Paris: Jasour – News Desk
Director and distributor of the film “Laughing with Special Needs,” comedian Artus, announced that the movie has surpassed 10 million viewers after three and a half months of its release. This milestone makes it the most successful French film in the last decade.
Artus, who turned 37, expressed his amazement at the film’s success, saying, “Reaching 10 million viewers on my birthday, it’s incredibly surreal.”
Premiering in cinemas on May 1, Artus’ debut film achieved a remarkable milestone within just one month of its release, becoming the most-watched French film in theaters since the COVID-19 crisis.
The film outperformed “Inside Out 2” and “Dune: Part 2” this year, ranking 30th on the list of highest-grossing films in French box office history and 12th among the most successful French films, according to its distributor.
For Artus, whose real name is Victor Artus Solaro, the new dream is to reach 11.5 million viewers, a record set by the 1965 film “La Grande Vadrouille,” starring Bourvil and Louis de Funès.
Achieving the 10 million viewer milestone has become a rare feat, especially in recent years. Over the past decade, only a handful of films, predominantly American, have accomplished this.
The list includes “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), “The Lion King” (2019), “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015), and the French comedy “Serial (Bad) Weddings” (2014).
This success marks a vindication for Artus, who faced challenges in finding a producer to fund the film, which is described as the first movie to laugh with, rather than at, individuals with special needs.
Clovis Cornillac and Artus star as a father and son hiding in a summer camp for young people with intellectual disabilities to escape the police. The cast includes about ten amateur actors with special needs, alongside professional actors.
The comedy film has been sold in around fifteen countries and participated in the Cannes Film Festival in May.
