🎬 5 French-Language Series & Films to Stream + Learn From This Autumn 🇫🇷

Immersing yourself in French-language entertainment is one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to build your listening skills and vocabulary — all while relaxing. Here are five current, must-watch titles, each with a learning-twist to deepen your French experience.

1. Shafted (Netflix)

Set in Paris, this comedy-drama follows four middle-aged male friends as they navigate love, career changes and shifting gender norms.

Why it works for French learners: You’ll hear conversational, modern French with realistic speech patterns, idioms and everyday vocabulary.

Learning Tip: Watch one episode and pick out three everyday phrases you heard (for example something like « aller se prendre au jeu »). At our next guided session, bring one phrase and we’ll practise using it in a short scenario.

2. Bref.2 (Disney+ / Hulu)

A fresh revival of the cult French short-form series, now expanded into longer episodes and deeper reflections on life in your 40s.

Why it works: The witty narration and strong use of idiomatic French make it a goldmine for learners wanting to understand natural speech and humour.

Learning Tip: After watching a 30-minute episode, write a two-line summary in French. Then check it against subtitles and see how many verbs/expressions you recognised. Bring the one you didn’t into one of our conversation sessions for extra practice.

3. French Lover (Netflix)

This 2025 romantic comedy follows a somewhat mismatched pairing — an actor and a waitress whose worlds collide.

Why it works: Lighthearted, fun dialogue with plenty of daily-life vocabulary and romantic expressions. Ideal for intermediate learners who want to relax and learn at the same time.

Learning Tip: Choose a scene you enjoyed and watch it twice: first with French audio + English subtitles, then with French audio + French subtitles. Note down one verb or phrase you didn’t recognise and bring it to our next session.

4. Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight (Netflix)

An animated mini-series adaptation of the beloved French comic-book characters.

Why it works: Because it’s animated, the French tends to be more clearly enunciated and there are visual cues to help comprehension. Great for both beginners and intermediate learners.

Learning Tip: While watching, set a timer for every 10 minutes. At each interval, pause and say in French (even just a sentence): « Ce que j’ai compris c’est… » and then describe the scene. This builds active listening and speaking confidence.

5. Love Is Blind: France (Netflix)

The French edition of the global dating-experiment franchise — singles meet and get engaged before seeing each other.

Why it works: Real-life, unscripted French speech; modern cultural references; social situations — perfect for learners who want authentic language in action.

Learning Tip: When watching, keep a vocabulary list of three phrases you hear more than once (e.g., “prendre le large”, “mettre son ego de côté”, “faire un pas en arrière”). Pick your favourite phrase and use it in a short spoken summary at our next meetup.

🧠 How to Get the Most From These Shows

No matter your level, watching French shows is a brilliant way to boost confidence and vocabulary — here’s how to tailor it to YOU 👇

👶 Beginner Tips

✅ Keep French audio + English subtitles

✅ Focus on tone + rhythm rather than every word

✅ Choose clearer pronunciation and visual clues

Recommended picks: Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight, French Lover

Mini-challenge: After each episode, say one sentence in French about what you understood (even if it’s simple — “Ils sont en France / Il est amoureux / C’est drôle !”)

🗣️ Intermediate Tips

✅ Switch to French audio + French subtitles

✅ Pause to repeat short sentences out loud

✅ Note 3 expressions you’d like to re-use

Recommended picks: Love Is Blind: France, French Lover, Shafted

Mini-challenge: Choose a character and shadow (imitate) their tone + rhythm for a 10-second clip

🎧 Advanced Tips

✅ Try French audio only (no subtitles!)

✅ Focus on slang, speed, idioms, cultural references

✅ Summarise each scene aloud or in a note

Recommended picks: Bref.2, Shafted

Mini-challenge: Pick a fast scene → listen twice → write a 3–4 line summary & note what you missed

✅ Why This Method Works

• Fun learning → no pressure, just enjoyment 🎬

• Authentic French → as it’s really spoken, not classroom-only

• Cultural connection → humour, romance, everyday life

• Confidence building → talk about what you watch in your lessons!

🌟 Final Thoughts

Whether you fancy romance, comedy, reality drama or a French classic like Astérix — these shows give you a real taste of French life and language. Pick one that matches your level, try one of the mini-challenges… and let me know how you get on!

👋 If you’d love more confidence when speaking French — or want to practise talking about what you watch — I’d love to help.

You can book 1:1 lessons or join our friendly Guided Conversation sessions in Harrogate! 🇫🇷✨