Netflix offers a rich selection of French series that can help you improve your listening comprehension, build your vocabulary, and gain cultural insights—all while being entertained.
Here, we have listed the top 10 French shows on Netflix to help you learn French effectively.
Top 10 French Shows on Netflix to Learn French
According to us, the 10 best French shows on Netflix you can watch to learn French are Call My Agent, Lupin, Chef’s Table: France, Family Business, Marianne, Osmosis, A Very Secret Service, Gloria, Mortel, and Transatlantic.
Title | Genre | What You Will Learn |
1. Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent) | Comedy, Drama | Fast-paced dialogue, idioms, industry slang, and cultural references |
2. Lupin | Mystery, Thriller | Clear pronunciation, everyday and complex vocabulary, and societal themes |
3. Chef’s Table: France | documentary | Modern vocabulary, informal speech, conversational fluency |
4. Family Business | Comedy, Crime | Slang, generational speech, and real-life cultural context |
5. Marianne | Horror | Emotional expressions, suspenseful tone, and dramatic vocabulary |
6. Osmosis | Sci-Fi, Drama | Technical and formal language, philosophical themes |
7. A Very Secret Service | Historical Comedy | Bureaucratic and formal French, vintage expressions, and historical references |
8. Gloria | Thriller, Drama | Legal vocabulary, emotional nuance, realistic dialogue |
9. Mortel | Supernatural, Teen | Urban slang, youth culture, and fast-paced informal speech |
10. Transatlantic | Historical Drama | Historical and formal vocabulary, a mix of English and French, and clear pronunciation |
1. Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent)
With cameos from actual French celebrities like Juliette Binoche, this critically acclaimed dramedy recounts the hectic lives of talent agents at a Parisian agency.
For students who are keen to learn conversational French, the humorous, fast-paced dialogue is ideal because it is full of idiomatic expressions, workplace banter, and cultural references.
2. Lupin
Lupin comes second in our list of the top Netflix French shows to learn French.
Inspired by the iconic literary figure Arsène Lupin, Lupin tells the tale of Assane Diop, a gentleman thief.
Upper-intermediate learners can benefit from the language’s modernity, accessibility, expressive delivery, and clear pronunciation.
You can pick up both common vocabulary and more sophisticated societal language as the show digs deep into social issues and themes of justice.
3. Chef’s Table: France
With its poetic narration and insightful interviews, the documentary Chef’s Table: France, which features leading French chefs, is perfect if you are an intermediate learner.
It is perfect for foodies because of its passionate, expressive French, food-related vocabulary like “saveurs” (flavours) and “cuisine” (cooking), and cultural insights into French gastronomy.
Noting sensory terms like “délicieux” (delicious) or “parfumé” (fragrant) will enhance your learning.
The speech in the movie is slower. As a result, it will be easier to follow.
4. Family Business
Family Business is a crime comedy show about a family that turned their kosher butcher business into a cannabis café.
This Netflix show offers a hilarious and often chaotic setting for learning French.
It combines generational speech patterns and regional accents to give viewers an in-depth glimpse of modern spoken French.
Intermediate learners will find the language of the film easy to understand, while also learning about local nuances and slang.
5. Marianne
This psychological horror series is more suited to advanced French learners.
It combines emotionally charged dialogue with suspenseful storytelling, helping viewers improve their comprehension of expressive and dramatic French.
The horror genre also introduces specific vocabulary related to fear, emotions, and supernatural elements.
If you want to expand your descriptive language, this Netflix series is a must-watch for you.
6. Osmosis
Set in a near-future Paris, Osmosis explores love and technology through the lens of artificial intelligence.
It’s recommended for upper-intermediate to advanced learners due to its use of formal and technical language.
The show balances emotionally complex dialogue with philosophical discussions, offering a rich linguistic environment for those interested in futuristic and intellectual themes.
7. A Very Secret Service (Au service de la France)
This historical comedy series is set in 1960s France and follows a young man recruited into the French secret service.
The language is a mix of bureaucratic jargon, vintage slang, and formal dialogue, making it ideal for learners who enjoy satirical content and period-specific language.
Intermediate learners will appreciate the slower speech and clear enunciation, as well as the insight into French historical and political culture.
8. Gloria
Gloria is a suspenseful legal thriller about a woman who searches for her missing spouse. It introduces intermediate to advanced learners to emotionally complex language, legal terminology, and everyday speech.
The show’s language is realistic and powerful. It will allow you to hone your hearing for a range of tones and scenarios.
9. Mortel
This supernatural drama, targeted at a younger audience, features teenage protagonists navigating both school life and mysterious powers.
It is suitable for intermediate learners who want to understand youth culture and urban slang in France.
The fast-paced, informal dialogue mirrors how French teenagers communicate, making it useful for those interested in modern, street-level vocabulary.
10. Transatlantic
Based on real events during World War II, Transatlantic follows a group of individuals who helped refugees escape Nazi-occupied France.
It features a mix of English and French dialogue, which makes it accessible for intermediate learners transitioning to fully French content.
It is a TV series where the language used is clear and expressive. Moreover, the historical setting introduces formal speech and vocabulary related to wartime and humanitarian efforts.
In short, it’s undoubtedly a good French Netflix show if you want to learn French.
Tips for Using Netflix French Shows to Learn French
If you’re a beginner, start with English subtitles to get the most out of Netflix shows for language learning, and as your comprehension gets better, move on to French subtitles.
Try watching without subtitles to test your listening comprehension as you get better. To mimic pronunciation or look up new words, you can pause and play back scenes.
Repeatedly viewing an episode can help you remember new words. Dual subtitles and clickable translations are two more ways that a language-learning browser extension, such as Language Reactor, can improve your experience.
Make watching French a regular part of your study schedule for the best results.
Key Takeaways
Using Netflix to learn French is a very effective way to complement conventional study.
You will improve your language proficiency as well as your understanding of French culture, humour, and storytelling by including these Netflix series in your daily study schedule.
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