Jean Valjean
“The origin story of one of literature’s greatest heroes.”
Synopsis
Jean Valjean is released from prison after nineteen years of hard labor, violence, and suffering. Filled with anger and a deep sense of injustice, he has become a dangerous man who trusts no one and nothing. When he arrives in a small village in Provence, he is repeatedly turned away. Desperate, he unknowingly finds refuge at the house of Bishop Bienvenu, who lives simply, with his sister and a single servant. There, he is surprised by their warm welcome, and his inner demons start to waver. But the temptation to be what society sees in him still haunts him, and he steals the Bishop’s silverware. When the police ultimately catches him, the Bishop forgives him and gifts him the candlesticks. This acts becomes the starting point of Jean Valjean’ transformation into a new man who reclaims his humanity.
Top Cast
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Grégory Gadebois
Jean Valjean
Bernard Campan
Bienvenu Myriel
Isabelle Carré
Baptistine Myriel
Alexandra Lamy
Madame Magloire
Dominique Pinon
Boîte à Mots
Albert Dupontel
Claude Gueux
Laura Behague
Une paysanne
Romane Libert
La gamine
Patrick Pineau
Le vieux citoyen
Loup Cousteil
Jean Valjean (young)
Ernest Mourier
Claire Ruppli
Release History & Theatrical Window
Alliance Française French Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
April 30, 2026
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$7M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.47x
-$3.7M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Éric Besnard
- Screenplay & Story
- Éric Besnard
- Original Score
- Christophe Julien
- Original Title
- Jean Valjean
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Budget
- $7M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.3M
- Production Studios
- Radar Films, France 3 Cinéma, OCS, Cinécap, Warner Bros. Entertainment France, Mediawan
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Éric Besnard
Éric Besnard, Victor Hugo
Christophe Julien
Laurent Dailland
Lydia Decobert
Clément Miserez, Matthieu Warter, David Giordano
Department Leadership Roster
Éric Besnard
Director
Éric Besnard
Screenplay
Clément Miserez
Producer
Matthieu Warter
Producer
Christophe Julien
Original Music Composer
Laurent Dailland
Director of Photography
Madeline Fontaine
Costume Design
Bertrand Seitz
Production Design
Amadéo Cazzela
Stunt Coordinator
Aurelie Lajoux
Visual Effects Supervisor
Lydia Decobert
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Violence • Discrimination
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Jean Valjean.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Jean Valjean.
***2025***
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jean Valjean
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Jean Valjean about?
Jean Valjean is released from prison after nineteen years of hard labor, violence, and suffering. Filled with anger and a deep sense of injustice, he has become a dangerous man who trusts no one and nothing. When he arrives in a small village in Provence, he is repeatedly turned away. Desperate, he unknowingly finds refuge at the house of Bishop Bienvenu, who lives simply, with his sister and a single servant. There, he is surprised by their warm welcome, and his inner demons start to waver. But the temptation to be what society sees in him still haunts him, and he steals the Bishop’s silverware. When the police ultimately catches him, the Bishop forgives him and gifts him the candlesticks. This acts becomes the starting point of Jean Valjean’ transformation into a new man who reclaims his humanity.
Who directed Jean Valjean?
Jean Valjean was directed by Éric Besnard.
Who stars in Jean Valjean?
The principal cast of Jean Valjean includes Grégory Gadebois, Bernard Campan, Isabelle Carré, Alexandra Lamy, Dominique Pinon.
When was Jean Valjean released and how long is it?
Jean Valjean was released in 2025 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
What was the box office and production budget of Jean Valjean?
Jean Valjean had a reported production budget of $7M and grossed $3.3M at the worldwide box office (0.47 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Jean Valjean?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Jean Valjean was composed by Christophe Julien.
Is Jean Valjean based on a book or true story?
Jean Valjean is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Victor Hugo".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Jean Valjean?
Jean Valjean holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP.