The Best New French Extremity Movies
“What are the best New French Extremity Movies?” We looked at 112 of the top New French Extremity films, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!
The top 23 films, all appearing on 3 or more “Best New French Extremity” movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 75+ movies, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Top 23 Best New French Extremity Movies Ever Made
23 .) A New Life (2002) directed by Philippe Grandrieux
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB 2
- MUBI
A 2002 French experimental film directed by Philippe Grandrieux and starring Zachary Knighton and Anna Mouglalis. The story involves a young American who falls obsessively in love with a mysterious courtesan named Melania against the backdrop of a dilapidated Eastern European landscape.
22 .) Criminal Lovers (1999) directed by François Ozon
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Kino Club 313
After a perverted impulse drives them to kill, Alice and her boyfriend, Luc, drag the body into the woods, only to find themselves hopelessly lost – much like the fairy-tale plight of Hansel and Gretel. Starving and with no hope of being found, they chance upon a dilapidated cottage where a hulking man takes them prisoner and proceeds to feed Luc’s sexual appetite.
21 .) Glowing Eyes (2002) directed by Jacques Nolot
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
In a Parisian porn theater, a cashier, a 50-year-old man and a young projectionist are drawn into a complex love affair.
20 .) L’Humanité (1999) directed by Bruno Dumont
Lists It Appears On:
- Amino Apps
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
When an 11-year-old girl is brutally raped and murdered in a quiet French village, a police detective who has forgotten how to feel emotions–because of the death of his own family in some kind of accident–investigates the crime, which turns out to ask more questions than it answers.
19 .) Ma Mère (2004) directed by Christophe Honoré
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB 2
- Taste Of Cinema
Based on George Bataille’s posthumous and controversial novel: When his father dies, a young man is introduced by his attractive, amoral mother to a world of hedonism and depravity.
18 .) Secret Things (2002) directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
Two young women find themselves struggling to survive in Paris, street-wise Nathalie, the stripper, and naïve Sandrine, the barmaid. Together, they discover that sex can be used to their advantage, and pleasure.
17 .) Demonlover (2002) directed by Olivier Assayas
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Taste Of Cinema
Two corporations compete for illicit 3D manga pornography, sending spies to infiltrate each other’s operations.
16 .) In My Skin (2002) directed by Marina de Van
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
Esther is an ambitious 30-year-old woman. One fateful night at a party, she seriously hurts her leg, however can’t seem to feel the pain. This incident propels her toward the start of a self-destructive compulsion, and an exploration of a professional woman’s descent into increasingly disturbing and obsessive acts of self-mutilation.
15 .) Intimacy (2001) directed by Patrice Chéreau
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Taste Of Cinema
Jay, a failed musician, walked out of his family and now earns a living as head bartender in a trendy London pub. Every Wednesday afternoon a woman comes to his house for graphic, almost wordless, sex. One day Jay follows her and finds out about the rest of her life (and that her name is Claire). This eventually disrupts their relationship.
14 .) Sheitan (2006) directed by Kim Chapiron
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Taste Of Cinema
A group of young people leaves a disco and bumps into a shepherd who is ready to spend his night worshipping Satan.
13 .) Sombre (1998) directed by Philippe Grandrieux
Lists It Appears On:
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- MUBI
A serial killer stalks sisters he befriended after their car broke down.
12 .) Them (2006) directed by David Moreau
Lists It Appears On:
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB 2
- Share The Horror
Lucas and Clementine live peacefully in their isolated country house, but one night they wake up to strange noise. They’re not alone… and a group of hooded assailants begin to terrorize them throughout the night.
11 .) Calvaire (2004) directed by Fabrice du Welz
Lists It Appears On:
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Taste Of Cinema
A few days before Christmas, traveling entertainer Marc Stevens is stuck at nightfall in a remote wood in the swampy Hautes Fagnes region of Liège, his van conked out. An odd chap who’s looking for a lost dog leads Marc to a shuttered inn…
10 .) Enter the Void (2009) directed by Gaspar Noé
Lists It Appears On:
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
This psychedelic tour of life after death is seen entirely from the point of view of Oscar, a young American drug dealer and addict living in Tokyo with his prostitute sister, Linda. When Oscar is killed by police during a bust gone bad, his spirit journeys from the past – where he sees his parents before their deaths – to the present – where he witnesses his own autopsy – and then to the future, where he looks out for his sister from beyond the grave.
9 .) Baise-Moi (2000) directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi
Lists It Appears On:
- Admit One Film Addict
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Taste Of Cinema
Manu has lived a difficult life. Abused and violently raped, she sets off to find herself only to meet Nadine, a prostitute who has encountered one too many injustices in the world. Angry at the world, they embark on a twisted, rage-filled road trip. They choose to have sex when they please and kill when they need. Leaving a trail of mischief and dead bodies in their wake. Generating a media blitz and manhunt, soon everyone is out to capture the young fugitives.
