English-Canadians are finally getting the chance to see what has already become one of the most successful homegrown films, both critically and at the box office after its May 9 release on 136 Quebec screens.

Denys Arcand’s French-language feature Les Invasions barbares has played to huge audiences, bringing in more than $6.2 million at the Quebec box office, has been submitted for a best foreign-language nom at the 76th Academy Awards and won best non-European film at the European Film Awards Dec. 6.

Coproduced by Montreal’s Cinemaginaire and Pyramide Productions of Paris and distributed by Odeon Films in English Canada, The Barbarian Invasions was released Nov. 21 and as of Dec. 7 had brought in just under $150,000. Initially released on three screens in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, Odeon has since added another two screens in Toronto.

Meanwhile, the caper comedy Crime Spree, coproduced by Toronto prodco GFT Entertainment and the U.K.’s Studio Eight, hit Canadian theaters Nov. 28 through Odeon. The feature, starring Gerard Depardieu and Harvey Keitel, was released on three screens in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. As of Dec. 7, Crime Spree’s total box-office take was $11,072. The film was directed by Brad Mirman and shot in Toronto in spring/summer 2002.

Also from Odeon, Alliance Atlantis’ Foolproof is nearing the end of its run in Canadian theaters. It remains on two screens at rep houses, with a current box-office total of $465,742. And My Life Without Me, starring Sarah Polley, is still playing on three screens in smaller markets in Calgary, Edmonton and Guelph, ON. Its Canadian box-office total as of Dec. 7 was $87,254.

Meanwhile, Falling Angels, the $4-million dramatic feature directed by Scott Smith (Rollercoaster), hit Canadian theaters Nov. 14. Based on a novel by Barbara Gowdy, the Triptych Media/Minds Eye Entertainment coproduction was initially released on four screens. Canadian distributor Seville Pictures has since added another two, but box-office figures remain unavailable.

Love That Boy from Halifax director Andrea Dorfman was released on two screens Nov. 14 by Mongrel Media. Since its opening weekend, it has increased its box-office take from just over $4,000 to $11,500 as of Dec 7. Part of the Seats 3a & 3c series from Halifax prodco imX communications, Love That Boy finished its Toronto run Dec. 4 and opened in Calgary Dec. 12.

The Gospel of John continues to enjoy success in its Canadian theatrical release, and although ThinkFilm reports that exact box-office figures remain unavailable, the distributor anticipates grossing around $400,000 in Ontario alone after expanding the Toronto release to Ottawa, and possibly Peterborough and Kingston. Releases outside of Ontario, particularly in strong Christian communitites across the Prairies, has ThinkFilm anticipating a strong winter for Gospel.

And soon to hit Canadian theaters is Les Triplettes de Belleville/The Belleville Triplets, an animated comedy from writer/director Sylvain Chomet, which has been nominated for best foreign film at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film is a coproduction from Montreal’s Champion Productions (producer Paul Cadieux), France’s Productions Les Armateurs and Belgium’s Vivi Film, with Canadian sales through Remstar Distribution/Alliance Atlantis.

Triplets opened at the end of November in the U.S., distributed through Sony Pictures Classics. In its first four days on two screens in New York City it brought in $98,312 and in L.A. on four screens during the same period it brought in $40,414. The animated feature will open on seven Quebec screens and one in Ottawa Dec. 19, increasing to 15 screens across Canada Jan. 23, 2004.