#1 of 2,657 Highest-grossing French-language movie ever
2012 · Drama, Comedy
$426.6M worldwide
$10.2M US & Canada · 2% $416.4M elsewhere · 98%
French box office
French Box Office: Highest-Grossing French Movies of All Time & 2026 So Far
The Intouchables (2012) is the highest-grossing French-language movie in our database, with $426.6M worldwide, ahead of Welcome to the Sticks (2008) ($245.1M) and Amélie (2001) ($175.2M). 2,657 French-language films report a worldwide gross, $9.7B in all, 9% of it from the US & Canada. 5 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. In 2026 so far, A Private Life (2026) leads with $10.4M; 8 releases took $27.9M, down 76% on the same days of 2025 ($114.9M).
- French films with a gross
- 2,657
- combined worldwide, all time
- $9.7B
- from 2026 releases so far
- $27.9M
- vs the same days of 2025
- −76%
#1 of 2,657 All-time records
What Are the 10 Highest-Grossing French Movies Ever?
The Intouchables (2012) leads with $426.6M, $181.4M ahead of Welcome to the Sticks (2008). The top 10 took $1.5B together, 16% of what all 2,657 films earned. 2 of them came out in 2016 or later.
- 1 May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $416.4M Worldwide: $426.6M
- 2
Jan 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $245.1M - 3
Nov 2, 2001 US and Canada: $33.7M Rest of the world: $141.5M Worldwide: $175.2M - 4
Jan 30, 2002 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: $128M Worldwide: $131.1M - 5
Jan 6, 2012 US and Canada: $53.3M Rest of the world: $48.5M Worldwide: $101.8M - 6
Dec 20, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $93.8M - 7
Jan 14, 2005 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: $84.8M Worldwide: $88.4M - 8
Jun 8, 2007 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $77.2M Worldwide: $87.5M - 9
Dec 20, 2024 US and Canada: $529.8K Rest of the world: $85.4M Worldwide: $85.9M - 10
Apr 18, 2024 US and Canada: $28.9K Rest of the world: $84.4M Worldwide: $84.4M
2026 so far
What Are the Biggest French Hits of 2026 So Far?
A Private Life (2026) leads with $10.4M, 37% of the total. The top 5 together took $25.5M, 91% of what all 8 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
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Number 1 -
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
By release month
Which Month of 2026 Was Best for French Movies?
January releases took the most, $11.7M from 2 films, led by A Private Life (2026). February was the quietest month ($1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan A Private Life (2026) $11.7M A Private Life (2026)
- February Feb The Orphans (2026) $1M The Orphans (2026)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr The Stranger (2026) $8.9M The Stranger (2026)
- May May Two Pianos (2026) $1.6M Two Pianos (2026)
- June Jun The Little Sister (2026) $4.7M The Little Sister (2026)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – so far No reported grosses
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing French Movies?
2012 releases earned the most: $937.3M from 86 films, led by The Intouchables (2012). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 86 films | 86 | $937.3M | The Intouchables (2012) $426.6M |
| 2010 81 films | 81 | $589.4M | Nothing to Declare (2010) $93.8M |
| 2008 92 films | 92 | $586M | Welcome to the Sticks (2008) $245.1M |
| 2018 140 films | 140 | $573.5M | Family Is Family (2018) $50M |
| 2007 88 films | 88 | $439.2M | La Vie en Rose (2007) $87.5M |
| 2024 114 films | 114 | $432.5M | The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024) $85.9M |
| 2009 77 films | 77 | $422.6M | Little Nicholas (2009) $62.8M |
| 2016 116 films | 116 | $406.2M | Two Is a Family (2016) $49.6M |
| 2014 101 films | 101 | $390.6M | Superchondriac (2014) $53.4M |
| 2004 63 films | 63 | $379.9M | A Very Long Engagement (2004) $69.4M |
By genre
Which French Genres Earned the Most?
Comedy took $5.9B across 1,058 films, 61% of the total, ahead of Drama ($4.9B) and Romance ($1.8B). A film counts once for each of its genres.
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Comedy $5.9B1,058 films · #1 The Intouchables (2012) -
Drama $4.9B1,631 films · #1 The Intouchables (2012) -
Romance $1.8B417 films · #1 Welcome to the Sticks (2008) -
Adventure $1B137 films · #1 Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) -
Thriller $984.6M287 films · #1 The Devil Inside (2012) -
Crime $941.1M197 films · #1 Taxi 2 (2000) -
Action $846.4M105 films · #1 The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024) -
Family $825.7M113 films · #1 Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) -
History $517.5M132 films · #1 The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024) -
Mystery $513.1M119 films · #1 A Very Long Engagement (2004)
Archive
French Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1931 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2012 leads with $937.3M, led by The Intouchables (2012).
