09/11/2012 - The biggest money-maker in the Netherlands may be the latest 007 adventure but Dutch films hold the positions two through four on the box-office charts

Like everywhere else in Europe, Skyfall [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile], the latest James Bond adventure, is doing extremely well, having made almost €3.5m in its first week.

But right behind him on the box-office charts are three local productions: The Marathon [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a sports-themed comedy-drama; children's film Mees Kees [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and the book adaptation Only Decent People [+see also:
trailer
film profile], respectively.

The Marathon is the debut of commercials director Diederick Koopal and looks at a group of out-of-shape garage workers who decide to run the Rotterdam marathon in order to save their employer from foreclosure.

Though the setup is formulaic, local reviews have praised the acting and screenplay, and audiences have responded. Since its mid-October release, it has amassed more than €1.1 million, with a still-healthy screen average of more than €2,300 last week. The film was produced by Eyeworks Film & TV Drama in association with Inspire Pictures and with backing from broadcaster RTL and the Netherlands Film Fund. Benelux film Distributors Netherlands (BFD) still has the film on 106 screens.

Mees Kees, directed by Barbara Bredero and based on the youth novels by Mirjam Oldenhave about a crazy schoolteacher, has amassed an impressive €3.2m in five weeks (it was actually the country's most-visited title the week before Bond opened). The PV Pictures production, now on 119 screens, was released through E1 Entertainment One Benelux and received backing from Netherlands Film Fund and broadcaster TROS.

Mees Kees is currently the most successful Dutch title of 2012 and the 9th most-visited title of all of this year's films.

Rounding out the top four in its fourth week is Only Decent People (see news) from director Lodewijk Crijns, with a cumulative take of €2.1m and an impressive screen average of more than €2,500 on 81 screens.

Other noteworthy European films currently playing in the Netherlands include Danish director Thomas Vinterberg's Cannes-selected drama TThe Hunt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Thomas Vinterberg
interview: Thomas Vinterberg
film profile]; François Ozon's comedy-thriller hybrid In the House [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and French blockbuster Asterix And Obelix: God Save Britannia [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Now in its 33rd week, French Oscar submission Untouchable [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] is currently the most-visited film of 2012, with a total box-office take of over €9.1m.