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Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Quinci LeGardye

The 20 Best French-Language Series Streaming on Netflix

Omar Sy in Lupin.

Odds are, you've checked out at least one of Netflix's viral international hits. Often, among the streaming giant's American hits, a show like the Spanish thriller Money Heist (a.k.a. La Casa de Papel) or the binge-worthy K-drama Squid Game will become a mega-hit, with millions of people exploring a different country's TV offerings afterward. Maybe you tuned into (and loved) a show like Lupin, the popular French crime drama, meaning it's time to check out Netflix's other French-language offerings.

These French-language shows, from countries including France, Canada, and Belgium, span multiple engrossing genres, from comedies to sci-fi to reality TV and docuseries, to straight-up horror. Viewers also get to dive into the language (team subs, no dubs), picking up some basic skills (educational TV!). Here are some of the best French-language shows to check out.

'The 7 Lives of Lea' (2022)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

This wild mystery comedy combines time travel and body swapping: The day after 17-year-old Lea stumbles upon a male corpse, she wakes up in 1991 in the dead boy's body. Over seven episodes, she goes back and forth between the present and the past while trying to solve—and prevent—the murder.

WATCH NOW

'The Billionaire, The Butler, and The Boyfriend' (2023)

(Image credit: BRUNO MOURON / Netflix)

Francophiles who also love true crime need to check out this three-part docuseries about Liliane Bettencourt, who was the wealthiest woman in the world at the time of her death in 2017, and her scandalous friendship with celebrity photographer, François-Marie Banier.

WATCH NOW

'Black Butterflies' (2022)

(Image credit: Netflix)

In this tense psychological thriller, struggling author Adrien takes a job ghostwriting the memoir of Albert, an older man with a murderous secret. The show switches between the present-day and flashbacks as both Adrien and a determined detective begin to look more into Albert's past.

WATCH NOW

'Call My Agent!' (2015–2020)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

This workplace comedy melds reality and fiction. It's set at a fictional talent agency where the clients are real-life French celebrities.

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'Can You Hear Me?' (2018–2021)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

This French-Canadian series follows Ada, Fabiola, and Carolanne, three friends who live in a low-income neighborhood in Montreal. The chemistry between the three leads, as they cope with their messy lives in different ways, will make you want to spend more time with your best friend.

WATCH NOW

'Chef's Table: France' (2016)

(Image credit: Lucie Cipolla/Netflix)

These four documentary episodes take a peek behind the scenes of the French culinary arts scene, following four chefs who make some of the world's best cuisine. So much amazing food!

WATCH NOW

'The Circle: France' (2020)

(Image credit: Netflix)

If you seriously can't get enough of Netflix's reality shows, why not tune into the international versions? There's a French rendition of The Circle, and it's filled with just as many wild contestants and top-notch catfishes as the U.S. show.

WATCH NOW

'Class Act' (2023)

(Image credit: Netflix)

This BAFTA-winning miniseries is a decades-spanning "fictionalized biopic" on Bernard Tapie, the late TV-host-turned-business-mogul who has been called the French Donald Trump.

WATCH NOW

'Criminal: France' (2019)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

Another franchise with multiple international versions, Criminal is made for crime fans who want to be on the edge of their seat. The French version follows a new group of interrogators and suspects enveloped in thrilling stories of deception.

WATCH NOW

'Don't Hate the Player' (2024)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

This reality competition series is like Survivor meets Surviving Paradise: 13 players start in a grubby camp and compete for a spot in a luxury villa and a prize pot of €150,000.

WATCH NOW

'Family Business' (2019–2021)

(Image credit: Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix)

With France moving toward legalizing marijuana, the struggling son of a dysfunctional family decides to turn their kosher butcher shop into a cannabis cafe. The whole family of larger-than-life characters ends up on the wrong side of the law as nothing goes smoothly.

WATCH NOW

'The Forest' (2017)

(Image credit: Netflix)

This Belgian crime drama follows the small-town disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, though the town in question is a picturesque village surrounded by the Ardennes Forest. As the police begin to investigate, a concerned teacher uncovers some unsettling secrets.

WATCH NOW

'The Hook Up Plan' (2018–2022)

(Image credit: Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix)

Rom-com fans, this one's for you. Elsa is about to turn 30 and still reeling from a relationship that ended two years ago. Her friends Emilie and Charlotte have a unique solution: hire an escort to take her out.

WATCH NOW

'Into the Night' (2020–2021)

(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)

This Belgian thriller will make even the most frequent fliers squirm in their seats. A group of plane passengers find themselves in the middle of a natural disaster, where sunlight carries a fatal toxin. The fliers have to keep outrunning the sun to survive.

WATCH NOW

'Lupin' (2021– )

(Image credit: Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix)

Inspired by the literary character Arsène Lupin, Assane Diop (Omar Sy) is a thief and master of disguise on a mission to avenge his father, who died imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. Come for the cinematic heists, stay after falling for the compassionate heart of the titular thief.

WATCH NOW

'Marianne' (2019)

(Image credit: Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix)

This horror series follows an author in a small French coastal town. When she decides to stop writing about her book series' central villain, the titular Marienne, she ends up haunted by the character in real life.

WATCH NOW

'Mortel' (2019–2021)

(Image credit: Lou Faulon/Netflix)

A paranormal teen drama, Mortel follows three high schoolers, Sofiane, Victor, and Luisa, who use magical powers to find Sofiane's missing brother.

WATCH NOW

'Osmosis' (2019)

(Image credit: Jessica Forde/Netflix)

If you've been craving new episodes of Black Mirror, this one-season sci-fi drama may be just what you need. In futuristic France, an experimental dating app matches singles with their true love with 100 percent accuracy by mining their brain for data.

WATCH IT

'The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties' (2020– )

(Image credit: Netflix)

Fans of Selling Sunset must check out this reality series, which is filled with grand Parisian apartments, stunning French estates, and even a castle or two. Rather than the O Group, this international gem follows the Kretz family of agents and their super-rich clients.

WATCH NOW

'Vampires' (2020)

(Image credit: Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix)

If paranormal romance is your thing, this teen drama about with half-human vampires is a must-watch. 16-year-old Doina is torn between two worlds, as she tries to make it through high school while exploring her bloodthirsty urges.

WATCH NOW

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