A French swashbuckler adapted from a classic novel has topped France’s national film awards with 14 nominations over the Academy-Award nominated Emilia Perez, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the story by Alexandre Dumas, directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, and starring Pierre Niney, The Count of Monte Cristo follows a sailor who, after he is falsely accused of being a traitor and imprisoned, escapes and locates a treasure left to him by a fellow prisoner. With said treasure, he forms a new identity as the titular Count and returns to France to take revenge on those who have wronged him.

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film has since become a financial and critical success, grossing $40 million locally, the biggest French box office hit of 2024, and $100 million worldwide, and obtaining a 96% Certified Fresh Critical Score and 94% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now, it has become the frontrunner at the Césars, France’s equivalent to the Academy Awards, with 14 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, followed by Gilles Lellouche’s Beating Hearts, a modern reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, with 13, eclipsing Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez at 12.

The French Film Academy will hold two rounds of voting. The first runs from January 2nd through the 28th and the second from February 5th through the 28th.

The award ceremony for the Césars will be held on February 28th.