The Intouchables tops the 24 million admissions mark in foreign theaters.
The Intouchables posted a total of 355,000 admissions in Japan (Gaga Corporation) at the end of its second complete week on the screens. While it has held tight at 9th place at the box office, revenues have dropped back by 9%, even though the number of prints released has been raised to 52. If the film's performance in Japan remains stable, it is likely to achieve results that outshine those of previous hits La Vie en Rose (Movie-Eye – 363,000 admissions in 2007), Arthur et les Minimoys (Asmik Ace Ent. – 426,000 admissions in 2007), and Taxi 4 (Asmik Ace Ent. – 458,000 admissions in 2007).
In other markets, The Intouchables has touched down in Colombia (Cine Colombia), registering 100,000 admissions after its first complete week. This is an excellent opening that should pave the way for the film to rank as the most successful French-language film to date in Colombia, ousting The Emperor's Journey (Exibravo) and its 152,000 admissions score.
Released just three weeks ago in Peru (Delta Films), known to be one of Latin America's most difficult markets for French films, The Intouchables is credited with the best performance registered for a French-language film ever registered by uniFrance Films, boasting a total of 55,000 admissions.
In Brazil (California Filmes), the film has tallied an additional 215,000 admissions in its second week to reach a total of 308,000, the 5th best score for a French-language film in this market since the early 1990s. Attendance figures outside France for The Intouchables now stand at 24 million.
On the Road got off to a successful start in Poland (Gutek), with 13,000 spectators flocking to theaters in the first five days (with 39 prints in circulation). Riding high with 410,000 admissions to its credit on the international circuit, this film's career has already been marked by a number of high points. It was a major success in the director Walter Salles's homeland of Brazil (released by Playarte), pulling in 277,000 admissions after 9 weeks. Audiences in the Netherlands also gave it an enthusiastic welcome (Cinéart Nederland), with 57,000 spectators registered, narrowly outscoring the director's previous hit Central do Brasil (Argus Film – 56,000 admissions). In Finland (OY Future Film AB), it ranks as the third most successful French film released in 2012, behind Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (FS Film OY - 23,000 admissions) and The Artist (Scanbox Finland OY – 28,000 admissions).
Late Bloomers has charmed 10,000 moviegoers in Germany after 10 days on the screens, with a maximum of 44 prints released, marking an unexceptional performance. The film currently totals 211,000 admissions abroad, including 65,000 in Spain (Wanda), 45,000 in Brazil (Art Films), 31,000 in Australia (Palace Films), and 25,000 in Israel (Shapira Films). These encouraging performances in international theaters should allow it to better the results of director Julie Gavras's previous film Blame It on Fidel (247,000 admissions). Gavras is set to gain added international exposure for her new film, with upcoming release for Late Bloomers scheduled in around a dozen markets, notably in Mexico (Cinemas Nueva Era), Austria (Filmladen), Greece (Odeon), and Singapore (Cathay).
Matthieu Thibaudault
