French cinema didn’t just travel well in 2025 — it thrived. Powered by strong co-productions, animation hits, and a timely awards-season boost, French-backed films clocked an estimated 42.5 million international admissions, translating to just under $318 million at the global box office, according to figures released by Unifrance.
The numbers underline a standout year where French films weren’t limited to arthouse prestige — they crossed borders, genres, and platforms with rare consistency.
Oscar Wins Turn Into Box Office Momentum
A major push came late in the year from Oscar-backed titles. Flow, I’m Still Here, and Emilia Perez collectively sold 13.1 million tickets worldwide in 2025 alone.
Among them, Jacques Audiard’s genre-bending Emilia Perez stood out for its hybrid release strategy. The cartel musical paired a Netflix North America rollout with theatrical releases in 50 international territories, earning $15.7 million overseas — a rare crossover success for a musical crime drama.
Flow Leads With 8.2 Million Admissions
The year’s biggest French export was animated breakout Flow, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, which topped charts with 8.2 million international admissions. Its success helped make Flow the fourth-highest-grossing French animated feature of all time.
Close behind were:
- Dracula: A Love Tale by Luc Besson – 3.7 million admissions
- I’m Still Here by Walter Salles – 2.3 million admissions
Majority-French productions also held strong:
- Pets on a Train – 2.3 million
- Emilia Perez – 2.1 million
- The Marching Band – 1.4 million
Together, they reinforced France’s status as the world’s most prolific co-production partner.
Animation Hits a Record 34.3% Market Share
One of the biggest takeaways from Unifrance’s data was animation. French animated films lifted their international market share to a record 34.3%, driven by:
- Flow
- Night of the Zoopocalypse
- Pets on a Train
Both Night of the Zoopocalypse and Pets on a Train secured wide theatrical releases in North America — a key factor in expanding French animation beyond Europe.
The Mexico Surprise and a Festival Parallel
Despite facing criticism at home, Mexico emerged as France’s top export territory, accounting for 11% of total international admissions. Latin America, boosted by Emilia Perez, overtook both North America and Central/Eastern Europe to become the second-most active regional market for French films.
In a neat statistical echo, Unifrance also revealed that 20% of all feature films selected by major international festivals in 2025 were French productions — matching the finding that one in five international viewers saw Flow in theaters.
Awards Buzz Carries Into 2026
Momentum isn’t slowing anytime soon. With Golden Globe wins and festival accolades already secured, several French-backed titles are expected to benefit from an increasingly international Academy voting base.
Among the films tipped to gain further traction:
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- France’s Oscar submission It Was Just an Accident
- Audience favourites Sirat, The Voice of Hind Rajab, and No Other Choice
Final Words
With 42.5 million admissions, $318 million in global revenue, and a record-breaking animation share, French cinema in 2025 proved that cultural reach and commercial muscle don’t have to be opposites.
If this is the momentum heading into 2026, French co-productions aren’t just exporting films — they’re exporting influence.
