In recent years, French series on Netflix have become increasingly popular and captivating for viewers around the world. The streaming platform continually strives to integrate a wide range of high-quality French productions that appeal to an international audience.
These include many genres, from crime dramas to comedies, thrillers, and love stories. These French series offer an excellent way for TV fans to immerse themselves in French culture while enjoying themselves from the comfort of their own homes.
Here is a selection of the best French series on Netflix. Netflix France produces over time more and more French series with more budget and success. This blog post is here to help you to figure out what to watch. Those French shows might be different from the American ones that you might be used to watching.
One more information, from the best French series I found on Netflix, most of them belong to the thriller/ horror category. Besides watching the French series, you will be able to practice your French in a fun way.
Let’s start this selection of 22 French series on Netflix!
Find my YouTube video about a selection of five original French series on Netflix to watch:
List of the New French Series on Netflix
- Tour de France: Unchained
French name: Tour de France: Au Coeur du Peloton
Number of seasons: 1 (2023)
Status: On air
Le Tour de France is a popular French series on Netflix. The show offers a unique insight into the world of professional cycling. Viewers are taken to the heart of the peloton, where they discover the team strategies and personal challenges faced by the riders.
Over the course of the episodes, viewers follow the riders and their awe-inspiring exploits on mountain roads, winding descents, and epic sprints. Each stage of the Tour is beautifully captured, offering an immersive experience for Netflix subscribers.
The series’ production team works closely with the riders, teams, and French television to ensure access to every aspect of the race. “Tour de France: Unchained” allows cycling fans to experience the action from the inside, enjoy France’s picturesque landscapes, and feel the intensity of the competition. A must-see series for cycling enthusiasts and lovers of sport in general.
Synopsis Experience all the passion and struggle between the different teams taking part in the world’s biggest cycling race.
- Represent
French name: En Place
Number of seasons: 1 (2023)
Status: Pending
Humoristic French series with one of the funniest French actors, Éric Judor, and the winner of the French César 2021 (French Oscar) Jean-Pascal Zadi. There are many other five-star actors as Marina Foïs, the Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde and the stand-up comedians Fary and Fadily Camara.
En Place, uses humor to denounce the actual social situation of the French Parisian ghetto. The critic is that as Netflix loves, this French TV show is very manichean with the kind ones on one side (the poor) and the bad ones on the other (the rich).
Synopsis: An educational assistant from a Parisian suburb makes it to the second round of the presidential elections. But is France really ready to elect its first black president?
- Standing Up
French name: Drôle
Number of seasons: 1 (2022)
Status: Off air
New French TV show on Netflix produced by Fanny Herrero. She also produced the successful French series “Call my agent”. She stayed in the universe of art but she surprised us by moving to a tougher vision of the city of Paris. This TV show about some French stand-up comedians is going to show you a more authentic French capital than “Emily in Paris” with some modern and friendly actors (Netflix has many French Stand-Up Comedians shows).
My opinion is, the show is well made and it made me smile. But the characters are way too manichean, with the bad being really bad and the good being really good. I think the characters lack depth and this is a pity. Here is the French trailer starting with the beautiful music “Ani Kuni” from Polo & Pan.
Synopsis: Young stand-up comedians try to make a place for themselves in the Parisian stand-up scene. There is Aïssatou, a young woman returning to the stage of the “Drôle Comedy Club” with her latest sketches after devoting herself to her family life. You will discover her comedian friend Nezir, who is struggling to make ends meet with his dad. Bling, an ex-stand-up star, is going through a bad patch. Finally, Apolline, a newbie that wants to start a career as a comedian and will face the difficulties of the job. The comedian’s life is tough with the competition, will they manage to succeed to fame?
- Call my agent
French name: Dix pour cent
Number of seasons: 4 (2015-2021)
Status: On air
Probably one of the best French series on Netflix of the last few years. You will see some of the most famous French actors playing their own roles like Jean Dujardin, Giles Lelouche, or Audrey Fleurot. Here is the French trailer (I couldn’t find one with English subtitles).
Synopsis: Three actors’ agents, with strong personalities and complicated personal lives, struggle on a daily basis to find the best roles for their prestigious clients.
