Untouchable
Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano’s comedy Untouchable has overtaken Amélie in the global box office chart as the most theatrically viewed French-language picture in history outside of France.
Untouchable's global box office hit 23.2 million admissions this week, putting it ahead of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie starring Audrey Tautou, which had held the top slot for over ten years with 23.1 million. This figure does not include the French admissions which stands at around 20 million.
The film has sold 8.5 million tickets in Germany, a record for a French-language film in the country and has also done well across the rest of Europe in spite of the economic crisis.
It garnered 2.48 million and 2.47 million admissions in Spain and Italy respectively, with around 1 million in Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. In South Korea admissions have reached 1.7 million admissions.
In the US, The Weinstein Company has so far hit one million admissions. Harvey Weinstein told the French press over the summer it was his 'objective' to put the film into the Best Picture Oscar race.
Untouchable is a comedy about a millionaire quadriplegic and his relationship with his ex-con carer. It follows the unlikely but incredibly moving friendship that develops between them.
As Untouchable is previewed to UK audiences in one of the UK's most extensive ever screening programmes, responses indicate the film's unprecedented success could continue when the film arrives in cinemas in the UK on 21st September.
Comments on twitter by members of the public who have attended these screenings include: "moving, funny, tres magnifique", "Brilliant, touching film yet hilariously funny. A must see!", "One of - if not THE - best film of the last year! It's just brilliant!" and "An absolute gem that is both moving and side splittingly funny. A genuine 5/5".
Releasing in the wake of the excitement and groundbreaking events of the Paralympics, the film is timed perfectly to capture the zeitgeist for the changing perceptions of people with disabilities.
Untouchable is released in cinemas by Entertainment Film Distributors in London on 21st September and nationwide on 28th September.