Central Partnership announces Thursday that Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights to Russian comedy “Son of a Rich” have been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions, with French rights acquired by SND Films and Polish rights acquired by Monolith Films.
Produced by Yellow, Black & White Production Studio, MEM Cinema, and United Companies of GPM KIT (part of Gazprom-Media Holding), along with the support of the Cinema Foundation of Russia, “Son of a Rich” is currently the highest-grossing Russian film to date, it has taken in 3.071 billion rubles in Russia and has grossed a total of over $1.8 million USD abroad.
Laine Kline, Head of Sony Pictures International Productions, the local-language production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Motion Picture Group, said “From the moment we watched Son of a Rich, we knew it was special. We couldn't be more excited to adapt this picture for new audiences who I'm sure will like it as much as Russian movie goers did.”
SND Films is the leading French distributor and production branch of Groupe M6, the largest existing French media company that owns the most popular French television network. SND Films bought the rights for the production of the remake in France. Rami Jimenet, SND Films managing director of purchasing and production, said, “We loved Son of a Rich, which is a fun mix of The Truman Show and the classic French comedy, The Visitors. We can't wait to bring ‘French flavor' to this wonderful tale!”
The Polish company of Monolith Films has bought the production rights for the Polish remake of the film, which they will begin filming next year. Monolith Films Chairman Mariusz Lukomski said, “We are delighted to be working with Central Partnership on the Polish remake of the Son of a Rich comedy blockbuster. In Poland, filming is scheduled for August of 2022. We all strongly believe in the great success of this project.”
“Son of a Rich” also became the highest-grossing Russian film in the Baltic States (distributed by Garsu Pasaulio Irasai). By February 10th, more than 70,000 moviegoers had watched the film in the Baltic countries, thus bringing in €45,061,000 into the box office. Moreover, the film continues to hold the top spot in gross revenues among all Russian films in Serbia, the homeland of the film's leading actor, Milos Bikovich. There, the box office revenue well exceeded half a million dollars.
“Son of a Rich” hit the screens in Israel (distributed by Stars Media), the USA, and in a number of European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and England (distributed together by Kinostar and KinoKartina.TV). The total revenue grossed by the film in Europe and the United States amounted to 497 thousand euro, which goes to show that there were more than 45 thousand tickets sold.
Klim Shipenko's comedy managed to even take this record-breaking title from T-34, a military action motion picture that was the previous highest-grossing Russian film in Europe (222,700 thousand euro). Not only this, but “Son of a Rich” surpassed in gross revenue other well-received films like the fairy tale of “The Last Warrior” (187 thousand euro), the comedies “Yolki 6″ (145 thousand euro) and “Yolki 7″ (166 thousand euro), as well as the sports drama “Three Seconds” (197 thousand euro).
Vadim Vereshchagin, the general director of Central Partnership, said, “The signed agreements come as a tremendous success and further proof that a cool, understandable story is what is most valuable in filmmaking. I am sure that the remakes of Son of a Rich will be in demand among foreign audiences, as well as bring box office success to the production studios. “
International sales are being managed by the film production and distribution company of Central Partnership (part of Gazprom-Media Holding).
