 At the time of its release in 2002, its budget of $47 million, or  327,000,000 FRF, was said to make it the costliest French film ever.  However, _Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999)_ (qv) had a budget  of $48 million, or 274,620,000 FRF, which supposedly made it the  most expensive French film ever. Accounting for economic variances,  either title may earn this dubious recognition.