Clearly, it is better to opt for a blockbuster (with significant financial risks) or a fiction at a very small budget (but which may go unnoticed).
In Belgium, we clearly tend to opt for the second solution. But with our French neighbors, the temptation of the first is more and more felt. The CNC (National Center for Cinema and Animated Image) thus reveals that the 309 films (CO) produced in France in 2024 cost an average of 5.09 million euros. But some greatly exceed this amount.Fanny Ardant’s strong gesture towards Gérard Depardieu
The observatory indeed highlighted the 20 most expensive feature films in France expected on large screens in 2025. And it is Dracula : A Love Tale From Luc Besson who comes first with an official quote of 45 million, excluding marketing costs (which can sometimes equal the film’s budget). Suffice to say that at this price, his vision of the novel by Bram store in the Paris of the Belle Époque must make a indoor misfortune. Explanation of these high costs? Less the commitment of Stars (Christoph Waltz, Caleb Landry Jones, Zoë Bleu, the daughter of Rosanna Arquette) than the reconstruction of a 4,000 m² castle with all the decorum that accompanies it.
In second position appears Chien 51, by Cédric Jimenez. This science fiction thriller in a futuristic Paris controlled by the great powers like Berlin at the end of the Second World War, sees two police officers (Adèle Exarchopoulos and Gilles Lellouche) forced to collaborate for the resolution of a crime. Here, it is above all the special effects that justify the budget of 42.01 million euros.
In third place in the podium is an animated film, Asterix and the Kingdom of Nubia. A big risk at 32.9 million taken by Alexandre Heboyan, while on the same theme of Asterix, the series of Alain Chabat, The fight of the chiefscame out on Netflix on April 30.
Adaptation of comics
Following the American example, French producers obviously believe a lot in the adaptation of comics. For his MarsupilamiPhilippe Lacheau benefits from an envelope of 28.68 million euros, the fourth higher of the year in France. And for Natacha (almost) air hostessNoémie Saglio, she had 15.53 million euros. But the sixteenth budget of the year leads to a large indoor flop.
God Save the Tuchefor its part, attracted 2.8 million lovers of fries. A beautiful score, but not phenomenal for a comedy estimated at 19.4 million euros (still excluding promotion costs).Gérard Jugnot is inspired by the Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès affair: “I found that it was a great starting point for a comedy”
The top 20 of the most expensive French films of 2025
With such sums allocated, these films must make the event and the full of spectators. Here are the 20 films that must mark, in theory, this year 2025.
- Dracula : A Love Talefrom Luc Besson: 45.24 million euros
- Chien 51from Cédric Jimenez: 42.01 million euros
- Asterix and the Kingdom of Nubiafrom Alexandre Heboyan: 32.94 million euros
- Marsupilamiby Philippe Lacheau: 28.68 million euros
- 13 days, 13 nightsfrom Martin Bourbolon: 27.49 million euros
- High in the cloudsfrom Toby Genkel: 27.44 million euros
- The man who narrowsJan Kants: 21.04 Millions the Euros
- Urban Jungleby Jean de Loriol: 20.59 million euros
- Kaamelott – Second part – first partfrom Alexandre Astier: 19.69 million euros
- God Save the Tucheby Jean-Paul Rouve: 19.40 million euros
- Kaamelott – Second part – second partfrom Alexandre Astier: 18.79 million euros
- The orphansd’Olivier Schneider : 18,54 millions d’euros
- The Great Moveby Jean-Pascal Zadi: 17.10 million euros
- Yuglyby Jérémie Degruson and Yanis Belaid: 16.57 million euros
- The arrival of the futurefrom Cédric Klapisch: 15.67 million euros
- Natacha (almost) air hostessfrom Noémie Saglio: 15.53 million euros
- The legendaryfrom Guillaume Ivernel: 14.89 million euros
- Fastfrom Morgan S.DALIBERT: 14.46 million euros
- The backpackerby Philippe Mechelen: 14.17 million euros
- Yoroiby David Tomaszewski: 14 million euros
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