{ "id": "ep6vacazx5", "slug": "asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar", "title": "Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.superhero-comic-entries", "label": "Superhero and comic-franchise film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.superhero-comic-entries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.superhero-comic-entries.comic-films-before-2000", "label": "Comic films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.superhero-comic-entries.comic-films-before-2000" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000: Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.weu", "label": "Western Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar (Astérix et Obélix contre César) is Claude Zidi's 1999 live-action comedy, the first live-action Asterix film, starring Clavier, Depardieu, and Benigni, a French-German-Italian co-production that grossed over $100 million.", "snippet": "Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar (Astérix et Obélix contre César) is Claude Zidi's 1999 live-action comedy, the first live-action Asterix film, starring Clavier, Depardieu, and Benigni, a French-German-Italian co-production that grossed over $100 million.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.superhero-comic-entries.comic-films-before-2000", "markdown": "# Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar\n\n**Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar** (French: *Astérix et Obélix contre César*) is a 1999 live-action comedy film directed by Claude Zidi, adapting the French comic series *Asterix* by [René Goscinny](https://www.edgepedia.org/rene-goscinny) and Albert Uderzo for the cinema for the first time with real actors. It stars Christian Clavier as Asterix, Gérard Depardieu as Obelix, and [Roberto Benigni](https://www.edgepedia.org/roberto-benigni) as the villainous Roman commander Detritus.[1](https://infoicaa.mcu.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=75399) • [2](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asterix-obelix-take-on-caesar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdq5oda) Produced by Claude Berri as a French, German, and Italian co-production, it was the most expensive French-language film made up to that time and became one of the highest-grossing French films in history.[3](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/12816/asterix-and-obelix-versus-cesar) • [4](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| French release | 3 February 1999 (production year 1998)[3](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/12816/asterix-and-obelix-versus-cesar) |\n| Director / producer | Claude Zidi; produced by Claude Berri[1](https://infoicaa.mcu.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=75399) • [5](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html) |\n| Lead cast | Christian Clavier (Astérix), Gérard Depardieu (Obélix), Roberto Benigni (Lucius Detritus)[2](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asterix-obelix-take-on-caesar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdq5oda) |\n| Co-production | France, Germany, Italy; French-language[3](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/12816/asterix-and-obelix-versus-cesar) |\n| Budget | About US$45 million, the most expensive French-language film made at the time[4](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf) |\n| French admissions | Over 8 million; a first-week national record of 2,718,443 tickets[5](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html) • [6](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/asterix-routs-rivals-at-box-office-1071377.html) |\n| Worldwide gross | About $101.6 million against a reported $48.5 million budget[7](https://filmdb.co.uk/box-office/movie/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar-1999-box-office) |\n| Sequel | *Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra* (Alain Chabat, 2002)[4](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story\n\nThe film is set in 50 BCE, in the only Gaulish village that resists Roman rule thanks to a magic potion brewed by the druid [Panoramix](https://www.edgepedia.org/panoramix), which grants temporary superhuman strength. [Julius Caesar](https://www.edgepedia.org/julius-caesar) does not know the village defies him: his governor Detritus conceals the fact until Roman tax collectors return empty-handed. Detritus knows the warriors' secret, a potion that makes its drinker invincible for ten minutes, and his plan is to abduct the druid who invented it and depose Caesar to become master of the world. Asterix and Obelix foil the scheme, at one point allying with Caesar himself against the ambitious governor.[8](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/sites/4/2008/09/121533.3.pdf)\n\nThe Quebec classification board described the film as a large-scale French production whose restrained treatment makes it suitable for a broad audience, and gave it a general visa.[8](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/sites/4/2008/09/121533.3.pdf) In the United Kingdom it was passed 'PG' for cartoon violence, mild horror, and earthy language.[2](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asterix-obelix-take-on-caesar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdq5oda)\n\n### Place in the franchise\n\nThe film's success, achieved without American funding or distribution, demonstrated that a pan-European family blockbuster could compete with Hollywood product on its own terms, and it launched a series of expensive live-action adaptations: *[Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra](https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-mission-cleopatra)* (Alain Chabat, 2002), *[Asterix at the Olympic Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-at-the-olympic-games)* (2008), and *Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia* (Laurent Tirard, 2012).[4](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf) Depardieu was the only actor to reprise his role across the live-action films.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar) Clavier returned as Asterix in *Mission Cléopâtre* and later voiced the character in the 2018 animated film *Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion*.[9](https://leclaireur.fnac.com/article/586481-asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-trois-anecdotes-sur-le-film-de-claude-berri/) The 2002 sequel far outperformed the first film in France, drawing about 15 million admissions and becoming the most popular screen adaptation of the characters.[14](https://www.lemonde.fr/podcasts/article/2025/04/29/asterix-et-obelix-faut-il-regarder-la-serie-d-alain-chabat_6601153_5463015.html)\n\n## Production\n\nThe idea of a live-action Asterix film reached producer Claude Berri from his son in 1993. Jean-Marie Poiré was considered as director before Claude Zidi, known for *La Totale!* and *Ripoux contre Ripoux*, took the job.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html) Two earlier live-action projects had never materialized: in the 1960s [Claude Lelouch](https://www.edgepedia.org/claude-lelouch) planned an adaptation cast with non-professional actors chosen for their resemblance to the characters, a proposal Albert Uderzo did not favor, and later [Louis de Funès](https://www.edgepedia.org/louis-de-funes) wanted the title role but refused to wear the character's mustache.