Story perspectives

Neon, Netflix snap up Cannes titles as US slate thins

5/24/2026

Summary

Neon Acquires

Neon acquired the Palme D’Or winner “It Was Just an Accident” at Cannes.
Neon also acquired “The Secret Agent” and “Sirât” at Cannes.
Netflix bought “Nouvelle Vague” and “Left-Handed Girl” at Cannes.
MUBI’s “Die, My Love” and “Sound of Falling” failed to make a splash in the United States.
The upcoming slate indicates a shortage of American films.

Summary

Festivals Unveil

The streamer touts “Gentle Monster” with actress Léa Seydoux as a Best Actress hopeful.
Lukas Dhont’s WWI romance “Coward,” starring Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, premiered in competition.
Hand-painted animator Clichy’s “Iron Boy” follows an 11-year-old farm boy forced into an iron corset.
Warner Bros. Clockwork will screen Ken Russell’s restored “The Devils” for one week from Oct 16.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Spanish melodrama opened in March to explore pain and mourning.

History

Historical Context

Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s whimsical film Amélie opened in France on 25 April 2001 and earned $174.2 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing French-language title in North America. Its U.S. rights were handled by Miramax, which later changed hands to beIN in 2016 and to Sony Pictures Classics in 2023 for a 2024 re-release. The film’s enduring profitability fuels today’s aggressive Cannes bidding.

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Neon Acquires

Neon acquired the Palme D’Or winner “It Was Just an Accident” at Cannes.
Neon also acquired “The Secret Agent” and “Sirât” at Cannes.
Netflix bought “Nouvelle Vague” and “Left-Handed Girl” at Cannes.
MUBI’s “Die, My Love” and “Sound of Falling” failed to make a splash in the United States.
The upcoming slate indicates a shortage of American films.

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