The film, that is produced and fully financed by SF Studios, is the biggest Swedish film production ever and has so far beated all box office expectations and ranks fourth of the most watched film in the US and second in Sweden after this opening weekend. The film has also been successful in the other markets where it has premiered - Mexico, Spain, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Finland - and has grossed US$35 million in total, including US$21 million in the US. Sony Pictures handles global distribution and SF Studios, not only produces the film, but also distributes the film in the Nordics.

The film is a life affirming drama comedy about love and unexpected friendships and is adapted from Fredrik Backman's 1# New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove and the Swedish film, scripted and directed by Hannes Holm, of the same name. In the new film adaptation, the titular character has been renamed to Otto reflect the shift to an American setting.

SF Studios is the main producer and is also fully financing the English-language film, which is the biggest Swedish film production ever, a production that has attracted the greatest talents from Hollywood. Director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner, Christopher Robin, Monster’s Ball) and screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland, Life of Pi, Mary Poppins Returns) are internationally acclaimed talents in in the film industry and have previously collaborated on the BAFTA and Oscar nominated film Finding Neverland. Producers are Fredrik Wikström Nicastro at SF Studios (A Man Called Ove, Borg vs McEnroe) together with Rita Wilson (Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2), and Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.

Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, producer said: ”I think many people find it difficult to understand that A Man Called Otto is actually a Swedish film production and that it is the biggest Scandinavian film venture ever. It is therefore so incredible that SF Studios from Sweden can make such a success at cinemas in the USA. We are also so happy for the enormous love we have received from the audience - which gave it an A on CinemaScore, 5.0 on PostTrak and an incredible 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. We therefore believe that the film will continue to spread warmth and hope to moviegoers all over the world for a long time to come."

Michael Porseryd, CEO at SF Studios said: We are immensely proud that we, as a Nordic film studio, have created this film together with some of the world's top talents in the film industry and are very happy that it is now being received so well by audiences across the world. The strong opening weekend in cinemas together with the positive audience polls really show that the film is greatly appreciated.”

In connection with the gala premiere of A Man Called Otto in Stockholm on December 13, SF Studios hosted a master class where the journalist Christina Jeurling Birro moderated discussions between the actors Tom Hanks (Otto in A Man Called Otto) and Rolf Lassgård (Ove in A Man Called Ove) and the producers Fredrik Wikström Nicastro and Rita Wilson. The master class highlights the creation of the characters Ove/Otto and the making of the film. Watch the master class on SF Studios’ YouTube channel here

For more information, please contact:
Malin Strihagen, Vice President Brand & Communications, Malin.Strihagen@sfstudios.se, +46 70 780 39 35

About SF Studios
For more than 100 years, SF Studios has been a leading Nordic film and TV studio that has produced some of cinema’s most iconic films and worked with some of the greatest talents in the industry, such as Ingmar Bergman, Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbo. Today, SF Studios has operations in all of the Nordic countries and an international production unit based in the UK focusing on English language films for the international market. SF Studios’ expertise lies in producing and co-producing films and TV content that appeal to broad audiences around the world.

SF Studios’ operations also include distribution of content through cinemas and home entertainment and the digital streaming service SF Anytime. Alongside its own production operations, SF Studios owns the production companies Paradox, FLX, Filmkameratene and Motion Blur, and is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.

Read the full article HERE

Credit: SF Studios, January 17th 2023