15 Best Movies and TV Shows to Learn French | Improve Your Language Skills

November 23, 2024 No Comments

1. Amélie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain)

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: Amélie, a quirky and shy waitress, embarks on a journey to bring joy to others while grappling with her own sense of isolation. Set in the charming streets of Montmartre, this movie blends humor, romance, and whimsy. Its poetic narration and captivating visuals make it a timeless masterpiece.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
Amélie’s conversational tone and Parisian accents make it ideal for intermediate learners. The dialogue is simple yet engaging, offering a glimpse into daily life in France.

Learning Tip: Focus on the subtitles to pick up idiomatic expressions and cultural references. Listen for key phrases like “C’est incroyable!” (That’s incredible!).

2. Call My Agent! (Dix Pour Cent)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Learning Level: Advanced
Synopsis: Set in a Parisian talent agency, this series follows the chaotic lives of agents managing eccentric celebrity clients. From professional negotiations to personal drama, the fast-paced dialogue mirrors real-life situations.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The show covers a mix of formal business language and informal conversations, providing learners with a well-rounded vocabulary. It’s also excellent for exposure to varying accents and industry-specific jargon.

Learning Tip: Pause after complex sentences to analyze vocabulary and sentence structure.

3. La Haine (Hate)

Genre: Drama/Thriller
Learning Level: Advanced
Synopsis: This raw and powerful film captures 24 hours in the lives of three friends from the Parisian suburbs grappling with societal tension following a violent riot. Its gripping narrative and deep social commentary make it a cinematic masterpiece.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The film’s dialogue introduces learners to urban slang, colloquial phrases, and informal conversational styles used by French youth.

Learning Tip: Watch with subtitles to understand street slang like “T’es ouf!” (You’re crazy!) and repeat lines to improve pronunciation.

4. Les Intouchables (The Intouchables)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: Based on a true story, this film follows the unlikely friendship between a wealthy paraplegic man and his young caregiver from a working-class background. Their bond transforms both their lives, blending humor and heartfelt moments.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The movie features a mix of formal and informal French, offering learners a chance to grasp different speech styles. The dialogues are clear and engaging, making it easier to follow.

Learning Tip: Practice repeating humorous lines to improve intonation and learn casual expressions like “C’est pas vrai!” (No way!)

5. Lupin

Genre: Mystery/Adventure
Learning Level: Advanced
Synopsis: Inspired by the classic tales of Arsène Lupin, this Netflix series follows Assane Diop, a master thief, as he seeks to avenge his father’s wrongful imprisonment. The series is packed with suspense, clever heists, and Parisian charm.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The show combines everyday language with specialized vocabulary related to crime, strategy, and investigation. It’s ideal for learners who enjoy dynamic and fast-paced dialogues.

Learning Tip: Focus on Assane’s witty remarks to learn idiomatic phrases like “Ça marche!” (That works!) and mimic his pronunciation to improve fluency.

6. La Vie en Rose

Genre: Biographical Drama
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: This poignant film chronicles the life of Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer, showcasing her journey from a troubled childhood to becoming one of France’s most beloved icons. The movie captures her struggles, triumphs, and the raw emotion behind her music.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The movie is rich with lyrical dialogue and classic French expressions, making it ideal for learning vocabulary related to music, emotions, and personal growth. It also offers an authentic glimpse into mid-20th century French culture.

Learning Tip: Pay attention to the lyrics in Piaf’s songs, like La Vie en Rose, to improve pronunciation and expand your musical vocabulary. Practice singing along to enhance fluency and rhythm.

7. Ratatouille

Genre: Animated Comedy
Learning Level: Beginner
Synopsis: Follow Remy, a rat with dreams of becoming a chef in the culinary capital of Paris. This animated film is a delightful mix of humor, ambition, and mouthwatering dishes, making it a hit for audiences of all ages.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
With its clear and simple dialogues, this film is perfect for beginners. It introduces vocabulary related to cooking, food, and everyday interactions in a fun and engaging manner.