- Lupin
French name: Lupin : dans l’ombre d’Arsène
Number of seasons: 2 (2021-2022)
Status: On air
A new French series on Netflix (and produced by Netflix) starring the famous French actor Omar Sy. This is a modern version of the famous French character Arsène Lupin the Gentleman burglar. Character created by Maurice Leblanc at the beginning of the 20th century, which would deserve to be as internationally known as Sherlock Holmes. The adaptation of the story is for once well made compared to all the adaptations that were made in the past.
If you want more, the new season 3 is now out! One more thing, you need to watch the original version in French with English subtitles, I am not a big fan of the English dubbed version. I explained all the French slang from this series.
- Netflix’ Lupin Season 1: French Slang Explained in English
- Netflix’ Lupin Season 2: French Slang Explained in English
Synopsis: As a teenager, Assane Diop’s life was turned upside down when his father died after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. 25 years later, Assane (played by Omar Sy) will use “Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar” as his inspiration to avenge his father.
List of the French Comedy Series on Netflix
- Family Business
Number of seasons: 3 (2019-2021)
Status: Off air
Maybe the first French series on Netflix produced by themself that is good, not like the French show Marseille. You will find the rising French actor Jonathan Cohen playing the main character, the French actresses Julia Piation, Liliane Rovère (Playing in Call my agent too), and the famous Gérard Darmon.
Synopsis: Joseph, 35 years old, is full of business ideas even if he is still working in his father Gerard’s kosher butcher shop. When he learns from a “reliable” source that cannabis is going to be legalized, it’s a revelation. His genius idea: was to transform, with the help of his family and his buddies, the family butcher shop into a weed shop.
- Huge in France
French name: Huge en France
Number of seasons: 1 (2019)
Status: Off air
The Netflix series “Huge in France” stars Gad Elmaleh, one of France’s most celebrated humorists. Based on his own life, this comedy offers a humorous look at the challenges and aspirations of a celebrity seeking recognition in Hollywood. Gad Elmaleh plays with self-mockery and charm, captivating audiences with his hilarious adventures and encounters with international celebrities.
“Huge in France” also explores family dynamics, intergenerational bonds, and the dilemmas of cultural identity. The series combines touching moments with moments of pure entertainment, offering an enjoyable experience for fans of Gad Elmaleh and lovers of light comedy.
Synopsis: Gad Elmaleh is a comedy superstar in France. He decided to start all over again in the United States. Unfortunately, his own celebrity was left at customs.
List of the French Romantic Series on Netflix
- Emily in Paris
Number of seasons: 3 (2020-2022)
Status: On air
The non-French tend to love this French series on Netflix, I just deeply hate it. It is a strong statement but as a French, I could not watch more than the two first episodes of the first season. All the French bashing was hard to watch for example:
- The French do not speak a word of English
- The French smoking in the office (no one ever smokes in an office)
- The French never work and are super lazy when arriving late in the morning for work. You have to know that Parisian work a lot (too much) and tend to stay up late after 8 or 9 PM, this is something that will never happen in the USA or UK.
And the list goes on and on. This show does not represent Paris at all. I think it is an idealized vision of the Americans of the French capital. The main character Emily is ending up living in a “chambre de bonne” ( it is the small flat under the roof on the 6th floor of the Haussmannian building). But no, she is living on the second or third floor in a huge flat that would cost 1500/2500 euros for rent per month.
This series was made for the American audience in order for them to find all the fake French clichés. Although being not a good series, you will discover French slang such as plouc. You can still watch Emily in Paris to have your own point of view.
Synopsis: Emily, a twenty-something American from the Midwest, moves to Paris after receiving a most unexpected job offer. Her new challenge: bring an American perspective to a struggling French marketing agency.
- The Hook Up Plan
French name: Plan Coeur
Number of seasons: 3 (2018-2022)
Status: Off air
As Family Business, The Hook Up Plan is a Netflix original series. It is definitely a “Chick Flick” French series on Netflix!
Synopsis: Elsa, single forever, doesn’t understand why she can’t find love. Her three friends, determined to put an end to her bachelorhood, decide to hire an escort boy, who is supposed to help Elsa get back in touch with men and love.
- Mythomaniac
French name: Mytho
Number of seasons: 2 (2019-2021)
Status: Off air
French series on Netflix produced by the French-German channel Arte. “Mythomaniac” has some Desperate Housewife vibes following the life of a family living in a French suburb. This series uses a mechanism already known in comedy cinema around the lie and its consequences.
