U.S. drives French exports

PARIS -- Jaume Collet-Serra's "Unknown" shown the most effective French film export a year ago -- no less than judged by theatrical gross -- since the U.S. once more drove Gallic B.O. takings outdoors France this season. Moving off a $63.6 000 0000 U.S. trawl -- a sign, like 2008's "Taken," of "Unknown" star Liam Neeson's Stateside cachet -- the Studiocanal co-produced identity thriller made a complete 77.9 million ($99.7 million) off 29 areas, according to stats introduced Thursday by French export org Unifrance. "The Three Musketeers" ranked No. 2 in worldwide B.O. earnings with $74.millions of, EuropaCorp's Zoe Saldana actioner "Colombiana" third ($68.7 million) and Pathe's "Nothing to Declare" ($19 million) fourth. The U.S. taken care of in many for 36% of French B.O. overseas. Total worldwide B.O. for French movies powered up this season by 19% to $518 million, on 2009 ($448 million) and 2010 ($433 million), however, many way missing 2008's $540 million, a best-ever result since Unifrance began tallying results in 1990. While using La Petite Reine-produced "The Artist," SBS's "Carnage" and Gaumont's "Intouchables," now catching fire in foreign locations, and showing there is a crowd beyond France for a number of films from accessible arthouse to edgy auteur mainstream to crowd-pleasing dramedy, France's film industry can claim having a couple of confidence it's riding the current recession virtually. 2011 stats have to be qualified, however. As Unifrance report itself highlights, worldwide B.O. on French-language photos walked 28.5% this season. France's finest two earners were minority co-productions. Theatrical is really a factor, sales agents' earnings another. According to French CNC film agency stats launched lately, Gallic sales agents' revenues on French film exports rose a muscular 26.1% this season to $225.2 million. But 2011 revenue figures won't maintain for a number of several days. Once the U.S. was the finest single industry for French photos a year ago, in addition, it absolutely was the most costly in prints and advertising needed to produce a French film wide there. EuropaCorp paid out $30.7 million a year ago for U.S. P&A on "Colombiana," it recognized within the latest financial report. No surprise many French sales reps want to extract in the relaxation around the world before addressing problematic distribution inside the U.S. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com