When Paris La Défense becomes a movie set!
Lights, camera, action! On the first day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, we thought it was important to set the scene. Because as you stroll through the area, you're bound to come across a film crew. And with good reason: Paris La Défense has been attracting film-makers for decades, for movies, TV series, commercials and music videos.
From blockbusters to drama series, Paris La Défense is often on your screens! Here's a quick roundup of what's been done in recent years.
Des films tournés dans le quartier d’affaires
L'inconnu de La Grande Arche
The film, presented at this year's Cannes Film Festival in the “Un certain Regard” selection, retraces the famous international architecture competition launched by French President François Mitterrand. In 1983, Danish-born artist Otto Von Spreckelsen, unknown in France, won the competition and designed La Grande Arche. When he arrived in France and the business district, he was confronted with political issues and the complexity of the project.
Le Système Victoria
Released in 2024, Le Système Victoria stars Damien Bonnard, Jeanne Balibar, Cédric Appietto and Antonia Buresi. The story of this thriller set in the heart of the business district? David, a construction manager, lives with the urgency of a major high-rise construction project at La Défense. When he meets Victoria, an ambitious HR director in a multinational company, he finds himself in a passionate relationship, with high professional stakes and at the heart of a system that is beyond him.
The Kitchen
Filmed in the Damiers district, The Kitchen, released in 2024 on Netflix, is a British sci-fi fim. It tells the story of two young people living in a London where the gap between rich and poor has been pushed to the limit, and where social housing no longer exists. They find themselves living in “The Kitchen”, where a community refuses to move out.
Chien 51
Chien 51 is a French science-fiction film directed by Cédric Jimenez, due for release in October 2025. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Laurent Gaudé. The cast includes Gilles Lellouche, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Louis Garel and Romain Duris. The film presents Paris in 2045, divided into zones corresponding to social classes and monitored by an AI named Alma. Two policemen meet to investigate the murder of the AI's inventor. The team shot a few scenes on the famous Japan Bridge in the business district.
John Wick 4
In cinemas since March 22, 2023, the blockbuster “John Wick: Chapter 4” also passed through La Défense! In this latest opus, John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, takes on his deadliest adversaries and fights on a global scale, from New York to Paris, via Osaka and Berlin. And once again, it's the introductory scene that takes place on, or rather under, the land. Indeed, the film opens with John Wick training in an underground lair in New York. But this lair is actually the basement of the La Défense slab, nicknamed “The Cathedral”. This is the first time a feature film has been allowed to shoot on location, adding a unique touch to the film!
Numerous series set in Paris La Défense
D'argent et de sang
Several scenes from this Canal + series were shot in the business district, notably in the CBX tower, on the Reflets and Alsace footbridges, and in the Place des Reflets and Place de l'Iris. The cast includes Niels Schneider, Vincent Lindon, Ramzy Bedia, Judith Chmla and David Ayala. The series, based on the book of the same name, looks back at the VAT fraud involving carbon quotas in France in 2008 and 2009.
The Fever
Imagined by the co-creator of Baron Noir (see below), the series “La Fièvre” highlights the rivalry between two women who do their utmost to sway public opinion after the buzz generated by a footballer. Some scenes in the series were shot at the Hotel Le Méliá and around the Takis Basin.
The Walking Dead : Daryl Dixon
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” is the fifth spin-off from The Walking Dead universe. While Daryl Dixon washes up on a French beach, he eventually finds himself in an abbey under attack and decides to escort a young boy in danger to Paris before returning to the USA. Some scenes in the series were shot on the Jetée behind La Grande Arche.Miskina
Miskina
A few scenes from the series Miskina, starring Melha Bedia, were filmed on the emblematic square in front of La Défense. It tells the story of a young woman in her thirties who has to make choices to stop being “a Miskina”.
