France boasts a rich cultural heritage that extends beyond its world-renowned art, cuisine, and architecture. The country's television industry has also contributed significantly to its global influence. From captivating dramas to hilarious comedies, French TV shows have captivated audiences both at home and abroad. In this article, we will explore the top 10 most popular French TV shows that have left an indelible mark on viewers worldwide.
1. Kaamelott (2004–2009)
Kaamelott is a French TV series that parodies the Arthurian legend in a humorous and anachronistic way. The show was created, written, directed, scored, and edited by Alexandre Astier, who also played the main role of King Arthur.
The series follows the daily lives of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in the castle of Kaamelott, where they face various challenges and quests to find the Holy Grail. The series consists of six seasons, each with a different format and tone. The first four seasons are composed of short episodes of about three minutes each, while the fifth and sixth seasons have longer episodes of seven or forty minutes.
The series mixes comedy with drama, fantasy, and historical elements, and features a large cast of characters, many of whom are played by Astier's relatives or friends. The series was very popular and acclaimed in France, and is considered one of the best and most iconic French TV shows of all time.
2. Lupin (2021– )
Lupin is a popular French TV series that debuted on Netflix in 2021. The show is inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, a fictional gentleman thief created by Maurice Leblanc in the early 20th century. The protagonist of the series is Assane Diop, a Senegalese immigrant who uses his charisma, skills, and knowledge of Lupin's stories to avenge his father, who was framed and killed by a wealthy and powerful family.
The series has been praised for its clever plot twists, thrilling action scenes, and Omar Sy's charismatic performance as Assane. The series has two seasons, each consisting of five episodes, and a third season is expected to premiere on October 5, 2023.
3. Le bureau des légendes (The Bureau) (2015– )
Le bureau des légendes (The Bureau) is a French television series created by Éric Rochant and broadcast on April 27, 2015, on Canal+. It follows the activities of the agents of the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE), the French intelligence service, and in particular those of the division of the Bureau of Legends, responsible for training and piloting undercover (or clandestine) agents worldwide.
The series mixes realistic and fictional plots, inspired by real events or famous spy cases. It addresses topics such as geopolitics, terrorism, cybercrime, romantic or family relationships of spies, or even rivalries between secret services. The series is praised by critics and the public for its quality of writing, its careful direction, its international cast, and its attention to detail. It is considered one of the best French series and a reference in the genre of espionage.
4. Les revenants (The Returned) (2012–2015)
Les Revenants (The Returned) is a French fantasy genre television series created by Fabrice Gobert, based on the film Les Revenants (2004) by Robin Campillo. The series first aired on November 26, 2012, on Canal+ and ended its first season, consisting of eight episodes, on December 17. In 2013, the first season won an International Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
The second season, also made up of eight episodes, was broadcast from September 28 to October 19, 2015, on Canal+. The series tells the story of a small mountain town where dead people mysteriously reappear as if their deaths never happened. Among these ghosts, there is Camille, a teenage victim of a bus accident four years earlier, Simon, a young married man who committed suicide on his wedding day with Adèle ten years ago, Victor, a little boy who was murdered by burglars 35 years ago, or Serge, a serial killer who was killed by his brother Toni seven years ago.
These revenants try to resume their normal life, but strange phenomena occur: recurring power cuts, a drop in the level of the local reservoir which reveals the presence of dead animals and a church steeple, and the appearance of strange marks on the bodies of the living and the dead.
5. Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!) (2015–2020)
Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!) is a French comedy-drama television series that first aired on France 2 on October 14, 2015. The series features talent agents from the fictional agency ASK (Agence Samuel Kerr) and their relationships with their actor clients, who are real French celebrities playing themselves.
The series won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 49th International Emmy Awards. The series was originally planned to end after its fourth season in 2020, but in April 2021, it was announced that the series would return with a 90-minute TV movie followed by a fifth season.
6. Engrenages (Spiral) (2005–2020)
Engrenages (Spiral) is a French television series that follows the lives and work of various professionals involved in the criminal justice system, such as police officers, lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. The show is known for its realistic and gritty portrayal of the Parisian underworld, as well as its complex and intertwined plots that often span multiple seasons.
