# The Count of Monte Cristo (2024 film)

The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is a 2024 French historical action adventure film based on the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas. Written and directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, the film stars Pierre Niney in the role of Edmond Dantès.
The Count of Monte Cristo had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 22 May 2024, and was released theatrically in France a month later by Pathé. With a budget estimated at €42.9 million, the film is the most expensive French production of 2024. It has sold over 9 million admissions in France, where it is the second highest-grossing film of 2024. Worldwide, it has grossed $100 million, and received critical acclaim.

## Plot

In 1815, sailor Edmond Dantès defies orders to rescue a shipwrecked woman from the Mediterranean Sea. The woman, Angèle, carries a letter from the exiled Napoleon, which Captain Danglars seizes. Upon reaching Marseille, Danglars reports Edmond to shipowner Morrel, but Morrel dismisses Danglars for neglecting his duty to aid survivors and promotes Edmond in his place.
Edmond returns home to share the news with his fiancée, Mercédès Herrera, and her cousin, Fernand de Morcerf, who harbors feelings for her. Edmond asks Fernand to be his best man at their upcoming wedding. However, on the wedding day, Edmond is arrested and accused of being a Bonapartist. Brought before Gérard de Villefort, Marseille's deputy prosecutor, Edmond maintains his innocence, prompting Villefort to consider releasing him. However, Edmond reveals he knows Angèle's identity. Villefort detains him further while interrogating Danglars and Fernand.
Villefort conspires with Danglars and Fernand to ensure Edmond's imprisonment. Angèle, Villefort's sister, demands Edmond's release and threatens to expose Villefort's affair with Danglars' wife. To silence her, Villefort enlists Danglars to eliminate Angèle. Edmond is imprisoned in the Château d'If, where he meets fellow inmate Abbé Faria, who educates him in languages, science, and culture over eight years. Faria also reveals the location of a vast treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Before their planned escape, Faria is fatally injured by a tunnel collapse. Edmond takes Faria's body to his cell, hides in the burial sack in its place, and, after being thrown into the sea, escapes and swims to freedom.
Returning to Marseille, Edmond learns his father has died, and Mercédès has married Fernand and moved to Paris. Edmond journeys to Monte Cristo, where he finds the hidden treasure. A year later, he reemerges as the Count of Monte Cristo, intent on revenge. He locates Angèle, sold by Danglars into prostitution, now dying. She reveals she once tried to expose Villefort's crimes, including his attempt to bury his illegitimate son, André, alive. Angèle rescued André, placing him in an orphanage. Edmond takes André under his wing, renaming him Prince Andrea Cavalcanti, and makes him a key player in his plans.
The Count orchestrates a series of schemes against his enemies. He stages a rescue of Fernand's son, Albert, earning Fernand's trust. Through Albert, the Count gains introductions to Danglars and Villefort. He also reunites with Mercédès, who recognizes him despite his changed appearance. Meanwhile, Edmond uses Andrea to charm Eugénie, Danglars's daughter, and introduces Haydée, a beautiful woman under his protection, encouraging her to captivate Albert.
Edmond's revenge unfolds with precision. News spreads of Danglars's fleet disappearing, causing his stocks to crash. Fernand, using his access to military intelligence, informs Danglars that the reports are false. Danglars borrows money from Monte Cristo to recover his losses, using his assets as collateral. At a trial where Danglars seeks to sue the newspaper for defamation, Andrea reveals himself as Villefort's illegitimate son, exposing Villefort's past crimes. Villefort, humiliated, leaves the courtroom, sparing his former mistress from scandal. André, driven by revenge, assassinates his father but is killed while fleeing. Haydée, devastated by André's death, turns against the Count, holding him responsible.
As Haydée and Albert plan to leave, they are confronted by the Count, who demands that Haydée reveal the truth of Albert's father's betrayal of her father, Ali Pasha of Janina. Enraged, Albert challenges the Count to a duel. Mercédès confronts Edmond, pleading for her son Albert's life. Edmond agrees to spare Albert, ending their duel without bloodshed. He encourages Haydée and Albert to find happiness together. Mercédès leaves Fernand, who confronts Edmond in desperation. The two duel, with Edmond emerging victorious. Refusing to kill Fernand, Edmond leaves him to live with his disgrace and losses.
Edmond leaves his estate, embarking on a life of travel. In a final letter to Mercédès, he writes: "All human wisdom is contained in these two words: 'Wait and Hope'".

