Learn French with Netflix and TV Shows: The Ultimate List of the Best French TV Series
Last updated: September 12, 2025
Welcome, French learner! If you're reading this, chances are you’re looking to improve your French language skills in a fun and engaging way. Well, you’re in the right place. The best way to learn real French is through immersion, namely by watching the French movies you love—on Netflix, YouTube, or wherever you stream.
In this post, we’re going to share the best French TV shows for every level of learner. Whether you’re just starting out or already confident in French conversation, there’s a series here that’ll help you improve your listening, vocabulary, and cultural understanding—all while being entertained.
Let’s dive in!
Why Watching French Television can Help you Learn French
Language learning doesn’t have to be dry or technical. Immersing yourself in French through television allows you to absorb the rhythm, tone, and flow of how native French people actually speak. It’s one thing to memorize vocabulary from a list, and another to hear how those words are used naturally in context—with emotion, gestures, and cultural nuance… and a bit of French slang along the way!
Watching TV in French also helps you:
- Improve your real-life French listening comprehension by exposing you to different accents and speaking speeds.
- Get a feel for modern French cultural references, humor, and expressions you won’t find in textbooks.
- Follow along with subtitles—whether in English, French, or both—to build confidence and understanding.
- Practice pronunciation by repeating lines out loud (yes, like karaoke, but for French learners!)
And with streaming apps like Netflix available on nearly every device, you can build your French skills from anywhere. Even better? With Migaku, you can tap on any subtitle to look up unknown words instantly—and even save them as flashcards. Learning French has never been this intuitive.
How to Find French TV Shows to Watch on Netflix?
It might be hard to find shows to learn French on Netflix. We found a great way to find French Netlifx shows in your location is to use unogs.com. This site allows you to see all the French shows on Netflix available in your location with their available subtitles.
French Netlfix shows encompass some of the best French cinema, on top of series.
Shows for Beginner-Level French Learners
Is it Really Useful to Watch French TV as a Beginner?
At first glance, watching TV in a language you barely know might seem like a waste of time. But trust us—it’s not. In fact, it’s one of the most efficient ways to start soaking up the language. Even if you don’t understand everything (or anything!) at the beginning, just listening to native speakers talk can help you get used to pronunciation, tone, and rhythm.
With English subtitles turned on, you’ll start to match repeated words with their meaning. Over time, you’ll begin recognizing familiar phrases, sentence structures, and vocabulary. Little by little, it adds up.
Best Shows for French Beginners
Below is a selection of beginner-friendly shows that offer good pacing, clear diction, and engaging content—even if you're new to French.
Show | Description | Why It’s Great for Beginners |
|---|---|---|
An American marketing executive moves to Paris | While mostly in English, it introduces you to French culture and snippets of spoken French—perfect for easing in. | |
Reality TV game show based on social media | Simple, repetitive vocabulary and modern conversational French in a fun format. | |
Documentary series about French chefs | Great for food lovers; hear beautifully spoken French with visuals to help reinforce vocabulary. | |
Educational science show for kids | Clear language and visuals make this a great pick for younger learners or adults new to French. Plus, most episodes are available for free on YouTube. |
These beginner-level shows are perfect for building early confidence while staying entertained.
Shows for Intermediate-Advanced French Learning
Once you’ve mastered some basic vocabulary and grammar, you’ll be ready to step into “full-French” shows. This is where the real magic happens—when you start to understand without needing subtitles for every line.
Immersion through native content at this level will help you:
- Grasp idiomatic expressions
- Learn natural transitions and filler words
- Understand a wider variety of accents and speaking styles
- Gain deeper insight into French society, history, and humor
Here are some must-watch French series for intermediate to advanced learners depnding on what you enjoy watching.
Crime & Thriller Series
If you're the type who enjoys crime series, French TV has a lot to offer you! In fact, this type of series is one of French people's favorites. Among the 5 most-watched French series in history, 4 are related to crime and investigation.
Here's a selection of recent shows that have already delighted millions outside of the country.
