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Streaming the Francophonie:
A guide for US Viewers

With so many streaming services available, finding French-language television, films, and news can feel overwhelming. This guide is designed to help readers navigate the options. Links are included throughout so you can watch right on your computer. Here’s what you’ll find:

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  • Free Streaming Platforms (No Subscriptions Needed)

  • Mainstream US Streaming Services (With Search Tips)

  • ​Live International News & Cultural Broadcasts

  • French-Canadian TV & Streaming

 

Please note: Streaming apps and their catalogs change often. A title or tip below may look different by the time you try it.

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Free Streaming Platforms
(No Paid Subscriptions Needed)

You do not need a paid subscription to watch French-language shows and movies. These services are free in the US and supported by ads.

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  • YouTube:  A good place to start. Search “French,” “French movies,” or the name of a show to find films, series, news clips, and more.

  • TV5MONDEplus: A global on-demand platform with French-language movies, drama series, documentaries, and lifestyle shows, with optional English subtitles.

  • Plex: A collection of classic French films, indie films, and contemporary dramas.

  • Tubi: A free service with a rotating library of French titles. Searching “French” or “French movies” works best.

  • Amazon Prime Video (free titles): A free Amazon account is all you need. No Prime membership is required. Freevee has closed, and its free, ad-supported titles are now part of Prime Video. After signing in, look for titles labeled “Watch for Free” or “Free with Ads,” and try searching “French” or “French movies.”

Mainstream US Streaming Services (With Search Tips)

You may already pay for these services. Most have no dedicated French-language section, but searching “French” or “French movies” will usually turn up a decent selection.

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A tip for learners: On most streaming services, many shows and movies let you switch the audio language and choose subtitles in a variety of languages. This is a great way to practice and learn French, whether you watch in French with English subtitles or in French with French subtitles.

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  • Netflix: Netflix: Search “French” or “French movies" (other suggestions will popup). If you watch on a computer, Netflix also offers a “Browse by Languages” option, where you can choose French. You can also go to netflix.com/browse/genre/58807 for a list of French movies. Titles include Lupin and Call My Agent!

  • Amazon Prime Video: A good selection of French cinema. Search “French Cinema” or “French Audio.” Prime also offers add-on channels such as France Channel.

  • Apple TV: Bilingual originals such as Drops of God, La Maison, and Liaison.

  • Hulu & Disney+: French imports including the comedy-procedural HPI and the historical drama Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.

  • Paramount+: Home to The Bureau (Le Bureau des Légendes), a spy drama in French.

  • Peacock & HBO Max: Try searching “French” or browsing the “International” sections. Titles include the series Irma Vep.

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Live International News
& Cultural Broadcasts

Following the news is a good way to feel more connected to French-speaking people. As you become invested in their stories, you start to learn more than names, places, and events. You become immersed. The links below open in a web browser on a computer.

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  • Daily Mass from the Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal: Streamed on YouTube at 9:30 am on Sundays and 8:30 am on other days. If you open the video before the stream starts, wait for the countdown and it will begin automatically. oratoirestjosephmtl/streams

French-Canadian
TV & Streaming

Looking for French-Canadian films and TV shows? These two free online resources are currently available in the United States and can be accessed through a computer using the links below. Availability may change over time.

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  • National Film Board of Canada (NFB / ONF): Explore free documentaries and films, including a collection dedicated to Acadian identity. ONF.CA

  • Noovo: Watch Québec reality shows, comedies, and dramas. NOOVO en direct

Do you stream French-Canadian TV in the US from another source?  Please share the name and link with the link at the bottom of the page.​

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A How-To Video:

Accessing French-Canadian Content Online

Many French speakers in the Greater Manchester (NH) area were disappointed when Comcast stopped carrying CKSH from Sherbrooke, Québec, in August 2023. For many, it was their main source of French news, entertainment, and religious programming from Québec.

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Fortunately, there are many ways to watch French-Canadian programming online. In this step-by-step video, Joe Theriault shows how to connect to the content you want.

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This video was filmed in 2023, so some of the information may have changed. It can still be a useful guide for finding French-language content.

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Watch on YouTube​

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Know of another way to watch French-Canadian TV in the US?

Share it with the FAC - remember to include the link!

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Click the button below to contact us 📧​

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