Current Status of French Film Distribution Abroad

In 2023, the international sales of French films signaled a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while also indicating a restructuring of global market dynamics. According to the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), revenue from international sales of French films in 2023 reached €127.1 million, a 6% increase compared to 2022. Of this total, 77.4% came from films produced within the last three years, while 22.6% was generated from catalog (older) titles. A notable trend was the concentration of sales on a few specific films, along with a broader polarization in performance. Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia—previously less prominent regions for French cinema—emerged as growing markets.

In terms of regional breakdown, Western Europe generated the highest revenue from French films in 2023, accounting for 47.7% of total exports. This was followed by Central and Eastern Europe, which overtook North America to rank second. Asia accounted for 8.7%, a 0.6 percentage point increase year-over-year. In terms of genres, fiction films represented 93.6% of all titles sold. However, animation, while accounting for only 2.5% of the total number of films sold, contributed 5.8% of total revenue—highlighting its higher value per title.

 Anatomy of a Fall (2023 Cannes Palme d’Or winner, directed by Justine Triet, distributed by Studio DHL)

[Overview of French Film Exports]

Note: The figures below refer to revenue from films sold in 2023, although most of the deals were completed between 2021 and early 2023.

1) Export Trends

French films earned €127.1 million in international sales in 2023 (approx. ₩190.6 billion), up from €119.8 million in 2022—a 6% increase. Compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (€116.4 million), this marks a 9.2% rise. However, it is still 17.9% lower than the 10-year average of €154.8 million (2014–2023). That said, the average is skewed downward due to Europacorp not disclosing revenue data since 2022. If EuropaCorp is excluded, the adjusted 10-year average is €114 million—making the 2023 figure 11.6% higher than that.

Smaller sales companies particularly stood out for their growth in 2023. Among the 26 international sales companies that accounted for 91% of all exports, only 6 out of 15 companies with 2022 revenue exceeding €1 million saw increases, while 8 out of 11 companies with revenue under €1 million in 2022 reported growth, highlighting the momentum among smaller players in the market.

2) Box Office Performance

In 2023, the overseas box office performance of French films showed remarkable growth, with 42.7 million admissions (up 36.2% year-on-year) and €271.4 million in box office revenue (up 34.5%), outpacing global trends. According to the European Audiovisual Observatory, the global box office reached $33.9 billion (€31.4 billion), a 30.9% increase, while global admissions rose by 22% from 4.3 billion to 5.2 billion. These figures underscore the strong international appeal of French cinema, which outperformed the overall market.

Over 1,200 French films were screened abroad in 2023, including more than 280 new releases, and seven titles surpassed 1 million admissions, matching both 2022 and the pre-pandemic average of 2018–2019.

3) OTT Platforms & Polarization of Sales

During the pandemic, subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms became a key channel for the international distribution of French films. As of July 2023, French films ranked fourth globally—after the U.S., India, and the U.K.—in terms of availability on international OTT platforms (outside their domestic market).

However, according to CNC, the rise of OTT has exacerbated polarization in film sales. In the past, virtually all titles could be sold abroad. Now, sales are increasingly concentrated on films featuring well-known directors or actors, with blockbuster potential or genre appeal. Conversely, some titles find no buyers at all.

Sales companies reported a sharp drop in pre-sales in 2023. While selection in major competitions (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Sundance) still helps arthouse titles, side-bar selections alone are no longer enough. Since the pandemic, foreign buyers have become more cautious, favoring remake rights and catalog titles, especially in Latin America, Asia, and countries more familiar with French cinema such as Italy and Spain.

4) Share of Recent Titles

In 2023, films produced within the past three years (since January 2020) generated €98.3 million in overseas revenue, accounting for 77.4% of total exports. This represents a 9.3% increase compared to €90 million in 2022, but it remains 23.4% lower than the pre-pandemic three-year average of €128.5 million. Revenue from catalog titles amounted to €28.8 million (22.6%), reflecting a 3.6% decline from 2022 and a 22.6% drop compared to the pre-COVID three-year average (€37.2 million).

However, interviews with sales companies indicate a growing interest from international buyers in catalog titles. This trend is particularly driven by rising demand for adaptation and remake rights. The restoration of French heritage films (films de patrimoine) also appears to be contributing to renewed attention toward older works.

The ratio of recent to catalog title sales varies by region. In North America, interest in catalog titles is especially strong—37.9% of total export revenue from the region in 2023 came from older films. This trend was even more pronounced between 2019 and 2021, when catalog titles accounted for over half of all exports to North America, largely due to the extended closure of cinemas and the resulting shift in market focus to SVOD platforms.

Asia also shows a higher-than-average share of export revenue from catalog titles. In 2023, 25.5% of French film export revenue in Asia came from older films, a trend mainly influenced by the Chinese market. While China resumed importing foreign films in 2023, there has been a stronger tendency to prioritize the screening of domestically produced titles over recent foreign releases.

5) Genre Breakdown

In 2023, feature films accounted for 93.4% of France’s total overseas sales revenue and 93.6% of all exported film titles.

Among the sub-genres of feature films, comedy performed particularly well, and action films also ranked among the top-selling categories. Although the animation market remains relatively limited, the genre commands high sales prices. In fact, French animated films attracted over 10 million international cinema-goers in 2023, representing nearly one-third of the total overseas audience. Films selected by major international festivals generally stand out as the most successful exports.

<Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (Astérix et Obélix : l’Empire du milieu), courtesy of StudioDHL>

[Distribution of French Films by Region]

In terms of overseas revenue, Western Europe led in 2023 with €60.6 million (47%). Central and Eastern Europe followed with €21.9 million (17%), overtaking North America for the first time due to the expansion of the Russian market. North America dropped to third place with €13.9 million (11%), marking a 44% decline. Asia recorded €11.1 million (9%), showing slight growth thanks to China reopening its market and emerging Southeast Asian demand. Other categories, including OTT and in-flight rights, brought in €8 million (6%).

By country, Germany ranked first with €19.1 million, followed by the U.S. and Canada with €12.1 million, and Italy with €7.9 million. In Asia, Japan was the only country to make the top 15, generating €3.9 million (3%).

For the full report <KOFIC Correspondent Report 2024 Vol.61: Overseas Distribution of French Films>, please visit The Korean Film Council’s Policy Research board.

Yoon Young Won, KOFIC Correspondent in France

KOFIC Report Original Link

https://www.kofic.kr/kofic/business/rsch/findPolicyDetail.do?policyNo=7446