List of most expensive French films

This is a non-definitive list of the most expensive French films, with budgets given in Euros, Francs, and US dollars. Only films with budgets exceeding US$20 million are listed here.

List

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Most expensive French films
Title Primary language(s) Year Production costs (est.) Ref(s)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets English 2017 $209 million (€197 million) [1][2]
Alexander[A] English 2004 $155 million [3][4]
Asterix at the Olympic Games French 2008 $113.5 million [5]
Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard English 2009 $96 million (€63 million) [6][7]
Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds English 2010 $91 million (€68.83 million) [8][9]
The Fifth Element English 1997 $90 million[a] [10]
The Three Musketeers[A] English 2011 $90 million (€58 million) [11][12]
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie French 2023 $86 million (€80 million) [13][14][15]
Arthur and the Minimoys English 2006 $84.6 million (€63 million) [16][7]
De Gaulle French 2025 $84.5 million (€75.5 million) [17][18][19]
Oceans French 2009 $80 million (€57.1 million) [20][21]
Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia French 2012 $78 million [22]
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan
The Three Musketeers: Milady[b]
French 2023 $78 million (€72 million) [24][25]
The Little Prince English 2015 $77.5 million [26]
Hannibal Rising[A] English 2007 $75 million [27]
Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom French 2023 $72.4 million (€65 million) [28][29]
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc English 1999 $60 million (FRF390 million) [30][31]
Babylon A.D. French 2008 $60 million (€55 million) [32][33]
Mesrine French 2008 $60 million [34]
A Very Long Engagement French 2004 $58 million (€45 million) [35][36][37]
Two Brothers French 2004 €57.8 million [38]
Sur la piste du Marsupilami French 2012 $50 million (€40 million) [39]
From Paris with Love English 2010 $52 million (€29.1 million) [40][41]
Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar French 1999 $48.5 million (FRF275 million) [42]
Taken 3 English 2015 $48 million [43]
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra French 2002 $47 million (€50 million) [44]
Taken 2 English 2012 $45 million [45]
Unleashed English 2005 $43 million (€25.6 million) [46][47]
The Count of Monte Cristo French 2024 €42.9 million [17]
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec French 2010 $40.8 million (€30 million) [48]
Lucy English 2014 $40–100 million[c] (€49.01 million) [50][51]
Colombiana English 2011 $40 million (€32.1 million) [52][12]
Black Gold English 2011 €38.5–40 million [53][54]
Wolf Totem[A] Mandarin, Mongolian 2015 $38 million [55]
The Sisters Brothers English 2018 $38 million (€34.9 million) [56][57]
Blueberry English 2004 €34.5 million [38]
Beauty and the Beast French 2014 €34.05 million [51]
Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion French 2018 €33.7 million [57]
Mr. Nobody[A] English 2009 €33 million [58]
Animal Kingdom: Let's Go Ape French 2015 €32 million [59]
Supercondriaque French 2014 €31.68 million [51]
The Ghost Writer English 2010 €30.8 million [41]
His Majesty Minor French 2007 €30.4 million [12]
The Family English 2013 $30 million (€28.37 million) [60][51]
The Young and Prodigious T. S. Spivet English 2013 $30 million (€26.8 million) [61][12]
Grace of Monaco English 2014 $30 million (€25.2 million) [62][12]
Anna English 2019 $30 million [63]
Seasons French 2016 €29.8 million [12]
Brotherhood of the Wolf French 2001 $29 million (FRF200 million) [64][65]
The Stone Council French 2008 $28 million (€20 million) [66][67]
Monsieur Aznavour French 2024 $28 million (€26 million) [68]
Paris 36 French 2008 €28 million [12]
Empire of the Wolves French 2004 $27 million (€24.2 million) [69][38]
The Man with the Iron Heart French 2017 €27.8 million [12]
Bandidas English, Spanish 2006 €27.7 million [12]
A Perfect Plan French 2012 €26.3 million [12]
Les Dalton French 2004 €26.1 million [46]
A Monster in Paris French 2011 €28.2 million [12]
Ruby & Quentin French 2003 €26.7 million [38]
Lucky Luke French 2009 €26.2 million [41]
Camping 2 French 2010 €25.7 million [41]
The Visitors: Bastille Day French 2016 €24.75 million [41]
Emilia Pérez Spanish 2024 €25 million [70]
Micmacs French 2009 €23.8 million [41]
Bon Voyage French 2003 €24.1 million [38]
Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse French 2004 €23.8 million [38]
San-Antonio [fr] French 2004 €23.4 million [38]
Immortal English 2004 €22.5 million [38]
Double Zéro [fr] French 2004 €21.5 million [38]
Iznogoud [fr] French 2005 €21.4 million [46]
Little Nicholas French 2009 €21.4 million [41]
Man to Man English 2005 €21.2 million [46]
La Vie en Rose French 2007 $25 million (€20.7 million) [71][72]
Cinéman [fr] French 2009 €20.6 million [41]
The Crimson Rivers French 2000 $25 million (€14.4 million) [73][74]
Taken English 2008 $25 million (€19.4 million) [16][75]
Benedetta French 2021 $24 million (€19.8 million) [57]
The Wolf's Call French 2019 $23 million (€20 million) [76][77]
Jeanne du Barry French 2023 $22.4 million [78]
Rust and Bone French 2012 $22 million (€15 million) [79][80]
Le Boulet French 2002 $21.4 million (Ffr158 million) [81]

See also

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Notes

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  • A French co-production.
  1. ^ Conflicting sources stated the film's budget to be various figures between $50 million and $100 million. The most frequently cited figure and also the figure cited by Luc Besson in his book, The Story of The Fifth Element is $90 million.
  2. ^ Both films were shot simultaneously and split into two parts.[23]
  3. ^ On 5 August 2014, Variety wrote that Lucy had an estimated $100 million pricetag and was a record-setting investment for EuropaCorp,[49] but other sources and even previous articles published by Variety claim the film's budget is $40 million. France's CNC lists the budget as €49.01 million.

References

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  32. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (1 July 2005). "55 M€ for Kassovitz and Babylon Babies". Cineuropa.
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