A Magnificent Life
A Magnificent Life is a 2025 adult animated biographical drama film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet. The film had its world premiere at the Special Screenings section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025, and was theatrically released in France by Wild Bunch on 15 October 2025.
Summary
It follows the life of 60-year-old Marcel Pagnol, an acclaimed playwright, novelist and filmmaker, who is visited by a vision of his childhood self.
Cast
Production
On June 2021, the film was announced at the Annecy International [Animation Film Festival], with Sylvain Chomet directing the film, and Aton Soumache and Ashargin Poiré serving as producers.
Release
In May 2022, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film for North and Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, Scandinavia, India, Italy, airlines and ships. In May 2024, Picturehouse Entertainment acquired U.K. and Ireland distribution rights. The film was released in France on 15 October 2025, by Wild Bunch, with a U.S release targeted for Q4 of the same year. The film had its world premiere at Special Screenings section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025. It also screened as a part of the official competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 62% approval rating based on 21 critic reviews. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com wrote, "...the film might feel slight compared to both the work of its subject and the other works by its director. But Chomet’s eye for hand-drawn animation remains a gift, and this film is deeper than it first appears."