EuropaCorp

Overview

EuropaCorp is a French film production and distribution company founded in 1999 by director Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam. The company built its identity on commercially ambitious European genre films, primarily action and thriller content, designed to compete with Hollywood releases in international markets. EuropaCorp has produced or co-produced over 120 films and distributed over 160 films in French cinemas. Since 1999, the company has produced 10 of France's 20 highest-grossing films internationally and 22 films among the 70 French productions with the most international admissions.

For the fiscal year 2025/2026 (ended March 31, 2026), EuropaCorp reported consolidated annual revenue of €26.1 million, down 17% from €31.6 million the prior year. The net loss was reduced to €2.0 million from €4.9 million, a 59% improvement. The operating margin climbed to 34% from 14% the previous year. The company has approximately 15 film and series projects in active development, focusing on its core genres: action, thriller, and comedy.

Financial Performance (FY2025/26)

Revenue Breakdown

The decline in international sales reflects the final deliveries of the film Dracula to international distributors, generating less revenue than the previous year when initial deliveries were made. TV and SVOD revenue more than doubled, driven by the opening of new broadcasting windows for catalogue titles including the Taxi franchise, Transporter, Lucy, and Bis, primarily in the French market.

Cost Structure and Profitability

• Film amortization: €10.0 million (down 53% from €21.4 million in FY2024/25)
• General expenses: €8.5 million (up €0.1 million year-on-year)
• Operating result: -€0.3 million (improved from -€3.4 million)
• Net loss: -€2.0 million (improved from -€4.9 million, a 59% reduction)
• Net operating cash flow: €12.0 million (down from €20.6 million)
• Film investments: €17.3 million (allocated to Father Joe and Dracula)
• Liquidity: €21.0 million
• Net debt: €33.9 million (up €6.0 million)

The company repaid the fifth installment of its Safeguard Plan (€10.6 million) during the fiscal year. EuropaCorp emerged from a court-supervised restructuring process in the late 2010s following the underperformance of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (budgeted at approximately $180 million).

Current Productions and Pipeline

Dracula (2025)

Dracula was co-produced with LBP and distributed in France by SND. Released on July 30, 2025, the film achieved over 650,000 admissions in France, ranking among the top French films of the summer. It was released in the United States in February 2026 by Vertical Entertainment, generating over $13 million at the US box office. The US revenue will be recognised in the 2026/2027 fiscal year.

Father Joe (Upcoming)

Father Joe is written by Luc Besson and directed by Barthélemy Grossmann, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Al Pacino. The thriller is set in 1990s New York and follows a priest with a military past who wages a secret war against the local mafia from a church turned fortress. The film is currently in post-production, produced by LBP in co-production with EuropaCorp.

Deviens Génial (2026)

Co-produced with Nolita, directed by Léo Grandperret, starring Manu Payet and Melha Bedia. French theatrical release scheduled for June 17, 2026.

Development Slate

EuropaCorp is actively developing approximately 15 film and series projects in both French and English, intended for theatrical release and streaming platforms. Some involve internationally recognised talent and partners. The company's strategy focuses on three pillars: monetising its catalogue of franchise properties (including series adaptations of Taxi, Transporter, and Lucy), producing high international potential content, and structuring strategic European co-productions.

Cité du Cinema

EuropaCorp's Cité du Cinema is located at 20 Rue Ampère, 93200 Saint-Denis, approximately 7 km from Place de la Concorde in central Paris. The facility is part of a 60,000 sqm complex originally built in 2012. As of May 2026, the Cité du Cinema offers 12,000 sqm of event and exhibition spaces, including 8,600 sqm classified as first-category public-access venues (ERP). The event spaces include:

• La Nef: 1,630 sqm (78m x 20.9m, height 21.8m)
• Les Verrières: 1,575 sqm, with glass facades overlooking the Seine
• Le Cinéma: 427-seat auditorium with a 17m wide screen and 150 sqm stage
• Le Club: 500 sqm seminar space
• Six meeting rooms with natural daylight
• Restaurant with 1,000-person capacity and 400 sqm terrace
• 1,500 sqm exhibition space

The facility sits at the heart of the former Saint-Denis Pleyel Athletes' Village from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Event spaces can be hired individually, as packages, or fully privatised. Details are available at laciteducinema.fr.

France Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP)

Productions shooting in France can access the Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP), administered by the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée). Key terms as of 2026:

• 30% rebate on qualifying expenditures incurred in France
• 40% rebate for fiction films with more than €2 million in French VFX spending (at least 15% of shots must involve digital treatment)
• Cap: €30 million per project
• Minimum spend: €250,000 in French expenditures, or 50% of the world budget if the budget is under €500,000
• Shooting requirement: at least 5 days of shooting in France for live-action works
• Cultural test: projects must include elements related to French or European culture, heritage, and territory

A 2026 reform, approved by the European Commission in July 2025, expanded eligible expenses to include remuneration paid to non-European performers (capped at 30% of the production budget) and hotel stays. This change makes France more competitive with the UK and Hungary for big-budget international shoots. Full details are available on the CNC TRIP page.

House Style / Genre Focus

EuropaCorp built its identity on commercially ambitious European genre films, primarily action and thriller content designed to compete with Hollywood releases in international markets. The company produced 10 of France's 20 highest-grossing films internationally and 22 films among the 70 French productions with the most international admissions.

EuropaCorp does not produce arthouse festival cinema, documentary films, or pure comedy without international marketability. The company avoids projects without clear theatrical or streaming commercial potential. Its current strategy focuses on three pillars: monetizing franchise catalogue properties (Taxi, Transporter, Lucy), producing high international potential content, and structuring European co-productions.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

EuropaCorp continues to produce and distribute films at a reduced scale compared to its peak output of 8 to 12 films per year. The company does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects reach EuropaCorp through:

1. Co-production arrangements: European co-productions that can access French tax credits, particularly the TRIP rebate
2. Established producer relationships: Producers with prior EuropaCorp credits bring projects to the development team
3. Luc Besson's creative network: Besson originates projects and brings in directors and talent through his industry connections

Filmmakers working in action, thriller, or comedy genres with European connections should approach EuropaCorp's development team. The company's distribution infrastructure covers French theatrical, international sales, and TV/SVOD licensing.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Co-Production and Distribution

EuropaCorp continues to produce and distribute films, though at a reduced scale compared to its peak output of 8 to 12 films per year. The company is open to co-production arrangements, particularly European co-productions that can access French tax credits. Filmmakers working in action, thriller, or comedy genres with European connections should approach EuropaCorp's development team. The company's distribution infrastructure covers French theatrical, international sales, and TV/SVOD licensing.

For International Productions Shooting in France

The Cité du Cinema complex in Saint-Denis offers event and production spaces within 7 km of central Paris. The French TRIP rebate at 30% (or 40% for VFX-heavy productions) makes France competitive with other European production hubs, particularly after the 2026 reform that added above-the-line costs to qualifying expenses. Productions should note that TRIP requires a cultural connection to France or Europe, which is a selective criterion evaluated by a committee of experts at the CNC.

For Catalogue and Rights Enquiries

EuropaCorp's library includes the Taken franchise (2008 to 2014, collectively over $900 million worldwide), the Transporter franchise (2002 to 2015), Lucy (2014, $463 million worldwide), District 13 (2004), and the Taxi franchise. TV and SVOD licensing of these titles generated €12.1 million in FY2025/26, representing 46% of total revenue. The company is actively developing series adaptations of several franchise properties.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how European action production and international distribution work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across international territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For budgeting productions in this studio's typical range, use the Budget Breakdown.