French Exit is a 2020 black comedy-drama film^[7][8] directed by Azazel Jacobs,^[9] based on the novel of the same name by Patrick deWitt, who also wrote the screenplay. It tells the story of a Manhattan heiress (Michelle Pfeiffer) who moves to Paris with her son (Lucas Hedges) with the little money they have left.

The film had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 10, 2020, and was theatrically released in the United States and Canada on February 12, 2021. It received mixed reviews from critics, although Pfeiffer's performance was praised and she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.

The bank seizes all the property of Manhattan heiress Frances Price several years after her husband's death. The close-to-penniless widow and her son, Malcolm, are left with few options. They sell everything in their house and relocate to a small apartment in Paris owned by Frances' friend, with the family cat, who happens to be Frances' reincarnated husband.

It was announced in May 2019 that Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges and Tracy Letts were cast in the film, with Azazel Jacobs directing and the novel's author Patrick deWitt writing the screenplay.^[10] Danielle Macdonald was cast in October.^[11]

In September 2019, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film.^[8] It had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 10, 2020.^[13]

On August 20, 2020, the studio scheduled the film to be released on February 12, 2021.^[14][15] In February 2021, it was announced the film would begin a limited release in New York City and Los Angeles on February 12, before going wide on April 2.^[16]

It was selected to be presented to Berlin Film Festival in the section Berlin Special Titles.