Unexpected Hits: Top 5 Surprise Blockbusters at the César Awards!

There’s a misconception that “César films don’t draw crowds” or “interest nobody.” The 50th edition of the Césars disproves this once again, showcasing a French film industry that is both vibrant and popular. Here are five films whose media impact and commercial success took everyone by surprise.

Twenty Gods

Admission Numbers: 907,357

How many César nominations? 4 (Best Film; Best New Actress; Best Original Music; Best Original Screenplay)

At just 30 years old, Louise Courvoisier nearly reached the middle tier of admissions with her humorous and honest portrayal of French agricultural youth in her debut film. Remarkably, 80% of the admissions for Twenty Gods came from regional audiences.

For the director, this success is also a family affair: her sister, Ella Courvoisier, served as the set designer, while her brother Pablo and mother Linda handled the music. Who would have thought a film about rural life would become one of the year’s biggest hits?

The Story of Souleymane

Admission Numbers: 586,913

How many César nominations? 8 (Best Film; Best Director; Best New Actor; Best Supporting Actress; Best Original Screenplay; Best Sound; Best Editing; Best Cinematography)

Until last year, director Boris Lojkine was primarily known to festival audiences and discerning cinephiles. As he admits himself in our interview: “I’ve always made films that have won festival prizes, but never drew large audiences. This is the first time we’ve seen unexpectedly high admission numbers, beyond what the industry would have bet on.“

The Story of Souleymane is Boris Lojkine’s third feature film, following Hope in 2015 (45,000 admissions) and Camille in 2019 (62,000 admissions). With nearly 600,000 admissions—and possibly more to come thanks to the Césars—the film’s strong subject matter and success definitely came as a surprise. “It’s something that shouldn’t happen, but it does. So, it’s kind of a miracle but also a reward for those who worked hard to make a meaningful, demanding film that tells important stories,” concludes Boris Lojkine in an interview with AlloCiné.

A Little Something Extra

Admission Numbers: 10,823,484

How many César nominations? 1 (Best Film)

Artus could hardly have imagined rising to the ranks of the all-time greats, yet here he is. While the genre of popular comedy is more favored by audiences than auteur cinema, the excitement for A Little Something Extra turned into a genuine societal phenomenon.

By centering a story on a group of people with disabilities, the writer, director, and actor has pushed boundaries for visibility in cinema. Even the Cannes Film Festival rolled out the red carpet for the entire team during a legendary ascent of the steps on the evening of presenting The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Seeds of the Wild Fig

Admission Numbers: 616,061

How many César nominations? 1 (Best Foreign Film)

A radical change in genre. Filmed clandestinely in Iran, The Seeds of the Wild Fig tells the story of escalating tensions within a family against a backdrop of political anxiety.

Director Mohammad Rasoulof, who fled his country to avoid prison and corporal punishment, found refuge in Germany and captivated French audiences, who turned out in droves to see his film. Despite its lengthy runtime (2h47), The Seeds of the Wild Fig has become the biggest success of his career and one of the most-watched Iranian films in France.

With a Bang

Admission Numbers: 2,481,517

How many Cesar nominations? 7 (Best Film; Best Actor; Best New Actor; Best Supporting Actress; Best Original Screenplay; Best Sound; Best Editing)

Director Emmanuel Courcol released his third feature film, With a Bang, in 2024, achieving resounding success from critics and audiences alike. While his previous films gradually expanded their viewership—from Cessez-le-feu with just over 100,000 admissions to Un Triomphe with 319,000—it was unimaginable that With a Bang would attract 2.5 million viewers. The secret? Word-of-mouth that only grew week after week, bolstered by a successful festival tour starting with Cannes.

Actress Sarah Suco shared her joy in our interview: “It’s wonderful because this is a film made with heart, humanity, and sincere honesty. To touch hearts like this, by the thousands, is simply marvelous.”

The 50th César Awards ceremony will take place this Friday, February 28th, and will be broadcast on CANAL+.

*Admission numbers are current as of this date.