Two of France's all-time blockbuster hits, "Amelie" and "The Intouchables," are set to make a comeback during the Olympic Games, courtesy of their respective studios, UGC and Gaumont/Studiocanal. With an anticipated influx of three to four million Olympic enthusiasts descending upon Paris during this prestigious event, French studios are strategizing to capitalize on this wave of international visitors, enticing them into the cool, air-conditioned theaters.
This re-release marks a groundbreaking moment in France's film history, as the movies will be subtitled in English for the first time. Among these, "The Intouchables," a 2009 comedy starring Omar Sy as an ingenious caretaker to a quadriplegic aristocrat, will once again hit the big screens by Gaumont and Studiocanal. Sy's stellar performance in this film not only earned him a Cesar Award for Best Actor, making him the first French Black actor to achieve such a feat, but also propelled him to star in the hit Netflix series "Lupin."
Directed by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, "The Intouchables" has secured its place as France's second-highest-grossing local film, with a worldwide revenue of $426 million and over $10 million in the United States, where it was released by The Weinstein Company. Now, with the Olympics as a backdrop, this heartwarming comedy is poised to captivate audiences once again.
Although Gaumont initially spearheaded the film's distribution in France, the movie's rights remained steadfastly in the hands of Quad Films, which in 2018 sold its vast library to Studiocanal. Now, Studiocanal and Gaumont are set to reunite this summer, bringing the film back to life on nearly 300 screens across the Parisian landscape.
Meanwhile, "Amelie," a cult classic directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, will grace a comparable number of screens under the UGC banner on July 24. The decision to release it then aims to capitalize on the influx of American and Asian visitors. This romantic comedy, starring Audrey Tautou as a whimsical young waitress determined to spread happiness, has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, grossing over $33 million in the U.S. and a staggering $173.9 million globally.
As the Olympics kick off on July 26, the city of Paris will come alive with outdoor ceremonies and competitions, showcasing iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace, and Place de la Concorde. UGC, a proud owner of one of Paris's largest cinema circuits, anticipates a ripple effect from the Games, as several of its theaters are nestled within Olympic venues. However, they've chosen to remain open, undeterred. "We've learned our lesson from the pandemic. Shutting down and reopening a theater is a logistical nightmare we won't risk again," said a UGC insider. Despite this resilience, UGC did have to close its celebrated UGC Normandie cinema on the Champs-Élysées due to soaring rents and a dip in ticket sales.
