List of most expensive French films
This is a non-definitive list of the most expensive French films, with budgets given in Euros, Francs, and US dollars. Only films with budgets exceeding US$20 million are listed here.
List
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2024) |
Title | Primary language(s) | Year | Production costs (est.) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets | English | 2017 | $209 million (€197 million) | [1][2] |
Alexander[A] | English | 2004 | $155 million | [3][4] |
Asterix at the Olympic Games | French | 2008 | $113.5 million | [5] |
Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard | English | 2009 | $96 million (€63 million) | [6][7] |
Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds | English | 2010 | $91 million (€68.83 million) | [8][9] |
The Fifth Element | English | 1997 | $90 million[a] | [10] |
The Three Musketeers[A] | English | 2011 | $90 million (€58 million) | [11][12] |
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie | French | 2023 | $86 million (€80 million) | [13][14][15] |
Arthur and the Minimoys | English | 2006 | $84.6 million (€63 million) | [16][7] |
Oceans | French | 2009 | $80 million (€57.1 million) | [17][18] |
Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia | French | 2012 | $78 million | [19] |
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan The Three Musketeers: Milady[b] |
French | 2023 | $78 million (€72 million) | [21][22] |
The Little Prince | English | 2015 | $77.5 million | [23] |
Hannibal Rising[A] | English | 2007 | $75 million | [24] |
Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom | French | 2023 | $72.4 million (€65 million) | [25][26] |
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc | English | 1999 | $60 million (FRF390 million) | [27][28] |
Babylon A.D. | French | 2008 | $60 million (€55 million) | [29][30] |
Mesrine | French | 2008 | $60 million | [31] |
A Very Long Engagement | French | 2004 | $58 million (€45 million) | [32][33][34] |
Two Brothers | French | 2004 | €57.8 million | [35] |
Sur la piste du Marsupilami | French | 2012 | $50 million (€40 million) | [36] |
From Paris with Love | English | 2010 | $52 million (€29.1 million) | [37][38] |
Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar | French | 1999 | $48.5 million (FRF275 million) | [39] |
Taken 3 | English | 2015 | $48 million | [40] |
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | French | 2002 | $47 million (€50 million) | [41] |
Taken 2 | English | 2012 | $45 million | [42] |
Unleashed | English | 2005 | $43 million (€25.6 million) | [43][44] |
The Count of Monte Cristo | French | 2024 | €42.9 million | [45] |
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec | French | 2010 | $40.8 million (€30 million) | [46] |
Lucy | English | 2014 | $40–100 million[c] (€49.01 million) | [48][49] |
Colombiana | English | 2011 | $40 million (€32.1 million) | [50][12] |
Black Gold | English | 2011 | €38.5–40 million | [51][52] |
Wolf Totem[A] | Mandarin, Mongolian | 2015 | $38 million | [53] |
Blueberry | English | 2004 | €34.5 million | [35] |
Beauty and the Beast | French | 2014 | €34.05 million | [49] |
Mr. Nobody[A] | English | 2009 | €33 million | [54] |
Animal Kingdom: Let's Go Ape | French | 2015 | €32 million | [55] |
Supercondriaque | French | 2014 | €31.68 million | [49] |
The Ghost Writer | English | 2010 | €30.8 million | [38] |
His Majesty Minor | French | 2007 | €30.4 million | [12] |
The Family | English | 2013 | $30 million (€28.37 million) | [56][49] |
The Young and Prodigious T. S. Spivet | English | 2013 | $30 million (€26.8 million) | [57][12] |
Grace of Monaco | English | 2014 | $30 million (€25.2 million) | [58][12] |
Anna | English | 2019 | $30 million | [59] |
Seasons | French | 2016 | €29.8 million | [12] |
Brotherhood of the Wolf | French | 2001 | $29 million (FRF200 million) | [60][61] |
The Stone Council | French | 2008 | $28 million (€20 million) | [62][63] |
Paris 36 | French | 2008 | €28 million | [12] |
Empire of the Wolves | French | 2004 | $27 million (€24.2 million) | [64][35] |
The Man with the Iron Heart | French | 2017 | €27.8 million | [12] |
Bandidas | English, Spanish | 2006 | €27.7 million | [12] |
A Perfect Plan | French | 2012 | €26.3 million | [12] |
Les Dalton | French | 2004 | €26.1 million | [43] |
A Monster in Paris | French | 2011 | €28.2 million | [12] |
Ruby & Quentin | French | 2003 | €26.7 million | [35] |
Lucky Luke | French | 2009 | €26.2 million | [38] |
Camping 2 | French | 2010 | €25.7 million | [38] |
The Visitors: Bastille Day | French | 2016 | €24.75 million | [38] |
Micmacs | French | 2009 | €23.8 million | [38] |
Bon Voyage | French | 2003 | €24.1 million | [35] |
Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse | French | 2004 | €23.8 million | [35] |
San-Antonio | French | 2004 | €23.4 million | [35] |
Immortal | English | 2004 | €22.5 million | [35] |
Double Zéro | French | 2004 | €21.5 million | [35] |
Iznogoud | French | 2005 | €21.4 million | [43] |
Little Nicholas | French | 2009 | €21.4 million | [38] |
Man to Man | English | 2005 | €21.2 million | [43] |
La Vie en Rose | French | 2007 | $25 million (€20.7 million) | [65][66] |
Cinéman | French | 2009 | €20.6 million | [38] |
The Crimson Rivers | French | 2000 | $25 million (€14.4 million) | [67][68] |
Taken | English | 2008 | $25 million (€19.4 million) | [16][69] |
The Wolf's Call | French | 2019 | $23 million (€20 million) | [70][71] |
Jeanne du Barry | French | 2023 | $22.4 million | [72] |
Rust and Bone | French | 2012 | $22 million (€15 million) | [73][74] |
Le Boulet | French | 2002 | $21.4 million (Ffr158 million) | [75] |
See also
- List of most expensive films
- List of most expensive non-English-language films
- List of highest-grossing films in France
Notes
- A French co-production.
