10 TV Shows and French Movies on Netflix To Supercharge How You Learn French

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Learning a new language opens up a whole new world of entertainment, no matter what you’re passionate about. Whether you’re a spare-time binge-watcher or like to turn a show while you work out, let us introduce you to the world of French movies on Netflix. The next time you want to relax, take a look at our round-up of French language movies on Netflix. You can be entertained while developing your listening and reading comprehension skills and grow your vocabulary to speak French like a native speaker!

The best French movies on Netflix for learning French

Here are some of the best French movies on Netflix right now. Practice the French you’ve learned with the Rosetta Stone app while enjoying a wonderful scénario (storyline) and exciting characters.

L’ascension (The Climb) 2017

Genre: adventure
Rating: TV-14 
Language level: intermediate-advanced

This adventure film (movie / film) is about a young Senegalese-French man with no climbing experience who decides to impress his love interest by climbing Mount Everest. Starring Ahmed Sylla, Alice Belaïdi, and Kévin Razy, this romantic adventure follows protagoniste (main character) Samy as he goes from an unknown person with humble roots to a media sensation. Samy ultimately must face intense physical and mental challenges along the way. 

You’ll be able to expand your vocabulary to include the nuances of adventure and thrill-seeking, victory and defeat, and outdoor experiences. Fans applaud the film’s performance, pace, and charm. 

Sous la Seine (Under Paris) 2024

Genre: action / horror
Rating: TV-MA
Language level: intermediate-advanced

A giant shark in the Seine river forces a scientist to come to terms with a horrific experience in her past. Will Sophia (Bérénice Bejo) be able to put it aside to save Parisians from a bloody attack? If you’re a fan of other shark movies, the intensity and scary elements of this film d’horreur (horror movie) will not disappoint.

While the movie certainly focuses on the shark, there is vocabulary to learn about the science of underwater study and about environmental issues such as pollution and climate change. Enjoy the scenes of Paris and follow the discussion of canceling the World Triathlon Championships on the Seine.  

Anelka: L’Incompris (Anelka: Misunderstood) 2020

Genre: sport documentary
Genre: TV-14 
Language level: intermediate-advanced

French footballer Nicolas Anelka boasts a lengthy career at the top of his sport, known as a brilliant scorer with a controversial reputation as arrogant and unmanageable. Which is the truth? Is he simply misunderstood? You can form your own opinion as you watch this documentaire (documentary) and get an in-depth look into the life and career of the soccer star.

Detailed discussions of the sport of football (soccer) will increase your vocabulary. You’ll have the opportunity to listen to interviews with coaches, journalists, and teammates as well as dialogues between teammates and family members. Hear from Nicolas Anelka himself as he responds to the events in his career, which is a great way to notice passé composé (past tense) structure in context.

Mystère (Vicky and Her Mystery) 2021

Genre: family drama
Rating: TV-PG 
Language level: beginner-advanced

An emotional film familial (family film) starring Vincent Elbaz, Shanna Keil, and Marie Gillain. Victoria is an eight-year-old girl coping with the death of her mother. Her life is changed when she moves to a small mountain village and befriends an abandoned pup who she names Mystère (Mystery). The family, especially Victoria, bonds with Mystery as he grows but must confront a harsh reality. Fair warning—grab your tissues.

The dialogue is easy to understand, especially with the subtitles. The father-daughter relationship in the film is a helpful way to practice listening to a child’s speech and how adults interact with their youngest family and friends.

Astérix & Obélix: L’empire du milieu (Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom) 2023

Genre: family comedy
Rating: TV-PG 
Language level: beginner-advanced

This live-action film is one in a large franchise based on the beloved characters from the Bande Dessinée (comic book) Astérix et Obélix.  In the year 50 B.C., there is one small village that isn’t controlled by Rome in spite of the Romans’ efforts to conquer them. Villagers are strengthened by a magic potion and continually withstand Julius Caesar and his legionnaires. This installment, in which the heroes travel to China, is the first that isn’t based on one of the comics. 

The Astérix movies are filled with jeux de mots (puns), exaggerated acting, and overall silliness, which make them fun for everyone. Stretch your understanding of French as you learn some of the blagues (jokes) aimed at children and adults alike. The narrateur (narrator) will guide you through explanations of the plot and flashbacks for those who aren’t as familiar with the franchise.

The best French TV shows on Netflix to improve your French language skills

Take a look at what we think are some of the best French TV shows on Netflix right now. Some are recent and always popular, while others are hidden gems that will have a different flair than you might be used to.

Dix pour Cent (Call my Agent!) 2015-2020

Genre: comedy drama
Rating: TV-MA
Language level: intermediate-advanced

This French série (series) stars Camille Cottin and Thibault de Montalembert as part of a stunning ensemble cast. Featuring a group of talent agents in Paris and the famous and sometimes-entitled stars they work with, this dramatic comedy series comprises 24 episodes across four saisons (seasons). Fans love its wit and believability and appreciate the cameo appearances by real French acteurs et actrices (actors and actresses) throughout the series. 

Throughout the episodes you can learn vocabulary and phrases related to the entertainment industry and show business. Relationships abound between friends and colleagues, so you’ll hear lots of informal speech and slang between adults, but also plenty of formal and business speech. Turn on the French subtitles to improve your comprehension. 

