Asterix at the Olympic Games (film)

Asterix at the Olympic Games (French: Astérix aux Jeux olympiques) is a 2008 French fantasy comedy film co–directed by Frédéric Forestier and Thomas Langmann, and written by Langmann, Alexandre Charlot and Frank Magnier, based on characters from René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's Astérix comic series. It was filmed primarily in Spain throughout 2006. A sequel to Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), it is the third installment in the Asterix film series.

Asterix at the Olympic Games
French theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
  • Alexandre Charlot
  • Thomas Langmann
  • Frank Magnier
Based onAsterix at the Olympic Games
by René Goscinny
Albert Uderzo
Produced by
  • Thomas Langmann
  • Jérôme Seydoux
Starring
CinematographyThierry Arbogast
Edited by
Music byFrédéric Talgorn
Production
companies
Distributed byPathé Distribution (France, Switzerland and United Kingdom)
Constantin Film (Germany and Austria)[1]
Tripictures (Spain)[1]
Warner Bros. Pictures (Italy)[1]
Alternative Films (Belgium)[1]
Release dates
  • 13 January 2008 (2008-01-13) (Paris premiere)
  • 25 January 2008 (2008-01-25) (Poland)
  • 30 January 2008 (2008-01-30)
Running time
117 minutes[2]
Country
  • France
LanguageFrench
Budget$113.5 million[3]
Box office$133 million[3]

At the time of its release, it was the most expensive French and non English-language film of all time.[4] The film was negatively received by critics, but performed well at several European box offices, topping charts in Poland, Spain and France.[5]

Plot

Astérix and Obélix must win the Olympic Games in order to help their friend Lovesix marry Princess Irina. Brutus uses every trick in the book to have his own team win the game and get rid of his father Julius Caesar in the process.

The film is loosely adapted from the original Asterix at the Olympic Games comic book. The love story subplot between Lovesix and Irina was not featured in the original story. Brutus, portrayed here as a comical villain with no relation to his depictions in Asterix comics, is the main antagonist, although he was not even featured as a character in the original comic book.

Cast

There is a cameo of Adriana Karembeu as Mrs Geriatrix and Jamel Debbouze reprises his role as Numerobis. Italian comedy actor Enrico Brignano appears as a reporter.

The film featured several cameos by real-life sports stars, most prominently by Michael Schumacher as Schumix, but also Jean Todt, Zinedine Zidane, Tony Parker and Amélie Mauresmo. The part of Roman athlete Claudius Cornedurus (Gluteus Maximus), played by Jérôme Le Banner, was originally to be played by Jean-Claude Van Damme.[6]

Production

Filming

Filming took place in Alicante (including the Ciudad de la Luz studio),[7] Spain and lasted six months.

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $23.4 million in France in its opening weekend, which was more than 60% of its gross in 19 territories in which the film was released. Box Office Mojo estimated $38.7 million in revenue within a week after the film was released.[8]

References
  1. "Asterix at the Olympic Games (2006)". UniFrance. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  2. "Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques - Astérix at the Olympic Games (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. "Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques".
  4. Cendrowicz, Leo (31 January 2008). "Asterix Aims to Conquer Europe". Time. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  6. "News : Alain Delon et Jean-Claude Van Damme dans "Astérix 3" !". Allocine.fr. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  7. Beltran, Adolf; Bono, Ferran (7 June 2014). "Lights go out on Alicante movie studios". El País.
  8. "Around the World Roundup: 'Asterix' Leaps to the Top". Box Office Mojo. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
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