European Box Office Review: France

SURPRISE HIT

Welcome To The Sticks (Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis) has become France's all-time biggest local hit and number two overall behind Titanic. The film is directed by local favourite Dany Boon and co-stars the popular Kad Merad. The fish-out-of-water comedy, set in Nord Pas de Calais, built on the healthy buzz from its premiere in the northern region.

NEW ENTRIES

Distributor Le Pacte, created by Bac Films founder Jean Labadie, released its first film, Hana Makhmalbaf's Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame, in February. Its upcoming films include animated documentary Waltz With Bashir and Italian mafia drama Gomorrah, both hits in Cannes. It is also handling Francois Ozon's Ricky.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

The Class (Haut et Court)

Release date: September 24

Laurent Cantet's The Class is the first French film to win a Palme d'Or for 21 years. Set in a difficult high school, it is an intriguing mix of documentary and drama.

JCVD (Gaumont)

Release date: June 4

Docudrama JCVD generated strong buzz and sales in Cannes and marks a return to the big screen for action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme, albeit in a very different role.

Seuls Two (Warner Bros France)

Release date: June 25

Starring comic duo Eric Judor and Ramzy Bedia (who also directed), the film is set in a deserted Paris where a policeman and his prey face off. The pair starred in hits Double Zero and La Tour Montparnasse Infernale.

IN FIGURES

Total Box Office Jan 1-June 4, 2008 - 90m adms

Number of sites 2008 - 2,122

Market share of local films 2008 - 59%