Netflix has become one of the most immersive and inclusive platforms that show multi-lingual and multi-cultural content. Shows, dramas, movies, docuseries, etc., are quite accessible to the entire world. Similarly, French series on Netflix are one category that has a huge fan base.
The credit highly goes to high-quality and relatable content. From comedy to thriller, you can choose your favourite OTT show en Francaise. Apart from getting a high dose of entertainment, you will get rich cultural exposure.
Netflix has truckloads of French content available to binge. That’s what makes it challenging for a streamer to choose the best out of it. However, do not worry, as I have done the research for you by jotting down the 8 must-watch French series that are available on Netflix. After watching some of these French series, you will grow from saying just “Bonjour” and “Merci.”
Let’s cut to the chase and hop on to the wagon of watching something new and unique. Are you ready…ready?????
Table of Contents
1. La Forêt (The Forest)
This French series runs on a different theme altogether and is no rom-com. Winner of the “La Rochelle TV Award,” The Forest is a crime drama TV sitcom and first debuted on Netflix in July of 2018.
The captivating synopsis of the police drama series revolves around a 16-year-old teenage girl, Jennifer Lenoir. She goes to Ardennes, France, along with her teacher, who had a disturbing experience when she was Jennifer’s age.
Suddenly, Lenoir is lost in the woods, and the police force begins the search investigation. What unravels in between is something you will discover while watching the series. If you are not well-versed in the language, there are subtitles for your help.
Speaking about the number and timings of the episodes, there is, in total, just one season with 6 episodes. Each episode is roughly about 52 minutes long.
Directed By – Julius Berg
Cast – Samuel Labarthe, Suzanne Clément, Alexia Barlier, Frédéric Diefenthal, Patrick Ridremont, etc.
2. Ennemi Public (Public Enemy)
This Belgian French series hovers around the case of Marc Dutroux and has a crime thriller theme. The plot of Ennemi Public is about a child murderer who gets released on parole and welcomed by the monks of Vielsart.
Although he is under the scrutiny of the young federal police, Chloé Muller, it does not take him time to get back to his old ways. Soon, police learn about the disappearance of a young girl from their village and find out about Public Enemy No. 1 in the neighbourhood.
After the release of the first season in 2019 on Netflix, the second one was also available for viewers to watch. There are, in total, 10 episodes in each season, and each episode is of 55 minutes. I recommend you to watch the first season, the first episode, because both seasons are well-connected to each other. Of course, English subtitles are available for better comprehension.
Directed By – Matthieu Frances and Gary Seghers
Cast – Stéphanie Blanchoud, Clément Manuel, Jean-Jacques Rausin, Philippe Jeusette, and Angelo Bison
3. Les 7 vies de Léa (The 7 Lives of Lea)
Absolutely different from the crime-based French series. The 7 Lives of Lea or Les 7 vies de Léa is a French supernatural drama streaming television series, which is created by Charlotte Sanson. Basically, this Netflix French drama series is a Novel adaptation of Les 7 Vies de Léo Belami by Nataël Trapp.
Imagine a teenage girl who inhabits the body of seven different people who are somehow related to a dead body that she stumbles upon. Strange yet interesting, right? In this story, Léa makes it a point to prevent the death of Ismaël, who is dead in the present times.
Directed By – Julien Despaux, Émilie Noblet
Cast – Raïka Hazanavicius, Khalil Ben Gharbia, etc
4. Dix pour cent (Call My Agent)
One of the most popular French series today is Dix Pour Cent. This French comedy-drama show has an interesting plot and is perfect for those who are currently learning the language and simultaneously want to watch something interesting. The theme of this series circles around four agents who manage rising stars and their respective work.
The fun element reflects in the middle of the story multiple times. Personally, Call My Agent is my favourite, and I can watch it multiple times. Not only has it helped me improve my level of French, but I love the story.
