2023 was a crucial year for cinemas around the world and the French box office was no exception. Last year, when the health restrictions linked to the pandemic were finally disappearing, the public did not rush into the theaters, so that many birds of ill omen readily shouted at the end of the big screen. But everything changed last summer with the immense worldwide success of the films barbie And Oppenheimer whose scores have brought smiles back to ticket clerks as well as professionals who want to continue to believe that the cinema experience is irreplaceable.
However, neither of the two films mentioned above occupies first place among the films which were the most successful at the French box office in 2023. Indeed, according to the figures published by Critical sense, Christopher Nolan’s The Atomic Bomb is in fourth place with 4,445,384 admissions, while Greta Gerwig’s Pink Tidal Wave is in second place with 5,846,718 admissions. Between them is Asterix & Obelix – The Middle Kingdomwhich managed to attract 4,598,637 despite very bad press.
A surprising ranking
Behind, we find Alibi.com 2a local comedy by Philippe Lacheau which still garnered 4,277,971 admissions.
Afterwards it’s the tumble with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (3,436,676 entries), The three Musketeers by Martin Bourboulon (3,337,286 entries), the latest from Pixar studios Elementary (3,189,684 entries), followed by Indiana Jones and the Clock of Destiny (2,940,904 entries) and finally Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2,617,032 entries). But then, which film is in first place in the ranking?
Well imagine that it is about Super Mario Bros. ! Released at the beginning of April, the animated feature film by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic really won the day with the French public since the little mustachioed plumber attracted less than 7,359,264 spectators, therefore very far ahead of its competitors. One thing is certain, cinema has not said its last word!