# Le Splendid

Le Splendid is a café-théâtre company founded in Paris by a collection of writers and actors in the 1970s: Christian Clavier, Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte (four childhood friends who knew one another from the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine), Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin. The members of the company went on to become some of the most significant actors and directors in French cinema from the 1980s onwards and have collectively won many César Awards.
Anémone, Dominique Lavanant and Martin Lamotte have often worked with the troupe on stage and in films, but are not part of the collective. The café-théâtre was located in the Rue des Lombards in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

## Members
### Principal members

* Josiane Balasko
* Michel Blanc
* Marie-Anne Chazel
* Christian Clavier
* Gérard Jugnot
* Thierry Lhermitte

### Collaborators

* Anémone
* Dominique Lavanant
* Bruno Moynot
* Martin Lamotte

## Theatre

* Je Vais Craquer
* Ma Tête est Malade
* Le Pot de Terre Contre le Pot de Vin
* Bunny's Bar ou Les Hommes Préfèrent Les Grosses (adapted into film 1981)
* Amours, coquillages et crustacés (stage version of the film Les Bronzés)
* Le Père Noël est une ordure

## Filmography

* 1978 : French Fried Vacation directed by Patrice Leconte
* 1979 : French Fried Vacation 2 directed by Patrice Leconte
* 1982 : Santa Claus Is a Stinker directed by Jean-Marie Poiré
* 1983 : Gramps Is in the Resistance directed by Jean-Marie Poiré
* 1994 : Dead Tired directed by Michel Blanc
* 2006 : French Fried Vacation 3 directed by Patrice Leconte
Individually each member of Le Splendid has had a successful career, collectively comprising hundreds of films and plays.

