Best Quebecois TV Shows And Movies To Learn Canadian French
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When you learn French in a traditional classroom, you’re usually taught standard, formal French.
But if you travel to Montreal or Quebec City, you might be surprised to find that people sound quite different.
Quebecois French has its own unique vocabulary, rhythm, and slang. The absolute best way to train your ears to understand it is through immersion.
If you can’t live in Quebec right now, watching local TV shows and movies is the next best thing.
I’ll give you a few starting suggestions for things you can watch online.
Table of Contents:
Why immersion through media works
In language learning, we talk a lot about “comprehensible input.” This simply means surrounding yourself with the language in a way that you can understand, even if you don’t know every single word.
Watching movies and TV shows is perfect for this.
You get visual clues from the actors, which helps your brain guess what words mean. More importantly, you get to hear how real people speak in everyday situations.
By watching Quebecois media, you will quickly get used to the local accent. You will also notice regional variations. For example, a TV show set in downtown Montreal will feature a lot of fast-paced, urban slang, while a movie set in a rural town will feature a thicker, more traditional Quebecois accent.
Best Quebec movies for language learners
Movies are a great starting point because they are a short time commitment. Here are three fantastic Quebecois films that are great for learners.
Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006)
This is a classic! It’s a comedy about two police officers - one from Ontario who speaks English, and one from Quebec who speaks French. They are forced to work together to solve a crime. This movie is amazing for learners because the characters constantly switch between English and French, making it very easy to follow.
Starbuck (2011)
You might know the American remake (Delivery Man), but the original Quebecois version is a masterpiece. It’s about a man who discovers he has fathered hundreds of children through a sperm bank. It uses a lot of everyday, casual language, making it perfect for intermediate learners.
Monsieur Lazhar (2011)
If you are a beginner, this is the movie for you. It tells the story of an Algerian immigrant who becomes a substitute teacher in a Montreal elementary school. Because he speaks at a slower, more standard pace, and he is talking to children, the French is very clear and easy to understand.
Best Quebec TV shows to binge
If you are ready for a deeper dive, TV shows will give you hours and hours of listening practice.
Les Beaux Malaises
This is a very popular, funny sitcom based on the real life of Quebec comedian Martin Matte. It deals with awkward family situations. Because it’s a show about everyday family life, you will learn the exact words Quebecers use in their homes.
Série Noire
This is a dark comedy about two struggling TV writers who decide to experience the criminal underworld for real so they can write a better script. It’s hilarious, but be warned: it features very fast, heavy Montreal street slang. It’s a fun challenge for advanced learners!
M’entends-tu? (Can You Hear Me?)
This is a raw, emotional drama about three young women living in a low-income neighborhood in Montreal. It is an incredible resource for hearing joual (the working-class Quebecois dialect) and modern slang.
Common slang you will hear on screen
When you start watching these shows, you will immediately notice words that don’t exist in standard European French.
Here is a quick cheat sheet of words you are guaranteed to hear in almost every Quebecois movie or show:
| Quebecois Word | Standard French | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Un chum | Un petit ami / Un ami | A boyfriend / A male friend |
| Une blonde | Une petite amie | A girlfriend |
| Capoter | Paniquer / Être très excité | To freak out / To be thrilled |
| Une piasse | Un dollar | A buck (dollar) |
| Plate | Ennuyeux | Boring |
| Tiguidou | C’est d’accord / Parfait | Awesome / It’s all good |
You will often hear characters using these words to express their opinions about situations. Here is how a conversation about a movie might look in Quebecois French:
J’ai capoté sur ce film-là!
Pour vrai? Moi, j’ai trouvé ça ben plate.
Where to stream Canadian French content
Finding Quebecois media is easier today than ever before. Here are the best places to look:
- Netflix: Search for “Canadian TV Shows” or change your audio settings to “French (Canada)“. Shows like M’entends-tu? and Jusqu’au déclin (The Decline) are available globally.
- ICI TOU.TV: This is the official streaming platform for Radio-Canada (the French branch of the CBC). It has hundreds of free Quebecois shows, documentaries, and news programs. You may need a VPN if you live outside of Canada.
- Crave: This Canadian streaming service has a massive library of French-language content, including HBO shows dubbed in Quebecois French.
- YouTube: You can find many classic Quebecois movies and web series uploaded for free. Just search for “série web québécoise”.
