As 2024 concludes, French television has delivered an impressive array of series that resonate deeply with audiences. Leading the ratings is “Samuel,” a touching story of a young boy’s secret crush, which has captivated viewers with its heartfelt narrative and exceptional writing. Other notable series include “Those Who Blush,” “Culte,” “Iris,” and “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld,” each exploring diverse themes and garnering high ratings, reflecting the richness of French storytelling this year.
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Exceptional French Series
As we approach the end of 2024, it’s the perfect moment for series enthusiasts to reflect on the remarkable offerings from French television and streaming platforms. This year has been nothing short of spectacular, showcasing original series that have tugged at our heartstrings, whisked us away on thrilling adventures, and prompted us to ponder critical societal issues.
Discover the Top-Rated French Series of 2024
Today, we delve into the most beloved French series, as rated by viewers. To the delight of many, the short series “Samuel,” crafted by Émilie Tronche, stands proudly at the forefront of this year’s rankings.
With an impressive average viewer rating of 4.4 stars out of 5, based on 381 ratings and 23 reviews, this captivating fiction available on the arte.tv platform has emerged as a surprise sensation, amassing over 33 million views across various platforms last May.
At the heart of “Samuel” is the poignant tale of a 10-year-old boy who grapples with a significant dilemma: his friend Basile has inadvertently revealed to the popular Julie that Samuel harbors feelings for her. Although he secretly does, Samuel is determined to keep this under wraps—not even his best friend Corentin can know the truth. This secret is further complicated by his disdain for Dimitri, the charming and athletic boy every girl adores, as well as Bérénice, the class’s misunderstood rebel.
On the viewer rating platform, “Samuel” has garnered unanimous acclaim, securing its position as the highest-rated series of 2024, surpassing contenders like “The Penguin,” “Ripley,” “Shogun,” and “Fallout.” Viewers have described the series as a “very touching universe, full of nostalgia,” while others have lauded its “remarkable writing.” One enthusiastic viewer even referred to it as a “pure masterpiece,” praising the harmonious blend of narrative, character development, visual storytelling, music, and an exceptional voice-over.
For those who may have missed this phenomenon, all 21 episodes of season 1 are available for free on the arte.tv platform.
What are the other top-rated French series that captivated audiences this year? In second place is “Those Who Blush,” directed and co-written by Julien Gaspar-Oliveri, boasting an average viewer rating of 4.2 stars out of 5. This series, also available on arte.tv, explores the lives of high school students in a theater class as they navigate the arrival of a substitute teacher, prompting profound questions about intimacy in a masked world.
Securing the third spot is “Culte,” created by Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka, with an average rating of 4.2 stars. This gripping mini-series on Prime Video takes viewers behind the scenes during the creation of “Loft Story,” delving into the trials faced by young producers as they navigate the world of reality television amidst a brewing societal scandal.
In fourth place is “Iris,” a whimsical creation by Doria Tillier, which has enchanted viewers with Iris’s candid personality as she speaks the unspoken thoughts of society. This series has achieved an average rating of 4.15 stars and is available on Canal+.
Finally, rounding out the top five is “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld,” which has received an average rating of 4 stars. Set in 1972 and available on Disney+, this series, crafted by Isaure Pisani-Ferry and Jennifer Have, chronicles the early life of the iconic designer, portrayed by Daniel Brühl.
This ranking reflects viewer preferences as of December 2, 2024, based on an internal analytical tool assessing French productions released this year with a minimum of 100 viewer ratings.