French recommendations!

What to watch/read/listen to in french. MOSTLY FREE.

This is a non-exhaustive list, quite personal to my tastes (hi, Marie here, a frenchie and also the french coach behind French With Me) because I can only recommend you stuff I am aware of ahahah.

In all cases, watch what YOU LIKE, make yourself a personal list based on this one and just change immeditely if you don’t enjoy something!!

It should be FUN especially as you’re gonna need to watch so much <3

PS: this is not gonna be enough to be comfortable in a french conversation! this is HALF of the work. This is the understanding part, you’ll also need to practice your SPEAKING. (This is a slight reminder, I know you know<3)

French series learners usually watch at first

  • Dix Pour Cent, 2015 - comedy - Netflix - if you have to choose ONE to start, this is the one to me, whatever your tastes are, this is VERY GOOD!

  • Plan Cœur, 2018 - romantic comedy - Netflix - perfect for all the gals wanting a chill thing to watch with some gossip!

  • Lupin, 2021 - drama & action - Netflix - definitely a good one to watch in one go, got even famous internationally for Omar Sy!

  • Family Business, 2019 - comedy - Netflix - strong on the “people taking the wrong decisions” side XD, many of my students love it!

More amazing french series options for you!

DISCLAIMER: if you don’t live in France, you’ll need a VPN to access all series from Arte and France TV. Super worth it to pay for one honestly!! ENJOY :)

My personal faves <3

  • Samuel, 2024 - animation & comedy - Youtube - this is the “coup de cœur” of so many people in 2024 (mine for sure), an animated must-watch about the life of a 10 years old french boy in 2007, the cutest and funniest and yet so true <3 - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Ax_z5vzflyrjzmyYTdj-NqPcQcAkZ4W&si=Jg-Au2P__MHq9QPp

  • Nona et ses filles, 2021 - comedy & drama - Arte (until 12/01/25) - so far away from our usual Netflix series, this one blew my mind, so funny, out of the ordinary, feminist & sweet - https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-021464/nona-et-ses-filles/

  • Les 7 Vies de Léa, 2022 - drama & fantasy - Netflix - if you’re nostalgic of the 90s, that’s for you! I don’t enjoy fantasy usually but this one I loved, the story and the aesthetic is on point!

  • L’Effondrement, 2019 - drama & dystopian - Youtube - this is eye-opening on our society, so smart and interesting, AND a masterpiece of direction, to watch in a good mental space but so necessary! -https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo4Qwa4Nhi1m1v4aernDm1agaSqWuoBDS&si=b2kQJZedA28Gjksr

  • Astrid et Raphaëlle, 2019 - crime & drama - France TV - if you like crime, this is one of my favorites, the characters are so endearing and the stories fascinating! - https://www.france.tv/france-2/astrid-et-raphaelle/

  • DJ Mehdi: Made in France, 2024 - documentary & music - Arte - okkk, maybe I haven’t watched it yet but all my friends are obsessed and I believe I will be too - https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-025704/dj-mehdi-made-in-france/

  • Orelsan: Montre jamais ça à personne, 2021 - documentary & music - Amazon Prime Video - this one I’ve almost finished, I just love to discover how artists create and make it in the industry, this one took over France when it came out!

  • Ceux qui rougissent, 2023 - drama - Arte - this made me cry so much, especially as a teacher, I don’t think it’s easy to watch as a french learner but the episodes are short so if you wanna give it a try, you know where!! - https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-025018/ceux-qui-rougissent/

  • Totally Spies!, 2001 - animation & action - Netflix - I’ve watched quiiite some episodes as a child and I mean, it’s still good!! And in spite of what we all thought, it’s actually french sooo!

The best french movies to practice your french

Joking, there’s no rating as it is PERSONAL. My faves have a little <3 at the end and I actually haven’t watched all of them yet!!

The 2 things you need to know:

  1. Movies move from platforms to platforms all the time, the best way to know where to find it is to check on https://www.allocine.fr/ and if you go down a bit, you can see if it’s available somewhere or if you have to rent it (VOD). I personally usually rent on https://www.universcine.com/ for 2,99€ when I really wanna see a movie! Make it has the subtitles you need before paying!!

