The French are well-known for their excellent cinema but their TV shows, not quite as much. Even though I thought watching French television might improve my language skills, my husband maintained the view that their shows were generally pretty bad and not worth watching (with some exceptions of course). Though we don’t have a television, I’ve discovered some really great French-produced shows on streaming platforms from Netflix and Hulu. So for those of you dreaming of travels to France, or who maybe want to improve your language skills or if you simply want to watch some honest-to-goodness well-made shows, take a look at my list of current favorites below.

I should also mention that there are quite a lot of well-made cultural programs from the respected channel, ARTE but I’ll list those in another post. My list below is pure entertainment.

Drama

Inhuman Resources (Dérapages)
Netflix, 1 season
A dark and gritty drama with high intensity. Having experienced ageism in the workplace, Alain Delambre risks everything in pursuit of a new high-paying corporate job. When he learns he is a pawn in a shocking job scheme, he takes matters into his own hands. I really loved this series and can’t wait for the next installment.

No Man’s Land
Hulu, 1 season
The brother of a woman who died from a suicide bomb believes she is still alive after seeing a television report. When he travels to Syria to try and find her, he finds himself in the middle of direct combat with ISIS. This series is so gripping and intense, I found it hard to watch at times. But the story is completely fascinating and the series is so well-done, it’s definitely worth the watch.

Comedy

Family Business
Netflix, 2 seasons
This my favorite comedy. I devoured it in 2 or 3 sittings. The story follows a family who runs a failing boucherie (butcher shop) in the Marais district of Paris. When the eldest son learns that marijuana will be legalized in France, he convinces his father to transform the shop to sell weed. Hilarious shenanigans ensue as the family become weed farmers for a local cartel. I can’t tell you how much this made me laugh.

Call My Agent (Dix Pourcent)
Netflix, 4 seasons
Follow the antics from one of Paris’ top talent agencies. The agent characters are excellent (complex yet ridiculous) but the fun part of the show is that actual French actors make cameo appearances in every episode, exposing the realities of working in the “biz.” Each season is better than the last.

Action

Lupin
Netflix, 1 season
Inspired by the fictional literary character Arsène Lupin, this short series tells the story of a man who embodies the style and smarts of his favorite “gentleman thief.” Setting out to avenge the death of his father, Assane Diop attempts to right the wrongs of a wealthy, corrupt Parisian family. It’s a fast-paced fun adventure!