Learning Tip: Focus on cooking terms like fromage (cheese) and cuisiner (to cook). Repeat Remy’s lines to improve pronunciation and get familiar with the tone of animated French.

8. Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince)

Genre: Animated Fantasy
Learning Level: Beginner
Synopsis: Based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella, this film follows the journey of a young girl who discovers the magical world of the Little Prince. With themes of innocence, imagination, and exploration, it captivates both children and adults.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The film uses simple yet poetic language, making it perfect for beginners. Its dialogue is clear, and the emotional tone helps learners understand context and vocabulary related to childhood, dreams, and relationships.

Learning Tip: Focus on key phrases like L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux (What is essential is invisible to the eye) to grasp the depth of French expressions.

9. Spiral (Engrenages)

Genre: Crime/Drama
Learning Level: Advanced
Synopsis: Set in Paris, this gripping TV series follows detectives, lawyers, and judges as they navigate complex cases. It offers a raw and realistic portrayal of the French justice system, complete with intense investigations and courtroom drama.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The show is excellent for learning specialized legal and crime-related vocabulary. It also introduces learners to formal French used in legal settings and informal language in investigative scenarios.

Learning Tip: Note legal terms like le tribunal (the court) and l’enquête (the investigation). Practice mimicking the dialogue for both professional and casual conversations.

10. Bienvenue Chez les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks)

Genre: Comedy
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: This hilarious film follows a postal worker who is transferred to northern France and struggles with the local dialect and culture shock. The story is a charming blend of humor and heartwarming moments as he discovers the unique charm of the “Ch’tis” region.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
This movie exposes learners to regional accents and slang, making it a great choice for intermediate students who want to expand their vocabulary beyond standard French.

Learning Tip: Pay attention to the regional phrases and compare them with standard French to understand the diversity in accents and expressions.

11. Les Revenants (The Returned)

Genre: Supernatural/Drama
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: In a small French town, deceased residents mysteriously return to life, causing emotional and eerie complications. This thought-provoking series masterfully blends supernatural elements with human drama, keeping viewers engaged with its suspenseful narrative.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The series combines conversational French with emotionally charged dialogues, helping learners understand tone and context. It’s ideal for picking up phrases used in discussions about life, death, and relationships.

Learning Tip: Focus on the emotional exchanges between characters to learn expressive vocabulary and natural sentence flow.

12. Coco avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel)

Genre: Biographical Drama
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: This biographical film chronicles the early life of Coco Chanel, focusing on her humble beginnings and rise to fame as a fashion icon. The story highlights her ambition, creativity, and resilience in a world dominated by men.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The movie provides an excellent opportunity to learn vocabulary related to fashion, design, and personal ambition. It also introduces learners to early 20th-century French culture and formal dialogue.

Learning Tip: Pay attention to dialogues about fashion terms like couture (sewing) and la mode (fashion). Use the context to understand how formal French is structured.

13. Marianne

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Learning Level: Advanced
Synopsis: This spine-chilling series follows a famous horror writer who confronts her dark past when the sinister characters from her novels come to life. Set in a stormy seaside town, the show is packed with eerie suspense and terrifying twists.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The series uses dramatic and suspenseful dialogues, helping learners explore vocabulary related to emotions, fear, and mystery. Advanced learners can also benefit from its mix of formal and casual speech.

Learning Tip: Practice understanding the tense and tone in intense conversations. Focus on phrases that convey fear, such as “Qu’est-ce qui se passe ici ?” (What’s happening here?).

14. A Very Secret Service (Au Service de la France)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Learning Level: Intermediate
Synopsis: Set in the 1960s, this satirical series follows the misadventures of French secret agents as they bumble their way through espionage missions. With a humorous take on politics and bureaucracy, it combines wit with historical intrigue.

Why It’s Great for Learning French:
The show is ideal for learning formal and diplomatic French, as well as vocabulary related to history, espionage, and bureaucracy. It’s perfect for learners with a sense of humor!

Learning Tip: Pay attention to how sarcasm and humor are expressed in French, and practice repeating phrases to capture the same tone.