View source for Asterix at the Olympic Games (film)

{{Short description|2008 French fantasy comedy film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Asterix at the Olympic Games
| image          = Asterixolympics.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = French theatrical release poster
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Frédéric Forestier]]
* [[Thomas Langmann]]
}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Thomas Langmann
* Jérôme Seydoux
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* Alexandre Charlot
* Thomas Langmann
* Frank Magnier
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Asterix at the Olympic Games]]''|[[René Goscinny]]<br>[[Albert Uderzo]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gérard Depardieu]]
* [[Clovis Cornillac]]
* [[Benoît Poelvoorde]]
* [[Alain Delon]]
* [[Vanessa Hessler]]
* [[Franck Dubosc]]
* [[José Garcia (actor)|José Garcia]]
* [[Stéphane Rousseau]]
* [[Jean-Pierre Cassel]]
* [[Élie Semoun]]
* [[Alexandre Astier]]
}}<!-- per poster -->
| music          = [[Frédéric Talgorn]]
| cinematography = [[Thierry Arbogast]]
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Yannick Kergoat]]
* [[Vincent Tabaillon]]
}}
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Pathé|Pathé Renn Productions]]
* La Petite Reine
}}
| distributor    = Pathé Distribution (France, Switzerland and United Kingdom)<br />[[Constantin Film]] (Germany and Austria)<ref name="uni">{{cite web|title=Asterix at the Olympic Games (2006)|website=[[UniFrance]]|access-date=1 August 2021|url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/26875/asterix-at-the-olympic-games}}</ref><br />Tripictures (Spain)<ref name="uni" /><br />[[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (Italy)<ref name="uni" /><br />Alternative Films (Belgium)<ref name="uni" />
| released       = {{Film date|2008|01|30}}
| runtime        = 117 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 116:57--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/asterix-aux-jeux-olympiques-asterix-olympic-games-film | title=''Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques - Astérix at the Olympic Games'' (PG) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=28 January 2008 | access-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* France
}}
| language       = French<br>Portuguese
| budget         = $113.5 million<ref name="Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques">{{cite web|title=Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques
|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/0AAJO.php}}</ref>
| gross          = $133 million<ref name="Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques" />
}}
'''''Asterix at the Olympic Games''''' ({{langx|fr|'''Astérix aux Jeux olympiques'''}}) is a 2008 French [[fantasy film|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 [[Asterix|''Astérix'' comic series]]. A sequel to ''[[Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra]]'' (2002), it is the third installment in the [[Asterix films (live action)|''Asterix'' film series]].

At the time of its release, it was the most expensive French and [[List of most expensive non-English-language films|non English-language film of all time]].<ref name="time">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1708610,00.html |title=Asterix Aims to Conquer Europe |access-date=31 January 2008 |date=31 January 2008 |first=Leo |last=Cendrowicz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201071254/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0%2C8599%2C1708610%2C00.html |archive-date=1 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was negatively received by critics, but performed well at several European box offices, topping charts in [[Poland]], Spain and France.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080211/media_nm/boxoffice_overseas_dc;_ylt=AuT_yJRjympYY7qMfY2fWelxFb8C]{{dead link|date=December 2010}}</ref> It was the final film of [[Alain Delon]] before his death.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/18/mesmeric-and-beautiful-alain-delon-was-one-of-cinemas-most-mysterious-stars |title=Mesmeric and beautiful, Alain Delon was one of cinema’s most mysterious stars|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

==Plot==
[[Asterix (character)|Astérix]] and [[Obelix|Obélix]] must win the [[Ancient Olympic Games|Olympic Games]] in Greece in order to help their friend Lovesix marry Greek princess Irina. [[Marcus Junius Brutus|Brutus]] uses every trick in the book to have his own team win the game and [[Assassination of Julius Caesar|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==
{{cast listing|
* [[Gérard Depardieu]] as [[Obelix|Obélix]]
* [[Clovis Cornillac]] as [[Asterix (character)|Astérix]]
* [[Benoît Poelvoorde]] as [[Marcus Junius Brutus|Brutus]]
* [[Jean-Pierre Cassel]] as the [[Druid]] [[List of Asterix characters#Getafix|Panoramix]]
* [[Alain Delon]] as [[Julius Caesar]]
* [[Bouli Lanners]] as Samagas
* [[Jean-Pierre Castaldi]] as Castaldus
* [[Michael Bully Herbig]] as Pasunmotdeplus, Brutus' mute sidekick
* [[Dorothée Jemma]] as [[List of Asterix characters#Impedimenta|Bonemine]]
* [[Santiago Segura]] as Docteurmabus
* [[Vanessa Hessler]] as Princess Irina
* [[Stéphane Rousseau]] as Lovesix
* [[José Garcia (actor)|José Garcia]] as Couverdepus
* [[Vincent Moscato]] as Goth
* Luca Bizzarri as Alpha
* [[Paolo Kessisoglu]] as Omega
}}

There is a cameo of [[Adriana Karembeu]] as [[List of Asterix characters#Mrs. Geriatrix|Mrs Geriatrix]] and [[Jamel Debbouze]] reprises his role as [[List of Asterix characters#Others|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]]. Professional wrestler [[Nathan Jones (wrestler)|Nathan Jones]] portrays Humungus. The part of Roman athlete Claudius Cornedurus ([[Gluteus maximus|Gluteus Maximus]]), played by [[Jérôme Le Banner]], was originally to be played by [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18373779.html |title=News : Alain Delon et Jean-Claude Van Damme dans "Astérix 3" ! |publisher=Allocine.fr |access-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728074240/http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D18373779.html |archive-date=28 July 2009 }}</ref>

==Production==
===Filming===
Filming took place in [[Alicante]] (including the [[Ciudad de la Luz]] studio),<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2014/07/04/inenglish/1404482063_870576.html|journal=[[El País]]|title=Lights go out on Alicante movie studios|first1=Adolf |last1=Beltran|first2=Ferran|last2= Bono|date=7 June 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2451&p=s.htm |title=Around the World Roundup: 'Asterix' Leaps to the Top |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=10 February 2008 |access-date=31 December 2010}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0463872}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|asterix_at_the_olympic_games}}

{{Asterix|type=film}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asterix At The Olympic Games}}
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:Asterix films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Marcus Junius Brutus]]
[[Category:Depictions of Julius Caesar on film]]
[[Category:Films about the ancient Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Films directed by Frédéric Forestier]]
[[Category:Films directed by Thomas Langmann]]
[[Category:Films produced by Thomas Langmann]]
[[Category:Films set in ancient Greece]]
[[Category:Films set in Greece]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Films shot at Ciudad de la Luz]]
[[Category:Films shot in Almería]]
[[Category:French children's films]]
[[Category:2000s French-language films]]
[[Category:French sequel films]]
[[Category:German children's films]]
[[Category:Italian children's films]]
[[Category:Italian sequel films]]
[[Category:Pathé films]]
[[Category:2000s French films]]
[[Category:2000s Spanish films]]
[[Category:2000s Italian films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Frédéric Talgorn]]