Skids
Canal + viewers probably all recognized it within seconds. “Le Baron Noir” puts the territory in the spotlight! The series revolves around the political and judicial epic of Philippe Rickwaert (Kad Merad), a politician and member of the Socialist Party, driven by an irrepressible thirst for social revenge after seeing his political future collapse. The series opens with the various characters chatting on the terrace of the Meliá Paris La Défense hotel. Over the course of the series, we come to recognize the Pont de Neuilly, Boulevard Patrick Devedjian, Tour Eve, Tour First and the Altiplano (formerly Ile-de-France) building. The La Défense district is visible on numerous occasions!
The Black Baron
Canal + viewers probably recognized it within seconds.“Le Baron Noir” puts the territory in the spotlight! The series revolves around the political and judicial epic of Philippe Rickwaert (Kad Merad), a politician and member of the Socialist Party, driven by an irrepressible thirst for social revenge after seeing his political future collapse. The series opens with the various characters chatting on the terrace of the Meliá Paris La Défense hotel.Over the course of the series, we come to recognize the Pont de Neuilly, Boulevard Patrick Devedjian, Tour Eve, Tour First and the Altiplano (formerly Ile-de-France) building.The La Défense district is visible on numerous occasions!
Emily In Paris
Depuis maintenant quatre saisons, « Emily In Paris » nous transporte dans un Paris rempli de clichés, de rebondissements et d’histoires d’amour. Emily Cooper, jeune directrice marketing à Chicago, est engagée dans une célèbre agence de marketing parisienne afin de mettre sa perspective américaine au service de ses futurs clients. Elle adopte alors une nouvelle vie, tout en jonglant entre marketing, amis et amours. Dans la saison 2, Paris La Défense fait aussi partie du décor, puisque l’appartement d’Alfie (le petit ami d’Emily) se situe sur le territoire, et plus particulièrement dans la résidence La Sirène !
For four seasons now, “Emily In Paris” has transported us to a Paris filled with clichés, twists and love stories.Emily Cooper, a young marketing director in Chicago, is hired by a famous Parisian marketing agency to put her American perspective to work for its future clients.
She embarks on a new life, juggling marketing, friends and romance. In season 2, Paris La Défense is also part of the setting, as Emily's boyfriend Alfie's apartment is located in the area, and more specifically in the La Sirène residence!
Jusqu’ici tout va bien
Available since April 7, 2023 on Netflix, the series “Jusqu'ici tout va bien” was filmed in part at La Défense!
A field journalist for several years, Fara is set to take over as presenter of “13/15”, the news channel “24 Info”.This fictitious channel is located in the Belvédère building, at the foot of La Grande Arche.In the process, the young presenter comes to the aid of her brother, who has committed a hit-and-run after an accident and owes a drug baron two million euros.
Shooting music videos and TV shows
Music videos
Released in February 2022, the video for Franglish's track Winfley was shot at night in the Corolles and Iris districts and in Manhattan Square.
Rapper Vlad was also seduced by the business district, and more specifically by Paris La Défense Arena.His video for the track Dieu Merci, part of his new album Pandemonium, was shot in the venue, where he is preparing to return for an exceptional concert on November 29, 2025.
In 2019, singer Léa Castel chose the Damiers district to shoot part of her clip Amour à la haine.
Celebrity Hunted
Ten days, pairs of celebrities, a team of investigators and a stalk across France... These are the ingredients brought together by Amazon Prime for “Celebrity Hunted”! The celebrities will do their utmost to disappear without a trace, and try to elude experts in cybersecurity, profiling and investigation.And in the hope of finding all the pairs, these experts have set up their HQ in La Défense, in the Carpe Diem tower! Aerial views and panoramic shots of the business district follow one another to present the environment of the stalking professionals.
For 10 days, these “hunters” will be tracking celebrities all over France, and they leave nothing to chance! The celebrities have just one objective: to reach an exfiltration site and hopefully win the competition.
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When Paris La Défense becomes a movie set!
