Activity
Collections
Search
Alerts
Profile

Every movie. Every show. One diary.

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play

Explore

  • Browse
  • Search
  • Activity
  • Collections

Product

  • Flickfolio Pro
  • Updates

Company

  • About
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 Flickfolio · v1.29.0

This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

    activitysearchbrowsecollections
    Sign in
    Home/Browse/TV Shows/French TV Shows/French Documentary TV Shows

    French Documentary TV Shows

    The 40 most popular french documentary TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

    40shows
    Filter & sort these in Search
    Grands Reportages
    TMDB3.0

    Grands Reportages

    1998 · FR

    No overview available

    Strip-Tease
    TMDB2.6

    Strip-Tease

    1985 · BE

    Strip-Tease was created by Jean Libon and Marco Lamensch. The aim of the creators was to produce documentary films of a new genre, in which the commentators take a back seat to let the protagonists have their say. The program mainly deals with excerpts from everyday life (family meals, washing up, the life of a farmer's wife). Viewers can thus recognize themselves in their daily intimacy.

    It's Not Rocket Science!
    TMDB4.0

    It's Not Rocket Science!

    1993 · FR

    C'est pas sorcier is a French educational television program that originally aired from November 5, 1994 to present.

    Zone interdite
    TMDB3.0

    Zone interdite

    1993 · FR

    For thirty years, Zone Interdite has been the magazine that documents and analyzes the upheavals in French society. Conducted over time, the investigations broadcast in the program reveal the taboos, passions, and struggles of the French people at the heart of current events.

    Invitation Au Voyage
    TMDB4.3

    Invitation Au Voyage

    2017 · FR

    Invitation Au Voyage (titled *Stadt Land Kunst* in German) is a television program hosted by Linda Lorin; it has aired on Arte every weekday at 5:40 PM since March 13, 2017. It is a cultural travel show that explores various locations—both near and far—centered around three specific destinations. Additionally, a special Saturday edition at 4:30 PM offers a getaway to discover a particular city, region, or country.

    RE: European Stories
    TMDB3.5

    RE: European Stories

    2017 · DE

    Discover Europe in all its diversity of viewpoints

    Mapping the World
    TMDB4.3

    Mapping the World

    1990 · FR

    Then complex world of geopolitics broken down into ten minute, bite-sized chunks. You'll never sound uninformed at the dinner table ever again.

    Ciné regards
    TMDB2.5

    Ciné regards

    1978 · FR

    No overview available

    The World in Front
    TMDB4.8

    The World in Front

    1987 · FR

    Weekly current affairs show

    28 minutes
    TMDB3.1

    28 minutes

    2012 · FR

    No overview available

    Infrarouge
    TMDB3.0

    Infrarouge

    2006 · FR

    French current affair show

    30 millions d'amis
    TMDB3.1

    30 millions d'amis

    1976 · FR

    No overview available

    Cinépanorama
    TMDB4.3

    Cinépanorama

    1956 · FR

    No overview available

    Échappées Belles
    TMDB3.9

    Échappées Belles

    2006 · FR

    Échappées Belles is a French weekly discovery magazine, broadcast on Saturdays in the first part of the evening on France 5 since September 30, 2006. It is presented in turn by Sophie Jovillard, Jérôme Pitorin, Ismaël Khelifa, Tiga, Sabine Quindou, Théo Curin and Anto Cocagne.

    Enquête Exclusive
    TMDB4.5

    Enquête Exclusive

    2005 · FR

    Weekly investigative magazine presented by Bernard de la Villardière offering reports on international news.

    Faites entrer l'accusé
    TMDB4.3

    Faites entrer l'accusé

    2000 · FR

    No overview available

    How to Die Clever
    TMDB4.1

    How to Die Clever

    2015 · FR

    Professor Moustache and his assistant Nathanaël go the extra mile to answer your questions scientifically. Do we really eat spiders in our sleep? Can we shrink children just like in a film? And what happens when a murder happens in space? All your queries are resolved by our favourite knowledgeable professor.

    360° Reportage
    TMDB3.8

    360° Reportage

    1999 · DE

    Stories of extraordinary lives and extraordinary lands across the globe.

    Karambolage
    TMDB5.0

    Karambolage

    N/A · FR

    Words, rituals, objects, references... Karambolage offers an amused comparative anthropology of the locals on both sides of the Rhine.

    Top Gear France
    TMDB3.1

    Top Gear France

    2015 · FR

    Top Gear France is a french TV show on cars, based on the english original tv show Top Gear. IT is shwon on TNT RMC Découverte and will be hosted by the french actor Philippe Lellouche, the professional racing driver Bruce Jouanny and EDM musician and journalist Yann Larret-Menezo.

    À bout portant
    TMDB4.0

    À bout portant

    1968 · FR

    No overview available

    Les docs conso
    TMDB2.9

    Les docs conso

    2008 · FR

    No overview available

    Des racines & des ailes
    TMDB3.9

    Des racines & des ailes

    1997 · FR

    A magazine show with each segment telling the story of a country, a civilization, a period or emblematic characters, rich in iconography and archival images.

