The theatrical feature adapted from the hit series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, which which boasts millions of fans worldwide, is directed by Jérémy Zag, produced by Mediawan - ON Kids & Family, Zag Studios, and The Awakening Production with SND, and sold by Sierra Affinity.
While summer traditionally rhymes with the invasion of American blockbusters that monopolize screens and audiences, French cinema has an ace up its sleeve! Launched on July 5 in France and neighboring European countries, Ladybug & Cat Noir Awakening is causing quite a stir, already racking up 1.36 million admissions and €9.37 million in box office revenues! It's the fourth production with majority-French financing to achieve this feat in 2023, after Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (2.65 million spectators and €17.5 million), The Three Musketeers - D'Artagnan (1.57 million and €8.60 million) and Argonuts (1.25 million and €7.20 million).
Currently, its top foreign market is Germany, where 586,000 people of all ages discovered it on the big screen (StudioCanal, €4.69 million). Offered in 623 cinemas, it expanded to 662 on its third weekend of release, after shining in the local top three rankings for the first two weeks. It's the biggest French success of the current year on the other side of the Rhine, and the third best score for a (majority-financed) French animation film since 2000, after Arthur and the Invisibles (2007, Tobis Film, 695,500 admissions and €3.42 million in ticket sales) and Asterix and the Vikings (2006, Leonine/Universum, 639,000 and €3.27 million).
But it was in neighboring Poland that Ladybug & Cat Noir got off to the best start, selling 320,000 tickets and topping the local charts ahead of Hollywood blockbusters! As the end of July approaches, 540,000 tickets have been sold (Kino Świat International, €2.39 million), and the film has remained firmly anchored in the top three, with a presence on almost 400 screens. Only one French animated production has attracted more Polish moviegoers in the past: The Little Prince, also under the Kino Swiat banner, in 2015 (803,000 admissions and €3.07 million). Nevertheless, it is Ladybug & Cat Noir that claims the title of the best opening for an animated film in Poland over the last twenty-five years!
And let's not forget the 86,000 fans of the saga in Belgium & Luxembourg (Belga Films, €0.82 million), plus 72,000 Austrians (Constantin Film, €0.64 million), 42,000 Dutch (Independent Films, €0.43 million) and 29,000 Swiss (Elite Films, €0.40 million).
Ladybug & Cat Noir's international career will continue on the big screen in South Africa (Filmfinity), Greece and Cyprus (Tanweer Enlightenment), Hungary (Prorom Entertainment), the Baltic States (Acme Film), Turkey (The Moments Entertainment), and elsewhere in the weeks ahead. At the same time, fans in America, Asia and Oceania, as well as the UK, Spain and Italy, will be able to discover it on Netflix from July 28.
