Seeing a movie in Paris

How good is your French? Obviously it might work a little better in London. We have seen several live shows in London. That is a good experience. The theater culture in London is different than the US or Denver, CO.

Most American movies are shown in English with French subtitles, so there’s no problem with needing to know French.

In the listing for the movie, you want to look for the initials “V.O.” which stands for Version Originale —which means the film has not been dubbed into French.

In fact, it’s rather more difficult to find an Anglophone film that has been dubbed in French — if it has been dubbed, it will have the notation “V.F.” for Version Française. »

I’ve done it a few times, at a theater on the Champs Elysées which are very nice. Very fun. As kim said, just look for V.O.
Saw Dangerous Liaisons there in ‘89. Great movie and all the more wonderful seeing it in Paris.
Downton Abbey is coming out 9/20, i’m hoping to see it on the Champs when i’n there Sept and Oct.

One thing to be aware of is films targeted to young children will be dubbed into French for obvious reasons. But the very same film will often be shown with subtitles for evening showings when it's mostly adults in the audience.

Check out this modern cinema complex in the 14th arr:
https://www.mk2.com/salles/mk2-bibliotheque-0

Very comfortable seats!

One word of caution; be careful of ordering popcorn if you are from the States! Completely different product. Instead of the nasty imitation butter flavored oil us Yanks have been brainwashed into eating, the French stuff we have had seems to be moistened with some sort of petroleum based waste. Yuck!

If you would want additional salt, bring your own as they do not provide it.

Back in 2013 I was in Paris with my kids and Iron Man 3 came out there a few days before it started showing back home. We had a free evening so we decided to go and see it especially since we had a movie theater around the corner from where we were staying close to Latin Quarter. It was fascinating because the theater was in the basement and we walked down a couple of flights of stairs to get there. To this day we refer to the movie as Iron Man Trois since that’s what they called it at the box office since we were in Paris, of course. And my son loved boasting to his friends back home that he got to see it before them!

Many, many, many years ago, I went to a movie on the Champs Elysees and saw Annie Hall. I did it to escape the heat during the day and for an opportunity to rest. In the movie, there was a film clip of the Germans marching down the Champs Elysees during World War II. You should have heard all the whistling and booing in the theater. I will never forget that. When the movie was over, we walked outside and the theater entrance was right where the German cameraman was filming. Now whenever I see that film clip which is quite a common film clip, I remember that day in Paris.

We were tempted to see a movie in France while we were there the past two weeks (my husband was interested in "Royal Corgi," and I was intrigued by "Tanguy," and yes, our French is adequate), but just didn't have enough time (it was a work trip for my husband). I was interested to see the post above about the popcorn. While in Switzerland years ago we saw many movies (usually v.o.) and always found the "entr'acte"/intermission disconcerting. I don't know if French movie theaters do that. The rhythm of most movies these days does not include a break in the middle during which one goes to the lobby for ice cream (yes, there was no popcorn!!). Definitely broke the spell for us ... and it was funny not having popcorn ... but as you say, it's an interesting experience!

Can’t speak for all theaters in Paris but the 3 movies i’ve seen on the Champs Elysées did not have an intermission. They did have super comfortable lounge chair type seats (decades before we had them in a few theaters here) and a woman in a “cute” uniform/outfit walked up and down the main aisle before the movie started selling candy out of a basket. Went to a kids movie there when my son was 11 and he loved the whole experience.

And now, presenting for the first time on the Forum 🙂 the VF trailer for Le Roi Lion🦁:
Le Roi Lion VF

The source is allociné.fr a website for finding local film listings and times. BTW, a film is usually preceded by the séance, which is about 10 minutes or so of advertising, some of it pretty good.

Yes, I've gone to movies often on my various trips to Paris. Just make sure your showing is VO, as said above, and you'll be fine.

In Paris, as in other large cities in France, finding films that were made in English being shown in English is pretty easy.

In rural France, it's practically impossible, unless the film has a lot of singing in English.

Perhaps others have a different experience than I, but I find VOSTF more common than VO. VOSTF means version originale sous-titres Français (original version with French subtitles).

Maybe your dates coincide with one of the 'Lost in Frenchlation' events - French movies translated into english. Follow them on instagram to see what's coming up - it looks like a lot of fun.

http://lostinfrenchlation.com

thank you for the link , Kiwi -- I love French movies, and will try to hit one when I am in France later this year.