Light Crime Fuels French Procedural Boom

Move over Scandinoir, because Gallic producers are giving crime the French Touch.

Beloved at home and lucrative abroad, a new strain of audience inclusive procedurals has paved inroads on the international market. Indeed, fueled by the earlier success of long-running series “Candice Renoir,” and made stratospheric by smashes “HPI” and “Tandem,” the so-called “light crime” genre has become a new French delicacy.

“The genre skillfully blends criminal investigations with everyday moments, creating a balance between mystery and the light, family tone,” says Mediawan Rights exec Randall Broman. “[We’ve seen] a growing demand for lighter, more reassuring content, while viewers appreciate the captivating plots without excessive violence. This ability to blend intrigue and humor makes French producers leading players in the genre.”

Megahit “HPI” delivered 11 million viewers at home and has sold to over 110 territories, while the U.S. remake will premiere later this month on ABC and Hulu. Other recent successes in this field have had a similar knock-on effect, drawing attention to French productions writ large while showing new potential in the U.S., Latin America and Japan, alongside established territories in Europe.

As Mediawan Rights now rolls out the besties-turned-partners cop comedy “Tom & Lola,” Newen Connect will launch “Carpe Diem,” a sunny dramedy about a lawyer who defends the innocent after spending 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. As the title would suggest, the lead (played by Samuel Le Bihan) doesn’t let that tough background affect his disposition.

“Viewers aren’t looking for perfect heroes anymore,” says Newen Connect CCO Leona Connell. “Audiences are looking for characters with whom they can identify, and having a flaws-and-all lead who can manage their own family and life whilst being able to do their job is just a good reflection of today’s society.”

With female viewers aged 19 to 49 as the core demo, the genre’s international success is linked, in part, to scheduling flexibility. In terms of linear broadcast, light crime can thrive in both daytime and primetime, while the genre’s strong procedural backbone keeps episodes evergreen on streaming.

Location plays a commensurate role, with titles like “Tom & Lola” and “Carpe Diem” both taking abundant advantage of all that the South of France has to offer.

“The south offers exceptional natural light,” says Broman. “This makes it possible to shoot almost all year round, which is crucial for the production of a 12-episode season. And this helps us stand out on the international market by offering authentic and varied settings, far removed from the big cities often represented in American series.”

“You can do extremely well with a blue sky and a charismatic lead,” says Connell. “Audiences want to have fun and to be entertained, and quite often a scenic backdrop helps you get away from everyday life.”