Two major American blockbusters released during the peak of the summer season have once again demonstrated their strong appeal among audiences in France and around the world, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the newest chapter in the Spider-Man franchise, and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey have both enjoyed major success with moviegoers.
Released in the United States on Friday, July 31, and in France and most other countries on Wednesday, July 29, Spider-Man: Brand New Day features Tom Holland and Zendaya in the latest adventure of the iconic superhero.
The movie had already crossed the $2 billion (€1.7 billion) mark in worldwide box-office revenue by Wednesday, August 19, according to Rentrak, a company that supplies box-office figures to the film industry. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the achievement made the film the biggest box-office success in Sony Pictures’ history.
The film has also enjoyed an exceptional run in French cinemas. During its opening weekend, it recorded 2.55 million admissions, giving it the strongest opening for a feature film in France in seven years.
The previous film to achieve a stronger theatrical launch was Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, which arrived in French cinemas in April 2019.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has continued to attract large audiences since its opening. By August 19, the film had sold around 6.2 million tickets in France.
Alongside Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has also passed the six-million-admission milestone, the Spider-Man blockbuster has provided a major lift to France’s summer box office. The strong performance of both films is also helping raise expectations for total cinema attendance in France over the course of the year.