French films have come through with flying colors in the USA in the 2nd quarter of 2003. 3 films released in the space of one month, between mid-April and mid-May, "The Travelling Birds," "The Man on the Train" and "Euro Pudding" have taken $7 million at the box office.
It was "The Travelling Birds," launched by Sony Classics April 18 on 1 print, under the title "Winged Migration," that blazed the trail for French films' success in the USA. Riding high on $53,000 in the till after its opening week, the film has gradually extended its reach to 69 theaters, boasting $3.1 million at June 19.
Another globe-trotter, "The Man on the Train" by Patrice Leconte, was released in 5 theaters May 9 by its distributor Paramount Classics and rapidly built up to 83 theaters, to hit a high of $1.3 million by June 19.
And finally, continuing the travel theme, "Euro Pudding" by Cédric Klapisch, released as "The Spanish Apartment" in the USA, is currently showing on 92 screens. Distributed by Fox Searchlight May 16, the film has raked in $2.4 in 5 weeks.
These 3 films have thus hit the top of the charts for French films released in the USA in 2003.
Patrick Lamassoure
