Enjoy this list of the best French series on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Updated for 2023! Happy viewing.
When I moved to France over 30 years ago I spoke a little French. The year before my move I spent one year at University completing an introductory course. I had previously also endured 5 torturous years in school trying to conjugate verbs and progress past ‘Je m’appelle Tracy’
After being told in school that I would never be any good at French I was determined to learn the language!
Living in France for nearly 2 years gave me an excellent opportunity to master the language. And after 6 months I was fluent. Although a little rusty nearly 30 years later I still try to keep my language skills at least functional.
I have found one of the best ways to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.
If you are preparing for a trip to France or are learning the language in school/college or simply want to know more French before your holiday and are looking for the best TV shows to learn French I would highly recommend some of the excellent French TV shows that are available on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime Video right now (Please bear in mind different countries may have different availability)
It is also a great introduction to French culture and different areas of France! What better way to enjoy a truly authentic travel experience through your ability to communicate (even a few words) in the native language.
In this post, you will find the best French-language series on Netflix to enjoy. These French TV shows on Netflix are a great way to practice your language skills.
We do tend to watch the French TV series with subtitles (my husband doesn’t speak French) I have found it really useful to hear French accents and also some of the more colloquial language used in French TV series.
I still struggle to understand French news broadcasts with their more formal French unless there are subtitles. However, whether you are still at the stage of needing subtitles or not watching these great French TV shows will build vocabulary and develop your French language skills.
If you have a Netflix subscription enjoy this selection of the best French TV shows on Netflix – à bientôt!
Best French series on Netflix & Amazon Prime (2023)
Lupin
Following an injustice years earlier professional thief Assane seeks to settle the score.
The series is based on the books of Maurice Leblanc about the thief Arsene Lupin.
The second series has now been released on Netflix.
- Released – 2021
- Number of episodes – Series 1 – 5 Series 2 – 6
- Genre – Crime Drama
- Starring – Omar Sy, Shirine Boutella, Soufiane Guerrab, Nicole Garcia
- Where was the series filmed in France? Paris (the Louvre has a starring role in the opening episode)
Bonfire of Destiny
After a devastating fire in Paris in 1897, three women find their lives upended by betrayals, deceptions and romantic turmoil.
- Released – 2019
- Number of episodes – 8
- Genre – TV Drama, Period Drama
- Starring – Audrey Fieurot, Julie de Bona, Camille Lou
- Where was the series filmed in France? In the Paris region.
Click to watch Bonfire of Destiny
The Chalet
We thoroughly enjoyed this French Netflix series and thriller!
A bunch of friends meet up in a chalet in the French Alps but a secret from the past comes back to haunt them. When they are cut off from the outside world tensions rise and so does the death toll!
This series will have you on the edge of your seat wondering who will be murdered next and by who!
- Released – 2018
- Number of episodes – 6
- Number of series – 1
- Genre – Drama/Mystery/Thriller
- Starring – Nicolas Gob, Chloe Lambert, Marc Ruchmann.
- Where was the series filmed in France? The Chalet was filmed in Chamonix. The bridge that collapses and cuts the village off is the Pont du Diable which connects Crouzet-Migette and Sainte Anne.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR THE CHALET ON YOUTUBE
The Returned
The French do thrillers so well and this supernatural French TV show is one of our favourites. When several people return to the village years after they left the impact is huge. Especially since they have all been dead for over 20 years.
This zombie supernatural drama was a surprise hit and is one of our favourite French programmes on Netflix.
Series one is now available on Netflix!
- Released – 2012 – 2015
- Number of episodes – 16
- Number of series – 2
- Genre – Drama/Supernatural
- Starring – Clotilde Hesme, Pierre Perrier, Yara Pilartz
- Where was this French Netflix series filmed? In the city of Annecy in Haute Savoie. The dam is the Barrage de Tignes.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR THE RETURNED ON YOUTUBE
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Inhuman Resources
This is a gripping series that stars footballer/actor Eric Cantona. It has been a hit in France and is based on the novel Cadres Noirs by Pierre Lemaitre.
The story is recounted by lead character Alain Delachambre (Cantona) who tells the story of what has happened to him up to that point in his life.
Taking a job as a recruiter he has to use unorthodox methods to evaluate a group of 4 executives. To find out more you will have to watch this French series!
- Released – 2020
Number of episodes – 6
- Seasons – 1
- Genre – Drama
- Starring – Eric Cantona
- Where was the series filmed in France? Paris
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The Hook-up Plan (Plan Coeur)
Life in Paris for a group of 20-somethings as life, love and complicated relationships dominate.
Meet Elsa who after 2 years is still struggling to get over her ex until her best friend decides to hire a male escort to mend her broken heart. Things don’t altogether go according to plan when Elsa falls for the new guy not knowing he was hired by her friend.
