Jules Arsène Arnaud Claretie was a French literary figure and director of the Théâtre Français.

He was born at Limoges. After studying at the lycée Bonaparte in Paris, he became a journalist, achieving great success as dramatic critic to Le Figaro and to the Opinion nationale. He was a newspaper correspondent during the Franco-Prussian War, and during the Paris Commune acted as staff-officer in the National Guard. In 1885 he became director of the Théâtre Français, and from that time devoted his time chiefly to its administration until his death. During the battle for Octave Mirbeau's comedy Les affaires sont les affaires (Business is business), the Comité de Lecture is abolished, in October 1901, and Jules Claretie becomes the only responsible for choosing the modern plays to be performed.

He was elected a member of the Académie française in 1888, and took his seat in February 1889, being received by Ernest Renan.

Among his works are the librettos for the operas La Navarraise and Amadis, both for Jules Massenet.