LOL all the way to the bank

26/02/2009

Lisa Azuelos’ generational comedy LOL [+see also:
trailer
interview: Christa Théret
film profile] is currently enjoying surprise success in French theatres. The film – which attracted 675,000 viewers in its third week on 506 screens – has garnered a total of 2.22m admissions so far (€13.2m in box office takings).

Launched on February 4 by Pathé Distribution on 430 screens, the film – starring Sophie Marceau and young actress Christa Theret (who won acclaim in Just About Love? [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) – hasn’t left the top two spots at the box office since its release.

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Produced by Pathé for €9.59m – including co-production backing from TF1 Films Production (€2.3m) and M6 Films (€1.3m) – LOL confirms the director’s sharp sense of audience. Azuelos – who wrote the film – also enjoyed success with her previous feature Comme t'y es belle! (1 million admissions in 2006).

LOL has been sold by Pathé for Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK, Belgium, the Baltic countries, Greece, Switzerland, Russia, Israel and Brazil.

Another French box office sensation, Danièle Thompson, is living up to her reputation by claiming top position in the latest weekly rankings with 763,000 admissions for Change of Plans [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which was launched last week by StudioCanal on 523 screens.

The third domestic title making a splash is Patrick Alessandrin’s District 13: Ultimatum [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which drew 537,000 fans in its first week (EuropaCorp Distribution on 410 screens).

Basking in the surprise triumph of LOL, Pathé Distribution is also surfing on the phenomenal success of UK director Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danny Boyle
film profile]. After a 4% rise in audience figures in its fifth week, the multiple Oscar-winning film attracted 30% more viewers in its sixth week, reaching a total of 1.16m admissions. The film’s print-run continues to increase (from 126 upon release to a current 215).