The 15 Best TV Series to Learn French for All Levels
Learning French? Make it easy by watching the best French TV series in history, no matter what level you are currently in.
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1. Les Aventures de Tintin2. Un Village Français3. Fais pas ci, Fais pas ça4. Un Gars, une Fille5. Engrenages6. Braquo7. Les Revenants8. Kaamelott9. Bref10. Plus Belle la Vie11. Les Mystérieuses Cités d’Or12. H13. Scènes de ménages14. Mafiosa15. Il était une fois… la vieQ: Where can I go to find these shows?Watching French TV series or films is an excellent way to help you learn French.
It helps you gather a better understanding of the daily lifestyle and expressions that French speakers may use whilst consolidating your existing vocabulary. It can help you fine-tune your listening skills to adapt to the various speeds and accents you may encounter.
However, while it can be an enjoyable and productive way to cram a lesson into your day, the truth is that you don’t always have time to sit down to watch a two-hour tear-jerker about a bourgeois quadriplegic and his carer from the suburbs.
Fear not though, you can turn to the more manageable and reliable medium that is television. The two huge advantages that television has over film are those of time management (easier to fit around your schedule) and story depth (longer running time= longer character arcs and plotlines).
For this reason, I have compiled a list of the best French-language television series out there, past and present.
1. Les Aventures de Tintin
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 39
Plot: Follow the adventures of a young Belgian reporter and his loyal travel companion Snowy the dog as they travel the world, going from one adventure to the next.
Why watch it? Simply put: it’s a timeless classic. Originally a children’s comic book, the language is ideal for beginners, whilst the content is enjoyable for all ages.
2. Un Village Français
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 72
Plot: Drama set in the fictional town of Villeneuve during the Nazi occupation. Seen through the eyes of the populace, the prolonged state of fear brings out the best and worst in people, as the town rallies together to make it through this most trying of times.
Why watch it? One for the history buffs among you. An in-depth portrayal of French life during this period, set against the historical backdrop of the Vichy government.
3. Fais pas ci, Fais pas ça
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 68 in the original nine-season run, followed by specials.
Plot: Comedy depicting two contrasting families over the course of a year. While their differences are evident, both families slowly become more and more drawn to one another along the way.
Why watch it? In this classic sitcom format, the viewers are presented with an honest depiction of French humor, and its important role in what it means to be French.
4. Un Gars, une Fille
Difficulty: Advanced.
Number of episodes: 486
Plot: A detailed look into the lives and relationship of a French couple. Loving, laughing, crying, shouting and back to loving. No stone is left unturned in this study of their everyday existence, and their consequences that can make or break even the most solid of connections.
Why watch it? One of France’s most popular television series, it is a firm fixture of the country’s pop culture. Originally from Quebec, the French adaptation has shortened the episode lengths to short episodes of a few minutes each – making for an ideal bite-sized lesson somewhere in your day.
5. Engrenages
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Number of episodes: 86
Plot: Police and legal drama series centering on the working relationship between the Parisian police and the justice system, as they work together to maintain peace and order in society.
Why watch it? Detectives, lawyers, judges, criminals. What’s not to like? Fans of crime shows, in particular, should make a note of it, as should anyone trying to take their study to the next level, as the language does become quite intricate at times.
6. Braquo
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Number of episodes: 32
Plot: Following false accusations and the resulting suicide of their former colleague, four police officers band together to clear his name and, in doing so, put themselves in the firing line.
Why watch it? A truly action-packed thriller for the adrenaline seekers amongst you. With only thirty-two episodes, it also represents an achievable project.
7. Les Revenants
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 16
Plot: The serenity of a sleepy rural town is shattered by the inexplicable supernatural phenomena that start occurring. Sudden power outages, water levels depleting, weird skin marks and, most significantly, the return of their deceased loved ones.
Why watch it? A fresh take on a familiar supernatural/fantasy genre, breathing new life into the public’s enduring fascination with zombies.
8. Kaamelott
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Number of episodes: 458
Plot: Centered on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table’s quest to locate the Holy Grail, this is a satirical reimagining of the well-known legends.
Why watch it? Thoroughly entertaining, with its early mini-episodes (around three and a half minutes; later seasons have longer episodes) making this an extremely enjoyable way to practice your French comprehension.
9. Bref
Difficulty: Advanced.
Number of episodes: 82 in the original short-form series; Bref.2, released in 2025, has six 30-minute episodes.
Plot: Follow ‘I’, a nameless 30 year old, through the monotony of his day-to-day existence, as he struggles to meet the basic goals that he believes constitute a successful life.
