A Guide to Going to the Movies in France

How hard can it be to go to the movies in France? We found out it is not super difficult, but it did turn out to be a bit trickier than we expected. While in Paris after a long travel day, we decided we wanted to see a film. We looked up the movie listings but were surprised to have some difficulty interpreting them across the multitude of cinemas in Paris. What is the difference between v.o. and v.f. films? What does sf Lun mean? What on earth does VOSTFR stand for? And how do I make sure I am seeing the new release of a movie and not an older version?

At the time, we couldn’t locate any good online English resources to help us interpret the movie listings, so we thought we’d share our experience and tips here to help others who may be trying to watch a movie in Paris or elsewhere in France. This post covers all the common abbreviations you’ll find in French cinema listings, whether online or in print, and walks you through the process of finding and choosing a film step by step.

A Guide to Going to the Movies in France

Step 1: Choose a resource to discover which movies are showing.

The best way to check what’s showing at cinemas across France is Allocine, which is essentially the French equivalent of IMDb. The site is in French, but it’s pretty easy to use even without much French. You can search by film title, cinema name, or location, and each listing will tell you whether the showing is in VF (dubbed in French) or VO (original language). The major cinema chains in France, including UGC and Pathe Gaumont, also have their own websites and apps where you can check times and book tickets in advance.

You can also check out the Time Out Paris website (in English and French) for movie recommendations and to find out what is going on in the city.

Our Experience: When we did this, we purchased a copy of the weekly magazine Pariscope at a Marais bookstore (0,50 euros) and used it to get the movie and cinema listings. Pariscope stopped publication in October 2016, but it was once the go-to guide for entertainment in Paris. The step-by-step walkthrough below uses our Pariscope as an example, but the abbreviations and process are exactly the same whether you’re using Allocine, a cinema chain’s website or app, or any other French movie listing.

Step 2: Figure out where the movie is showing.

In movie listings, films are typically organized into categories such as films nouveaux (new films), autres films (other films that have been out for a while), and reprises (older movies and classic films). After each film description will be a list of all the local theaters showing that film. Caution: If an older version of the film you want to see exists, make sure you check to see if it is also being shown in town as you want to make sure you go to the right version. Something else to keep in mind is that many films have different titles in French, so don’t be surprised if you can’t find a movie under its English name.

Our Experience: We already knew we wanted to see The Great Gatsby (2013) that had just recently been released (for some reason it is listed as 2012 in Pariscope…even though it was released in 2013). We found it listed in the “autres films” section of our Pariscope. We also noted that it was called Gatsby le Magnifique in French and that it was playing in a bunch of movie theaters all over Paris.

Now, we were then surprised to also see Gatsby le Magnifique listed under “reprises” as a few theatres were playing the 1974 version of the film. Clearly, this was being done just to trick us! So take note that it is possible that prior versions of a film (if they exist) may be playing as well. We found it almost impossible to distinguish the old from new version from just scanning the individual cinema listings so make sure you check the film listings first to then crosscheck which movie theaters are showing each version. Generally, a theater will not be showing both versions although this is of course possible.

Step 3: Figure out the type and version of the film you want to see (if you have choices).

This is probably the most confusing part as there are a lot of abbreviations used in the cinema listings in France. But this is where you can choose whether you want to see the film dubbed in French or in its original language with French subtitles and whether you want to see it in 3D or not. If you are in a medium to larger town and want to see an international movie (not made in France), there will likely be at least one theater nearby showing it in v.o. and one showing it in v.f.

Some terms to know:

En 3D = movie is shown in 3D (three-dimensional)

lunettes 3D = 3D glasses

projection numérique = a digital projection (usually meant to denote it is not in 3D)

version restaurée = restored version (good sign it is an older movie)

v.o.  -or- version originale -or- VOSTF -or- version originale sous-titrée en français = original version that has NOT been dubbed in French (in original film language may it be English, German, Hindi, etc.) but will have French subtitles

v.f. -or- version française = version has been dubbed in French

VOSTFR -or- version originale sous-titrée en français = same as v.o./VOSTF above; you’ll see this acronym used on some cinema websites and on streaming platforms

VFST = version dubbed in French with French subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

Special Note: A listing for the movie that does not have v.o. or v.f. after it normally indicates it is an actual French movie and is shown in French with no subtitles.

Another important note: v.o. means the original language of the film, which is not always English. If you’re looking for an English-language movie, make sure the film was actually made in English (American, British, Australian, etc.). A v.o. showing of a Korean or German film will be in Korean or German with French subtitles, not in English.

Our Experience: Now if like us, you don’t understand enough French to watch and understand a movie in French, you will want to avoid anything denoted as v.f. as it will be entirely dubbed in French. If you are looking for something that is not in French, such as an English language film, look for a movie that is denoted as v.o. AND was filmed in English such as an American or British film. It is very easy to find English-language movies in France, as many of the films in any given large cinema tend to be American. So as we watched a non-dubbed original version (v.o.) of Gatsby le Magnifique, the movie was in its original English but French subtitles were shown throughout the movie.  We were not interested in seeing the movie in 3D (note that like in the United States there are generally extra charges for 3D films) so we avoided listings that noted “en 3D”.

Step 4: Pick a cinema and movie time.

Now once you’ve decided on the film and preferred version, you can then figure out the closest cinemas and find movie times. The address of the theater, movie times, prices, etc. are generally fairly easy to figure out.

