After an alarming report quoting Universal Pictures International France boss Xavier Albert saying that the studio is “officially stopping” to handle local movies, a source close to the studio told Variety that Universal will in fact continue releasing French-language movies but will be more cautious and selective going forward.
Albert was not available to comment directly but the source said he had been misquoted in the French article.
The studio’s French-language output has over the years been mostly limited to high-concept, broad comedies and movies aimed at large audiences or families which now tend to be better suited for streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video.
The 2024 French box office showed that local films are still performing well, nabbing a 44% market share (outperforming American movies), it also reflected that tastes have evolved and contemporary audiences have an appetite for different kinds of films, such as “The Count of Monte Cristo,” a three-hour epic adventure film adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ classic, and crime romance “Beating Hearts.” Comedies can still fared well. The chart was indeed topped by “A Little Something Extra” (“Un p’tit truc en plus”), a heartwarming French comedy helmed by and starring comedian Artus alongside a cast of non-professional actors with disabilities.
Universal Pictures International France has been releasing local films since 2008 and had several hits under its belt, notably “Babysitting,” Philippe Lacheau’s comedy franchise, and “Heartbreaker,” the romantic comedy starring Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.
Universal Pictures International France is rolling off a string of underwhelming local releases, including “Faster,” a formula one film directed by Morgan S. Dalibert with Alban Lenoir; and Vladimir Rodionov’s “Anges & Ci,” a comedy-fantasy starring Elodie Fontan. Both garnered under 200,000 admissions in theaters.
Upcoming releases include Amin Harfouch’s comedy “Comme des riches” starring Philippe Katerine and Brahim Bouhlel which will come out on July 23; and Jan Kounen’s “The Incredible Shrinking Man” starring Jean Dujardin, the Oscar-winning actor of “The Artist, on Oct. 28.
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