Gilles Lellouche-directed comedy Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain) has become Studiocanal’s biggest theatrical performer in France, drawing a mighty 4.1M admissions (good for more than $32M). The Vivendi-owned company’s previous box office record was held by Eric Lartigau’s 2006 rom-com I Do.
Mathieu Amalric, Guillaume Canet, Benoit Poelvoorde, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Virginie Efira and Leila Bekhti star in the uplifting comedy about a group of disenchanted men who find fresh self-esteem in a synchronized swimming team. Producers are Tresor Films and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions.
It has been plain-sailing in France for the star-studded comedy since it launched at Cannes. The film sold 250,000 tickets on opening day in late October and 1.5M in its first week. Six weeks in, the film is still screening in 500 theaters. This is a positive story for France’s film biz at a time when the theatrical sector is under some pressure from the growing power of streamers. For now, the country remains the EU’s number one cinema-going nation by attendance.
Well-sold internationally, Sink Or Swim is also attracting remake interest, I hear. Studiocanal handles sales and remake rights. Interest isn’t surprising given the current boom in remakes for local language box office hits. The subject matter has also been fertile ground in Europe of late: UK comedy Swimming With Men, exploring very similar terrain, was also released this year.
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