Netflix France is 10 years old: the series and films that have marked the history of the platform

On September 15, 2014, a subscription streaming platform invested in the French countryside. Building on its success on the other side of the Atlantic, Netflix aims to conquer the European market with the promise of a mountain of entertainment for a few euros per month. Series fans know it by reputation and are ready to explore its catalog composed of emblematic productions from the small and big screen. This launch is an event, it will shake up the French audiovisual panorama.

The Los Gatos firm relegates television channels to the status of antiques, frees itself from their linearity to offer its subscribers a wide choice of series and films accessible at any time and at no extra cost. SVoD, born a few years earlier in the United States, is on the way to becoming the preferred entertainment network for many French people.

But Netflix is ​​not just a streaming destination, the company launched in 2012 into the production of original series. The service, which was originally a home-delivered DVD rental company, has every intention of treading on the toes of iconic American channels, HBO or AMC at the top of the list. No longer will it be a question of simply buying works from its competitors, the red N wants to develop its Netflix Originals offering. A look back at the service’s iconic productions.

Lilyhammerthe first creation (2012)

If House of Cards is often identified as the first creation of the red N, it is with Lilyhammer that Reed Hastings' firm signs its first original production. It is 2012 and The company collaborates with the Norwegian channel NRK1 to hatch a crazy thriller against a backdrop of organized crime. The story follows Frank, a former godfather of the Italian mafia in New York who enters the witness protection program after participating in a trial. He is sent to Lillehammer, a small town he discovered while watching the 1994 Winter Olympics. Three seasons will be dedicated to it, and it will even be broadcast in France. Since Netflix is ​​not yet available in our green lands, Canal+ will take over in October 2012.

House of Cardsthe beginning of success (2013)

It is to her that the platform owes its sound logo, the three knocks that have been resonating for about ten years in French living rooms. In 2013, after the discreet Lilyhammer, Netflix decided to fly solo with a political drama that would soon find an echo among viewers around the world. Led by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, House of Cards tells the story of Frank Underwood and his wife Claire, ready to do anything to obtain the post of Secretary of State. Scheming and betrayals will be at the epicenter of the six seasons devoted to this project.

For Netflix, it's already time to collect a few statuettes at the various ceremonies rewarding the best of the small screen. David Fincher won the Primetime Emmy Awards for best directing for a drama series in 2013. The series will continue to be a production that counts for the industry and will multiply nominations and awards. In France, it is first broadcast on Canal+ before Netflix reserves the exclusivity of its production from 2016.

Marco Polothe first blockbuster (2014)

In 2014, Netflix had been in French living rooms for a few months when the most expensive series in its history (at the time) was released. While the red N has multiplied its major investments since then, Marco Polo is presented as a real mastodon of subscription television. 90 million dollars for the first season alone, even Game of Thrones does not dare to reach such sums yet. Netflix bets heavily on this project, but is confronted with the harsh reality of a less enthusiastic critic than expected and a rather low return on investment. Marco Polo will be abandoned after its second season.

Marseillecock-a-doodle-doo (2016)

Only two years after its arrival in France, the N rouge is forming partnerships with French production players to bring out an original production on a local scale. In partnership with TF1, the platform is bringing out a political drama carried by a renowned cast. Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Magimel and Géraldine PaihasNetflix wins the bingo of the most emblematic French personalities. The story follows Robert Taro, mayor of Marseille for 20 years and who is considering retiring. After a political betrayal, the politician will finally decide to run for a new term. Upon its release, the series faces scathing criticism, particularly in France where it is compared to a ““dung” by The World. Telerama at the time evokes a “a failure so huge that it almost becomes fascinating”. Marseille will be canceled in 2018 after the second season airs.

Stranger Thingsthe one that everyone agrees on (2016)

If the craze for the Netflix catalog had to be summed up by a single production, it would undoubtedly be Stranger ThingsIn 2016, the Duffer brothers unveiled a series that looked like The Goonies encounter Dungeons and Dragonswithout suspecting for a single moment that the adventures of Mike, Eleven and their friends would meet with such success. The trailer attracts 1.4 million views on YouTube and 1.8 on Facebook, the fervor begins even before the broadcast of the first episode. The series will achieve one of the best launches in the history of Netflix, this letter “love to the classics of the 80s” is a hit. Since its inception, the Duffer brothers' creation has become a flagship of the platform. A number of derivative products, a play, Stranger Things is the Netflix series that has won over critics since its first episodes.

Bird Boxor the film that gets people talking (2018)

Six years after its release, Susanne Bier's film continues to be among the most-watched original films on Netflix. 157 million homes watched the horror production carried by Sandra Bullock. If the critics do not seem particularly enthusiastic, the public responds and the film is widely discussed on social networks. Quickly, it appears at the top of the most viewed productions around the world, it will only give up its place late, when Red Notice, Don't Look Up And Adam through time will invest the shelves of Netflix.

Romeconsecration for Netflix (2019)

By investing in film creation, Netflix has not skimped on prestigious names. The firm wants to prove that it can compete with Hollywood studios. In April 2018, the platform acquired the distribution rights to Alfonso Cuarón's new film. Based on twelve minutes of the black and white film, the company decided that it wanted to bet on this drama to build its reputation. Moreover, It is the awards ceremonies of the seventh art that interest him. The film will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion. It is the start of a long series of victories for Roma, which will pick up the prize for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscarsas well as the statuettes for best photography and best director.

This consecration will nevertheless cause a lot of ink to flow, Steven Spielberg will be among Netflix's detractors. He will advocate for the exclusion of Netflix films from the ceremony, which does not contribute to the influence of dark rooms on a global scale. The platform will respond on social networks that it allows “people who cannot always afford to go to the cinema or who live in towns without cinemas” to enjoy what the seventh art has to offer. In 2024, new Oscar regulations will require that Best Picture films be shown for seven days, in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets.

Lupinethe first French hit (2021)

If Marseille has not really made French creation shine internationally, a gentleman burglar will seduce Netflix subscribers around the world. In 2021, after a pandemic that has severely impacted dark rooms around the world, while promoting subscription streaming offers, Lupine arrives on Netflix with the firm intention of becoming the hit of the moment. With Omar Sy in the lead role, the adaptation of Maurice Leblanc's works is quickly building a reputation. 99 million users start reading of the first season and George Kay's series becomes the non-English series in the history of Netflix. If Squid Game dethrones it a few months later, the series continues to be in fourth place in the ranking. The success is such that the red N decides to renew iteven though it was only supposed to deliver three seasons.

Ten years after its first steps in France, Netflix has become a major player in the French audiovisual landscape. Netflix has managed to seduce France, the platform has reached the milestone of 10 million customers in France in 2022. Its presence in France has been strengthened, and some of its biggest hits are now blue, white, red. This summer, it's the film Under the Seine who distinguished himself with more than 102.3 million views worldwide. AKAled by Alban Lenoir, is also among the most viewed non-English language films in Netflix history. France has become in just a few years one of the most important markets for the red N, which is clearly returning the favor rather well…

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