Brigitte Bardot, who died at 91, is remembered for screen charisma and later controversies.

The New York Times compiled a short list of Bardot films currently available to stream.

Some of her most famous titles — including “Viva Maria!” and “The Truth” — remain unavailable in the U.S.

The piece reminds viewers that Bardot’s onscreen magnetism often outshone the films themselves.

NYT roundup: Where to start with Bardot

The New York Times published a brief guide titled “Five Brigitte Bardot Movies to Stream,” highlighting films that convey the actress’s unmistakable screen presence. Bardot, who died aged 91, left behind a filmography that critics say is often overlooked because her later life — including animal-rights activism and right-wing political statements — came to dominate headlines.

Why Bardot still matters on screen

Bardot’s importance to midcentury French cinema rests less on formal technique than on an immediacy she brought to every frame: charisma, attitude and a candid sexuality that read as agency. The NYT piece points to her breakthrough in Roger Vadim’s And God Created Woman as the clearest example of this on-screen force. In that film, images of Bardot sunbathing and emerging from the sea became iconic — but the paper argues she was more than a passive object, instead portraying a woman who claimed desire and drew the viewer’s attention.

What’s available — and what isn’t

Notably, the article warns that several landmark Bardot films are not currently streaming in the United States. Titles listed as unavailable include Christian-Jaque’s Babette Goes to War, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Truth, Louis Malle’s A Very Private Affair and the adventure comedy Viva Maria!. That scarcity means this NYT selection focuses on a smaller set of films that can still introduce modern audiences to Bardot’s screen gifts.

Streaming as a gateway — with context

The NYT’s roundup serves as both viewing guide and reminder: when searching for “Brigitte Bardot” online, readers will encounter both film recommendations and the brigitte bardot controversy surrounding her later public life. The outlet encourages watching her landmark performances while also recognizing the complex figure she became offscreen.

For viewers new to Bardot, start with And God Created Woman to see why she became an international sensation. Then, if possible, seek out restorations and festival screenings for films that aren’t yet widely available. Her legacy on screen — energetic, provocative, and difficult to ignore — is what the Times aims to recover amid the larger, often polarizing narratives that followed her retirement.

Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/movies/brigitte-bardot-movies-to-stream.html