  2. If you live in France, you have access to hundreds of movies for free on two websites (you just need to create an account) and that’s where I’ll start instead of trying to find a particular movie everywhere. We got https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/cinema/ and https://www.france.tv/films/

  • Les Choses qu’on Dit, les Choses qu’on Fait, 2020 - drama & romance - Arte - https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/102199-000-A/les-choses-qu-on-dit-les-choses-qu-on-fait/

  • En Fanfare, 2024 - comedy & drama - still in the theaters in France <3

  • Fario, 2024 - drama - still in some theaters in France

  • Yves Saint Laurent, 2014 - biopic & drama - Max/to stream or rent

  • Le Chant du Loup, 2019 - thriller - Netflix <3

  • Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément, 2015 - romantic comedy - to stream or rent

  • Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), 2019 - drama & romance - Capuseen/to stream or rent <3

  • Je ne suis pas un homme facile (I Am Not an Easy Man), 2018 - comedy & fantasy - Netflix

  • Bigflo et Oli : Presque Trop, 2020 - documentary & music - Netflix

  • Madame Claude, 2021 - biopic & drama - Netflix

  • Frères Ennemis, 2018 - drama & crime - Netflix

  • Five, 2016 - comedy - Netflix

  • Balle Perdue, 2020 - action & thriller - Netflix

  • Le Sens de la Fête, 2017 - comedy- to stream or rent <3

  • Il a déjà tes yeux, 2016 - comedy - Netflix

  • Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont, 2016 - comedy & drama - Netflix

  • 120 Battements par Minute, 2017 - drama - to stream or rent <3

  • Les Choristes, 2004 - drama & music - to stream or rent <3

  • Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, 2024 - adventure & historic - to stream or rent

  • Anatomie d’une Chute, 2023 - drama & thriller - to stream or rent

  • Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, 1991 - drama & romance - Mubi/Paramount +/to stream or rent <3

  • Boîte Noire, 2021 - thriller - Netflix

  • L’Arnacœur, 2010 - romantic comedy - Max/to stream or rent

  • Nos Jours Heureux, 2006 - comedy - to stream or rent

  • Le Prénom, 2012 - comedy & drama - Max/to stream or rent

  • Santa & Cie, 2017 - christmas & comedy - Netflix

  • Comment je suis devenu super-héros, 2020 - action & fantasy - Netflix

  • Sagan, 2008 - biopic & drama - to stream or rent

  • LOL (Laughing Out Loud), 2008 - comedy & drama - Paramount+/to stream or rent <3

  • Les Invisibles, 2012 - documentary - to stream or rent

  • L’Autre Continent, 2019 - drama & romance - to stream or rent <3

  • J’ai Perdu Mon Corps, 2019 - animation & drama - Netflix

  • Primaire, 2016 - drama - Canal +/Filmo

  • Demain et Tous les Autres Jours, 2017 - drama - to stream or rent

  • La Famille Bélier, 2014 - comedy & drama - to stream or rent

  • Mon Inconnue, 2019 - romantic comedy - Netflix

  • La Dégustation, 2022 - comedy & romance - to stream or rent

  • La Belle Époque, 2019 - comedy & drama - to stream or rent

  • Le Théorème de Marguerite, 2023 - drama & comedy - to stream or rent

More french movies for curious and motivated french learners!

I feel like some movies are harder than others, because of the language or the style. They might be complex to understand… But I wanted to share some with you anyway as I truly enjoyed them!!

  • Yannick, 2023 - comedy & drama - Netflix

  • Polisse, 2011 - drama & crime - Netflix & Max <3

  • Musée Haut, Musée Bas, 2007 - comedy - to stream or rent <3

French Podcasts!!

Also Belgium but all in French! You won’t find “podcasts for french learners” here as I’ve never used them and not of fan of slow french but you can eaaasily find lists on Internet! Of course, I don’t recommend podcasts for beginners neither to people who don’t like podcasts ahahah. In all cases, enjoy this very personal selection!

French Songs anyone?!

French With Me has their own playlist on Spotify, lovingly curated by ME so here is french music for you:

French Youtube!!

OMG there are so many and for all tastes. I will keep updating this category as I feel I missed SOOO MANY right now. Also, Youtube is so personal so don’t hesitate to explore, I can’t cover all areas!

Instagram accounts!

Instagram is SO GOOD to work on your french. So up-to-date on the language, almost always subtitled in french, short to digest, etc. Ready to hack your feed? This is a mix of my recommendations and my students recommendations, I am not responsible for anything. Maybe I’ll class them by type one day also but until then, explooore.

To read in french/french books

-to come, we apologize for the inconvenience-