100 Best Foreign Movies of All Time (and Where to Watch Them Online)

100 Best Foreign Movies of All Time (and Where to Watch Them Online)

Harry Burnview
Harry Burnview

Published on July 10, 2023

Updated on July 04, 2024

Countries all around the world have movie industries that touch upon the local talents and cultures, and it’s hard to quantitatively say which are the best foreign movies of all time. Use this beginner's guide to discover must-watch foreign movies from all around the world that will give you a taste of the different styles and a springboard to exploring more of the movies that you love. We also provide you with all the information needed on where to stream the best foreign movies using platforms like Disney+, Max, Netflix, Prime Video and many more!

For the purposes of this list, a foreign movie is classed as any movie that is not produced in English. Movies on the list such as Godzilla (Japanese) and Funny Games (German, Italian, French) have also been remade in English, but be sure to check out the originals as they offer something different to their English-language counterparts. Many of the directors whose movies feature on the list later went on to have careers in Hollywood, like Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), Milos Forman (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) and Cary Fukunaga (True Detective).

During his acceptance speech at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Language film, Parasite director Bong Joon-ho stated, "once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films." This idea is truly highlighted in the following list featuring some of the absolute best foreign movies of all time.

Where to watch the best foreign movies online right now

To get you started on your journey into watching non-English language movies, here are 100 of the best foreign language movies from around the world and a complete guide on where to watch them.

In 1960s Hong Kong, two neighbors form an intimate bond after making a discovery about their spouses in this visually stunning tale of unrequited love.
Salvatore, a famous film director, returns to his hometown for the funeral of the local theater's film projectionist, Alfredo. He reminisces about his life as a young boy falling in love with cinema.

03

M
M

M

1931

In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

04

Intouchables
After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.

05

City of God
City of God

City of God

2002

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

06

The Seventh Seal
When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

07

Parasite
Parasite

Parasite

2019

All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

08

Pather Panchali
Impoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. Alone, his wife, Sarbojaya, looks after her rebellious daughter, Durga, and her young son, Apu, as well as Harihar's elderly aunt Indir. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life, while their parents suffer the daily indignities heaped upon them.
In 1940, in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a young girl living on the Castilian plain is haunted after attending a screening of James Whale's 1931 film Frankenstein and hearing from her sister that the monster is not dead, instead existing as a spirit inhabiting a nearby barn.

10

Rashomon
Rashomon

Rashomon

1950

Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.

About this list

Titles

100

Total Watch Cost

$54.48

Total Watch Time

205h 46min

Genres

Drama, Made in Europe, Romance

Where can I watch this list online?

Find out which streaming services have the most titles from this list below.

There are 100 titles in this list and you can watch 52 of them on Criterion Channel. 65 other streaming services also have titles available to stream today.

  1. 52 titles Criterion Channel
  2. 45 titles Kanopy
  3. 36 titles HBO Max
  4. 36 titles HBO Max Amazon Channel
  5. 24 titles Tubi TV