[9](https://leclaireur.fnac.com/article/586481-asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-trois-anecdotes-sur-le-film-de-claude-berri/)\n\n**Casting.** The role of Obelix was reserved for [Gérard Depardieu](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerard-depardieu) from the start: the contract between Albert Uderzo and Claude Berri contained three clauses covering substantial production means, respect for the original work, and Depardieu's attachment to the part. Christian Clavier was not the first choice for Asterix; producer Thomas Langmann thought of him after the success of *Les Visiteurs*, but Depardieu's scheduling delays pushed the shoot past Clavier's availability, [Daniel Auteuil](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-auteuil) was then considered, and further delays freed Clavier to accept.[9](https://leclaireur.fnac.com/article/586481-asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-trois-anecdotes-sur-le-film-de-claude-berri/) The supporting cast included Michel Galabru as the chief Abraracourcix, Claude Piéplu as Panoramix, Laetitia Casta as Falbala, Pierre Palmade, Arielle Dombasle, Sim, Marianne Sagebrecht, Gottfried John, Hardy Krüger Jr., and [Vittorio Gassman](https://www.edgepedia.org/vittorio-gassman).[2](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asterix-obelix-take-on-caesar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdq5oda)\n\n**Sets and shooting.** Filming began on 26 June 1998 and ran for 20 weeks in Europe's largest studio, at La Ferté-Alais. Everything had to be built for the screen adaptation: the village set, designed under Jean Rabasse as production designer, was demolished by bulldozer after shooting, and the props and costumes were made to order because nothing suitable could be rented. Studio shooting made lighting especially demanding.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html) The score was composed by Jean-Jacques Goldman and released by Sony, alongside a book by Pierre Billard about the making of the film.[10](https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2000/01/18/asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-obelix-a-l-ecran-ou-le-coup-de-l-elephant_39074_1819218.html)\n\n## Box office and reception\n\nThe film opened in France on 3 February 1999 in 764 cinemas, at that point the most expensive French-language film ever made.[11](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/feb/04/news) French critics reviewed it harshly, but audiences responded strongly: the first week set a French attendance record with 2,718,443 tickets sold, rising to 4.3 million by the end of the second week, against a producer's target of 10 million.[6](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/asterix-routs-rivals-at-box-office-1071377.html) Total French admissions exceeded 8 million.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html)\n\nWorldwide the film returned over $100 million, with strong results across central and western Europe, against a budget of roughly $45 million; one database records a worldwide gross of $101,644,060 against a reported $48.5 million production budget.[4](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf) • [7](https://filmdb.co.uk/box-office/movie/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar-1999-box-office) North America was a different matter: less than $1 million of the total came from United States theaters, where the film had no wide release, and critics there were also largely negative.[12](https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/bitstream/10443/954/1/BrownNoel10.pdf) On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the Tomatometer stood at 42 percent.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar) In Spain the film sold 3,104,933 tickets for receipts of 12,062,172.11 euros.[1](https://infoicaa.mcu.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=75399)\n\n## References\n\n1. [ICAA film file, Asterix & Obelix contra Cesar, Spanish Ministry of Culture](https://infoicaa.mcu.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=75399)\n2. [Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/asterix-obelix-take-on-caesar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdq5oda)\n3. [Asterix and Obelix versus Cesar, Unifrance](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/12816/asterix-and-obelix-versus-cesar)\n4. [Noel Brown, \"Asterix & Obelix vs. Hollywood: A Pan-European Film Franchise for the 'Family' Audience,\" in *Children's Film in the Digital Age* (2014)](https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/auth/RepositoryEntry/43617124369/CourseNode/97422066132718/Beeler%2C%2BKarin%2C%2BStan%2BBeeler_Children%27s%2BFilm%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDigital%2BAge_%2BEssays%2Bon%2BAudience%2C%2BAdaptation%2Band%2BConsumer%2BCulture%2B%282014%29.pdf)\n5. [\"Irréductibles Astérix et Obélix,\" AlloCiné (28 October 1999)](https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle%3D321935.html)\n6. [John Lichfield, \"Asterix routs rivals at box office,\" The Independent (17 February 1999)](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/asterix-routs-rivals-at-box-office-1071377.html)\n7. [Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999) Budget & Box Office, FilmDB](https://filmdb.co.uk/box-office/movie/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar-1999-box-office)\n8. [Quebec film classification file, Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999)](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/sites/4/2008/09/121533.3.pdf)\n9. [\"Astérix et Obélix contre César : trois anecdotes sur le film de Claude Berri,\" Le Claireur Fnac (7 April 2025)](https://leclaireur.fnac.com/article/586481-asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-trois-anecdotes-sur-le-film-de-claude-berri/)\n10. [\"Astérix et Obélix contre César : Obélix à l'écran ou le coup de l'éléphant,\" Le Monde (18 January 2000)](https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2000/01/18/asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-obelix-a-l-ecran-ou-le-coup-de-l-elephant_39074_1819218.html)\n11. [\"French critics give Gallic hero a thrashing,\" The Guardian (4 February 1999)](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/feb/04/news)\n12. [Noel Brown, PhD thesis, Newcastle University](https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/bitstream/10443/954/1/BrownNoel10.pdf)\n13. [Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/asterix-et-obelix-contre-cesar-asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar)\n14. [\"Astérix et Obélix : faut-il regarder la série d'Alain Chabat ?,\" Le Monde (29 April 2025)](https://www.lemonde.fr/podcasts/article/2025/04/29/asterix-et-obelix-faut-il-regarder-la-serie-d-alain-chabat_6601153_5463015.html)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Superhero and comic-franchise film entries › Comic films before 2000*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar](https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar](https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/asterix-and-obelix-vs-caesar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar is Claude Zidi's 1999 live-action comedy, the first live-action Asterix film, starring Clavier, Depardieu, and Benigni, a French-German-Italian co-production that grossed over $100 million." }