8 .) Carne (1991) directed by Gaspar Noé
Lists It Appears On:
- Amino Apps
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- MUBI
- Taste Of Cinema
After the birth of his baby daughter Cynthia, a Parisian horse butcher soon finds himself abandoned, responsible to raise and care for his newborn girl, completely on his own. Moreover, as his little girl grows into an adolescent, nothing much seems to change in the butcher’s life, who day in, day out, experiences the same numbing and tedious repetition, up until Cynthia’s first signs of puberty. Under those circumstances and after a dreadful incident coupled with an ungovernable paroxysm of violence, the butcher will fall into a downward spiral that will burn to the ground whatever dignity still remained in him. ×
7 .) High Tension (2003) directed by Alexandre Aja
Lists It Appears On:
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Share The Horror
Alexia travels with her friend Marie to spend a couple of days with her family in their farm in the country. They arrive late and they are welcomed by Alexia’s father. Late in the night, a sadistic and sick killer breaks into the farmhouse, slaughters Alexia’s family–including their dog–and kidnaps Alexia. Marie hides from the criminal and tries to help the hysterical and frightened Alexia, chase the maniac, and disclose his identity in the end.
6 .) Frontier(s) (2007) directed by Xavier Gens
Lists It Appears On:
- Admit One Film Addict
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Taste Of Cinema
A gang of young thieves flee Paris during the violent aftermath of a political election, only to hole up at an Inn run by neo-Nazis.
5 .) I Stand Alone (1998) directed by Gaspar Noé
Lists It Appears On:
- Amino Apps
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Kino Club 313
- MUBI
The Butcher has done some time in jail after beating up the guy who tried to seduce his teenage mentally-handicapped daughter. Now he wants to start a new life. He leaves his daughter in an institution and moves to Lille suburbs with his mistress. She promised him a new butcher shop. She lied. The butcher decides to go back to Paris and find his daughter.
4 .) Trouble Every Day (2001) directed by Claire Denis
Lists It Appears On:
- Amino Apps
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- MUBI
- Taste Of Cinema
Two American newlyweds in Paris experience a love so strong, it almost devours them.
3 .) Inside (2007) directed by Alexandre Bustillo
Lists It Appears On:
- Admit One Film Addict
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Kino Club 313
- List Challenges
- Share The Horror
Four months after the death of her husband, a woman on the brink of motherhood is tormented in her home by a strange woman who wants her unborn baby.
2 .) Irréversible (2002) directed by Gaspar Noé
Lists It Appears On:
- Admit One Film Addict
- Amino Apps
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- MUBI
- Taste Of Cinema
Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in the underpass. Her boyfriend and ex-lover take matters into their own hands by hiring two criminals to help them find the rapist so that they can exact revenge. A simultaneously beautiful and terrible examination of the destructive nature of cause and effect, and how time destroys everything.
1 .) Martyrs (2008) directed by Pascal Laugier
Lists It Appears On:
- Admit One Film Addict
- Amino Apps
- Flick Chart
- Horror News
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Share The Horror
- Taste Of Cinema
A young woman’s quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tortured her as a child leads her and her best friend, also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.
The 75+ Additional Best New French Extremity Films
| # | Movies | Directors | Lists |
| 24 | 13 Tzameti (2005) | Géla Babluani | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 25 | 7 Days (2010) | Daniel Grou |
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| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 26 | Assassin(s) (1997) | Mathieu Kassovitz | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 27 | Flanders (2006) | Bruno Dumont | Horror News |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 28 | In Their Sleep (2010) | Caroline du Potet | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 29 | Mutants (2009) | David Morlet | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 30 | Pola X (1999) | Leos Carax | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 31 | Seul Contre Tous (1999) | Gaspar Noé | List Challenges |
| – | – | – | Taste Of Cinema |
| 32 | Sitcom (1998) | François Ozon | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 33 | The Horde (2009) | Yannick Dahan | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 34 | The Life of Jesus (1997) | Bruno Dumont | IMDB 2 |
