International box office of French films – December 2021

As the global box office and movie releases have been slowly but steadily increasing since September, the appearance of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and its rapid spread across the world has dealt another blow to the movie industry. Once again, the momentum of a recovery is disrupted and uncertainty returns. Unlike other waves, this time the closure of cinemas was not an obvious choice. de facto : if cinemas are effectively shut down in December 2021 (in Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Slovakia among others), the majority of States have chosen to keep them open, but have tightened the conditions for access (vaccination pass, FFP2 mask, sale of prohibited confectionery or even reintroduction of gauges). Inevitably, attendance slowed and viewers turned to a handful of films, including the latest episode of Spiderman (Sony), further widening the box office gap between the titles on offer. Consequently, also taking into account the fact that the epidemic peak has not been reached, many releases, mainly of films with high potential, are postponed. The new year therefore opens with a feeling of déjà vu.

Despite the difficulties just mentioned, French cinema retains its place on foreign screens in December 2021 and displays values ​​in line with those of November. If the leader of the month, The Tuches 4attracted 113,000 spectators (326,000 for #1 the previous month, The Wolf and the Lion), a greater number of titles mobilize more than 50,000 (9 vs. 4). In addition, 6 are operated in more than 10 territories (against 5).

The Wolf and the Lion

Europe captures 3 out of 4 French cinema admissions in December, the share of the western part amounting to nearly 50%. All the other geographical areas are below 100,000 admissions (North America just misses this symbolic threshold) and 10% market share. Poland is the first foreign market in number of spectators for French films in December 2021, driven by 229,000 tickets, i.e. nearly 1 admission in 5 of the total for the period. The other territory to exceed 100,000 spectators is Belgium & Luxembourg (13.3% market share). 3 of the 4 films bringing together more than 50,000 moviegoers on a market achieve this feat in Poland, while the other achieves it in Belgium & Luxembourg.

The starts of Tuche 4, Délicieux and Aline bring comedy/drama back to center stage : 1 out of 3 foreign viewers of French cinema saw a film of this genre in December 2021. The adventure follows with more than 222,000 admissions, half of which go to wolf and lionWithout forgetting give me wings. Drama and biopic/war/history have a market share above 10%: Benedetta and eiffel exceeded 50,000 admissions, while no drama reached it this month.

French initiative films generate 90% of admissions recorded during the month of December, up on the previous month, led by two titles exceeding 100,000 tickets (The Tuches 4 and The Wolf and the Lion), then six others the 50,000. No minority production brings together more than 50,000 moviegoers: the film that stands out this month is Julie (in 12 chapters), chosen by 46,000 foreign spectators. The aforementioned title as well as The Wolf and the Lion provide foreign language productions with a share of 20.6%, reduced by more than half in one month. French-language films are gaining ground and account for almost 80% of the monthly result.

The saga being highly appreciated by the public, it goes without saying that The Tuches 4 was eagerly awaited in the neighboring French-speaking markets, mainly in Belgium. The closure of cinemas across the country for a few days certainly impacted the film’s box office, but the public was back as soon as they reopened. 100,000 Belgians have already discovered it (Alternative Films), which makes it the second best French result on this market in 2021 after Kaamelott – First part (Belga Films – 122,000). The Wolf and the Lion continued its good momentum and exceeded half a million tickets internationally, including 202,000 in Poland (Kino Swiat). Monolith Films launches give me wings and Around the world in 80 days on the screens of the country and they shine within the local top 5: a few weeks of exploitation allowed them to become respectively the second and third most viewed French films of 2021 in this Eastern country. Thanks to Titanium (Altitude Film), majority French-language productions are back in the UK & Irish top 10 15 months later Wretched (Altitude Film – £178,000, 25,500 admissions). The Palme d’or achieved its best European start in this market (£167,000, 24,000 admissions). In Oceania, Palace Film perpetuates the tradition by offering a French production for Boxing Day (December 26). In 2021, the ambassador is Delicious which has already accounted for AU$741,000, previews and festival appearances included, which corresponds to around 52,000 admissions (NZ$262,000 and 10,000 admissions in New Zealand).

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This analysis is written on the basis of the results listed on 12 January 2022. The figures being constantly consolidated, the graph created automatically by the site will differ from the table present in this news item.