movies

Last updated on Nov 1, 2018 by LuisCosta; source