Synopsis: A devoted mother and wife, Elvira feels more and more transparent in the eyes of her family. One day, she gives in to the temptation of a terrible lie to regain love and attention.
List of the French Police Series on Netflix
- Unité 42
Number of seasons: 2 (2017)
Status: On air
A good Belgian police series that takes place in the capital of Brussels. We find the specificity of Belgium with the Flemish (Dutch speakers) and Walloon (French speakers) communities in this series. The second season is slightly better than the first one.
Synopsis: The members of the Brussels Digital Unit are located in the basement of the main police station in Brussels. The two leading characters, Sam and Billie, and the unit formed a heterogeneous but supportive team to block online crimes that threaten our ultra-connected lives. The characters are as linked professionally as on a friendly level.
- Marseille
Number of seasons: 2 (2016)
Status: Off air
Marseille is one of the most popular French series on Netflix. This drama series stars Gérard Depardieu as the city’s mayor. Created by Dan Franck, it tells the story of political struggles and intrigue in Marseille.
The story is captivating, and viewers can follow the tensions between the various characters for the governance of this emblematic city. With a decent cast (Benoît Magimel et Gérard Depardieu) and meticulous direction, Marseille offers a unique television experience (maybe too many aerial drone shots).
This series enriches Netflix’s offering of French productions and may appeal to those who enjoy political dramas.
Synopsis: Synopsis: Robert Taro, mayor of Marseilles for twenty years, wants to pull off a major coup with the construction of a casino. Unfortunately for him, his successor is now in charge of the project. A power struggle is about to begin.
- Dealer
French name: Caïd
Number of seasons: 1 (2021)
Status: On air
Series that might open your eyes to another side of France showing you the violence of the French ghettos. Unfortunately, France is not only “Emily in Paris”. You will learn a lot of French slang thanks to this series. One interesting information, in French the series is named Caïd which is an Arab word that means in France “Leader of a gang” it can also mean “being tough”. In Marocco for example it means a Muslim civil official who combines the functions of judge, administrator, and chief of police.
Synopsis: A director and his cameraman are sent to shoot a rap video in the heart of the suburbs of southern France, and find themselves caught up in a gang war.
List of the French Documentary Series on Netflix
- Chef’s Table: France
Number of seasons: 1 (2016)
Status: Off air
Documentary series of one season produced by Netflix where you will be able to discover the life of some French Chefs cooking tasty dishes. The documentary is focusing more on the Chefs rather than the dishes. It is a perfect series to watch for you if you are a food lover.
I just loved the fourth episode with the restaurant Lestroisgros, a three-star Michelin restaurant in Loire county next to Lyon. This is now a three-generation family chef restaurant and you can see their passion for gastronomy. Why did I like this episode? I grew up 30 minutes away.
Synopsis: Discover the newest flavors of France as daring chefs push the boundaries of gastronomy and reinvent a rich culinary tradition.
- 13 Novembre: Fluctuat nec Mergitur
Number of episodes: 3 (2018)
Status: Off air
November 13: Fluctuat nec Mergitur is a French documentary series on Netflix about the 2015 Paris attacks. The series, directed by Jules and Gédéon Naudet, reveals the poignant testimonies of survivors, rescue workers and affected families.
The title of the series, “Fluctuat nec Mergitur”, is the motto of the city of Paris. This slogan, meaning “It is battered by the waves, but does not sink”, reflects the resilience and unity of the French capital in the face of horror.
Synopsis: The series offers a deeper understanding of the tragic events of November 13, and enables viewers to fully grasp the impact they had on French society. 13 Novembre: Fluctuat nec Mergitur is a moving work that must be seen to understand the endurance and courage of the French people in the face of adversity.
- Nouvelle École
Number of seasons: 2 (2022)
Status: On air
Here’s a French-language rap competition with many participants. The judges include Marseilles rapper SCH, as well as Shay and Niska.
List of the French Horror / Science Fiction Series on Netflix
- Into the Night
Number of seasons: 1 (2020)
Status: On air
This is a short Science Fiction TV show with six episodes of 40 minutes. Despite a premise that doesn’t seem to hold water, the series manages to take us into a captivating story.
Synopsis: When the sun suddenly starts killing everything in its path, the passengers on a night flight from Brussels try to survive by any means necessary.