Why watch it? A more insightful view of modern French culture is on offer in this frank series. However, the dialogue is very fast-paced, with most characters speaking at a relatively high-speed. As such, it may not be suitable for beginner to intermediate levels.
10. Plus Belle la Vie
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate.
Number of episodes: More than 4,600 in the original series, which ended in 2022. The revival, Plus belle la vie, encore plus belle, began on TF1 in January 2024.
Plot: Soap opera based in the fictional “le Mistral” neighbourhood in the Mediterranean port-city of Marseille. With more plot twists than a Hollywood movie, and plenty of melodrama, it’s more escapist than realistic in its portrayal of contemporary France.
Why watch it? While perhaps not considered to be the apex of highbrow intellectual viewing, the show is extremely entertaining.
11. Les Mystérieuses Cités d’Or
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 39 in the original series; later continuation seasons add more episodes.
Plot: Sixteenth-century historical/fantastical adventure anime. A young Spaniard sets sail for the New World with a band of explorers to search for legendary lost cities of gold.
Why watch it? A joint French and Japanese production, the animation is charming whilst the content is both enchanting and family friendly. It is ideal to watch with the kids before bedtime.
12. H
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 71
Plot: Back to a more conventional format. The plot revolves around a Parisian hospital’s medical staff, and the absurd situations that they face.
Why watch it? For the laughs alone, which this show delivers time and time again. Great for when you’re not looking for anything too serious, and just want to relax at the end of a long day.
13. Scènes de ménages
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Number of episodes: An ongoing short-form series; the total grows with new seasons.
Plot: Adapted from the original Spanish show “Escenas de matrimonio”, watch couples of differing generations and the ways they make their relationships work for them. Each of the couples offers a different perspective, depending on where they are in their lives, of the diverse joys and dilemmas that they face.
Why watch it? A closer look into the ‘average’ French household. Well adapted from the original material. At times the humour can be quite dark, which may or may not be your cup of tea.
14. Mafiosa
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Number of episodes: 40
Plot: After the murder of her notorious uncle, Sandra Paoli must take her place at the head of her family’s clan of the Corsican mafia. Assisted by her brother, she dives headfirst into a world of violence, drugs, sex, and money.
Why watch it? A feminist twist on the tried and tested crime-drama genre. See the rise to power of a woman overcoming adversity (despite being a criminal…), to prove that she deserves her title in the macho environment of organised crime. If The Sopranos and Weeds got together, then this would be their love child.
15. Il était une fois… la vie
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate.
Number of episodes: 26
Plot: Another French-Japanese animation creation. Aimed at children, we’re presented with an interactive tour of the human body and its various bits and pieces in an educational format.
Why watch it? Unless they’re particularly interested in expanding their French anatomy vocabulary, adults might want to give this one a miss. It is, however, an excellent tool to help teach your kids French, while they might also learn a thing or two about blood vessels along the way.
Q: Where can I go to find these shows?
- French Channel Websites
You can go straight to the source and check the shows on their respective channels’ websites. Access depends on your location, the service and the rights for each programme. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be an option, but a French IP address does not guarantee that a service will let you watch.
I recommend Tunnelbear, it’s affordable, with discounts offered from time to time. Just make sure to test it for compatibility prior to subscribing.
- Netflix
Netflix offers French-language programmes, but its catalogue varies by country and changes over time. Search your current catalogue for the shows you want. Netflix says that, when using a VPN, you may only see titles with worldwide rights; a VPN does not guarantee access to the French catalogue.
- YouTube
It’s always worth checking to see if someone has uploaded full episodes of whatever you’re looking for on YouTube. You’ll probably have more chance of finding some of the older shows from the list on here, as the newer ones might be more thoroughly policed for copyright infringement.
- Amazon
Always a safe bet if you are looking for French series. They should be able to provide you with whatever box set you’re looking for and ship it to you. But double-check the DVD region, sometimes DVD is not compatible with your DVD player… If you’re willing to pay retail price for the series, then this will be your best option.
- Local DVD shop (if it still exists…)
If the Internet cannot provide you with the goods that you are looking for, then you can always check your local DVD outlet. A lot of them will have foreign sections and you might get lucky and strike gold.
- Local French Culture Center.
If you are located in a big city, you have a strong chance to find a French Cultural Center. Do a quick search query “French Cultural Center XX”, you can borrow DVD and books for a small fee.
So, there you have it, 15 French TV series that will surely entertain you. Whether you fancy a zombie-walking, crime-stomping, fairy-princess anime, or a darkly satirical dramedy; the important thing is to not see this as homework. Take your time to find the show that is right for you in terms of level, length, and taste. Once you have it, the progression will be noticeable.