## Box-office

Movies starring one or all members of the Splendid with more than a million of ticket sales.
| | Films | Director | Members | Year | Tickets sold (France) |
| 1 | Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | Alain Chabat | Clavier | 2002 | 14,559,509 |
| 2 | Les Visiteurs | Jean-Marie Poiré | Clavier & Chazel | 1993 | 13,782,991 |
| 3 | Serial (Bad) Weddings | Philippe de Chauveron | Clavier | 2014 | 12,361,430 |
| 4 | French Fried Vacation 3 | Patrice Leconte | All | 2006 | 10,355,930 |
| 5 | The Dinner Game | Francis Veber | Lhermitte | 1998 | 9,247,001 |
| 6 | Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar | Claude Zidi | Clavier | 1999 | 8,948,624 |
| 7 | The Chorus | Christophe Barratier | Jugnot | 2004 | 8,636,016 |
| 8 | The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time | Jean-Marie Poiré (2) | Clavier & Chazel | 1998 | 8,043,129 |
| 9 | Un indien dans la ville | Hervé Palud | Lhermitte | 1994 | 7,870,802 |
| 10 | Marche à l'ombre | Michel Blanc | Blanc | 1984 | 6,168,425 |
| 11 | My New Partner | Claude Zidi (2) | Lhermitte | 1984 | 5,882,397 |
| 12 | Les Anges gardiens | Jean-Marie Poiré (3) | Clavier | 1995 | 5,793,034 |
| 13 | Going Places | Bertrand Blier | Lhermitte & Jugnot | 1974 | 5,726,031 |
| 14 | Little Nicholas | Laurent Tirard | Jugnot | 2009 | 5,520,562 |
| 15 | The Closet | Francis Veber (2) | Lhermitte | 2001 | 5,317,858 |
| 16 | The New Adventures of Aladdin | Arthur Benzaquen | Blanc | 2015 | 4,424,083 |
| 17 | Gramps Is in the Resistance | Jean-Marie Poiré (4) | Clavier, Jugnot, Balasko, Blanc & Lhermitte | 1983 | 4,104,082 |
| 18 | French Twist | Josiane Balasko | Balasko | 1995 | 3,990,094 |
| 19 | Serial Teachers | Pierre-François Martin-Laval | Clavier | 2013 | 3,957,176 |
| 20 | Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia | Laurent Tirard (2) | Jugnot | 2012 | 3,820,404 |
| 21 | Je vous trouve très beau | Isabelle Mergault | Blanc | 2005 | 3,567,222 |
| 22 | Babysitting 2 | Nicolas Benamou & Philippe Lacheau | Clavier | 2015 | 3,203,541 |
| 23 | Animal | Claude Zidi (3) | Balasko | 1977 | 3,157,789 |
| 24 | Tenue de soirée | Bertrand Blier (2) | Blanc | 1986 | 3,144,799 |
| 25 | Le Maître d'école | Claude Berri | Balasko | 1981 | 3,015,596 |
| 26 | Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo | Vincent McEveety | Jugnot & Balasko | 1977 | 2,977,303 |
| 27 | My New Partner II | Claude Zidi (4) | Lhermitte | 1990 | 2,917,115 |
| 28 | Didier | Alain Chabat (2) | Balasko | 1997 | 2,902,960 |
| 29 | Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine | Patrice Leconte (2) | Blanc & Chazel | 1981 | 2,820,169 |
| 30 | L'Enquête Corse | Alain Berbérian | Clavier | 2004 | 2,667,275 |
| 31 | The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent | Gérard Oury | Balasko | 1984 | 2,663,303 |
| 32 | Uranus | Arlette Langmann & Claude Berri (2) | Blanc | 1990 | 2,545,412 |
| 33 | Neuilly Yo Mama! | Gabriel Julien-Laferrière | Balasko | 2009 | 2,517,140 |
| 34 | The Umbrella Coup | Gérard Oury (2) | Jugnot | 1980 | 2,451,606 |
| 35 | Pinot simple flic | Gérard Jugnot | Jugnot | 1984 | 2,418,756 |
| 36 | The Lady Banker | Francis Girod | Lhermitte | 1980 | 2,394,073 |
| 37 | Babysitting | Nicolas Benamou & Philippe Lacheau (2) | Jugnot | 2014 | 2,358,733 |
| 38 | French Fried Vacation | Patrice Leconte (3) | All | 1978 | 2,308,644 |
| 39 | The Visitors: Bastille Day | Jean-Marie Poiré (5) | Clavier & Chazel | 2016 | 2,188,217 |
| 40 | The Joint Brothers | Hervé Palud (2) | Balasko | 1986 | 2,179,370 |
| 41 | A Crime in Paradise | Jean Becker | Balasko | 2001 | 2,137,829 |
| 42 | Back to Mom's | Éric Lavaine | Balasko | 2016 | 2,120,106 |
| 43 | Pardon Mon Affaire, Too! | Yves Robert | Balasko | 1977 | 2,080,789 |
| 44 | La Vengeance d'une blonde | Jeannot Szwarc | Clavier, Chazel & Lhermitte | 1994 | 2,039,370 |
| 45 | Too Beautiful for You | Bertrand Blier (3) | Balasko | 1989 | 2,031,131 |
| 46 | Dead Tired | Michel Blanc (2) | All | 1994 | 2,015,230 |
| 47 | Men Prefer Fat Girls | Jean-Marie Poiré (6) | Balasko & Lhermitte | 1981 | 1,931,038 |
| 48 | Le zèbre | Jean Poiret | Lhermitte | 1992 | 1,866,623 |
| 49 | Pas de problème ! | Georges Lautner | Jugnot | 1975 | 1,810,393 |
| 50 | La 7ème compagnie au clair de lune | Robert Lamoureux | Jugnot | 1977 | 1,792,134 |
| 51 | Monsieur Batignole | Gérard Jugnot (2) | Jugnot | 2002 | 1,773,472 |
| 52 | Cours après moi ... que je t'attrape | Robert Pouret | Chazel & Blanc | 1976 | 1,755,935 |
