Asterix and Obelix The Middle Kingdom: His failure in France was predictable, but…

news culture Asterix and Obelix The Middle Kingdom: His failure in France was predictable, but…

A decisive knockout

Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom is the fifth live-action adaptation of the famous Franco-Belgian comic strip. The film, directed by and with Guillaume Canet, suffers primarily from comparisons with the cult film “Mission Cléopâtre” by Alain Chabat which, with 14.56 million admissions, remains the 11th biggest hit of all time on French territory. This 2023 version of the adventures of Our Ancestors, the Gauls features an original scenario, a five-star cast, top-notch sets/costumes, and that’s all.

Guillaume Canet’s latest production was not well received by the critics, who mainly criticized the tone and the awkward humor. On Allociné, L’empire du milieu has a score of 2.4/5, which speaks for itself, and viewers reinforce the point with a score of 1.8/5. At RottenTomatoes, the same audience judges the film harshly, as evidenced by the 39% who leave little room for doubt. Finally, film lovers tune their violins with their peers around the world from the Letterboxd website. Asterix & Obélix: The Middle Kingdom has to be satisfied with an eloquent 1.9/5 in its international title.

A commercial disappointment

For Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, all lights were green. In the first week of its release, the film, starring Guillaume Lellouche, gathered no less than 1.883 million viewers in dark rooms (including previews organized throughout France). unfortunately, The feature film produced by Pathé falls below the million mark in the third week and below the hundred thousand mark in the sixth week. Still showing in early May, but in very few theaters, the Asian epic Asterix drew fewer than 500 viewers in its thirteenth week.

Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom was hoping to break the 6 million viewers mark in France to cover its costs. as a reminder This made in France blockbuster cost a modest $66.2 million (excluding marketing costs), making it the eighth most expensive film in French cinema history. This drop in viewership will surpass the $1 million bonus promised to Guillaume Canet in the event of a box office success. To receive this award, the French filmmaker, who has already received 500,000 dollars as an actor and director, had to convince 7 million French viewers. With “only” 4.599 million visitors in France (figures from May 3, 2023), this is now impossible.

Number of entries in France for Asterix and Obelix The Middle Kingdom:

• February 01-08, 2023 – 1 882 686
• February 08-15, 2023 – 1,009,899
• February 15-22, 2023 – 756 276
• February 22 to March 1, 2023 – 514 149
• March 01 to 08, 2023 – 190 917
• March 08-15, 2023 – 95,037
• March 15-22, 2023 – 90,453
• March 22-29, 2023 – 33,736
• March 29 to April 5, 2023 – 15,108
• April 5-12, 2023 – 4,982
• April 12-19, 2023 – 2,630
• April 19-26, 2023 – 2,270
• April 26 to May 3, 2023 – 494
• Total – 4 598 637

An announced failure

This failure, both critical and commercial, of Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom was predictable. There are certain signs that do not deceive, and in the case of Guillaume Canet’s film, they were so numerous. That’s right Go back to the origins of the project to fully understand how a film with a budget of more than $65 million could stumble at the box office in this way. Humor is one of the most subtle art forms that requires a free pen to fully express yourself. So, to heart’s delight, Alain Chabat gave himself to Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra with the result that we know him.

Unfortunately, Albert Uderzo, who created the comic with René Goscinny, hated the film so much that he nipped in the bud another cinema project based on the work of the French authors. This lack of love for Alain Chabat’s film now forces the rights holders to oversee the production of all film adaptations, particularly the scriptwriting phase… a scenario that the actors respect to the letter and must not change under any circumstances. The script, written by Guillaume Canet, Julien Hervé (“Les Guignols de l’info”, “Leh Tuche 4”) and Philippe Mechelen (“Le doudou”, “Lend me your hand”), therefore functioned as a “sacred book” on the set. , as the director himself admits. .

The feature film also suffers from a “star talent” strategy that slows the pace. They are forced to string together cameos at breakneck speed, to the detriment of the main characters, who become spectators of their own epic. The Middle Kingdom eventually becomes a succession of humorous sketches complicated by a padlocked scenario. Even Jonathan Cohen (Bloqués, Hero Corp, La Flamme, Le Flambeau), an actor known for his legendary improvisations, is just a shadow of his former self. What about the lead roles? While Gilles Lellouche withdraws from the game by interpreting a sensitive and touching Obélix, Guillaume Canet portrays a depressed Asterix who clashes. However, it should be remembered The French actor and director eventually agreed to play the Gaul as no actor was available and under the impulse of the studios.

The project was also hit by an event that between 2020 and 2021 not only put the 7th art on hold, but the whole world. The Covid-19 pandemic had a direct impact on production. Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom was originally supposed to be filmed in China before that plan fell through. Guillaume Canet therefore (probably reluctantly) made the decision to shoot the film on French territory, specifically in Puy-de-Dôme (in Auvergne), as well as in the studios of Bry-sur-Marne and at Air Base 217 (between Brétigny- sur-Orge and Plessis-Pâté). When the screenplay travels from Europe to Asia via North Africa, the film ultimately remains anchored (too much) in France, and it shows.

After the rain…

… the nice weather is coming. The sky has certainly fallen on the top of this village populated by indomitable Gauls who still resist the invader, but a ray of sunshine could pierce the dark clouds hanging over them. The film’s international release should finally allow the Pathé and Trésor Films project to be profitable. And if the theatrical release isn’t enough, you can always count on Asterix and Obelix physical sale (DVD and Blu-ray) to replenish the coffers without forgetting the agreements signed with SVOD Services and sends to TV. The fate of the Gauls will not only be decided in the cinema.