10 Underrated Films by Jean Reno You Must See

Jean Reno has built a career that bridges French cinema and global hits, moving with ease between intimate thrillers and large scale action. Viewers often point to ‘Léon’ and ‘Ronin’ when they talk about his work, yet his filmography holds many other projects that show the range of characters he has taken on and the different industries he has worked in. This list brings together titles that highlight his versatility across crime stories, historical drama, comedy, and international co productions.

Each entry notes the role he plays, the creative team behind the film, and the production context that shaped it. You will find details on directors, key co stars, source material, settings, and other concrete facts that help place these films in context and make them easier to track down and appreciate.

‘Wasabi’ (2001)

Jean Reno plays Paris police commissioner Hubert Fiorentini, a tough investigator whose life takes an unexpected turn when he travels to Tokyo to settle the affairs of a former partner and discovers he has a teenage daughter named Yumi. The story follows his efforts to protect her while navigating local crime groups, with action set pieces in urban locations and a steady mix of procedural steps and family revelations.

The film is directed by Gérard Krawczyk and written by Luc Besson, with Ryoko Hirosue as Yumi and Michel Muller as Hubert’s colleague Momo. It was shot in France and Japan and features a score by Éric Serra, bringing together a French creative team with Japanese settings and performers to create a bilingual production.

‘The Crimson Rivers’ (2000)

Reno portrays detective Pierre Niemans, a veteran investigator sent to a remote university town to examine a brutal death that appears linked to a pattern of ritualistic crimes. The plot intersects with a separate case handled by a younger officer played by Vincent Cassel, and the two lines of inquiry converge on academic secrets and identity manipulation within the isolated community.

The film is directed by Mathieu Kassovitz and adapted from the novel by Jean Christophe Grangé. It is a French production set in mountainous terrain, with location work that uses imposing landscapes and institutional architecture to support the investigation’s atmosphere. The success of the adaptation helped renew interest in literary thrillers within French cinema.

‘Empire of the Wolves’ (2005)

Reno appears as Jean Louis Schiffer, a seasoned ex cop brought in to help a younger commander probe a series of murders tied to the Turkish community in Paris. The narrative moves between police work, organized crime, and a parallel story about a woman who suffers from memory issues that mask a deeper identity problem.

Chris Nahon directs this adaptation of another Jean Christophe Grangé novel, with Jocelyn Quivrin as Captain Paul Nerteaux and Arly Jover in a central role connected to the amnesia thread. The production blends action and investigative elements and uses Paris locations and community specific details to ground the story in contemporary urban realities.

’22 Bullets’ (2010)

Reno plays Charly Mattei, a retired Marseille gangster who survives a near fatal ambush and attempts to protect his family while confronting former associates. The plot follows his recovery, the police response to escalating violence, and the shifting alliances inside the local underworld.

The film is directed by Richard Berry and is loosely inspired by events connected to the figure Jacky Imbert. It was filmed largely in Marseille and nearby areas and is based on Franz Olivier Giesbert’s novel that explores the persistence of old codes in modern organized crime. The cast includes Kad Merad as a determined investigator who maps the case across rival crews.

‘Ruby & Quentin’ (2003)

Reno portrays Ruby, a taciturn safecracker who escapes custody to pursue a score, while crossing paths with Quentin, a well meaning repeat offender played by Gérard Depardieu. The plot links a prison break, a gangland feud, and a series of mishaps that push the two men to work together despite very different temperaments and goals.

Francis Veber directs and scripts the film, known in French as ‘Tais toi’. The production uses Paris and provincial settings and relies on physical set pieces and dialogue timing that align with Veber’s tradition of pairing opposites in comic crime situations. Supporting roles connect Ruby’s personal vendetta to a larger web of criminal operations.

‘Le Chef’ (2012)

Reno stars as Alexandre Lagarde, a renowned culinary figure whose restaurant faces pressure from corporate management to adopt a trend focused menu. He teams up with Jacky Bonnot, an enthusiastic cook played by Michaël Youn, and the duo works inside real kitchens as they test recipes and prepare for inspections that will decide the future of the establishment.

Daniel Cohen directs and co writes, drawing on the world of high level French gastronomy and the dynamics between chefs and owners. The production secured access to professional kitchen environments and uses bilingual dialogue in places to reflect the international clientele. The ensemble includes restaurant staff and executives who frame the business stakes around creative control.

‘Flyboys’ (2006)

Reno plays Captain Georges Thenault, the commanding officer of the Lafayette Escadrille, which brought American volunteers into French aviation during the First World War. The narrative tracks training, aerial combat, and squadron life, with attention to aircraft handling and the protocols of early military aviation.

Tony Bill directs, with James Franco leading the pilots and a cast that includes Martin Henderson and Jennifer Decker. The production used full scale flying replicas and digital effects to stage dogfights and filmed across multiple locations to recreate airfields and rural terrain. Historical consultants contributed details on squadron structure and period equipment.

‘The Big Blue’ (1988)

Reno portrays Enzo Molinari, a champion free diver whose rivalry and friendship with fellow diver Jacques Mayol shape the emotional core of the story. The film follows competitions, deep training sequences, and the physical limits that define the sport, moving between Mediterranean waters and tropical sites that highlight changing sea conditions.

Luc Besson directs, with Jean Marc Barr as Jacques and Rosanna Arquette as an American office worker drawn into the divers’ world. The production features extensive underwater cinematography and a soundtrack by Éric Serra, and it was released in different cuts for European and American markets. The film helped introduce free diving culture to wider audiences through its focus on technique and record attempts.

‘The Adventurers’ (2017)

Reno appears as Pierre Bissette, a French detective who pursues a team of international thieves led by a character played by Andy Lau. The story follows an elaborate jewel heist and the pursuit that crosses borders, with set pieces staged in museums, city streets, and coastal venues.

Stephen Fung directs, with Shu Qi among the principal cast, and the production brings together crews from Hong Kong, mainland China, and Europe. Filming locations include Prague and the French Riviera, giving the film a mix of Central European and Mediterranean backdrops. The multilingual production design supports a plot that moves between agencies and jurisdictions.

‘Cold Blood’ (2019)

Reno plays a reclusive former contract killer named Henry who lives alone near a remote lake and keeps strict routines that help conceal his past. His isolation is broken when he finds an injured woman and must decide how to deal with her presence while avoiding attention from people who would prefer he remain hidden.

The film is written and directed by Frédéric Petitjean and is also known as ‘Cold Blood Legacy’ in some territories. It is an English language European production with a small cast that focuses on a single location and a slow unfolding of character histories. The project uses winter landscapes and minimal interiors to reflect the lead character’s withdrawn lifestyle.

Share your favorite lesser known Jean Reno performances in the comments so everyone can compare notes and discover a new pick.