Just a few days ago, Netflix celebrated its 25th anniversary– and boy this company sure has grown. Not only has the technology and accessibility of the platform changed, but so has the variety of media they show on it. Netflix now has a much wider selection for viewers to choose from when it comes to movies and TV shows. They provide access to some classic and blockbuster movies as well as some of their own award-winning content.

But more than that, Netflix has a great variety of international cinema to choose from. They truly have a little bit of everything. Their selection of French media is particularly good, and there are a ton of great French tv series that deserve a little more attention. Whether you speak the language or not, these shows are incredibly entertaining and are the kind of media you have to check out.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Call My Agent (Dix Pour Cent)

     Netflix

This series has a perfect blend of comedy and genuine strife, as it centers around a team of talent agents working for big movie stars. Each character is unique and entertaining and the entire cast works so well together to create a hilarious show within their stressful world. Call My Agent has moments full of laughter, and tears, and gossipy drama, and over-dramatic moments from both agents and their actors. The cast of this series is full of incredible talent, including Camille Cottin, who might be recognized by fans of Killing Eve. Every moment of this show is entertaining and as you get sucked into the chaos of the talent agency, you’ll find that you just can’t stop watching.

A Very Secret Service (Au Service de la France)

For those that like cinema centered around espionage, you might want to take a look at this comedy-drama series. It centers around a new trainee at the French Secret Service in the 1960s, and the three colleagues that oversee him– each with their own colorful personalities. The characters are all faced with challenges coming from the Cold War, as well as the growing ideas of feminism in their culture. This series shows a lot about the growth of French culture and provides some entertaining spy-filled history. The show and its characters have a fun charm to them that will keep audiences smiling and wanting more.

Lupin

This thriller crime series is inspired by the Maurice Leblanc books about Arsene Lupin, and the main character of this series takes inspiration from the books as well. The protagonist was orphaned after his father was wrongfully imprisoned for the theft of a diamond necklace and committed suicide in prison. When he grows up he revisits the mystery books his father gave him, and decides to become like the gentleman thief from the novels and get revenge on the rich family that framed his father. This series is great for anyone who enjoyed the Sherlock series on BBC – even though this show is a bit of a role reversal. Lupin is full of twists and turns and morally-grey excitement, and is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Forest (La Foret)

Another excellent, if fairly heavy, crime drama is The Forest, which has been compared to the British crime drama Broadchurch. The series is about a town reeling from the disappearance of a teenage girl in the nearby forest. Police, family, friends, and a school teacher with a traumatic past from these woods all work together to try and find the missing girl. The more digging people do, the more sinister the forest becomes, as it seems this isn’t the first girl to have mysteriously vanished in the shadows of the trees. This series is captivating and bone chilling, with a dark setting and a lot of themes on the nature of people and trust. The writing is impeccable and will keep you awake at night trying to fit all the pieces together.

Standing Up (Drole)

This funny little series brings a lot of charm and laughs to the screen as audiences watch a group of friends attempt to dive into the world of stand-up comedy. This show is in a similar vein to The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, showing characters struggling with everyday life and relationships while also working towards their dreams. Standing Up has a talented and diverse cast that brings these characters and their individuality to life. Each character has unique personal struggles, unique comedy sets, and a different outlook on life and success. This series shows a lot about strife and perseverance as well as identity and relationships in a lighthearted and entertaining way. Anyone watching is sure to enjoy themselves and feel a connection to all these characters.

Netflix has done a pretty decent job at curating their selection of cinema, working to keep it diverse and interesting. These French TV series are just the tip of the iceberg but are a great place to start. French cinema truly has something for everybody to enjoy, and hopefully these series (and more) will start to get the attention they deserve.