One of the best ways is to immerse yourself in the language by watching French movies and TV shows. This will help you learn new French vocabulary and get a feel for how casual, natural conversation sounds.
Tips for watching French media
The best films and TV shows to watch for French learners are those that are originally in French, and with French subtitles. Being able to watch how French speakers’ mouths actually moves is better to help you learn pronunciation, plus watching French (or Canadian/Swiss/etc.) movies will expose you to culture at the same time.
Watching movies and shows that have been dubbed into French is your next best option, but never use English subtitles. If you do, you’ll be tempted to rely on them rather than making the effort to understand what you’re hearing and reading in French. Be prepared to re-watch sections or look up vocabulary words you don’t know to fully understand the scene.
French MEDIA You Can Watch in the US
The following TV shows and movies are currently available in the US (as of January 2023)
French Language TV SHOWS
Some French TV shows that are currently available in the US are:
Lupin
Lupin (Netflix) is a French crime drama that follows the adventures of thief Arsène Lupin and his quest for revenge.
Call My Agent!
Call my Agent! (Netflix) is a French dramedy about the lives of a Parisian talent agency’s staff and their star clients.
Plan Coeur (The Hookup Plan)
Plan Coeur (Netflix) is a French romantic comedy that follows Elsa, her friends, and her search for love.
Engrenages (Spiral)
Engrenages (Spiral, Amazon Prime) is a French police drama focusing on the complex investigations of the Paris criminal justice system.
French Language Movies
Some well-known French movies of the past couple decades are below.
La Vie En Rose (2007)
Biographical drama (Amazon) that follows the life of iconic French singer Édith Piaf.
Amélie
Romantic comedy-drama (Spectrum) that follows the life of a young woman in Paris who tries to make changes for the better in her own life, as well as that of those around her. It is available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and YouTube.
Les Choristes
Drama (Amazon) that follows the story of a teacher who takes over a class of troubled boys at a boarding school in 1949 France. It is available on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
La Haine
Crime drama (Apple TV) that follows three friends living in the projects on the outskirts of Paris as they struggle with racism and oppression.
A Very Long Engagement
Romantic war drama (Amazon) that follows a woman’s quest to find her missing fiancé, presumed dead after the Battle of the Somme. It is available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and YouTube.
OTHER Classic French Movies
These are some of the classics, though you won’t be able to find most of them streaming, and you might have to pay for a DVD.
- “Les Choristes”
- “Jour de fête”
- “Le Jouet”
- “La gloire de mon père”
- “Le roi et l’oiseau”
- “Un air de famille”
- “Le vent se lève”
- “Être et avoir”
- “Potiche”
- “Kirikou et la sorcière”