The series has been praised by critics and audiences alike for its high-quality writing, acting, and directing, as well as its exploration of contemporary social and political issues in France. Engrenages (Spiral) has won several awards, including the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in 2015, and has been broadcast in more than 70 countries around the world.
7. Un village français (A French Village) (2009–2017)
Un village français (A French Village) is a French drama television series created by head writer Frédéric Krivine and lead director Philippe Triboit, with assistance from historical consultant Jean-Pierre Azéma. The series is set in Villeneuve, a fictional commune in the Jura region of German-occupied France during World War II, and represents, according to the New York Times, "the first French television series to seriously address collaboration during the 'Nazi occupation during World War II'. The series first aired on France 3 in June 2009 and was also broadcast in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada on TV5 Monde and on MBC in South Korea. In the United States, it was broadcast on the French-language entertainment network TV5MONDE, the MHz Choice streaming service (via Amazon Prime) and Hulu, or for free on certain PBS channels.
The series follows the experiences of various residents of Villeneuve, who resist, adapt to, or collaborate to varying degrees with the occupying German forces with a strong Gestapo presence. The series also features the perspective of an SS officer, Heinrich Müller, a German who investigates acts of resistance and helps administer and enforce German rule in the village, as the main antagonist of the series. Each season corresponds to a year of occupation, with the exception of seasons two and three, which jointly cover 1941.
The stories take place almost exclusively in and around Villeneuve, in places such as schools, private residences, the police headquarters, the German military and SS headquarters, the brothel, government offices, local businesses, and the surrounding farms and countryside. The individual loyalties, friendships, morals, and family ties of the main and supporting characters are regularly tested due to greed, hunger, violence, anti-Semitism, power struggles, and unseen events that occur during World War II as the resources and manpower of the village are increasingly diverted to supporting the German war effort.
8. Plus belle la vie (Life Is More Beautiful) (2004– )
Plus Belle la vie (Life Is More Beautiful) is a French soap opera broadcast on France 3 since August 30, 2004. It tells the daily life of the inhabitants of a fictional district of Marseille, the Mistral, where love, family, police, and social plots are intertwined. The soap opera has more than 4,000 episodes and gathers about 3.5 million viewers every evening. It is also broadcast in several French-speaking countries, such as Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and Africa. Plus belle la vie is one of the most popular and longest-running programs on French television.
9. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (2015– )
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir is a popular animated TV series that follows the adventures of two teenage superheroes who protect Paris from the evil schemes of Shadow Moth. The show is produced by French, Japanese, and other international studios, and has been airing since 2015. The main characters are Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a kind, and creative girl who transforms into Ladybug, and Adrien Agreste, a charming and lonely boy who transforms into Cat Noir.
They both possess magical jewels called Miraculouses that grant them superpowers and allow them to communicate with their animal-themed companions, called Kwamis. Together, they fight against Shadow Moth, who can create supervillains by corrupting people's negative emotions with his akumas, butterfly-like creatures. Along the way, they also deal with their personal lives, their feelings for each other, and their secret identities.
10. La forêt (The Forest) (2017)
La forêt (The Forest) is a French television series created by Delinda Jacobs and broadcast on Netflix since July 21, 2017. It tells the story of a police investigation led by Captain Gaspard Deker in a small village in the Ardennes, after the disappearance of two teenage girls. The forest hides many secrets and mysteries, related to the troubled past of some inhabitants and a local legend about a wild woman living in the woods. The series mixes suspense, drama, and fantasy, with a dark and oppressive atmosphere.
In conclusion, French TV shows have gained recognition and popularity for their ability to entertain, challenge, and captivate audiences worldwide. Whether it's crime dramas, historical sagas, or quirky comedies, these top 10 most popular French TV shows have left an enduring impression on viewers and solidified France's position as a powerhouse of quality television content. If you haven't already explored these shows, it's time to immerse yourself in the richness of French television and experience the magic firsthand.