- ^ Conflicting sources stated the film's budget to be various figures between $50 million and $100 million. The most frequently cited figure and also the figure cited by Luc Besson in his book, The Story of The Fifth Element is $90 million.
- ^ Both films were shot simultaneously and split into two parts.[20]
- ^ On 5 August 2014, Variety wrote that Lucy had an estimated $100 million pricetag and was a record-setting investment for EuropaCorp,[47] but other sources and even previous articles published by Variety claim the film's budget is $40 million. France's CNC lists the budget as €49.01 million.
References
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (10 April 2017). "283 feature films produced by France in 2016". Cineuropa.
- ^ "'Dunkirk' and 'Valerian' Bring Big Budgets to the Weekend, but Will They Bring Big Box Office?". Box Office Mojo. 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Alexander". American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Ettinger, Zoë (15 June 2020). "20 films no one expected to lose money at the box office". Insider Inc.
- ^ "Box Office History for Asterix Movies". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Silbert, Nathalie (30 June 2010). "Le studio de Luc Besson enregistre ses premières pertes". Les Echos (in French).
- ^ a b Hopewell, John (26 March 2008). "EuropaCorp-BNP ally on 'Revenge'". Variety.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (14 October 2010). "Review: 'Arthur and the War of Two Worlds'". Variety.
- ^ Bardinet, Elodie (27 July 2017). "Quels sont les 10 films français les plus chers de l'histoire ?". Première (in French).
- ^ Edelstein, David (11 May 1997). "Unmitigated Gaul: The Fifth Element and Irma Vep". Slate. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
The Fifth Element, at a reported cost of 90 million (dollars, not francs), is the most expensive French-financed film in history
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (21 October 2011). "Box Office Report: 'Paranormal Activity 3' on Course for Jaw-Dropping $45 Mil to $50 Mil Weekend". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Henni, Jamal (7 April 2016). "Les Visiteurs 3: 25 millions d'euros de budget dont 2 millions pour ses stars". BFM TV (in French).
- ^ Rivera, Damon (26 July 2023). "Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie - Everything You Need To Know". Looper.
- ^ ""Miraculous" a conquis la planète animée". Paris Match (in French). 14 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ "Questions LGBT+ et gros budget : «Miraculous le film», lesbien joué". Libération (in French). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ a b Silbert, Nathalie (6 March 2009). ""Taken", le film du studio de Luc Besson, au top du box-office américain". Les Echos (in French).
- ^ "Liste des 25 films documentaires agréés en 2010". CNC (in French). 16 March 2011. p. 91.
- ^ "Oceans (2010)". The Numbers. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (8 October 2012). "Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Nesselson, Lisa (4 April 2023). "The Three Musketeers - D'Artagnan: Review". Screen International.
Part II, Milady, shot simultaneously, is due out in December
- ^ Franquebalme, Benoît (31 March 2023). "Décors, cascades, blessures… les secrets de tournage des « Trois Mousquetaires », super-héros à la française". Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 1 April 2023.
un budget total de 72 millions d'euros
[a total budget of 72 million euros] - ^ Loayza, Beatrice (28 December 2023). "'The Three Musketeers' and the Joy of Old-School Blockbusters". The New York Times.
The two films in the franchise were completed on a budget of $78 million
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (8 August 2016). "'The Little Prince:' How Director Mark Osborne Gave the Classic a Modern Update". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Hofmann, Katja (27 November 2006). "Scout's report: 3 pix poised for multiplexes". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (18 January 2020). "Tresor Films Plots $72 Million 'Asterix & Obelix: The Silk Road". Variety.
- ^ Sonnet, Nicolas (8 June 2023). "« Astérix et Obélix : L'empire du Milieu » est-il un échec total ? On a fait les comptes". Le Nouvel Obs (in French).
- ^ "Les sorties de la semaine "Jeanne d'Arc" : un message revisité (photos)". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 17 December 1999.
- ^ Norberg, Kathryn (1 February 2000). "Joan on the Screen: Burned Again?". American Historical Association.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (1 July 2005). "55 M€ for Kassovitz and Babylon Babies". Cineuropa.
- ^ James, Alison (15 March 2007). "'Babylon' gets back on track". Variety.