    Rétro Découverte
    TMDB4.3

    Rétro Découverte

    2016 · FR

    No overview available

    Once Upon a Time... Life
    TMDB3.9

    Once Upon a Time... Life

    1987 · FR

    Attention please! Are you ready for an adventurous tour through the human body? With a lot of humour, our physical appearance is being introduced from head to toe along cells and organs in an educational way. The heart, blood, nerves and kidneys, each single one is a miracle which renders life possible.

    Leçon de Cinéma
    TMDB3.5

    Leçon de Cinéma

    2004 · FR

    No overview available

    Apocalypse: The Second World War
    TMDB4.2

    Apocalypse: The Second World War

    2009 · FR

    A six-part French documentary about the Second World War composed exclusively of actual footage of the war as filmed by war correspondents, soldiers, resistance fighters and private citizens. The series is shown in color, with the black and white footage being fully colorized, save for some original color footage. The only exception to the treatment are most Holocaust scenes, which are presented in the original black and white.

    La Case du Siècle
    TMDB4.1

    La Case du Siècle

    2010 · FR

    La Case du Siècle is a French television program launched in 2010 and broadcast on France 5. Hosted by Fabrice d'Almeida, it airs documentaries every Sunday that aim to shed light on the history of the 20th century, both in France and around the world. Through these documentaries, viewers can deepen their knowledge of a specific subject or simply discover a particular era. *La Case du siècle* offers an in-depth look at the events that changed the course of history.

    Envoyé Spécial
    TMDB4.0

    Envoyé Spécial

    1990 · FR

    For more than twenty-six years, the show has offered reports abroad, surveys of social phenomena and portraits. Because it is sometimes difficult to understand the life of your neighbor or of everyone you meet in the street, Special Envoy will do it for you: listen, question, understand, investigate.

    Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers
    TMDB3.9

    Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers

    1994 · FR

    From flashes of genius to curious experiments, humankind's innovations lead explorers and inventors on a brilliant journey of discovery in this series.

    Secrets d'Histoire
    TMDB4.0

    Secrets d'Histoire

    2007 · FR

    Series of feature-length documentaries about persons of interest throughout history, including many royals, both French and from other European countries.

    Dim Dam Dom
    TMDB4.0

    Dim Dam Dom

    1965 · FR

    No overview available

    Cash Investigation
    TMDB4.2

    Cash Investigation

    2012 · FR

    Cash Investigation gives new life to investigative investigations by tackling in each new issue different subjects concerning the business world (drug industry, ready to wear, tax havens, neuromarketing, planned obsolescence ...) but also to the managers themselves.

    Reflets de Cannes
    TMDB2.5

    Reflets de Cannes

    1954 · FR

    No overview available

    Rendez-vous in an Unknown Land
    TMDB3.5

    Rendez-vous in an Unknown Land

    2004 · FR

    No overview available

    Une saison au zoo
    TMDB4.8

    Une saison au zoo

    2014 · FR

    No overview available

    Science grand format
    TMDB3.6

    Science grand format

    2016 · FR

    A look at relevant scientific issues

    Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler
    TMDB3.8

    Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler

    2011 · FR

    Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was a mediocre who rose to power because of the blindness and ignorance of the Germans, who believed he was nothing more than an eccentric dreamer. But when the crisis of 1929 devastated the economy, the population, fearful of chaos and communism, voted for him. And no one defended democracy. As the dictatorship extended its relentless shadow, the leader claimed peace, but was preparing the Apocalypse.

    Famille d'accueil
    TMDB4.5

    Famille d'accueil

    2001 · FR

    No overview available

    Once Upon a Time... Planet Earth
    TMDB4.3

    Once Upon a Time... Planet Earth

    2008 · FR

    Teenagers, the internationally-recognized characters of the series, will be the heroes of adventures in which they will play an active role. They will be a force for change, faced with situations and problems they need to resolve. The series will be based on facts, yet still primarily entertainment. Through their actions, they directly affect their planet and the resources that must be used responsibly and are not inexhaustible. The series will also help younger audiences to understand that pollution, hunger and water shortages are realities with specific causes – rather than inevitable evils to be dreaded, they are battles to be won with solutions to be found.

    About French Documentary TV Shows

    French television

    French television has moved from a broadcast-dominated tradition into a strong export position, particularly in crime and spy drama. The results tend to be shorter-run and more cinematic than Anglo-American equivalents.

    Documentary

    Documentary series use length the way films can't — returning to subjects, following developments, and building cases across many hours. Streaming turned the format into a genuine cultural force.

    In this list

    Years covered
    1954–2017
    Often also
    Family, Talk, Animation
    Longest run
    37 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best French documentary TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Grands Reportages, Strip-Tease, and It's Not Rocket Science!. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    French documentary TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

    Keep browsing

    Other Genres

    AnimationDramaComedyWesternCrimeMysteryFamilyAction & AdventureKidsRealitySci-Fi & FantasySoap
    War & Politics

    Other Countries

    JapaneseKoreanItalianBritishGermanSpanishIndianChineseHong KongSwedishMexicanBrazilianRussian

    In Theaters Too

    French Documentary Movies