Studiocanal Germany is celebrating the best-ever opening for one of its German-language productions after culture-clash comedy-drama hit the one-million-spectator mark following its release in mid-January.
According to figures release by Studiocanal, the picture secured the widest release in the history of its German arm reaching 769 locations across Germany in its third week, to cross the one million admissions mark in its first 16 days on release.
Studiocanal said this result meant the film had outperformed the lifetime results of other recent big German box-office hits such as the 2024 released Old White Man (Alter weisser Mann) and 2022 comedy Family Affairs (Der Nachname).
In additional news, the studio revealed that a Netherlands-set remake is in development at its Dutch Film Works with additional remake talks underway.
Adapted from Dietmar Jakobs and Moritz Netenjakob’s hit 2019 play of the same name, Extrawurst is set against the backdrop of a small-town tennis club and pivots around the purchase of a barbecue grill for an upcoming social event.
When a well-intentioned member suggests buying a second grill so that the food of the club’s only Muslim does not touch pork, the idea sparks an escalating furore in which believers, atheists, Germans, Turks, do-gooders and hardliners clash.
Christoph Maria Herbst (Stromberg, The Door-to-Door Bookshop), Fahri Yardim (Jerks) and Friedrich Mücke (Ballon), Anja Knauer (The Signal) and Gaby Dohm (The Black Forest Clinic) make-up the ensemble cast. The film also marks the big screen comeback of star TV presenter, comedian, writer and actor Hape Kerkeling.
Marcus H. Rosenmüller directs. He is one of Germany’s most successful mainstream directors with recent credits including a trio of films inspired by the children’s character Pumuckl as well as the Annecy-selected animated feature Welcome to Siegheilkirchen.
Extrawurst is one of the first German films to be released under Studiocanal Germany’s new leadership of co-CEOs Hooman Afshari and Lutz Rippe. It was produced Lieblingsfilm and Studiocanal Germany.
“Extrawurst proves that ambitious, universal stories can ignite truly broad enthusiasm,” they said in a joint statement.
“This success belongs to everyone involved — the producers and director, our fantastic cast, the outstanding creative team and of course the audiences who embraced Extrawurst from day one. This milestone motivates us to continue investing boldly in distinctive German productions.”