- ^ Secher, Benjamin (28 July 2009). "Vincent Cassel interview for Mesrine". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "A Very Long Engagement - Interview with Audrey Tautou & Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2004)". YouTube. 26 May 2017.
- ^ Thomson, Desson (16 December 2004). "An 'Engagement' With Jeunet". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Amelie film-maker in court battle". BBC News. 12 November 2004.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Les coûts de production des films en 2005". CNC (in French). 1 March 2006. p. 40.
- ^ "Cinéma : «Le Marsupilami» sur la piste des 3 millions de spectateurs". Le Parisien (in French). 16 April 2012.
- ^ "From Paris With Love (2010)". The Numbers. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Films de fiction dont le coût est supérieur à 15 M€". CNC (in French). 16 March 2011. p. 90.
- ^ Meaux Saint Marc, Francoise (12 February 1999). "Asterix Opens In Blaze of Glory". Screen International. p. 43.
- ^ McNary, Dave (9 January 2015). "Box Office: 'Taken 3' Gunning for $37 Million Weekend". Variety.
- ^ Mandelbaum, Jacques (29 January 2002). "'Astérix et Obélix: mission Cléopâtre': la magie gauloise des duos antagonistes" ['Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra mission': the Gallic magic of antagonistic duos]. Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2024. [50 million euros]
- ^ Fritz, Ben (4 October 2012). "'Taken 2' shoots for a repeat of box office magic with Liam Neeson". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Films dont le budget est supérieur à 7 M€". CNC (in French). 1 March 2006. p. 44.
- ^ "Danny the Dog (2005)". The Numbers. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (26 March 2024). "298 feature films produced by France in 2023". Cineuropa.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (18 April 2010). "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec". Variety.
- ^ Foundas, Scott (5 August 2014). "Luc Besson Puts His EuropaCorp to the Test With 'Lucy'". Variety.
- ^ McNary, Dave (25 July 2014). "'Lucy' Beating Up 'Hercules' at Friday Box Office". Variety.
- ^ a b c d "La production cinématographique en 2013". CNC (in French). 28 March 2014. p. 19.
- ^ Hopewell, John; Keslassy, Elsa (13 May 2010). "EuropaCorp sets 'Colombiana'". Variety.
- ^ Belpêche, Stéphanie (23 March 2011). "Annaud au pays de l'"Or noir"". Le Journal du Dimanche (in French).
- ^ "France : "Intouchables", film le plus rentable de l'histoire". Le Point (in French). 17 February 2012.
- ^ Clarence Tsui (7 May 2013). "Cannes: French Co-Production 'Wolf Totem' Casts Chinese Stars in Lead Roles". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Engelen, Aurore (13 January 2010). "Mr. Nobody finally hits screens". Cineuropa.
- ^ "Pathé a-t-il trop misé sur le film de Jamel Debbouze?". BFM TV (in French).
- ^ Kaufman, Amy (15 September 2013). "'Insidious: Chapter 2' is No. 1, as low-budget horror rules again". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Pennington, Adrian (18 November 2013). "'Hugo' Stereographer Talks 'Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet' and Filming in 3D". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Gibson, Megan (15 May 2014). "Grace of Monaco vs. Diana: Which Princess Biopic Is More Disastrous?". Time.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (18 June 2019). "'Toy Story 4' Will Cure Summer Sequelitis With $260M Global Infinity-And-Beyond Bow". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Fuchs, Cynthia (3 October 2002). "Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)". PopMatters.
- ^ Caravani, Marc (6 August 2021). "Aussi fou que cela puisse paraître, Le Pacte des Loups est un film culte aux Etats-Unis" [As crazy as it may seem, Brotherhood of the Wolf is a cult film in the United States]. GQ France (in French).
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (23 September 2005). ""Turn over" for Le Concile de Pierre". Cineuropa.
- ^ Marshall, Lee (17 October 2006). "The Stone Council (Le Concile De Pierre)". Screen International.
- ^ James, Alison (5 November 2003). "Gaumont sees stars". Variety.
- ^ Hohenadel, Kristin (2 July 2006). "Édith Piaf, the Little Sparrow, Takes Flight Again". New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Lermercier, Fabien (9 January 2007). "Dahan's La vie en Rose to open festival". Cineuropa.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (29 August 2003). "Gaumont lines up Reno for big-budget Empire". Screen International.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (23 September 2003). "Reno in the lair of the wolves". Cineuropa.
- ^ "Taken (2008)". The Numbers. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (12 March 2019). "'The Wolf's Call' ('Le Chant du loup'): Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Valentin, Michel (20 February 2019). ""Le Chant du loup» : «J'ai écrit beaucoup de choses sous l'eau"". Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (30 March 2023). "Female-Directed Films Hit Historic 33% Share In France But Women Struggle To Access High Budgets – CNC Study". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ "Les plus gros budgets de films français de 2012". SensCritique (in French). Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ John, Hopewell; Keslassy, Elsa (7 September 2011). "Marion Cotillard to topline 'Rust and Bone'". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Saint-Marc, Françoise Meaux (8 May 2001). "Warner boards most expensive French film of 2001". Screen International.
External links
- List of the most expensive French films