I do not have to tell you that the French have a thing for cinema. But now, although for a long time frowned upon, they also have a thing for scripted television shows. Next to great crime and police series in the 00’s, a number of hit French tv series have been produced in the 10’s that will blow you away. Most recently the Canal + 2013 French horror series ‘The Returned’ conquered the world, including the US via the Sundance Channel, but more good new series are coming our way in 2014. Here a top list of all the recent best French tv shows you should know.
| French TV series | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Popular actors | Mathieu Kassovitz, Jean-Pierre Darroussin & Sara Giraudeau |
| Trending TV Series | PJ Masks, Le Bureau des Légendes & Les revenants |
2017 releases - most anticipated French TV series to watch
Glacé: The Frozen Dead (Tuesday January 10, 2017)
Creator Gérard Carré, Pascal Chaumeil, Caroline Van Ruymbeke Actors Charles BerlingJulia Piaton
Pascal Greggory
A small town in the French town in the French Pyrenees is the topic of investigation after a horrific discovery of a hidden for years mystery. ...Read more
Amazon Best French TV series on Netflix or DVD in 2017 & 2016
Best French TV series out on DVD, Bluray or VOD (Netflix, Amazon).Braquo (Monday October 12, 2009)
Creator Olivier Marchal Cast Jean-Hugues AngladeJoseph Malerba
Karole Rocher
Most often described as the French ‘The Wire’ (HBO), Braquo is indeed remarkably dark and violent, but like the other French police show on this list, Engrenages, also goes into the specifics of law-enforcement. It follows a unit of Parisian detectives who without hesitating circumvent the law, and let nobody get in their way to achieve justice. The series starts when one of their colleagues commits suicide because of something to do with a case. They sink their teeth into it and do not let go. It is definitely one of the better European television series out there....Read more
Engrenages (Tuesday December 13, 2005)
Creator Alexandra Clert, Guy-Patrick Sainderichin Cast Caroline ProustAudrey Fleurot
Philippe Duclos
One of Europe’s top television series. It was already released in 2005, but it remains incredibly popular. Engrenages ('Spiral') is about the judicial and law-enforcement system of France. The viewer follows follows the day-to-day activities of police detectives, lawyers, public prosecutors and judges. In a sense it is like Law & Order, with the exception that it is actually any good....Read more
Unité 9 (Tuesday September 11, 2012)
Creator Danielle Trottier Cast Guylaine TremblayCéline Bonnier
Catherine Proulx-Lemay
Follows a French Canadian woman going to jail for 7 years for pushing her father down the stairs. As the story unfolds we get to see how this all came about and the reasons behind it. The story follows the woman in jail as well as her family on the outside. ...Read more
19-2 (Wednesday February 2, 2011)
Creator Réal Bossé, Claude Legault Cast Claude LegaultRéal Bossé
Véronique Beaudet
The Story revolves around two beat cops who are incompatible with each other but have to work together as a patrol unit in...Read more
Le Bureau des Légendes (Monday April 27, 2015)
Creator Eric Rochant Cast Mathieu KassovitzJean-Pierre Darroussin
Sara Giraudeau
After having worked in Syria for six year, an intelligence officer can't seem to switch his secret identity off - not even when he's back in France. Very good show!...Read more
