Jakarta, ThedailyID — Protests across France have raised security concerns for Hollywood productions and disrupted cinema operations since October 17, 2026. Demonstrators took to the streets over rising living costs and deteriorating public school facilities.
France is hosting several major Hollywood productions. The fourth season of The White Lotus is wrapping up filming on the French Riviera. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper’s Ocean prequel is shooting in Monaco, and Natalie Portman’s Pumping Black is in production in Nice.
Raphaël Benoliel, an executive producer overseeing Pumping Black, said American crew members had raised safety concerns. However, the production schedule remained on track.
“Americans did ask, ‘Do you think this is dangerous?’ We told them, ‘From where we are, we feel safe.’ And everything is going smoothly,” Benoliel told Variety on October 23.
Still, Benoliel said Hollywood studio security teams had issued strong warnings about France.
“The studios’ internal security departments explicitly said, ‘Be careful. Avoid Paris. Avoid Marseille.’ Because of these events, France is now flagged as a troubled zone,” he said.
He compared the warnings to advice against filming in Ukraine or certain parts of the Middle East. According to Benoliel, France has now entered a similar category.
The Ocean prequel crew also faced uncertainty. Isabelle Desgorges, an executive at Gaumont, said her team had grown anxious after seeing reports of shop looting over the weekend.
“My entire crew is staying in Nice, so there was some panic, especially since this is a major American film. People were asking what was actually happening,” Desgorges said.
She also worried that negative perceptions of the unrest could discourage American producers from filming in France in the near future.
The unrest has also affected cinema operations. President Emmanuel Macron imposed curfews in major cities, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.
UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles, a major cinema complex in Paris, moved its final screenings to 7 p.m. The earlier schedule allows audiences to return home before curfew restrictions take effect.
Richard Patry, president of France’s National Federation of Cinemas (FNCF), said the curfews had directly affected around 20 to 30 cinemas.
“These are, of course, very important cinemas, and closing earlier has a real impact. Some people do not go there because of the curfew. That is the reality,” Patry said.
France also prepared to deploy 70,000 police officers ahead of another wave of protests on Saturday, October 24. Authorities expected demonstrations across the country but restricted gatherings in several city centers.
In Orléans, officials expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to take to the streets. However, authorities banned demonstrations in the city center.
Lyon also prohibited protests in its central area. In Paris, authorities limited marchers to a designated route between Bastille and Nation in the east of the city.
The restrictions have drawn criticism from Amnesty International. The organization described the measures as a “slide toward authoritarian practices.” It also argued that the restrictions could increase the risk of unrest rather than prevent it.
