Most Broadcast Movies on Television

During school holidays, festive periods, and public holidays, we often see the same programs broadcast on French television channels. Titles like Les Bronzés font du Ski, Les Visiteurs, and Le père Noël est une Ordure immediately come to mind.

In a comprehensive survey released in mid-May, the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) revealed a list of the 20 most broadcast movies on French television since 1957. Do Gérard Jugnot and Thierry Lhermitte’s winter adventures top the list? Not at all—in fact, the top 20 list is quite surprising.

Eleven Animated Films in the Top 20, Asterix in the Spotlight

Dominique Farrugia’s Delphine 1, Yvan 0 claims the top spot, having been broadcast 70 times since 1957 (61 of those on TF1), which averages 2.7 broadcasts per year since its release in 1996. Following closely is Michel Ocelot’s Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages, with 69 broadcasts, 51 of which were on Gulli. Another animated film, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, comes in third with 60 broadcasts.

What stands out most in this ranking is the dominance of animated films—eleven in total, making up more than half the list, with seven coming from the Asterix and Obelix franchise, as highlighted by the CNC in its study.

Here is the complete ranking:

1. Delphine 1, Yvan 0 (1996): 70 broadcasts
2. Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages (2004): 69 broadcasts
3. The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1975): 60 broadcasts
4. Asterix vs. Caesar (1985): 58 broadcasts
5. Asterix and Cleopatra (1968): 58 broadcasts
6. Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ (1982): 57 broadcasts
7. Asterix in Britain (1985): 56 broadcasts
8. Scout Toujours (1985): 56 broadcasts
9. Kirikou and the Sorceress (1995): 56 broadcasts
10. Asterix the Gaul (1967): 55 broadcasts
11. Tintin and the Lake of Sharks (1972): 55 broadcasts
12. Tintin and the Temple of the Sun (1969): 55 broadcasts
13. Life Is a Long Quiet River (1987): 53 broadcasts
14. Asterix and the Big Fight (1988): 52 broadcasts
15. Asterix Conquers America (1994): 51 broadcasts
16. The Under-Gifted (1979): 51 broadcasts
17. Move! (1997): 51 broadcasts
18. The Big Blue (1987): 50 broadcasts
19. Cop or Hood (1979): 50 broadcasts
20. The Big Restaurant (1966): 50 broadcasts