Slumdog Millionaire reaches target

12/02/2009

The year has got off to a good start at the French box office, with 14.9m admissions in January, representing an increase of 3.8% compared to the same period in 2008, according to the National Film Centre (CNC).

These results have boosted the market share for domestic productions – which has risen to 36.1% (compared to 33.9% in January 2008) – and European films. Meanwhile, the market share for US features has decreased to 45% (compared to 50.2% for the same period in 2008).

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One of the biggest box-office hits is UK director Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danny Boyle
film profile]. Launched on January 14 by Pathé Distribution on 126 screens, the film has attracted 772,000 viewers in four weeks and benefited from excellent word-of-mouth publicity.

Admissions for the feature dropped by only 4% in its second week on release, by 1% in its third week and by 18% in its fourth week. Meanwhile, its print run was increased to 159, then 184 and finally 189.

French production is currently boosted by the dazzling box office start enjoyed by Lisa Azuelos’ LOL [+see also:
trailer
interview: Christa Théret
film profile], starring Sophie Marceau and Christa Theret. The film has garnered 738,000 admissions in its first week (Pathé Distribution - 430 screens).

The new year has started well for Marceau because Pascale Pouzadoux’s Changing Sides – in which she co-stars with Dany Boon – has drawn 1.61m viewers in five weeks.

Jérôme Salle’s Largo Winch [+see also:
trailer
film profile] has almost finished its run at 1.72m admissions in eight weeks (Wild Bunch Distribution).

Other successful French titles include Martin Provost’s unstoppable Séraphine [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (573,000 admissions in 19 weeks - Diaphana); Jacques Rémy Girerd’s Mia and the Migoo [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (455,000 viewers in nine weeks - Gébéka Films); Louise-Michel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benoît Delépine and Gustav…
interview: Benoît Jaubert
film profile] by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern (390,000 admissions in seven weeks - Ad Vitam); Philippe Haim’s Secrets of State [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (over 590,000 fans in eight weeks - UGC Distribution); and Frédéric Auburtin’s Special Correspondents [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (520,000 admissions in three weeks - EuropaCorp Distribution).

The following films have also opened well: Nicolas Saada’s Spy(ies) (318,000 viewers in two weeks - Mars Distribution); Maïwenn’s The Actress’ Ball [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (202,000 admissions in two weeks - SND); and The Other One [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Pierre Trividic and Patrick-Mario Bernard (38,000 admissions in seven days for a 55-print run).