The best French TV series of all time
The top 3 according to 11 votes from people: Spiral · Baron Noir · Hippocrate. (Updated Sep 1, 2025.)
The French series best rated by audiences and critics (IMDb, SensCritique, tv.fr, Cinetrafic), from Kaamelott to The Bureau.
Automatically translated (original in Français). See the original
Top 20
-
1
Spiral
Canal+, 2005–2020. Police and justice in Paris with Caroline Proust; International Emmy.
-
2
Baron Noir
Canal+, 2016–2020. Kad Merad as a socialist MP from northern France; often called the best French political series.
-
3
Hippocrate
Canal+, 2018–. Thomas Lilti and junior doctors left to their own devices in a public hospital.
-
4
Kaamelott
M6, 2005–2009. Alexandre Astier revisits the Arthurian legend with cult humour.
-
5
Call My Agent!
France 2, 2015–2020. A Paris talent agency and the stars who play themselves; International Emmy.
-
6
The Returned
Canal+, 2012–2015. The dead return to a mountain town; International Emmy.
-
7
A French Village
France 3, 2009–2017. A Jura village under the Occupation, over seven seasons.
-
8
Bref
Canal+, 2011–2012. Kyan Khojandi tells his life in episodes under two minutes long.
-
9
The Bureau
Canal+, 2015–2020. Éric Rochant and Mathieu Kassovitz inside the DGSE secret service; 8.7 on IMDb.
-
10
Lupin
Netflix, 2021–. Omar Sy as Assane Diop, inspired by Arsène Lupin; a global hit.
-
11
Li'l Quinquin
Arte, 2014. Bruno Dumont and a burlesque investigation on the Opal Coast.
-
12
The Accursed Kings
ORTF, 1972. The adaptation of Maurice Druon's novels, with Jean Piat.
-
13
In Therapy
Arte, 2021–2022. Frédéric Pierrot as a psychoanalyst in the aftermath of the 13 November attacks.
-
14
Fais pas ci, fais pas ça
France 2, 2007–2017. Two families with opposite parenting styles.
-
15
Caméra Café
M6, 2001–2004. An office coffee machine filmed with a fixed camera.
-
16
Validé
Canal+, 2020–2023. Franck Gastambide and the rise of a young rapper.
-
17
HPI: High Potential
TF1, 2021–. Audrey Fleurot as a cleaner with an IQ of 160 who helps the police; a ratings record.
-
18
Oussekine
Disney+, 2022. The death of Malik Oussekine in 1986 and his family's fight.
-
19
Kabul Kitchen
Canal+, 2012–2017. An expat restaurant in Kabul, inspired by a true story.
-
20
The Bonfire of Destiny
TF1/Netflix, 2019. The 1897 fire in Paris and three women whose lives are upended.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (8)
Engrenages était notre The Wire, très sous-estimé.
Baron noir, la politique française comme on ne l'avait jamais vue.
P'tit Quinquin de Bruno Dumont, totalement barré et génial.
Kaamelott deuxième ! « C'est pas faux. »
« Le gras, c'est la vie ! » Kaamelott forever 😂
Dix pour cent, géniale avec tous les acteurs dans leur propre rôle.
Lupin dans un top français ? Bof
Le Bureau des légendes en premier, la meilleure série française de l'histoire. Mathieu Kassovitz parfait.