Distribution - Market Report - France

French and US films have long vied for dominance at the French box office. In 2008, there were 52 US films or co-productions in the top 100. France produced 43 films in the top 100 for the year, only two of which were co-productions: Babylon A.D. (with the US) and Survivre Avec Les Loups (with Belgium and Germany).

The UK is a distant third in terms of releases figuring in the top 100. There were two in the top 100 in 2008: The Bank Job and Ken Loach’s It’s A Free World, a UK-Italian-German-Spanish co-production.

The best performing international titles reflect the typical output of the territory. For example, the UK films which tend to work are period pieces, gangster thrillers and auteur works such as Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky (at 20 places outside the top 100 with $2.2m in 2008).

Animation from countries outside France and the US tends to fare well, particularly Asian anime although none broke the top 100 for 2008. The Finnish-Danish-German-Irish co-production Niko & The Way To The Stars, was 75th for 2008 with a very solid $3.6m.

Oscar win

If films have enjoyed success on the festival circuit, particularly Cannes, they stand a fair chance of reaching French audiences. In 2008, Gomorrah sold just over half a million tickets and Waltz With Bashir sold just under half a million, enough to put them both in the top 100 films. The 2007 Romanian Palme d’Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Daysfell just short of the top 100 at 117 (taking $2m).

In 2007, another hugely popular festival title, the German-language The Lives Of Others, was released in January prior to its Oscar win and advanced to be the 24th biggest grosser of the year at $8.9m.

TOP 100, 2008

43% - Percentage of French films in the top 100, including co-productions

6% - Percentage of foreign films (not Hollywood) in the top 100