2020s 7 years · $1.5B
2010s 10 years · $4.4B
- 2019 $333.6M #1 Sink or Swim (2019)
- 2018 $573.5M #1 Family Is Family (2018)
- 2017 $279.5M #1 Alibi.com (2017)
- 2016 $406.2M #1 Two Is a Family (2016)
- 2015 $237.2M #1 Serial Teachers 2 (2015)
- 2014 $390.6M #1 Superchondriac (2014)
- 2013 $339.5M #1 Serial Teachers (2013)
- 2012 $937.3M #1 The Intouchables (2012)
- 2011 $318.5M #1 Of Gods and Men (2011)
- 2010 $589.4M #1 Nothing to Declare (2010)
2000s 10 years · $3.5B
- 2009 $422.6M #1 Little Nicholas (2009)
- 2008 $586M #1 Welcome to the Sticks (2008)
- 2007 $439.2M #1 La Vie en Rose (2007)
- 2006 $292.3M #1 French Fried Vacations 3: Friends Forever (2006)
- 2005 $271.9M #1 The Chorus (2005)
- 2004 $379.9M #1 A Very Long Engagement (2004)
- 2003 $338.9M #1 Taxi 3 (2003)
- 2002 $334.8M #1 Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002)
- 2001 $358.1M #1 Amélie (2001)
- 2000 $102.4M #1 Taxi 2 (2000)
1990s 10 years · $113.6M
- 1999 $10.5M #1 Elvis Gratton 2: Miracle à Memphis (1999)
- 1998 $28M #1 The Big Hit (1998)
- 1997 $1.1M #1 Artemisia (1997)
- 1996 $20.5M #1 The Eighth Day (1996)
- 1995 $5.6M #1 The City of Lost Children (1995)
- 1994 $8M #1 Three Colors: Red (1994)
- 1993 $3.3M #1 Three Colors: Blue (1993)
- 1992 $11.7M #1 Indochine (1992)
- 1991 $11.1M #1 La Femme Nikita (1991)
- 1990 $13.7M #1 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
1980s 10 years · $128M
- 1989 $17M #1 Family Business (1989)
- 1988 $18.1M #1 Dead Ringers (1988)
- 1987 $7.3M #1 Maurice (1987)
- 1986 $31.6M #1 Disorder (1986)
- 1985 $11.8M #1 Brazil (1985)
- 1984 $2.8M #1 A Sunday in the Country (1984)
- 1983 $13.6M #1 Without a Trace (1983)
- 1982 $11.5M #1 The Beast Within (1982)
- 1981 $6.5M #1 The Boy Soldier (1981)
- 1980 $7.8M #1 La Cage aux Folles II (1980)
1970s 10 years · $40.3M
- 1979 $20.4M #1 La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- 1978 $26.4K #1 The Song of Roland (1978)
- 1977 $7.3M #1 Animal (1977)
- 1976 $271.7K #1 Mr. Klein (1976)
- 1975 $11.3M #1 The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975)
- 1974 $79K #1 Parade (1974)
- 1973 $50.6K #1 The Mother and the Whore (1973)
- 1972 $170K #1 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
- 1971 $113.3K #1 Four Nights of a Dreamer (1971)
- 1970 $641.3K #1 Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
1960s 10 years · $17.5M
- 1969 $1.3M #1 Army of Shadows (1969)
- 1968 $47.8K #1 The Bride Wore Black (1968)
- 1967 $4.8M #1 Belle de Jour (1967)
- 1966 $564.1K #1 Masculine Feminine (1966)
- 1965 $269K #1 Pierrot le Fou (1965)
- 1964 $204.7K #1 The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
- 1963 $1.4M #1 Contempt (1963)
- 1962 $648K #1 Jules and Jim (1962)
- 1961 $6.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $1.3M #1 Breathless (1960)
1950s 9 years · $2.2M
- 1959 $471.7K #1 The 400 Blows (1959)
- 1958 $431.8K #1 Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
- 1957 $15.1K #1 He Who Must Die (1957)
- 1956 $71.1K #1 The Red Balloon (1956)
- 1955 $550.7K #1 Rififi (1955)
- 1954 $2.6K #1 Sabrina (1954)
- 1953 $567.6K #1 Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953)
- 1952 $52.6K #1 Forbidden Games (1952)
- 1951 $57.8K #1 Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
1940s 6 years · $456.7K
Other languages
Compare French With Another Language
French has 2,657 films with a gross and $9.7B in all; each of these 16 languages has the same all-time and yearly charts to compare with.
English 
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Chinese 
Hindi 
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Italian 
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Portuguese 
Turkish 
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Arabic FAQ
French Box Office: Questions & Answers
The French charts in short: the all-time #1, 2026's leader, the billion-dollar hits and the biggest year, answered from the same 2,657 films as the charts.
What is the highest-grossing French-language movie of all time?
The Intouchables (2012) leads with $426.6M worldwide, $10.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Welcome to the Sticks (2008) ($245.1M) and Amélie (2001) ($175.2M).
All-time chart What is the highest-grossing French-language movie of 2026 so far?
A Private Life (2026) leads 2026 with $10.4M worldwide, 37% of the $27.9M that its 8 releases report. Films of this year are still earning, so the order can change.
2026 chart How much have French-language movies earned at the box office?
2,657 French-language films report a worldwide gross, $9.7B in all, or $3.7M per film on average. $833M (9%) came from the US & Canada.
How many French-language movies have made $1 billion?
None. 5 films crossed $100 million, led by The Intouchables (2012) with $426.6M.
Which year was the biggest for French-language movies?
2012 releases earned the most: $937.3M from 86 films, led by The Intouchables (2012).
2012 chart How are French box office numbers counted?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.