Besson’s Valerian bombs

Industry figures show Valerian took $44m in the US, about $65m in China and only $202m worldwide. Despite much of its cost being covered by pre-sales it is still heading for a loss.

However film hits have come with the animation Ballerina in Spain and Mexico, Omar Sy’s Demain tout commence in Ger­many and Italy while Raoul Peck’s James Baldwin docu-film I Am Not Your Negro has been seen by a US audience of a million.