International correspondent
Don't make eye contact
French studio Pathé saw its marketing and programming strategy pay off with “The Count of Monte Cristo,” an epic adventure film based on the Alexandre Dumas classic, which took gold at the box office in France during a competitive summer dominated by the Olympic Games.
Under the direction of Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière ("The Three Musketeers"), the sweeping three-hour film has become a genuine French box office hit, having sold more than 8 million tickets locally (as of Sept. 9) and grossed more than $75 million internationally, with most major markets yet to open. This includes the U.S., where Samuel Goldwyn Films will release "The Count of Monte Cristo" on Jan. 25 and is aiming for an awards-season positioning.
The film, produced by Dimitri Rassam's Chapter 2 on a budget of €43 million, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was unanimously praised. Peter Debruge of Variety called the film a "genuine triumph" and "a stunning, emotionally satisfying adventure story."
