International box office of French films – October 2022

A French box office up sharply internationally

French cinema attracted 2.6 million spectators and generated €19.3 million in box office receipts internationally in October. The threshold of 2.5 million admissions has therefore been crossed for the fourth time in 2022 and this is the best monthly score since April (2.93 M). Spectacular box office rebound of 73% driven primarily by minority-funded productions, including the Palme d’Or Without filter which met with great success in theaters (942,000 admissions, outside France and Sweden). On the majority films side, if they bring together as many moviegoers as in September, they only count 2 titles exceeding 100,000 admissions in their ranks, against 4 the previous month.

Europe consolidates its leadership

Western Europe captured just over half of French cinema admissions in October (55.4%) and takes a slightly smaller share than last month. That of the central and eastern part of the continent, on the other hand, gains 4 points and amounts to 24%. The Old Continent as a whole remains the leading geographical area in terms of the number of tickets sold by French films (79.4%!) : 4 spectators out of 5 are therefore from this region. Unsurprisingly, among the 8 countries with more than 100,000 spectators of French films (+3 in one month), 7 are located in this zone:Germany (342,000 admissions) climbed to the top of the markets for the fifth consecutive month and outstripped the Belgium & Luxemburg (267,000), the Poland (179,000) and the Russia (173,000). Outside Europe, the only territory offering more than 100,000 admissions, or even more than 50,000, the UNITED STATES take second place on the podium (296,000) carried by the minority Without filter ($2.62 million, approximately 286,000 spectators). Consequently, there is a share of more than 10% of total admissions only in North America, and more than 5% only in Latin America.

Comedy is still the most popular genre

For the fourth time this year, comedy/drama is the leading genre of the month, having attracted 1.4 million foreign moviegoers, i.e. 53.6% of the total, boosted by the minority Without filter ! With the exception of documentaries and drama, all genres mobilize more moviegoers than in September. Animation and adventure/detective/thriller each won more than 10% market share with respectively Around the world in 80 days (120,000 entries) and King (146,000) in leading roles, while the minority science fiction production Vesper Chronicles (130,000) and biopics Simone – The trip of the century (37,000) and Bodice (minority, 33,000) restore color to these two genres on the international scene in October.

Minority and French-language productions in the lead

The 79 French minority-funded films shown in theaters generated 52.2% of admissions surveyed during the month of October, gaining almost 37 points compared to the previous month, particularly thanks to Without filter and to Vesper Chronicles who belong to this category. Majority productions (212) see their share shrink once again and drop below 50% for the first time in 2022 because of the greater success encountered by the minority group. Nevertheless, they generate 1.8% more admissions than in September and can count on two ambassadors bringing together more than 100,000 moviegoers each (King and Around the world in 80 days). French-language films continued to dominate the scene, generating 1.4 million admissions (+2.2%), but their contribution fell from 90% to 53% in one month, impacted by the success of the two aforementioned minority productions, in a foreign language.

The best tricolor performances

King is the most seen French film on the big screen internationally in October and this for the first time. The film was a surprise success in Poland, where it totaled 233,000 admissions (M2, €0.75 million in receipts). It brings together 63,000 young and old during its fourth week of operation, when it rises to fourth place in the Polish weekly ranking, ie double that of the start! This successful career, the richest in spectators in all foreign markets, allows King to cross the threshold of 500,000 admissions outside France and to become the third biggest tricolor success of the current year in Poland. At the end of October, it was still programmed by a hundred theaters across the country. Leader of the year 2020, Around the world in 80 days, is far from having completed its international tour. Launched in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro on September 23, it enjoyed solid success and posted a total of 83,000 spectators in the three former Yugoslav republics (Blitz, €0.27 million), thus winning the title of the biggest French hits of 2022. Released the same day in Spain, Around the world in 80 days has since brought together 88,000 young and old (Flins & Piniculas, €0.49 million). Three majority productions make their first appearance in the monthly top 10, including November which is in third place having won over 25,000 Belgians (Athena, €0.22m) and 17,000 Russians (Global, €0.1m), among others. The two others, The New Toy and Simone – The trip of the century, are also arriving in neighboring French-speaking markets at the same time as in France. During the second week of showing on the big screen in Belgium, the remake of the Toy by Francis Veber saw a 43% increase in attendance for a total of 37,000 tickets sold (Sony, €0.35 million). South American screens scroll Despite himself superheroes (BF) which brings French action comedy back to the continent. If it is in Peru that it brings together the most spectators (28,000 and 70,000 €), proportionally it is in Bolivia (12,000 and 42,000 €) that it causes a sensation because it becomes the third majority French production. of fiction to count more than 10,000 admissions since Unifrance followed the Bolivian box office (2014). With love and determination and pilethey share the observation of being exploited in more than 10 foreign markets.

November

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This analysis is written on the basis of the results listed on November 10, 2022. The figures being constantly consolidated, the graph created automatically by the site will differ from the table present in this news.