| – | – | – | Kino Club 313 |
| 35 | The Ordeal (2004) |
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|
| – | – | – | Share The Horror |
| 36 | The Pack (2010) | Franck Richard | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 37 | The Pornographer (2001) | Bertrand Bonello | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 38 | Time of the Wolf (2003) | Michael Haneke | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 39 | With a Friend Like Harry… (2000) | Dominik Moll | Flick Chart |
| – | – | – | IMDB 2 |
| 40 | À l’intérieur | Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury | Taste Of Cinema |
| 41 | ANATOMY OF HELL (Anatomie de l’enfer) (2004) | Catherine Breillat | Horror News |
| 42 | Aquarium (2004) | Frédéric Grousset | IMDB 2 |
| 43 | At Land | MUBI | |
| 44 | Beatrice Cenci | MUBI | |
| 45 | Black Sabbath | MUBI | |
| 46 | Blood of the Beasts | MUBI | |
| 47 | Bluebeard (2009) | Catherine Breillat | IMDB 2 |
| 48 | Caché (2005) | Michael Haneke | IMDB |
| 49 | Children’s Play (2001) | Laurent Tuel | IMDB 2 |
| 50 | Class Trip (1998) | Claude Miller | IMDB 2 |
| 51 | Cries and Whispers | MUBI | |
| 52 | Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) | Olivier Dahan | IMDB 2 |
| 53 | Cruel Story of Youth | MUBI | |
| 54 | Dans ma peau | Marina de Van | Taste Of Cinema |
| 55 | Dead End (I) (2003) | Jean-Baptiste Andrea | IMDB 2 |
| 56 | Deep in the Woods (2000) | Lionel Delplanque | IMDB 2 |
| 57 | Dog’s Dialogue | MUBI | |
| 58 | Eden Log (2007) | Franck Vestiel | IMDB 2 |
| 59 | Emperor Tomato Ketchup | MUBI | |
| 60 | Eros Plus Massacre | MUBI | |
| 61 | Fat Girl (2001) | Kino Club 313 | |
| 62 | Flesh and the Devil | MUBI | |
| 63 | Friday Night | MUBI | |
| 64 | Go, Go Second Time Virgin | MUBI | |
| 65 | Grave (2016) | Amino Apps | |
| 66 | House of Voices (2004) | Pascal Laugier | IMDB 2 |
| 67 | Humanité | Bruno Dumont | Taste Of Cinema |
| 68 | I Can’t Sleep | MUBI | |
| 69 | I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse | MUBI | |
| 70 | Identification of a Woman | MUBI | |
| 71 | Impressions of Upper Mongolia | MUBI | |
| 72 | Invocation of My Demon Brother | MUBI | |
| 73 | Je, tu, il, elle | MUBI | |
| 74 | L’amour braque | MUBI | |
| 75 | Last Tango in Paris | MUBI | |
| 76 | Last Year at Marienbad | MUBI | |
| 77 | Le révélateur | MUBI | |
| 78 | Les amants criminels | François Ozon | Taste Of Cinema |
| 79 | Livid (2011) | Alexandre Bustillo | IMDB 2 |
| 80 | Love Rites | MUBI | |
| 81 | Maléfique (2002) | Eric Valette | IMDB 2 |
| 82 | Ménage | MUBI | |
| 83 | Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters | MUBI | |
| 84 | Murderous Maids (2000) | Jean-Pierre Denis | IMDB 2 |
| 85 | Outside Satan (2011) | Bruno Dumont | IMDB 2 |
| 86 | Prey (2010) |
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| 87 | Process (I) (2004) | C.S. Leigh | IMDB 2 |
| 88 | Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom | MUBI | |
| 89 | Santa sangre | MUBI | |
| 90 | Satan (2006) |
Admit One Film Addict
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|
| 91 | Society of the Spectacle | MUBI | |
| 92 | Swimming Pool (2003) | François Ozon | IMDB 2 |
| 93 | Switchblade Romance (2003) |
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| 94 | The Act of Seeing with One’s Own Eyes | MUBI | |
| 95 | The Cannibals | MUBI | |
| 96 | The Crimson Rivers (2000) | Mathieu Kassovitz | IMDB 2 |
| 97 | The Devil, Probably | MUBI | |
| 98 | The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie | MUBI | |
| 99 | The Epic of Gilgamesh | MUBI | |
| 100 | The Hunt (I) (2012) | Thomas Szczepanski | IMDB 2 |
| 101 | The Mad Masters | MUBI | |
| 102 | The Mother and the Whore | MUBI | |
| 103 | The Mouth Agape | MUBI | |
| 104 | Three Sinners | MUBI | |
| 105 | Twentynine Palms (2003) | Bruno Dumont | IMDB 2 |
| 106 | Un lac | MUBI | |
| 107 | Venus in Furs | MUBI | |
| 108 | Vinyan (2008) | Fabrice du Welz | IMDB 2 |
| 109 | Vive l’amour | MUBI | |
| 110 | Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000) | François Ozon | IMDB 2 |
| 111 | Weekend | MUBI | |
| 112 | Who Can Kill a Child? | MUBI |
11 Best New French Extremity Film Sources/Lists
| Source | Article |
| Admit One Film Addict | New French Extremity Vol 1. |
| Amino Apps | #MovementsOfFilm – New French Extremity |
| Flick Chart | The Top 10 New French Extremism Films of All-Time |
| Horror News | New French Extremity – French Extreme Films |
| IMDB | New French Extremity |
| IMDB 2 | New French Extremity |
| Kino Club 313 | 5 Great New French Extremity Movies |
| List Challenges | New French Extremity – How many have you watched? |
| MUBI | New French Extremity + Influences |
| Share The Horror | Five French Extremity Films Every Horror Fan Should See |
| Taste Of Cinema | 15 Essential Films For An Introduction To The New French Extremity |
