Amelie has become the highest grossing French-language film ever released in North America, having grossed $20,891,879 by Jan 21, breaking the previous record - held by La Cage Aux Folles since 1979 - of $20,424,259.

Last week, Amelie also crossed the $100m mark in worldwide box office receipts.

The film, which has been selected to represent France for best foreign film at the upcoming Academy Awards, has featured in a number of recent award categories including: a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film as well as four European Film Awards for 2001, including Best European Film, Best European Director, Best Cinematographer and the People's Choice Award for Best Director for Jeunet.

Amelie, which was released by Miramax Zoe on three screens in New York and Los Angeles on November 2, 2001, also holds the record as the French-language film that has achieved the highest single weekend box office gross in North America.

Amelie was the top grossing film in France for 2001 and also set box-office records in Australia, with the largest opening for a foreign-language film in that region, in Quebec, where it became the highest grossing French film ever released in the Canadian Province, as well as in the UK and Switzerland, where it had the best debut ever for a French film.