From covering the lives of budding celebrities to depicting the private lives of agents, the series is a complete package of entertainment, humour, and excitement. This successful Netflix series has till now four seasons with 6 episodes per season. Moreover, the running time of each episode is somewhere between 47–67 minutes. Overall this French series on Netflix has won many awards, including International Emmy Awards and Globes de Cristal Awards, France. Not just this, it has also been nominated several times for prestigious accolades.
Directed By – Antoine Garceau, Marc Fitoussi, etc
Cast – Camille Cottin, Grégory Montel, Assaad Bouab, Laure Calamy, Stéfi Celma, etc
5. Détox (Off the Hook)
Let’s be honest we all have something special for teen dramas. Détox is about the lives of two roommates, Léa (Tiphaine Daviot) and Manon (Manon Azem), who realise that the evil in their lives is nothing but their smartphones.
Following this realisation, both decided to make January a dry digital month. What follows after this is a lot more fun and funny. As both decide to choose the unthinkable, the post-events are going to tickle your funny bone.
Directed By – Marie Jardillier
Cast – Manon Azem, Tiphaine Daviot, Charlotte de Turckheim, Héléna Noguerra, Zinedine Soualem, Oussama Kheddam, Laurent Bateau, Brooke Newton, etc
6. Marseille
It is one of the most-watched French series and, in fact, is the first French-language original production for the platform. The theme of Marseille is political, thriller, and dramatic.
Basically, its story is about betrayal and a fight for power when the longtime mayor has decided to hand over the reins. This interesting tale gets about corruption, seduction and revenge. Will the hungry young protégé win the unforgiving battle of ruling the city? You will have to find out for yourself. Of course, the help of English subtitles is going to help you in enjoying the series.
Directed By – Florent Emilio Siri, Thomas Gilou, and Laïla Marrakchi
Cast – Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Magimel, Géraldine Pailhas, Nadia Fares, Stéphane Caillard, etc
7. Plan Cœur (The Hook Up Plan)
Not all French series are either dramatic, thriller or romantic; Plan Cœur or The Hook Up Plan is a perfect comedy web TV sitcom and also the second French series produced by Netflix.
The ones who love watching content based on friendship will like The Hook Up Plan, as the plot of the story is based on the friendship between Elsa and her troupe, who help her in moving on from her two years ex-boyfriend. The plan includes hiring a male escort and helping her come out of the rut. It gets very interesting and funny, which is the USP of the series. In total, there are 3 seasons with 21 episodes. If you start watching it once, I am telling you, you will not be able to leave it in between.
Directed By – Noémie Saglio, Renaud Bertrand, and Julien Teisseire
Cast – Zita Hanrot, Sabrina Ouazani, Joséphine Draï, Marc Ruchmann, Syrus Shahidi, Tom Dingler, Guillaume Labbé, Yvan Naubron, Ludivine de Chastenet, etc.
8. Lupin
This next French series on Netflix is full of mystery, thrill, and excitement. The synopsis of the series is when Assane’s innocent father gets framed for a theft he did not commit. After his father hangs himself in his prison for the crime he did commit, the orphaned son is all set to take revenge on the powerful Hubert Pellegrini.
Will he be able to expose crimes of Hubert? This will be interesting to watch. Currently, there is one season on Netflix which was released in two parts. There are overall, 10 episodes. Lupin was liked so much that it has been several times nominated for prestigious awards and won many accolades at Edinburgh TV Awards, African-American Film Critics Association Awards, etc.
Directed By – Louis Leterrier, Marcela Said, Ludovic Bernard, and Hugo Gélin,
Cast – Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Hervé Pierre, Clotilde Hesme, Vincent Londez, Shirine Boutella, Antoine Gouy, etc
Final Words
Besides these 8 engaging French series on Netflix, there are some additional series that is also a must-watch. They are Disparu à Jamais (Gone for Good), Une Mère Parfaite (The Perfect Mother), Family Business, Criminal: France, Osmosis, etc.
The list is inclusive of different genres of series, which would entertain you to the fullest. So, êtes-vous prêt? In the last, note that I will update the list with similar Netlfix series options, so do not forget to come back.
Au Revoir!
