Between October and December 2021, more than 380 French productions were shown across the five continents. Among them, 27 were animation films, representing 7.1% of global titles. Over the same period, they generated 414,000 admissions, which corresponded to 9.8% of the audience who attended French cinema abroad.
After a particularly rich summer in terms of spectators, French animation saw its share fall by more than half during the last three months of 2021. This erosion was due both to the rise of other genres and to performances that did not match those of previous months, not to mention the resurgence of the health crisis from mid-November onwards, which dealt a further blow to cinema attendance.
The top five French animation films by international admissions in October, November and December 2021
| Rank | Film | Territories | Admissions 10/01/21 to 12/31/21 | Box Office Revenues (€) from 10/01/21 to 12/31/21 |
| 1 | Around the World in 80 Days | 14 | 172,870 | 1,083,487 |
| 2 | Bigfoot Family * | 9 | 101,771 | 375,901 |
| 3 | Pil | 4 | 91,498 | 282,599 |
| 4 | Even Mice Belong in Heaven * | 4 | 11,582 | 95,919 |
| 5 | Little Vampire | 5 | 9,153 | 21,330 |
* Production with minority-French financing.
Two productions garnered over 100,000 spectators. Around the World in 80 Days, the most successful majority-French production in 2021, continued to lead the way thanks to successful launches in Sweden (SF Studios – 33,000 admissions since October 8) and Poland (Monolith Films – 68,000 admissions between Christmas and January 6), where it should have passed the 100,000 ticket sales mark during the month of January. While still in Poland, the minority-French production Bigfoot Family, which has clocked up almost 2.5 million admissions worldwide, drew in 63,000 spectators (Monolith Films), its third best European score. A third film, Little Vampire (Kino Swiat – 7,000 admissions), launched in the Eastern European market.
The title with the highest number of admissions over the period in a single territory was Pil, bolstered by 85,000 spectators in Russia (Central Partnership), whose international career will continue through 2022. Those of the minority-French productions Even Mice Belong in Heaven and Flee have just commenced: the latter, shortlisted to represent Denmark for this year's Oscar for Best International Film, has been playing in North American cinemas since the beginning of December and its box office is close to $60,000 (nearly 7,000 admissions).
Upcoming theatrical releases*
- Flee (minority-French production), sold by Cinephil, will soon release in Australia and New Zealand (Madman Entertainment / Docplay), Spain (La Aventura Audiovisual, Italy (I Wonder Pictures), and the United Kingdom and Ireland (Curzon).
- Around the World in 80 Days, sold by StudioCanal, will soon release in Germany (StudioCanal), Austria (Constantin Film), Estonia (Adastra Cinema), and Singapore (Shaw).
- Even Mice Belong in Heaven (minority-French production), sold by Charades, will soon release in Norway (Selmer Media) et en Russia (Capella Film).
- Where Is Anne Frank (minority-French production), sold by Goodfellas, will soon release in Italy (Lucky Red).
- Pil, sold by SND, will soon release in Denmark (Mis. Label), Finland (Cinemanse Films), Mexico (Zima Entertainment), Norway (Star Media Entertainment), and Sweden (Noble Entertainment).
- Yakari, A Spectacular Journey, sold by BAC Films, will soon release in Turkey (CJ Entertainment).
- Fireheart (minoritaire), sold by SND, will soon release in Argentina (BF Paris), Brazil (Paris Filmes), Colombia (Cine Colombia), Mexico (Corazón Films), the United Kingdom and Ireland (eOne Entertainment), and Russia (Central Partnership).
* The above releases are subject to cancellation or postponement as the Covid pandemic evolves.
** If you would like to tell us about a success not included in this report, please contact us: carla.negre@unifrance.org
