This year, the biggest hit in the French film market is neither the Hollywood animated film "Inside Out 2" nor the literary classic adaptation "The Count of Monte Cristo," which topped the French box office in July. Instead, it is the locally produced original low-budget comedy "Un p'tit truc en plus." As of last weekend, the film's audience numbers in France officially surpassed 10 million, placing it among the highest-grossing films in French cinema history.
Poster for "Un p'tit truc en plus"
"Un p'tit truc en plus" is written, directed, and performed by the 37-year-old debut director Victor Artus Solaro. Known simply as Artus in the entertainment scene, he is a comedic performer skilled at creating various funny segments and has garnered a significant following through his television appearances. Coincidentally, last Saturday was Artus's birthday, and after announcing the film's box office success on his personal social media, he thanked French audiences for giving him “the best birthday gift.”
"Un p'tit truc en plus" is written, directed, and performed by Victor Artus Solaro
"Un p'tit truc en plus" tells the story of Paul, a young man who turns to petty theft, and his unexpected encounters with a group of individuals with intellectual disabilities, leading to plenty of comedic chaos. Unlike many films dealing with disabilities that often tread the humanitarian and tear-jerking path, "Un p'tit truc en plus" takes a lighthearted and humorous approach, filled with misunderstandings. The inspiration for the film comes from the director's past comedic sketches, and all the disabled characters are portrayed by actual individuals with disabilities, which enriches the film's social value.
All disabled characters in the film are portrayed by real individuals with disabilities.
The film was released on May 1, achieving an astonishing 500,000 admissions in its opening weekend alone, marking the second-best opening for a French film in history, only behind the 2008 release of "Welcome to the Sticks." Over the following three months, its audience continued to grow, quickly becoming a hot topic among the public. In just over three months, it reached the milestone of 10 million admissions, a feat not accomplished by any French domestic film since "Les Budget de la vie de famille," which came out ten years ago and ultimately garnered 12.3 million admissions. Since then, no French film had achieved such brilliance until "Un p'tit truc en plus" burst onto the scene.
Poster for "Welcome to the Sticks"
In fact, "Un p'tit truc en plus" has now surpassed several Hollywood blockbusters in terms of box office revenue, including "Inside Out 2" and "Dune 2." It has become the highest-grossing debut feature by a French director in history and ranks as the 12th most-watched domestic film, even making it into the top 30 when considering imported films. Its production cost is likely less than a fraction of those Hollywood hits. In July, when speaking to the media, Director Artus expressed hope that his film could reach the 11.5 million admissions mark set by "Les Sous-doués," as it would mean "we can break into the top ten of French box office hits.”
Given its current trajectory, Artus's hope may very well be realized. The highest admission record in French cinema is held by "Titanic," with 22.3 million; among domestic films, the top records are "Welcome to the Sticks" with 20.5 million admissions and "The Intouchables" with 19.5 million. Like "Un p'tit truc en plus," these two films are heartwarming comedies, making it clear what types of stories resonate with French audiences.
Poster for "The Intouchables"
