In 2018, we picked out the top French TV shows on Netflix for language learners. It’s time to refresh your favorites list with a 2024 update of the latest compelling series to make it across the Atlantic and onto the US library.
List of French TV Shows On Netflix
- Black Spot (Zone Blanche)
- Lupin
- The Bonfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité)
- Represent
- Miraculous (Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir)
- The Parisian Agency (L’agence)
- Off the hook (Détox)
- Versailles
- Standing up (Drôle)
- Ganglands (Braqueurs)
1. Black Spot (Zone Blanche)
If you like dark and offbeat supernatural shows layered with riddles, Black Spot should hit the spot.
Set in a fictional town turned French murder capital, the surreal thriller has hints of Twin Peaks and Fargo. It’s a binger that keeps you questioning everything until the end.
Even the title is a headscratcher. Zone Blanche (translation: a ‘white zone’ with zero telephone coverage) becomes “Black Spot” in English. A lesson about the pitfalls of literal translations for language learners.
Released: 2017
2. Lupin
Lupin is a huge hit.
Inspired by the beloved Arsène Lupin novels from Maurice Leblanc, it stars the irresistibly charismatic Omar Sy as the titular gentleman thief.
Updated from 19th century Paris to today, our hero takes a leaf out of the Lupin books to seek revenge.
It’s light-hearted and utterly implausible. And one of the hottest French shows on Netflix. A third season is scheduled for release in October 2023.
Released: 2021
3. The Bonfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité)
Packed into 8 tightly wound episodes, The Bonfire of Destiny follows three aristocratic women in the aftermath of a fatal fire that actually happened at the Bazar de la Charité in 1887.
An ensemble cast and stunning cinematography bring the stories and period drama to life as the women navigate contemporary adversities and the infamous fire’s aftermath.
Released: 2019
4. Represent
Spun off the film Simply Black, systemic injustices are skewered in the political satire, Represent.
A wry and frequently hilarious critique of modern France with plenty of heart, it’s a revealing window into modern French life.
Confirming its place among the leading French TV shows on Netflix, a second series arrives in 2023, evading the streamer’s tendency to cancel thought-provoking series.
Released: 2023
5. Miraculous (Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir)
Miraculous merits a quick mention; 5 seasons are now available on Netflix.
A global hit from the French broadcaster TF1, good and evil battle it out in multichromatic adventures across the chicest arrondissements of Paris.
Early language learners can watch with the original audio. It’s so entertaining, adults won’t mind hearing it on a loop in the background. Which may well happen, as kids love the show.
Released: 2015
6. The Parisian Agency (L’agence)
Reality TV is not for everyone. And neither are the exclusive properties sold via the titular agency.
This series follows the likable Kretz family (Grandma is a breakout star) as they woo clients and take us behind the gold-trimmed curtains of wealthy homes.
No dark drama, just a warm-hearted family show that fits like a snug blanket.
A third series arrives in May 2023.
Released: 2021
7. Off the hook (Détox)
Netflix warns this show contains sex, nudity, and smoking. Which sounds like every stereotypical French movie from the ’60s.
Yet this endearing comedy has a far more current premise: what happens when a couple goes cold turkey on all internet-connected devices for 30 days. Predictably, the digital detox collides with many humorous hiccups.
Released: 2022
8. Versailles
Top-tier French dramas from Canal+ rarely make it to Netflix. Happily, the first season of the highly praised Versailles has.
As lavish as the Sun King’s palace, Versailles is arguably the juiciest addition to our 2023 update. And the only one not made by Netflix.
Catch this prestige drama while you can.
Released: 2015
9. Standing up (Drôle)
Simply “Funny” (drôle) in French, this series joins several characters trying to make their way in Paris’s stand-up comedy scene.
Threaded with drama, you root for the aspiring comedians as they try to keep it real on stage and at home.
Less gritty than other top French shows on Netflix, it delivers a refreshing taste of contemporary life in the City of Light.
Released: 2022
10. Ganglands (Braqueurs)
“Armed robber” in French, Ganglands in English. Either name nails it.
Gritty and gripping, Ganglands follows two career criminals in too deep.
The plot borders on the absurd, but it’s a rollicking ride guaranteed to teach you French words that rarely appear in teaching courses.
Released: 2021
A quick note for language learners
Before we dive into the best French TV shows on Netflix, a reminder that English subtitles and French audio (and vice versa) can be invaluable learning tools.
But bear in mind that translations are rarely word for word. And dubbing is often wildly off the mark.
Not to worry. We’ve singled out the finest French TV shows on Netflix USA that are compulsive viewing however you watch them. On y va.
If you don’t subscribe to Netflix or want more viewing options, check our guide detailing alternative ways to watch French TV in the US.
Conclusion
There you go, 10 of the top French TV shows on Netflix updated for 2024.
Look out for other Gallic exports on Netflix, like a couple of choice entries from our previous guide: Marseille and Dix Pour Cent.
If you want to find more French TV — including many documentaries and comedy shows — do a quick search by language or type in “French shows.”
Bon visionnage!