Show | Description | Why It’s Great for Learners |
|---|---|---|
A modern take on the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin | Stylish and gripping, with digestible episodes and good repetition of key vocabulary. | |
A gritty Parisian police procedural (Original Title: “Engrenages”) | Excellent for hearing real courtroom and street-level language. | |
A series praised for being close to the reality of French intelligence services (Original Title: “Le Bureau des Légendes”) | Advanced dialogue, great for learners ready for a challenge. | |
A mystery set in a small village | Slower pacing and emotional storytelling make it easier to follow. |
“Real Life” and Drama Series
One of the best ways to dive into the real French world is to watch shows that are close to reality. Recent French series will help you learn current French ways of life, on top of helping you practice the language (and let's face it: nobody dresses like Emily in Paris).
Show | Description | Why It’s Great for Learners |
|---|---|---|
Talent agents managing celebrity clients | Fast-paced, witty dialogue, and insight into French work culture. Great show to see many French celebrities and famous French actors—playing their own roles! | |
Real estate reality show with a luxury twist | Authentic, unscripted speech and vocabulary around family and business. | |
A romantic comedy set in Paris | Relatable everyday French and lots of casual expressions. |
Historical and Political Drama
Interested in French History? Thankfully, you're not the only one. There are many French movies and series set in the past, especially during WWII. Learn about French culture while learning the language with historical and political drama.
Show | Description | Why It’s Great for Learners |
|---|---|---|
Mini-series that follow the lives of women in 19th-century Paris after a fire | Period dialogue mixed with dramatic storytelling. | |
Biopic of French businessman Bernard Tapie | Contemporary French with political and business vocabulary. | |
French village during WWII | Slow-paced, rich in vocabulary and history. | |
Documentary with real WWII footage and narration | Easier to follow thanks to voiceovers and visuals. |
For the Pros: French Comedy
Humor is notoriously tricky to translate—what’s funny in one language may fall flat in another. But if you’re up for the challenge, French comedies are a goldmine for mastering wordplay, slang, and cultural references.
Here are some top picks for advanced learners:
Show | Description | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
Absurd medieval comedy | Fast-paced and full of wordplay—perfect for advanced learners. | |
Short episodes about a couple’s life | Everyday vocabulary, relatable situations, and humor. | |
Sitcom set in a hospital | Slapstick, sarcasm, and tons of colloquial speech. | |
Skits with different couples | Great for picking up real domestic language and regional accents. | |
Fast-paced monologues that started a social media trend | Vocabulary-heavy, perfect for advanced listening practice. | |
Political satire | Social commentary and modern slang for the culturally curious. |
Make Learning Fun: Use TV Series to Learn French with Migaku
So now you’ve got the shows—how do you make the most of them?
Two things.
- Input: Spend as much time as possible watching French TV shows.
- Try to understand French films and TV without subtitles.
Migaku is designed to help you do that and make language learning seamless while watching the best French films and TV shows.
With Migaku, you can:
- Tap any word in the subtitles to instantly see its definition
- Save new vocabulary into your personalized flashcard deck
- Practice spaced repetition with the words you’ve actually encountered while watching
No more switching between dictionaries or losing momentum during an episode. Migaku keeps you immersed while giving you the tools to retain what you learn.
Whether you're watching Lupin or Kaamelott, learning French with Migaku feels less like studying and more like unlocking a new world of stories.
Picture this: you've just started watching the first episode of the first season of the real estate reality television series L'Agence to practice your listening skills.
It's a lot of new vocabulary that you don't know. You activate the Migaku Chrome browser extension on desktop and the French subtitles pop up.
You click on the vocabulary that you want to learn: “immobilier.” Migaku pulls a definition. You figure out this is a useful word and would like to remember it. Tap the orange button and a flashcard like this will be created:
Not only do you have the definition, AI-powered explanations and so on: on top of that, Migaku pulls images and sound directly from your favorite native content.
Master French Language and Culture through your Favorite Shows on Netflix
By now, you should have a solid list of French shows to start (or continue) your journey. Whether you love crime dramas, quirky comedies, or heartwarming documentaries, French TV offers a diverse and authentic window into the language and culture.
So here’s our core message:
If you consume media you enjoy in French, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Bonne chance, and enjoy! Let your next favorite show also be your next big language breakthrough.