## Cast

* Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès / Lord Halifax / Abbé Busoni
* Bastien Bouillon as Fernand de Morcerf
* Anaïs Demoustier as Mercédès Herrera
* Anamaria Vartolomei as Haydée
** Amaya Ducellier as young Haydée
* Laurent Lafitte as Gérard de Villefort
* Pierfrancesco Favino as Abbé Faria
* Patrick Mille as Danglars
* Vassili Schneider as Albert de Morcerf
* Julien de Saint Jean as Andrea
* Julie de Bona as Victoria
* Adèle Simphal as Angèle de Villefort
* Marie Narbonne as Eugénie Danglars
* Bernard Blancan as Louis Dantes

## Production

The film is written and directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière and produced by Chapter 2 and Pathé Films. They were revealed to be working on the project in November 2020. It is co-produced by M6 Films, Fargo Films, Logical Content Ventures and Umedia.
With a budget estimated in €42.9 million, The Count of Monte Cristo is the most expensive French film of 2024.

### Casting

Pierre Niney was cast in the lead role in February 2023. In July 2023, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Anamaria Vartolomei, Bastien Bouillon, Patrick Mille, Vassili Schneider, and Julien de Saint Jean were cast in the film.

### Filming

Principal photography got underway in the summer of 2023.

## Release

The film was selected to be screened out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 22 May 2024, and earned a nearly 11-minute standing ovation at the end of its screening.
It was theatrically released by Pathé in France on 28 June 2024, and had its international debut at the 2nd Mediterrane Film Festival on 22 June 2024. It also played at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on 19 July 2024, and has been scheduled to screen in a gala presentation at the 2024 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. It made its U.S. premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival on 11 October 2024. Samuel Goldwyn Films released the film in theaters on 20 December 2024 in the United States.
It was featured in the Limelight section of the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam to be screened in February 2025.

## Music

The music of the film is composed by Jérôme Rebotier and released by Milan Records.

## Reception
### Box office

As of September 2024, the film had sold 8 million tickets in France and grossed over $75 million internationally with most major markets yet to open. As of 29 December 2024 the total worldwide gross was €100 million according to French website Cine-directors.net. It finished 2024 as the second-most watched film in French cinemas in the year, with more than 9 million tickets sold.

### Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 67 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Condensing Alexandre Dumas' hefty tome into a brisk and lavishly appointed action-adventure, this French adaptation of The Count of Monte-Cristo hits the sweet spot with rapier-like precision." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. On AlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on 40 reviews from French critics.

### Accolades

On 11 September 2024, The Count of Monte Cristo was one of the 4 films shortlisted by France's Oscar committee for consideration as the country's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film also made the January longlist of 10 titles in the Best Film Not in the English Language category at the 2025 British Academy Film Awards. The film received 14 nominations for the 50th César Awards.
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Cabourg Film Festival | 2024 | Golden Swan for Best Film | The Count of Monte Cristo | Won |
| Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival | 2024 | Audience Choice | The Count of Monte Cristo | Won |
| Fantasia International Film Festival | 2024 | Cheval Noir for Best Film | The Count of Monte Cristo | Won |
| Goya Awards | 2025 | Best European Film | The Count of Monte Cristo | Nominated |
| Lumière Awards | 2025 | Best Director | Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière | Nominated |
| Lumière Awards | 2025 | Best Actor | Pierre Niney | Nominated |
| Lumière Awards | 2025 | Best Cinematography | Nicolas Bolduc | Won |