In 2007, the French box office tallied 177.5 million admissions, a drop of 6%, which brings figures back in line with those achieved in 2005.
After claiming a 45% market share last year, their best performance since 1984, French films returned to a more standard level and stablized at around 35%.
American films, on the other hand, exploded and obtained a 60% market share, whereas "neither French, nor American" films dropped to 4%.
3 French films totaled more than 2 million admissions in 2007:
La Vie en Rose attracted 5.2 million spectators and became the year's uncontested champion. Its domestic profile was mirrored in the international arena, where it also performed extremely well.
Taxi 4, released the same day, powered its way into the box office with 4.5 million spectators.
Ensemble, c'est tout, starring the popular Audrey Tautou and Guillaume Canet, both box office drawcards, claimed 2.3 million admissions.
9 other French films scored more than 1 million admissions (in all, 12 titles over 1 million as opposed to 18 in 2006): the terrific casts of Frenchmen 2, Un secret, The Price to Pay, Conversations with My Gardener, Molière, 99 Francs, and Dance with Him proved irresistable, while rave reviews worked in Persépolis favor, and The Fox & the Child's wide release - usually reserved for films released during the Christmas period - no doubt contributed to its score.
Lastly, in all 25 films reached the 500,000 admissions' bracket (as opposed to 39 in 2006). Among them were titles which could have been expected to perform better: Michou d'Auber, Jacquot le Croquant, Have Mercy on Us All, Trois Amis, L'Invité, L'Auberge rouge, L'ile aux trésors. But, to counteract any disappointment, there were also a few suprises, such as Counter Investigation, Odette Toulemonde, and The Snake which reinforced considerably the popularity of Jean Dujardin, Catherine Frot, and Clovis Cornillac. Could This Be Love? and The Girl Cut in Two complete the honor roll of this year's profitable art films.
2007 box office results are hence a little below par. However 2008 should restore the balance with the upcoming releases of A Widow at Last, Asterix at the Olympic Games, Paris, Female Agents, and MR73.