| 53 | Scout toujours... | Gérard Jugnot (3) | Jugnot | 1985 | 1,755,081 |
| 54 | Une époque formidable... | Gérard Jugnot (4) | Jugnot | 1991 | 1,672,754 |
| 55 | La Totale! | Claude Zidi (5) | Lhermitte | 1991 | 1,639,813 |
| 56 | French Fried Vacation 2 | Patrice Leconte (4) | All | 1982 | 1,582,732 |
| 57 | La nouvelle guerre des boutons | Christophe Barratier (2) | Jugnot | 2011 | 1,542,231 |
| 58 | Santa Claus Is a Stinker | Jean-Marie Poiré (7) | All | 1979 | 1,535,781 |
| 59 | Summer Things | Michel Blanc (3) | Blanc | 2002 | 1,528,784 |
| 60 | La Soif de l'or | Gérard Oury (3) | Clavier | 1993 | 1,517,890 |
| 61 | Les Rois du gag | Claude Zidi (6) | Jugnot & Lhermitte | 1985 | 1,510,930 |
| 62 | Le mariage du siècle | Philippe Galland | Lhermitte | 1985 | 1,493,351 |
| 63 | My Best Friend's Girl | Bertrand Blier (4) | Lhermitte | 1983 | 1,485,746 |
| 64 | L'opération Corned Beef | Jean-Marie Poiré (8) | Clavier | 1991 | 1,475,580 |
| 65 | The Race | Djamel Bensalah | Balasko & Jugnot | 2002 | 1,456,267 |
| 66 | Asterix and the Big Fight | Philippe Grimond | Chazel | 1989 | 1,442,311 |
| 67 | The Well-Digger's Daughter | Daniel Auteuil | Chazel | 2011 | 1,401,319 |
| 68 | Le coup de sirocco | Alexandre Arcady | Chazel & Jugnot | 1979 | 1,387,034 |
| 69 | Nuit d'ivresse | Bernard Nauer | Balasko, Lhermitte & Jugnot | 1986 | 1,381,464 |
| 70 | Absolutely Fabulous | Gabriel Aghion | Balasko | 2001 | 1,370,394 |
| 71 | Le prix à payer | Alexandra Leclère | Clavier | 2007 | 1,368,791 |
| 72 | Twist again à Moscou | Jean-Marie Poiré (9) | Clavier | 1986 | 1,361,683 |
| 73 | Le quart d'heure américain | Philippe Galland (2) | Jugnot | 1982 | 1,337,893 |
| 74 | Paris 36 | Christophe Barratier (3) | Jugnot | 2008 | 1,331,585 |
| 75 | Promotion canapé | Didier Kaminka | Lhermitte | 1990 | 1,324,814 |
| 76 | Pour cent briques, t'as plus rien... | Édouard Molinaro | Jugnot | 1982 | 1,303,784 |
| 77 | On aura tout vu | Georges Lautner (2) | Jugnot, Blanc & Chazel | 1976 | 1,290,565 |
| 78 | The Toy | Francis Veber (3) | Jugnot | 1976 | 1,249,452 |
| 79 | La gitane | Philippe de Broca | Chazel | 1986 | 1,248,434 |
| 80 | Just Visiting | Jean-Marie Poiré (10) | Clavier | 2001 | 1,217,623 |
| 81 | Boudu | Gérard Jugnot (5) | Jugnot | 2005 | 1,199,369 |
| 82 | Ma femme s'appelle reviens | Patrice Leconte (5) | Blanc | 1982 | 1,188,840 |
| 83 | Most Promising Young Actress | Gérard Jugnot (6) | Jugnot & Lhermitte | 2000 | 1,184,971 |
| 84 | My Life Is Hell | Josiane Balasko (2) | Balasko | 1991 | 1,170,523 |
| 85 | Un été d'enfer | Michael Schock | Lhermitte | 1984 | 1,138,383 |
| 86 | The Roommates Party | Alexandra Leclère (2) | Balasko | 2015 | 1,131,775 |
| 87 | Let Joy Reign Supreme | Bertrand Tavernier | Blanc, Clavier, Lhermitte & Jugnot | 1975 | 1,124,845 |
| 88 | Mauvais esprit | Patrick Alessandrin | Lhermitte | 2003 | 1,106,439 |
| 89 | Merci la vie | Bertrand Blier (5) | Blanc | 1991 | 1,088,777 |
| 90 | Circulez y'a rien à voir | Patrice Leconte (6) | Blanc | 1983 | 1,084,439 |
| 91 | Signes extérieurs de richesse | Jacques Monnet | Balasko | 1983 | 1,074,802 |
| 92 | Lady Cops | Josiane Balasko (3) | Balasko | 1987 | 1,071,467 |
| 93 | Je vais craquer !!! | François Leterrier | Clavier | 1980 | 1,053,217 |
| 94 | Effroyables jardins | Jean Becker (2) | Lhermitte | 2003 | 1,035,142 |
| 95 | Memories | Jean-Paul Rouve | Blanc | 2014 | 1,034,505 |
| 96 | Le prince du Pacifique | Alain Corneau | Lhermitte | 2000 | 1,028,640 |
| 97 | Fanfan | Alexandre Jardin | Lhermitte | 1993 | 1,020,679 |
| 98 | Casque bleu | Gérard Jugnot (7) | Jugnot | 1994 | 1,015,156 |
| 99 | Do Not Disturb | Patrice Leconte (7) | Clavier | 2014 | 1,006,867 |
| 100 | La Gueule de l'autre | Pierre Tchernia | Blanc | 1979 | 1,000,704 |
* Christian Clavier play in 25 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 122 167 881 ticket.
* Thierry Lhermitte play in 29 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 109 850 038 ticket.
* Gérard Jugnot play in 33 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 105 415 238 ticket.
* Josiane Balasko play in 26 movies over a million of entries. The films in which she played has sold 78 534 082 ticket.
* Michel Blanc play in 21 movies over a million of entries. The films in which he played has sold 69 400 706 ticket.
* Marie-Anne Chazel play in 16 movies over a million of entries. The films in which she played has sold 60 138 655 ticket.

