The spectacular box-office success of director Yannis Smaragdis’ “Kapodistrias”, the biographical film adaptation based on the first governor of the modern Greek state, is expected to exceed 740,000 tickets in a national market of roughly 11 million.

According to the movie’s distributor, Tanweer, “Kapodistrias” is now holds the second biggest box-office opening of any Greek-language film and will easily be the top domestic cinematic production of 2025.

The movie’s success came amid often negative reviews by film critics, heated debate on social media and even references with a political slant, often ranging from glowing praise to references of an over-the-top and glossed over narrative. A combative Smaragdis also made headlines in clashing with film critics and detractors.

To date, the veteran filmmaker’s latest work figures in the “top 10” most commercial Greek films of all time, with estimates putting the final tally in its box-office cycle at between 740,000 to 780,000 tickets.

Actor Antonis Myriagos, center, in the title role of Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (Capodistrias), the distinguished 19th-century statesman who served as the first governor of the modern Greek state up until his assassination in 1831.