Are you looking for the best French series on Netflix?
The French maintain their distinct aesthetic disposition in their television programs, just as they do in their films and cuisine.
And thanks to Netflix and other streaming platforms, the rest of the world now has better access to a diverse variety of foreign language shows and films accessible on their apps and websites.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best French series on Netflix right now, whether you’re looking for something new to watch or want to learn the language.
Things you'll find in this article
10 Best French Series On Netflix To Binge-Watch Right Now
Crime/ Thriller French Series on Netflix
1. Lupin (2021)
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Cast: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, Vincent Londez
Lupin is the most successful French series on Netflix as of January 2021. This is a fast-paced and entertaining adaptation of Maurice Leblanc’s fictional gentleman thief and detective who starred in a collection of short stories and novels.
The series follows the exploits of professional burglar Arsène Lupin, who is on a quest to avenge his immigrant father’s mistreatment.
Aside from the adventures of the main character, the series touches on prejudice and France’s colonial history. Lupin is a must-watch if you’re looking for an action-packed adventure set in breathtaking locations around France.
2. Glacé/ The Frozen Dead (2017)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Cast: Charles Berling, Julia Piaton, Pascal Greggory, Nina Meurisse
Captains Servaz and Ziegler were assigned to an investigation in this chilling series. The aim of the challenge is to figure out why a headless horse was discovered hanging from a cable car in the Pyrenees at 2,000 meters.
Diane Berg, a young psychiatrist, began psychotherapy sessions with Julian Hirtmann not far from the Pyrenees. Captain Servaz was apprehended several years ago and is a dangerous serial killer. As the investigation progresses, the fates of these four characters will become entwined.
3. La Mante (2017)
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Carole Bouquet, Fred Testot
Fans of the crime thriller genre will enjoy La Mante (The Mantis), which tells the story of a famous serial killer who was ordered to come out of solitary confinement by the Paris police commissioner to help catch a copycat.
Someone who is repeating Jeanne’s crimes from decades ago, when she was identified as La Mante, has committed a string of unsolved murders. She decides to assist, but only if her estranged son Damien, who is now a detective, joins her.
Damien is initially hesitant but eventually agrees so that they can put an end to the copycat’s murderous spree.
Comedy French Series on Netflix
4. Plan Coeur/ The Hook Up Plan (2018)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Zita Hanrot, Sabrina Ouazani, Joséphine Draï, Marc Ruchmann
The title is a pun on the terms “plan cul” and “plan q,” which refer to a hookup or one-night stand. This fun mini-series follows Elsa, a goofy almost thirty-year-old who is still bitter about her ex and jaded about dating and relationships.
Her girlfriends plotted to end her single status by hiring an escort for her. The man was meant to simply assist Elsa in rekindling her love for dating and relationships.
However, things don’t always go as planned, and the results aren’t always what Elsa’s friends had hoped for.
5. Dix pour cent/Call My Agent (2015)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Camille Cottin, Thibault de Montalembert, Gregory Montel
Check out this worldwide smash if you’re curious about the ins, outs, and in-betweens of the lives of celebrities and their agents.
Dix pour cent (Call My Agent) is set in Paris, in one of the city’s biggest talent agencies, where agents compete for the best projects for their clients on a regular basis. It’s both interesting and entertaining, with a real-life celebrity playing themselves in each episode.
This series would be beneficial to those learning French because it contains a wealth of slang and colloquial phrases, as well as references to French pop culture.
6. Au service de la France/A Very Secret Service (2018)
Genre: Spy Comedy
Cast: Hugo Becker, Wilfred Benaïche, Christophe Kourotchkine, Mathilde Warnier
Au service de la France (A Very Secret Service) is a one-of-a-kind series that satirizes France’s secret service while also addressing French bureaucracy, racism, and colonialism.
Set in the 1960s, it follows André Merlaux’s life after he joined the French secret service. The series is darkly satirical and contains some fascinating insights into French culture and history.
The series’ language is also fairly basic, making it simple to understand and follow even if you are not a native speaker.
7. Family Business (2019)
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Jonathan Cohen, Gérard Darmon, Julia Piaton
The title Family Business seems a little ordinary for a quirky show that is considered one of the best French series on Netflix. That is before you see it for yourself and realize how much fun it is. No, this isn’t about a mafia family, but it’s probably related.
The story follows Joseph Haxan as he attempts to persuade his father (a kitchen butcher) to convert his failing business into a cannabis store.
This series has received mixed reviews, but it has a large fan base and a fantastic cast that keeps the series interesting.
Other Genres of French Series on Netflix
8. Marianne (2019)
Genre: Horror
Cast: Victoire Du Bois, Lucie Boujenah and Tiphaine Daviot
You’ll be on the edge of your seat as this eight-part series unfolds. Marianne is one of Netflix’s most popular French shows, with the perfect balance of horror, suspense, and gore.
Marianne is a French Netflix Original about a best-selling horror writer who is drawn back to her hometown by an unexpected visit from an old friend. She learns that the evil characters she created in her horror novels have manifested themselves in the real world.
This is another binge-worthy series, this time set in Paris and Brittany, and aimed at horror fans in particular.
9. Osmosis (2019)
Genre: SciFi, Drama
Cast: Hugo Becker, Agathe Bonitzer
The story of the 12 participants in an experimental scientific study using the dating app Osmosis is told in this exciting SciFi drama. Osmosis is a provocative and inventive series set in a near-future Paris.
The aim of the study was to use an AI named Martin to match people with their ideal partners. The research subjects, on the other hand, did not do well when they were forced to give up their privacy in order to combat their loneliness.
Osmosis was well received by viewers, received rave reviews, and was frequently compared to another Netflix hit, Black Mirror.
10. Chef’s Table: France (2016)
Genre: Documentary
Another must-watch French series on Netflix is about the country’s top chefs, a departure from interesting characters and intriguing narratives.
The emphasis is more on each chef’s life than the food in this documentary series, which features stunning cinematography. It’s also worth binge-watching because there’s a lot to learn about French food history and culture, as well as how each of the featured chefs reinvented the country’s culinary traditions.
Watch these chefs cook some mouthwatering French dishes, learn more about their lives and discover the new flavors of France through them.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.