In the first half of 2004, the United States confirmed its predominant role in box office results for French films in the international arena.*
From January to June, 2004, the USA generated more than 22 million euros in receipts thanks to the release of 31 French films in the territory. This represents around 4.3 million spectators.
Released in the United States right at the end of this period, “Two Brothers” by Jean Jacques Annaud can be credited with a substantial share of these excellent results. The film was launched by Universal on June 25, on 2,175 prints, and registered $6 million after two days on the screens.
Another triumph of this first 6 months of the year, “The Triplets of Belleville” by Sylvain Chomet, raked in over €5 million in the USA in 2004. The film was released November 21, 2003, but succeeded in maintaining a good pace right into these first months of 2004, particularly due to its Academy Awards nomination. It is also worth mentioning the fine score of “Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran” by François Dupeyron, which has clocked up €2.4 million in receipts for around 460,000 spectators in this market in 2004. Sony Pictures released the film on 2 prints on December 5, 2003, raising this to 92 prints by the end of March.
The number 2 export destination for French fare, Belgium, totaled around €10.8 million in receipts in the first six months of 2004, with 65 French films hitting the screens in this period!
The standout performer in this territory was clearly “Podium” by Yann Moix, taking close to €4 million in this period. This represents more than 700,000 spectators – an all-out success for Belga Films, who released the film in February, at the same time as France.
Following behind Belgium, we find Germany and Italy, which registered respectively €10 million and €9.2 million in receipts in the first half of the year. In these two countries, it was “The Crimson Rivers 2” by Olivier Dahan that led results for French fare, a film which incidentally stands at the top of our international charts for this period. The film was released in Germany by Tobis on April 8, on 250 prints, and totaled €2.9 million in receipts and 478,000 admissions at the end of May. Italy also registered fine results for the film, which was offered an ambitious launch by Filmauro, with 402 prints released on March 23. It currently posts €3.9 million at the box office, for 657,000 spectators.
Spotlight on “To Be and to Have”
This film was the surprise hit of the first 6 months of 2004, ranking as number 7 in our Top 15 films – a first for this type of documentary, which has clearly hit the mark with foreign audiences. It is in Spain that the film has achieved the greatest success in 2004. Released on 20 prints by Karma Films on January 2, the film registered €650,000 in receipts and around 130,000 spectators at the end of March.
Minority French productions still at the top of the charts
“The Barbarian Invasions” by Denys Arcand and “Dogville” by Lars Von Trier, films minority produced by France, have delivered good results in the international arena. This is particularly the case for the film by Denys Arcand, which crossed the million euros mark in Italy, Spain and the United States. The best figures come from Italy, where the film tallied €3.6 million, for over 642,000 admissions, at the end of the first half of the year, having been released on December 5, 2003.
(*Important note: our charts take into account only so-called “reference” countries, which do not include Japan or Russia).
Julien Gaulier