Drôle (Standing Up) 2022

Genre: comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Language level: advanced

Drôle is a comedy drama series with six épisodes (episodes) about four aspiring stand-up comedians hoping to bring the laughs and launch their careers in Paris. Journey with stars Mariama Gueye, Younes Boucif, Elsa Guedj, and Jean Siuen through the financial struggles and relationship ups and downs of youth. Fans love the personnages (characters) who face realistic challenges in one of the world’s most amazing cities. 

Expand your vocabulary related to young adult life in the city, and French spectacles d’humoriste (stand-up comedy). Watch this show to challenge your French with a lot of casual speech between friends, including uninhibited profanity and adult humor often found in comedy shows. 

Lupin (2021-current)

Genre: action / crime thriller
Rating: TV-MA 
Language level: advanced

There are currently 17 episodes, called chapitres (chapters), in this suspenseful series starring Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, and Soufiane Guerrab. The main character is motivated by revenge and inspired by famous French character Arsène Lupin—a gentleman thief. The drame (drama) that follows is a web of danger, double-crossing events, chases, and ransoms. 

This series will challenge your French as some of the intense dialogues are shouted over car chases, fight scenes, and background noise. The main character and his father, as seen in un retour en arrière (a flashback) are from Sénégal, which helps you understand accents from French-speaking countries in Africa.

L’Agence: l’immobilier de luxe en famille (The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties) 2020-current

Genre: reality TV
Rating: TV-14
Language level: intermediate-advanced

This téléréalité (reality) series is about a family of real estate professionals who serve the richest customers and the most exclusive locations. There are 29 episodes over four seasons that not only follows the property search and sales experiences but also the members of the family as they navigate the business.

Each episode is filled with gros plan (closeup) monologues and interviews with both the agents and their clients, as well as their dialogues and commentaires (commentary) as they visit the impressive properties. You’ll surely learn language related to unique characteristics of the properties as well as ways to discuss homes and living spaces. 

Tales of Africa (2019)

Genre: animated folktales
Rating: TV-PG
Language level: beginner-advanced

This animated series of six courts-métrages (short films) is based on traditional contes (stories) from Africa. You’ll get to hear traditional tales from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Sénégal. They come from oral tradition and feature talking animals, explanations of life, and cultural traditions that live on to this day. 

The stories feature a lot of past tense speech, simple vocabulary, and the characters speak slowly and clearly, even though some of the animal and spirit voix (voices) might be tricky for beginners. You’ll learn a lot of vocabulary about life and the cultures of the six countries of origin. The only sous-titres (subtitles) available are in English, so it’s a great opportunity to practice your listening skills without the written support available.

How watching tv shows and movies can help your French

Immersion is the best way to quickly learn a new language. So aside from using a program like Rosetta Stone that has tutors, Live Lessons, and visual cues for learning, you’ll want to read, watch, and listen to as much French as possible. That’s why watching French movies on Netflix helps you learn French faster—not to mention it’s fun!

Connect what you see with what you hear

French is notorious for its complicated orthographe (spelling), so what better way to match written French with spoken French than by watching an entertaining show while reading the subtitles? You can compare the pronunciation of endings of words, liaisons between words, and the general cadence of speech.

Notice grammar structures in context

Let’s say you’ve just studied the superlative in French. When you watch French movies and TV shows on Netflix, you can make mental note of the superlatives that you hear in context. You’ll soon notice that they match the structures of French grammar rules that you’ve learned. Lean in to your curiosity if you find any exceptions or confusion and rewatch parts of the show that were a little unclear the first time.

Learn new vocabulary

If a picture is worth a thousand mots (words), a movie or tv show in French can offer even more visual support for learning new words from all French parts of speech. Switch the subtitles back to English and compare the translations of how ideas are expressed.

Control the speed and repeat conversations

Here’s a powerful trick that’s not as easy with in-person conversations. In your streaming settings, turn the audio speed down so you can comprehend better until you can listen confidently at full speed. Repeat the conversations as many times as you need. While you can ask a person to speak more slowly, there’s an advantage to slowing down the audio with subtitles.

Experience different regional accents and dialects

By watching a variety of shows from different settings you can hear a wider range of accents and regional dialects, as well as the slang and casual speech of different generations.

Movie and TV show vocabulary you’ll want to know

Master these words to discuss various movies and TV shows in French on Netflix or any other preferred streaming service like Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.

Bonus: what to watch on Amazon Prime Video

You might want to check out a few other French films on Amazon Prime Video! These are available to rent or buy, but some are included in your subscription. 

• Les Saveurs du Palais (Haute Cuisine) (2013 Comedy; PG-13): a story about the private chef of a French president. 
• Hors de prix (Priceless) (2008 Romantic Comedy; PG-13): a waiter is mistaken for a millionaire 
• Intouchables (The Intouchables) (2012 Comedy Drama; R): a rich quadriplegic hires a caregiver from a vastly different background
• Flashback (2021 Comedy; 16+): a woman travels back in time and meets influential women in the history of women’s rights
• La Famille Bélier (The Belier Family) (2014 Comedy Drama; 16+): the hearing child of deaf parents is an astonishing singing talent and wishes to pursue her dream