Credits: Fernando Losada Rodríguez / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0.
July and August see the return of certain popular films to theaters, drawing tourists on the sidelines of the Olympics. UGC and Gaumont are betting on Amélie and The Intouchables, starring Omar Sy, to fill movie theaters. These two French films, which were hugely successful in France and internationally, are returning with English-subtitled versions.
Amélie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet in 2001, is being re-released on July 24, two days before the start of the Paris Olympic Games. UGC, its distributor, sees this period as an opportunity to re-screen this iconic film of French culture. For its part, Gaumont is offering The Intouchables, directed in 2011 by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, starting July 31.
Marc-Olivier Sebbag, general delegate of the French National Federation of Cinemas, notes that summer is an ideal time for re-releases, allowing films better exposure. UGC is planning 300 prints for Amélie, accompanied by an updated trailer. Gaumont, for its part, is booking The Intouchables in 200 theaters, hoping to extend its run throughout the summer.
In addition to these French hits, The Adventures of Paddington are also returning to theaters this summer, with the first two installments being re-released ahead of the third film in 2025. Distributors Le Pacte and ARP are also re-releasing Sean Baker’s films ahead of his 2024 Palme d’Or winner, Anora.
This strategy aims to offer a cultural alternative to the many tourists, without fearing direct competition from sporting events. Movie lovers will thus be able to (re)discover these cult films.