- Genre – French romance and drama
- Released – 2018
- Number of series – 2
- Number of episodes – 15
- Starring – Marc Ruchmann, Zita Hanrot.
- Where filmed? Paris
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HOOKUP PLAN TRAILER ON YOUTUBE
Mythomaniac
A mythomaniac is someone who compulsively tells lies.
Feeling burned out and taken for granted, a full-time hard-working mum named Elvira suspects her partner is cheating, so to win back his attention, she feigns a serious medical diagnosis.
Elvira’s lie ends up having unforeseen consequences for everyone.
- Released – 2019
- Number of episodes – 6 (1 season)
- Genre – Drama
- Starring – Marina Hands, Mathieu Demy
- Where was the series filmed in France? Paris suburbs
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Black Spot
In this gripping French series, a police chief and an eccentric new prosecutor investigate a string of grisly crimes and eerie phenomena in an isolated town at the edge of a forest.
- Released – 2019
- Number of episodes – 16 (2 seasons)
- Genre – Drama
- Starring – Starring Suliane Brahim, Hubert Delattre and Laurent Capelluto
Where was the series filmed in France? Belgium and in the Vosges region of eastern France.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR BLACK SPOT ON YOUTUBE
Marseille
The longtime mayor of Marseille is preparing to hand over the reins to his protégé when a sudden and ruthless battle erupts for control of the city.
- Released – 2016
- Number of seasons & episodes – 2 seasons with 16 episodes
- Genre – Political TV series
- Starring – Starring Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Magimel, Nadia Farès
- Where was the series filmed in France? Set against the backdrop of Marseille.
Osmosis
In near-future Paris, two brilliant siblings unveil a high-tech implant designed to pair up soul mates. But the beta test yields unwelcome surprises.
- Released – 2019
- Number of season & episodes – 1 season
- Genre – Futuristic TV series
- Starring – Agathe Bonitzer, Hugo Becker, Gaël Kamilindi
- Where was the series filmed in France? Paris
Witnesses
A French detective series set in Normandy and featuring a young female detective put in charge of investigating a case involving dead bodies dug up from graves and left in show homes.
There are now 2 series of the show with series 1 available on Netflix.
- Released – 2014
- Number of seasons & episodes – 2 seasons and 14 episodes
- Genre – Murder mystery
- Starring – Marie Dompnier
- Where was the series filmed in France? Mont Saint-Michel and the region of Lille
Family Business
After learning France is about to legalize pot, a down-on-his-luck entrepreneur and his family race to turn their father’s butcher shop into France’s first marijuana café.
This comedy series has been renewed for a second season.
- Released – 2019
- Number of episodes – 2 seasons 12 episodes
- Genre –
- Starring – Starring Jonathan Cohen, Gérard Darmon and Julia Piaton
Where was the series filmed in France? Paris
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The Frozen Dead
Yes another crime thriller!
A grisly discovery in the French Pyrenees. Based on a best-selling novel by Bernard Minier, this series stars César nominees Charles Berling and Pascal Greggory.
- Released – 2017
- Number of episodes – 6
- Genre – Mystery thriller
- Starring – Julia Piaton, Charles Berling
- Where was the series filmed in France? French Pyrenees
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR THE FROZEN DEAD ON YOUTUBE
Call My Agent (Dix Pour Cent)
Call My Agent centres around a top Paris talent firm struggling to keep the business going and its stars happy.
This was a huge hit when it first hit the screens in 2015 and its fourth and final series recently aired on Netflix.
Don’t miss the appearance of famous French stars including Juliette Binoche, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jean Reno, and even Sigourney Weaver in various episodes. Apparently, the series became so popular stars of French cinema and TV were queuing up for a cameo role.
This is my choice of the best Netflix French series of all time. It is gripping from the first episode and the plot twists and turns will keep you glued to the screen for 4 series.
- Released – Released 2015
- Number of series & episodes – 4 series and 24 episodes
- Genre – Comedy drama
- Starring – Camille Cottin, Fanny Sidney, Thibault de Montalembert
- Where was the series filmed in France? Paris
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR CALL MY AGENT ON YOUTUBE
Versailles
Learn French and French history at the same time! If you enjoy period pieces then this is the show for you.
It will definitely inspire a trip to Versailles when you next visit Paris.
- Released – 2015 – 2018
- Number of series & episodes – 3 series – 30 episodes
- Genre – Historical Drama
- Starring – Alexander Viahos, George Blagden,
- Where was the series filmed in France? Some shots were filmed at the Palace of Versailles. Other scenes are shot at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER FOR VERSAILLES ON YOUTUBE
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