From Paris With Love
Rate Movie[Total: 6 Average: 2.2]
- Directed By: Pierre Morel
- Written By: Adi Hasak, Luc Besson
- Release Date: February 5, 2010
- Domestic Distributor: Lionsgate
- Cast: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak
Box Office Info:
| Budget: $55 million | Financed by: EuropaCorp; Canal+; TPS; M6 |
|---|---|
| Domestic Box Office: $24,077,427 | Overseas Box Office: $28,749,167 |
Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp financed From Paris With Love for $55 million and their financing model reduced most of their exposure to the budget. EuropaCorp had brokered a deal for their movies with TV channels Canal+ and TPS and M6, which would invest in their slate of pictures for future broadcast rights. The majority of the movie’s budgets would come from international pre-sales to distributors. US rights for From Paris With Love were picked up by Lionsgate for $12 million.
Lionsgate originally dated the picture for February 19, 2010 but Paramount decided to reschedule Shutter Island for that date and Lionsgate moved From Paris With Love to February 5. This was Super Bowl weekend and Lionsgate was hoping to score a hit like the surprise smash Taken (also directed by Pierre Morel), which had opened over the same frame the previous year. Taken had a gruff Liam Neeson and From Paris With Love had a bald, goatee sporting, scenery chewing John Travolta hamming it up, which certainly didn’t help its commercial appeal. Rotten reviews did not help either.
From Paris With Love was tracking for an opening near $15 million and bowed against Dear John and tanked with $8,158,860 — placing a distance #3 for the weekend led by Dear John and Avatar. From Paris With Love had a modest 32.6% second weekend decline to $5,495,113 but fell 51.6% in its third frame to $2,661,829. From Paris With Love closed its run after just 5 weeks with $24,077,427. Lionsgate would see returned about $13.2 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross, which would not even cover half of their marketing expenses. From Paris With Love marked the last big budget John Travolta vehicle and his last picture given a wide release in the US.
EuropaCorp distributed in France to poor returns and it grossed just $2.8 million which was the strongest showing outside of the US. The film grossed an awful $28.7 million overseas across many distributors who overpaid for the expensive picture from EuropaCorp.
Sorry to read this review. My wife and I really enjoyed the film and laughed at the comedy of the two actors. I would make this into a series. It was very entertaining. I didn’t recognize Travolta at first. Anyway, what do I know. These producers can have a hit series like “Homeland” or “Breaking Bad” to name a couple and then cancel it right at the peak of it’s success. Drives me crazy.