Pathé's two-part historical epic De Gaulle has rebounded strongly at the French box office after a slow start. The first film, De Gaulle: Résistance, has now drawn 1.2 million admissions since its June 3 release. A combination of word-of-mouth, a heatwave and targeted promotion helped drive the turnaround.
The film saw admissions rise 17.2 percent in its third week and jump 68 percent last weekend. Sales continued climbing with a 114 percent increase reported on June 24. The second installment, De Gaulle: I Write Your Name, opened on June 26.
Pathé president Nourredine Safaee credited genuine social media outreach for attracting younger viewers. The company partnered with YouTuber Inoxtag for watch parties and discussions, marking the first time in its 130-year history that it enlisted an internet creator for such a role.
The $85 million production stars Simon Abkarian as Charles de Gaulle. It is based on Julian Jackson’s book De Gaulle: A Certain Idea of France and was positioned by Pathé as a blockbuster akin to its earlier two-part hits The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
The films have been sold to China with European releases set for late August. The U.S. territory remains unsold while Pathé explores options to present the project as a six-part series for television or streaming.