Some helpful abbreviations to know:

séances = movie times/dates

Dim (Dimanche)/Lun (Lundi)/Mar (Mardi)/Mer (Mercredi)/Jeu (Jeudi)/Ven (Vendredi)/Sam (Samedi) = Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday

sf or sauf = except (e.g. sf Dim et fêtes = except on Sundays and holidays)

tlj or tous le jours = daily or everyday

fête = festival or holiday

PL -or- plein tarif = normal ticket price

TR -or- tarif réduit = reduced ticket price (such as for students, children, seniors)

Our Experience: Since we were near the 6^th arrondissement area of Paris, we checked to see which movie theaters were closest to us. It was helpful that the Pariscope organizes the theater listings by area. We then saw that a few different cinemas were playing this movie in the 6^e Odéon area. We wanted to go around 9:00pm or 9:30pm and saw that the 33 UGC Odéon theater was playing Gatsby le Magnifique in v.o. at 9:30pm (a.k.a. 21:30). This met all of our requirements. Perfect!

A Few Final Words about Going to the Movies in France

We had just arrived in Paris after a long train ride from Switzerland and a quiet evening watching a movie really hit the spot for us that day. This was our first movie theater experience outside the United States. A couple of things we noted was that the theater we went to was quite small and we were not allowed to hang around the lobby and could not enter the actual theater until 15 minutes before our show time. We got there about 30 minutes or so early and bought our ticket but then had to wait outside which normally would be fine except it was raining.

Otherwise, the experience was much like we have had all over the United States. While it would have been nice to watch an actual French film, we would have needed English subtitles to really enjoy it, especially as tired as we were that evening. However, since I associate F. Scott Fitzgerald (the writer of The Great Gatsby) with the time he spent in Paris, it felt like a good fit.

If you actually want to watch French films but need English subtitles, check out Lost in Frenchlation. They host regular screenings of French movies with English subtitles at independent cinemas around Paris, often with a social drinks hour before the movie. It’s a great way to experience French cinema without needing to be fluent.

We hope that this little guide will help someone else out there trying to decipher French movie listings!

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, you might also find these guides helpful: our guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette, tips for choosing the best Seine River cruise, and our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower. If you’re coming from the UK, we also have a guide on how to get from London to Paris.

Have you gone to the movies in France? Any tips for attending the cinema in Paris?

Quick Reference: French Cinema Abbreviations

VF (version française) = Dubbed in French. The film’s dialogue has been re-recorded by French voice actors.

VO (version originale) = Original language with French subtitles. This is what you want if you’re looking for a film in English (as long as the film was originally made in English).

VOST (version originale sous-titrée) = Same as VO. Original language with subtitles.

VOSTF / VOSTFR (version originale sous-titrée en français) = Original language with French subtitles. Same thing as VO and VOST, just more explicit about the subtitle language.

VFST = Dubbed in French with French subtitles (for deaf and hard of hearing audiences).

3D / en 3D = Shown in 3D. Usually costs a few euros extra.

séances = Showtimes.

PL / plein tarif = Full price ticket.

TR / tarif réduit = Reduced price (students, seniors, children).

sf / sauf = Except (e.g., sf Dim = except Sunday).

tlj / tous les jours = Every day.

Tips for Saving Money at the Movies in France

If you’re going to be in France for a while, the major cinema chains offer subscription cards that can save you a lot of money. UGC has a card called UGC Illimite and Pathe Gaumont has Le Pass, both of which give you unlimited movie access for a monthly fee.

Even without a subscription, most cinemas offer reduced rates (tarif reduit) for students, seniors, children, and sometimes for certain days of the week. Wednesday is the traditional new release day in France, and some cinemas offer discounted tickets on that day or on other weekday screenings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Going to the Movies in France

What does VF mean in French cinema?

VF stands for version française, which means the film has been dubbed into French. French voice actors re-record all the dialogue, so you’ll hear the entire movie in French with no subtitles. If you don’t speak French, avoid VF showings.

What does VOST mean in French cinema?

VOST stands for version originale sous-titrée, meaning the film is shown in its original language with French subtitles. You might also see this written as VOSTF, VOSTFR, or simply VO. They all mean the same thing: the original audio with French subtitles.

If you’re looking for an English-language movie, look for a VO/VOST showing of a film that was made in English (such as an American or British film). Keep in mind that VO means original language, not necessarily English. A VO showing of a Korean film will be in Korean with French subtitles.

What does VOSTFR mean?

VOSTFR stands for version originale sous-titrée en français, which is the same as VOST and VO. It just spells out more explicitly that the subtitles are in French. You’ll see this acronym used frequently on streaming platforms and some cinema websites.

How do I find English-language movies in France?

In Paris and other large French cities, it’s pretty easy to find English-language films shown in their original version (VO). Check listings on Allocine or the websites of major chains like UGC and Pathe Gaumont, and look for showings marked VO, VOST, or VOSTFR. In smaller towns, your options will be more limited and most showings will be dubbed (VF).

If you want to watch French films with English subtitles, Lost in Frenchlation hosts regular screenings in Paris at independent cinemas.

What does “sf” mean in French movie listings?

Sf (or sauf) means “except.” So if you see sf Dim next to a showtime, it means the movie plays at that time every day except Sunday (Dimanche). Similarly, sf Lun means except Monday (Lundi), and sf fêtes means except holidays.