French box office: Dog 51 as pack leader

Cédric Jimenez’s thriller assumes its status, without madness, but well above the fray.

In a market that is still mixed, Dog 51 took the lead at the French box office this week.

The science fiction thriller by Cédric Jimenez attracts more than 425,000 spectators in 626 theaters, an average of 514 admissions per print. Enough to dethrone One battle after anotherleader for three weeks, without creating a huge buzz.

That said, Dog 51 starts a little better than North Bac (327,000 entries in 2021, then subject to the health pass), and not far from November (459,000 curious people in 2022). Jimenez’s two previous films had finished around 2.2 million admissions, a horizon that Dog 51 can reach, if attendance is maintained during school holidays.

Paul Thomas Anderson therefore lost his throne in France. But One battle after another remains in second place, thanks to a massive fleet of 1,017 screens, which allow it to accumulate 200,000 additional tickets (down slightly by -22%). The war film is now approaching 1.2 million admissions in France.

In third position, the French comedy of the moment pulls the chestnuts out of the fire. Didier Bourdon continues to prove his great capacity for attraction with It was better tomorrowwhich recorded 190,000 more spectators (-24%) for a total close to 420,000 in 620 theaters after two weeks.

Lower, Tron: Ares (Disney) is hardly more effective here than in the USA. The very big budget blockbuster continues its laborious trajectory: around 140,000 additional admissions (-42%) for a total which is timidly approaching the mark of 340,000 tickets sold, on 512 screens after two weeks.

We will note in this top 10 of the French box office the arrival of Kev Adams and Arnaud Desplechin. Parody comedy, D-Day managed to pass the milestone of 130,000 entries on 450 copies. A decent launch without enthusiasm. Two Pianosthe French filmmaker’s latest opus, attracts some 93,000 fans on 254 screens. This is about as much as Siblingwhich brought together Marion Cotillard and Melvil Poupaud in 2022. In the same waters, the horrific sequel Black Phone 2 also attracted 93,000 spectators.