- Osmosis
Number of seasons: 1 (2019)
Status: Off air
This French series on Netflix reminds me of the American series Black Mirror.
Synopsis: In the near future, thanks to the data of its users obtained through micro-robots implanted in their brains, the new “OSMOSIS” application guarantees certainty to find the ideal partner, and transforms the ultimate dream of finding a soul mate into reality.
- Black spot
French name: Zone Blanche
Number of seasons: 1 (2019)
Status: On air
The landscapes in Zone Blanche are amazing and haunting at the same time. This series is for me underrated. There was no trailer for this TV show.
Synopsis: This is a dark detective drama in a small village in France with slightly supernatural undertones.
- Marianne
Number of seasons: 1 (2019)
Status: Off air
Probably one of the best French series on Netflix in the category of horror. If you are looking for more horror entertainment, I recommend you to read my article about 13 French Horror Movies.
Synopsis: Emma, a young novelist, discovers that the monstrous characters she created in her series of horror novels are really coming to life.
- Vampire
Number of seasons: 1 (2020)
Status: Off air
It is set in a Parisian banlieue and it even offers some exposure to verlan (Learn more about this type of French slang).
Synopsis: Martha Radescu’s family lives clandestinely in Paris. But when 16-year-old Doïna turns out to be a vampire of a new kind.
- The Forest
French name: La Forêt
Number of seasons: 1 (2017)
Status: Off air
Another horror/thriller French series on Netflix takes place in the Ardennes.
Synopsis: In a village in the Ardennes, sixteen-year-old Jennifer disappears in the middle of the night. Captain Gaspard Deker leads the investigation with Virginie Musso, the local gendarme, who knows the young girl well. They are helped by Eve, a solitary and mysterious woman.
French series on Netflix have enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent years, attracting an international audience with their diversity, quality, and originality. From “Lupin” to “Call My Agent”, via “Marianne” and “Plan Coeur”, these series have proved they can compete with international productions.
They offer a glimpse of France’s cultural richness and showcase talented actors. The themes range from suspense and drama to comedy. French series on Netflix have helped to renew the French TV landscape, attracting a wider audience and contributing to the growth of the French audiovisual scene.
I hope you will practice your French by watching one of those French series on Netflix. Do you know other ones? Let me know about it in the comment section. I will make sure to keep this page updated. For more French series, check out my articles:
Credits:
Photo Credit @Netflix
Jo-Ann@PennQuarter.org
Wednesday 12th of January 2022
How does one find any of these to watch; Does one watch them on a computer or a TV in the U.S. and if a TV , how can one find the show? I have seen shows but friends have newer TVs than i have. mine has 13 regular channels theoretically but all aren't or weren't active. Then there are the educational channels that also have shows where they sell things that i have no idea how to access. So what channels are these programs (for want of a better word) on and how would i find them on a computer or on a TV ?
Valerie
Thursday 15th of October 2020
In the shadow of Iris (I like the twist), The Stranger (who did it?) and The Bonfire of Destiny (true event, the fire really existed in the Paris bazar). I am French so I am so glad that Netflix is investing in French movies and tv shows. I hope, Netflix will feature “The disappearance” (“Disparue) soon so everyone can enjoy this excellent ,who did it, tv series.
Sacha
Sunday 14th of March 2021
Thanks, Valérie for your recommendations, I might add them later on. I agree it is great that Netflix is investing in French series!
Bruce
Sunday 27th of September 2020
The Crimson Rivers , crime thriller with Oliver Marchal & Erika Sainte is fabulous . Dix Pour Cent was was very entertaining also with the famous cameo performances.
Sacha
Sunday 27th of September 2020
Indeed, The Crimson Rivers or in French Les Rivières pourpres is an excellent French movie produced by the famous Mathieu Kassovity :D Dix pour cent was my big discovery of 2019!
Erica
Wednesday 23rd of September 2020
I loved Les Revenantes!! Much better than the English version The Returned.
Sacha
Thursday 24th of September 2020
I never watched the English version but it is what I keep hearing about it :)
Victoria
Saturday 5th of September 2020
The Circle is really good. I find that they speak slower because of the message aspect and you can also see the words and hear the pronunciation at the same time.
Sacha
Monday 7th of September 2020
Merci Victoria! I will check out this series soon :)