French cinema is a jewel of diversity too often criticized. We have great auteur films, hilarious French comedies and a few lousy French films so as not to take too much of a big head. Obviously, French cinema is known throughout the world and even if it is not exported as much as Hollywood cinema, there are still films that have been successful abroad.
1.Lucy
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Number of entries in the world (outside France): 52.1 million
The story : A young woman becomes a flash drive with unlimited powers.
Why it worked so well: It’s a film by Luc Besson, a French director adored abroad, with Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman. Of course, it works every time.
2. Taken 2
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 47.8 million
The story : Mafiosi try to attack a guy who is much too strong for them.
Why it worked so well: Liam Neeson is super badass, what more could you ask for?
3. The Fifth Element
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 35.7 million
The story : A guy tries to discover the fifth element to make his life a little more fun.
Why it worked so well: A film by Luc Besson (him again) with good old Bruce Willis with hair, a girl who looks much too young and full of colors that are a little kitsch.
4. Untouchables
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 31.9 million
The story : A gentleman in a wheelchair becomes friends with a young man from the city to the point of hiring him and going paragliding.
Why it worked so well: Because it’s funny and touching, Cluzet doesn’t say he’s your son’s godfather and Omar Sy finally has a lead role.
5. Taken
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 31.8 million
The story : Mafiosos try to attack the girl of a guy much too strong for them.
Why it worked so well: Liam Neeson is badass AND WORRIED (and we have too much empathy for him, poor baby).
6. The fabulous destiny of Amélie Poulain
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 23.1 million
The story : A Parisian who lives in a Paris that’s too good to be true spends her days stalking people and manipulating their daily lives.
Why it worked so well: Because Paris is too beauuuu yes yes baguette croissant Café de Flore.
7. The Emperor’s March
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 20 millions
The story : Emperor penguins live their best life in Antarctica.
Why it worked so well: Because everyone cried when the penguin was eaten by the elephant seal, bloody seal.
8. The Pianist
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 17.8 million
The story : A Polish Jewish man narrowly escapes deportation during World War II and tries to survive in the ruined Warsaw ghetto.
Why it worked so well: It is a historical drama and a very beautiful film.
9. The Carrier
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 17.1 million
The story : A man hauls illegal stuff around without asking questions until he finds a girl tied up in his trunk.
Why it worked so well: Because Jason Statham can do anything, even carry cars with his bare hands.
10. Asterix and Obelix versus Caesar
Number of entries in the world (outside France): 15.9 million
The story : The Romans kidnapped Getafix to try to besiege the village of indomitable Gauls, the little mustache and the guy who wears menhirs therefore go to his rescue.
Why it worked so well: No one really knows, yet it’s a very average film.