As a seasoned film critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that this year has been nothing short of remarkable for French cinema. Having witnessed the evolution of European film markets from the golden age of auteur cinema to the digital revolution, I can confidently declare that France’s box office performance in 2024 is a testament to the resilience and creativity of the French film industry.
What sets this year apart is not just the impressive growth in ticket sales or the record-breaking numbers, but the diversity of genres and stories that resonated with audiences across the country. From heartwarming comedies like “A Little Something Extra” to sweeping epics such as “The Count of Monte Cristo,” French cinema has shown an unprecedented ability to captivate a broad spectrum of viewers.
Moreover, it’s fascinating to see how local movies like these have managed to outshine Hollywood heavyweights in the box office race. It’s not every day that a film with a disabled cast or a three-hour costume movie becomes a blockbuster hit, but 2024 seems to be breaking all the rules of the game.
As a connoisseur of French cinema, I have seen my fair share of ups and downs in the industry, but I must admit that this year has left me genuinely impressed. The synergy between local and American films has created an unparalleled dynamic, with Disney tentpoles like “Inside Out 2” and “Moana 2” playing a crucial role in boosting attendance numbers.
I’d be remiss not to mention the outstanding performance of “Beating Hearts,” which marked Studiocanal’s biggest investment in a local movie to date, proving that even a three-hour American-style love story can find success in France.
In conclusion, France’s box office rebound in 2024 is a triumph not just for the French film industry but for cinema as a whole. It serves as a reminder that good stories, regardless of genre or origin, have the power to captivate and inspire audiences everywhere.
And now, for a little humor to lighten things up: I guess they were right after all – French cinema really does know how to do it all, even if it takes three hours!
In 2023, France recovered significantly from the pandemic, reporting a 16% growth. This momentum carried over into 2024, as the box office experienced further expansion. By the end of that year, an impressive €1.36 billion ($1.41 billion) had been earned from ticket sales totaling 183.1 million admissions, marking a slight increase of 0.5% compared to the previous year, as reported by Comscore and the National Film Board (CNC).
Despite the seemingly small rise, it undeniably establishes France as the healthiest theatrical market in Europe. This resilient market also demonstrates the strongest indications of post-COVID recovery, even amidst a year that included hosting the Olympic Games. In contrast, ticket sales decreased across various European countries such as the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Spain during 2024, according to Comscore France’s data.
French films have achieved a remarkable market dominance, accounting for 44.4%, significantly more than the 36.7% held by American films, as reported by the National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC). This percentage is one of the highest ever recorded for domestic releases.
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As per the CNC, French movies have seized a substantial market share, making up 44.4%, compared to 36.7% for American movies – a figure that represents a significant lead. This high percentage is among one of the top levels ever seen in local releases.
This year, a pair of French films outperformed Hollywood blockbusters to secure the top two spots on the box office chart: “A Little Something Extra” (“Un p’tit truc en plus”), a touching French comedy directed and starring comedian Artus alongside an ensemble cast of non-professional actors with disabilities, which garnered over 10.8 million admissions through indie distributor Pan-Europeene, and “The Count of Monte Cristo,” a grand three-hour epic adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière (“The Three Musketeers”), which sold over 9.4 million tickets via Pathé.
In third place among French films, we find the musical crime romance “Beating Hearts” (originally titled “L’Amour Ouf”), directed by Gilles Lellouche. This film has become Studiocanal’s largest investment in a domestic production yet, with a budget of approximately €32 million, and it has sold an impressive 4.8 million tickets.
As a cinephile, I must admit that “A Little Something Extra” pales in comparison to the grandeur of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “Beating Hearts,” two films that made their debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The former, starring Pierre Niney, received a standing ovation, while the latter boasted the talents of Adele Exarchopoulos and Francois Civil. Both productions showcased bankable stars with massive fanbases, making them must-see films for movie enthusiasts like myself.
3 recently released French films collectively drew 25 million cinema-goers, surpassing a decade-old attendance record previously tied in 2014, according to Eric Marti of Comscore France. It’s important to mention that unlike the movies of 2014 which were primarily broad comedies like “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” “Supercondriaque,” and Luc Besson’s “Lucy” (an action sci-fi film featuring Scarlett Johansson), the films attracting audiences in 2024 are quite different. They include a movie with a disabled cast, an extended costume drama, and a three-hour love story reminiscent of American cinema, all of which run close to three hours each.
The earnings of the French movie theater industry were significantly boosted by sequels from Disney, namely “Inside Out 2” and “Moana 2.” These films sold 8.4 million and 6.7 million tickets each, placing them as the third and fourth highest-grossing films behind only “Despicable Me 4” and “Dune 2,” which respectively secured the sixth and seventh positions at the box office.
Marti stated that it was the blend of French and American movies that ignited this surge in the second part of 2024, resulting in a lively cinema market,” he said, further noting that Comscore had initially expected a less vibrant year because of the limited number of American films, with an initial prediction of only 175 million theatergoers for 2024. However, the June debut of “Inside Out 2” served as a turning point.
Marti remarked that initially, there was some worry about a decrease in U.S. movie releases due to Hollywood’s double strike. However, as it turned out, several American films did exceptionally well at the box office, contributing significantly to its growth. He specifically mentioned that the movies “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” ultimately proved successful.
The French movie box office is gradually approaching its pre-pandemic totals, but it’s currently 12.8% lower than in 2019. According to Comscore, other countries such as Germany (17% below the average of 2017-2019), Italy (19% down), and Spain (22% down) are also struggling to match their previous ticket sales figures.
Olivier Henrard, president of the CNC, remarks that French cinema excels in a multitude of areas: every genre and tale for all viewers. The richness and distinctiveness of our productions – from historical dramas to generational stories, musicals, social comedies, documentaries, and animated films – account for the surge in overall attendance and the unmatched global market share of our national films.
Regarding the strong support and financial assistance France offers for its local films through various incentives and subsidies, Henrard asserts that the impressive box office figures serve as the “most convincing evidence” of the artistic and industrial superiority of their unique cultural exception model.
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2024-12-31 14:47