Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ Conquers French Box Office Despite Vitriolic Reviews
Despite facing harsh reviews and criticism, Ridley Scott's film 'Napoleon' had a successful opening in France.
Strong Opening Despite Negative Reviews
Despite being plagued by harsh reviews from French critics and a derisive retaliation by director Ridley Scott, “Napoleon” had a strong opening in France on Wednesday, grossing an estimated €868,000 ($946,000) from approximately 120,000 admissions.
The figure, unveiled by Comscore France, includes about 8,000 tickets sold at preview screenings across France, notably in Paris where Sony Pictures held a lavish world premiere of the historical epic on Nov. 14.
“Napoleon,” which stars Joaquin Phoenix as the infamous French emperor and Vanessa Kirby as his wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, has been panned by French critics over its alleged historical inaccuracies and anti-French stance.
Critics' Reactions and Director's Response
French critics have criticized "Napoleon" for its alleged historical inaccuracies and anti-French stance, while also scoffing at Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the iconic figure.
Reputable outlets like radio station France Culture compared Phoenix's Napoleon look to a "dusty wax figure."
The national newspaper Le Figaro went as far as saying the film could be renamed "Barbie and Ken Under the Empire." However, director Ridley Scott shrugged off the criticism and commented that "the French don’t even like themselves."
Box Office Success and Future Prospects
"Napoleon" had the biggest opening of the week and dominated the local box office in France.
While it falls below the opening day admissions of other recent big-budget U.S. films in France, it is Ridley Scott's biggest French launch in years.
Comscore France predicts that "Napoleon" might sell about one million tickets in its first week and could see an increase over the Christmas holiday. However, it is unlikely to match the success of Scott's "Gladiator" in France.
