Les Miserables is a 2012 British musical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and based on the musical of the same name. It follows the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who agrees to care for a dying prostitute's daughter. The film stars Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and features an all-star cast. It had a budget of $61 million and was produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Universal Pictures. Les Miserables was a commercial success, breaking box office records and grossing over $148 million in the US.

1. LES MISERABLES

2. OVERVIEW
Les miserables (2012) is a British drama musical based on a stage musical adapted
from the french novel. Set in the 19th century in France following the life of an ex
convict avoiding capture as he agrees to take care of a dying prostitutes illegitimate
daughter.

3. PRODUCTION
Production for Les Miserables began in June 2011, with Tom Hooper as the director
and the screenplay written by William Nicholson. The all star cast includes Hugh
Jackman (Jean), Russel Crowe (Javert), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Amanda
Seyfried (Cosette)
Filming mainly took place in areas of England such as
Greenwich, Northamptonshire and Hampshire but also took place in France. The
budget was $61,000,000, due to the high profile cast and oscar winning director
Tom Hooper and was produced by working title films.

4. DISTRIBUTION
Les Miserables was distributed by Universal pictures (the parent of working title
films), one of the six major movie studios. It was set to be released on the 14th of
december 2012 but was postponed to Christmas day in fear of conflicting with The
Hobbit: An unexpected journey. It was released on the 11th of January 2013 in the
UK.

5. MARKETING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNKcLXvuF7g&safe=active
As well as this posters were produced.

6. MARKETING
The marketing campaign for Les Miserables was mostly viral and promoted through
the films facebook page in order to reach more people and create a buzz.
It started with the release of a teaser trailer online in May 2012. In September
2012, more buzz was created from a first look video uploaded on facebook in which
the viewers could see the extensive singing training the actors had to endure for the
film and enjoy exclusive behind the scenes footage, as well as the international
trailer.
Following this in late September 2012 a new poster for the film was released and
then in October, several characters posters were released. Footage of the films
premiere in New York was streamed online.
Having been based on a book and stage play, Les Miserables already had a presold audience. Versions of the book were also published with the front cover of the
book as the poster of the movie.

7. DIRECTOR
Tom Hooper is a british director, best known for directing films such as Les
Miserables and historical drama The King’s Speech. The Kings Speech won seven
BAFTA’s and four academy awards including best director for Tom Hooper. This
partly explains the high budget for Les Miserables as Hopper had, by this
point, become a critically acclaimed film director.

8. PRODUCTION COMPANY
Working title is a British film company that was founded in 1983. After the huge
success of British films such as Bridget Jones, Love Actually, Billy Elliot and Shaun
of the dead, working title could branch out with American films. Considering it is a
subsidiary of Universal studios and one of the most successful British film
companies, it makes sense that their films would be successful at the box office.

9. GENRES
• Drama
• Musical
• Romance

10. CLASSIFICATION
Les Miserables has a classification of 12A due to the presence of violence and
sexual material but also as not to restrict it’s audience.

11. DETAILS
Country: USA/UK
Language: English
Release date: 11/1/13
Filming locations: England and France

12. BOX OFFICE
Due to the pre-sold audience of Les Miserables, the high profile cast and the list of
award nominations, it is not surprising that it was hugely successful at the box
office. In the US, Les Miserables broke the record for the highest opening day gross
for a film released on Christmas day, premiering in 2,208 screens and grossing
$27.3 million in its opening weekend.
In the UK it grossed £8.1 million in its opening weekend and was not only the
largest opening weekend for a musical film but for working title.

13. BOX OFFICE
Budget:
$61,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend:
$27,281,735 (USA) (28 December 2012)
Gross:
$148,775,460 (USA)(29 March 2013)

14. COMPANY CREDITS
Production companies:
• Universal pictures,
• Relativity media,
• Working title films,
• Cameron mackintosh.

15. DISTRIBUTION
Distribution Companies:
•
Universal pictures
•
B&H film distribution
•
China film co.
•
Huaxia
•
Interfilm distribution
•
Solar entertainment
•
Solar films
•
Toho-Towa
•
United Internation Pictures (argentina, greece, singapore)
•
Universal pictures (USA, canada, germany, france, netherlands, russia)
•
Feelgood entertainment
•
Universal home entertainment
•
Universal pictures benelux
•
Waylen group
•
Zon audiovisuals

16. SPECIAL EFFECTS
Double negative (visual effects)
The mill (visual effects)
Utopia (visual effects)
Rushes post production (visual effects)
Lola visual effects (visual effects)
Webvfx (additional visual effects)
Snow business international (snow effects)

17. CREDITS
The film opens without any opening credits, the title is stated just before the closing
credits.