## Awards
### Cannes Film Festival

| Year | Category | Recipient | Film | Result |
| 1986 | Best Actor Award | Michel Blanc | Tenue de soirée | Won |
| 1994 | Palme d'Or | Michel Blanc | Dead Tired | Nominated |
| 1994 | Best Screenplay Award | Michel Blanc | Dead Tired | Won |

### César Award

| Year | Category | Recipient | Film | Result |
| 1985 | César Award for Best First Feature Film | Michel Blanc | Marche à l'ombre | Nominated |
| 1987 | César Award for Best Actor | Michel Blanc | Tenue de soirée | Nominated |
| 1988 | César Award for Best Actor | Gérard Jugnot | Tandem | Nominated |
| 1990 | César Award for Best Actor | Michel Blanc | Monsieur Hire | Nominated |
| 1990 | César Award for Best Actress | Josiane Balasko | Too Beautiful for You | Nominated |
| 1992 | César Award for Best Actor | Gérard Jugnot | Une époque formidable... | Nominated |
| 1994 | César Award for Best Actor | Christian Clavier | Les Visiteurs | Nominated |
| 1994 | César Award for Best Writing | Christian Clavier | Les Visiteurs | Nominated |
| 1994 | César Award for Best Actress | Josiane Balasko | Not Everybody's Lucky Enough to Have Communist Parents | Nominated |
| 1995 | César Award for Best Writing | Michel Blanc | Dead Tired | Nominated |
| 1996 | César Award for Best Writing | Josiane Balasko | French Twist | Won |
| 1996 | César Award for Best Film | Josiane Balasko | French Twist | Nominated |
| 1996 | César Award for Best Director | Josiane Balasko | French Twist | Nominated |
| 1998 | César Award for Best Supporting Actor | Gérard Jugnot | Marthe | Nominated |
| 2000 | Honorary César | Josiane Balasko | Career | Won |
| 2003 | César Award for Best Writing | Michel Blanc | Summer Things | Nominated |
| 2004 | César Award for Best Actress | Josiane Balasko | That Woman | Nominated |
| 2005 | César Award for Best Actor | Gérard Jugnot | The Chorus | Nominated |
| 2007 | César Award for Best Actor | Michel Blanc | Je vous trouve très beau | Nominated |
| 2008 | César Award for Best Actor | Michel Blanc | The Witnesses | Nominated |
| 2012 | César Award for Best Supporting Actor | Michel Blanc | The Minister | Won |
Thierry Lhermitte and Marie-Anne Chazel have never been nominated for a César Award. Josiane Balasko is the most awarded with 2 César and Michel Blanc, the most nominated with 8 nomination.

### European Film Awards

| Year | Category | Recipient | Film | Result |
| 2004 | European Film Award for Best Actor | Gérard Jugnot | The Chorus | Nominated |

### Golden Globe Awards

| Year | Category | Recipient | Film | Result |
| 1995 | Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film | Josiane Balasko | French Twist | Nominated |

### Lumières Award

| Year | Category | Recipient | Film | Result |
| 1996 | Lumières Award for Best Screenplay | Josiane Balasko | French Twist | Won |
| 2007 | Lumières Award for Best Actor | Michel Blanc | Je vous trouve très beau | Nominated |
| 2014 | Lumières Award for Best Actor | Thierry Lhermitte | The French Minister | Nominated |