The Best François Truffaut Movies, Ranked
56 credits from 1955 to 2024, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with $307M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest François Truffaut Box Office Hits
François Truffaut's films have made $307M worldwide in total. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) is the biggest hit at $307M, ahead of The 400 Blows (1959) ($214K). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977 · Adventure $307M $135M dom. - 2
The 400 Blows 1959 · Drama $214K $509 dom. - 3
The Wild Child 1970 · Drama $65.6K $65.6K dom. - 4
The Bride Wore Black 1968 · Crime $45.3K $45.1K dom. - 5
Small Change 1976 · Comedy $38.8K $38.8K dom. - 6
Mississippi Mermaid 1969 · Drama $33.7K $33.7K dom. - 7
Shoot the Piano Player 1960 · Crime $21.1K $21.1K dom. - 8
Fahrenheit 451 1966 · Sci-Fi $581 $509 dom. - 9
Confidentially Yours 1983 · Comedy $509 $509 dom. - 10
The Woman Next Door 1981 · Romance $509 $509 dom.
The Best François Truffaut Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre François Truffaut has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Comedy leads with 8 films, and Small Change (1976) is the pick of them.
- Comedy 8 films Small Change 1976 · as Martine's father
- Drama 6 films The 400 Blows 1959 · as Man in Funfair (uncredited)
- Romance 4 films The Woman Next Door 1981 · Director
- Crime 4 films The Bride Wore Black 1968 · Director
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History 1 film The Green Room 1978 · as Julien Davenne - Adventure 1 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977
- Sci-Fi 1 film Fahrenheit 451 1966 · Director
The Best François Truffaut Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of François Truffaut's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1950s to 1980s.
The Latest François Truffaut Movies
The most recent films François Truffaut is credited on, newest first — starting with Confidentially Yours (1983). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
- Confidentially Yours 1983 · Director
- The Woman Next Door 1981 · Director
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Love on the Run 1979 · Director - The Green Room 1978 · Julien Davenne
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977 · Adventure
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The Man Who Loved Women 1977 · Un homme aux fénérailles (uncredited) - Small Change 1976 · Martine's father
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The Story of Adele H. 1975 · Officer (uncredited) -
Day for Night 1973 · Ferrand, the Director -
A Gorgeous Girl Like Me 1972 · Director - The Wild Child 1970 · Drama
- Mississippi Mermaid 1969 · Director
The Best François Truffaut Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest François Truffaut films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing François Truffaut movie?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) made the most at the box office, with $307M worldwide, followed by The 400 Blows (1959) with $214K. Together, François Truffaut's films with box office figures have made $307M.
Which François Truffaut movie won the most awards?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) is the most decorated François Truffaut film, with 6 wins from 30 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best François Truffaut comedy movie?
Small Change (1976) is the best-rated of François Truffaut's comedy films. In other genres: The 400 Blows (drama), The Woman Next Door (romance) and The Bride Wore Black (crime).
What is the newest François Truffaut movie?
The newest film on François Truffaut's filmography is François Truffaut: My Life, a Screenplay (2024), with François Truffaut as Self (archive footage).
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