Barratier has directed three successful feature films. The first was The Chorus (2004). As the lyricist of the film's song "Look To Your Path", he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as eight César Awards, of which it won two.
His 2011 film, War of the Buttons (2011) is an adaptation of La Guerre des boutons (War of the Buttons), based on the 1912 novel by Louis Pergaud. It is altered by being set during World War II and the German Occupation of France. It was produced and co-written by Thomas Langmann (an Academy Award-winner for The Artist), with financial participation by Canal Plus. It was released in France during September 2011 and cost €16 million. It is being distributed in the United States as The War of the Buttons.
