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.
- New French TV series in 2018
- Best French TV series of 2017
- 2010-2018: Must-watch French TV series on Netflix or DVD
New French TV series in 2018
Top series up for release in 2018Maroni
CREATOR: Aurélien Molas CAST: Stéphane Caillard, Adama Niane & Issaka Sawadogo
Stéphane Caillard, the Marseilles star, is a police offer investigating a murder and a kidnapping in the heart of French Guinea. A thriller set in the jungle, including some voodoo elements. Read more
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Amazon Best French TV series of 2017
Top rated 2017 French TV seriesGlacé: The Frozen Dead
CREATOR: Gérard Carré, Pascal Chaumeil, Caroline Van Ruymbeke CAST: Charles Berling Julia 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
RATING: 61/100
RELEASE DATE: January 10th, 2017
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Best French TV series on Netflix or DVD in 2018
2010's best rated French TV series out on DVD, Bluray or streaming on VOD (Netflix, Amazon).19-2
CREATOR: Réal Bossé, Claude Legault CAST: Claude Legault Réal 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 district 19 downtown in cruiser no.2. Read more
RATING: 87/100
RELEASE DATE: February 2nd, 2011
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Engrenages
CREATOR: Alexandra Clert, Guy-Patrick Sainderichin CAST: Caroline Proust Audrey 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
RATING: 85/100
RELEASE DATE: December 13th, 2005
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Le Bureau des Légendes
CREATOR: Eric Rochant CAST: Mathieu Kassovitz Jean-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
RATING: 82/100
RELEASE DATE: April 27th, 2015
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Braquo
CREATOR: Olivier Marchal CAST: Jean-Hugues Anglade Joseph 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
RATING: 81/100
RELEASE DATE: October 12th, 2009
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Unité 9
CREATOR: Danielle Trottier CAST: Guylaine Tremblay Céline 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
RATING: 78/100
RELEASE DATE: September 11th, 2012
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