The Swedish biopic directed by Jens Sjögren had the best opening in Sweden for a local film since Christmas 2019, with over 61,000 admissions for Nordisk Film.

Delayed several times due to Covid-19, I am Zlatan finally opened last Friday and went straight to the top of the Swedish charts, pushing down to second and third place the US tentpoles The Batman and Uncharted respectively.

The film based on David Lagercrantz and Zlatan Ibrahimović's best-selling novel ‘I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović’ centres on the football star’s upbringing in Malmö’s Rosengård suburb, his first steps at the local Malmö FF Club and eventual rise as international champion, hired by Amsterdam’s Ajax Club. The main role is split between Dominic Bajraktari Andersson, playing Ibrahimović aged 11-13 and Granit Rushiti, playing the current AC Milan striker aged 17-23.

“We had obviously hoped that many would be interested in seeing Zlatan at the cinema. But that over 61,000 have seen I am Zlatan is incredible,” said Anders Melin, Nordisk Film’s country manager in Sweden. “It really shows the strength of Swedish films when the level is as high as it is here.”

The film was produced by Frida Bargo, Mattias Nohrborg and Fredrik Heinig for B-RF, in co-production with Nordisk Film and support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Upcoming releases in other territories include Denmark (April 28, Nordisk Film) and Germany (May 19, Telepool). TrustNordisk handles world sales.