Belmondo, the Magnificent: the Cinémathèque honors the icon of French cinema

Bébel shines at the Cinémathèque française: Jean-Paul Belmondo is the focus of a major retrospective running from October 7, 2026 to January 31, 2027.

His career and looks made him an international star and a defining figure of 20th-century French cinema. Jean-Paul Belmondo is at the heart of a major retrospective exhibition, staged at the Cinemathèque française from October 7, 2026 to January 31, 2027. The exhibition Belmondo, the Magnificent brings together clips from his films, posters and photographs that illustrate the prolific career of this actor with unmistakable charisma.

Jean-Paul Belmondo was born in 1933 in Neuilly-sur-Seine into a family of artists. A rebellious but accomplished athlete, he discovers his passion for theater in his teens. At the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, he meets Jean Rochefort, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Guy Bedos, Bruno Cremer, Pierre Vernier... After a few roles on stage and screen, he achieves a major breakthrough in Breathless, the film by Jean-Luc Godard. He then goes on to star in a string of films, sharing the bill with big stars of his era, such as Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura, Catherine Deneuve...

All told, Jean-Paul Belmondo appeared in more than 80 films. He was the rugged hero, often cheeky and impetuous, or a dark anti-hero. He frequently preferred to perform his own stunts, pushing the boundaries of his craft as an artist and athlete. Some of his films have become classics of French cinema, such as Le Magnifique, L'Homme de Rio, Peur sur la ville, L'As des as... Jean-Paul Belmondo also received numerous awards, underscoring his popularity in France and abroad.

The Cinémathèque's exhibition unpacks the keys to this undeniable success. Through a chronological journey, it revisits the actor's landmark films, his on-screen partners, his go-to directors, his urge to inhabit a variety of characters, and his appetite for risk. The show pays tribute to an artist who became a symbol for an entire generation.

For those who knew Bébel in his heyday, this exhibition is a fitting tribute: the journey is rich, you’ll encounter charming on-set images and a wealth of personal photographs... For younger visitors, the show will be less engaging, less iconic, unless you’re a true fan of the actor.

The exhibition route features a handful of entertaining interactive setups: phones let you listen to iconic lines, you can test your knowledge with a musical quiz, or even imitate stuntman Belmondo against a green screen.

The Cinémathèque française is set to spotlight this essential figure of French cinema in a retrospective exhibition slated for autumn 2026.

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