When we talk about Hollywood blockbusters, the assumption is often that their biggest fans reside in North America. After all, these films are conceived, produced, and marketed with U.S. audiences in mind. But in an increasingly globalized box office landscape, that’s not always the case. In fact, some of the most high-profile studio releases of the past two decades have found their largest and sometimes most loyal audiences abroad.
This list looks at movies that were significantly more famous internationally than domestically, either through box office numbers or enduring fan followings abroad. These films might have failed to capture the cultural moment in North America, but overseas, they were box office juggernauts or cultural phenomenons. From globe-trotting action epics to nearly wordless physical comedies, here are several Hollywood titles that connected more deeply with the world than with their home territory.
10’Bean' (1997)
Directed by Mel Smith
Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean goes to Los Angeles in the feature filmBean. He’s sent by the British National Gallery as “Dr. Bean” to oversee the unveiling of a legendary American painting. Unaware of his true identity, the local gallery curator, David Langley (Peter MacNicol), is enthralled by his presence and volunteers to accompany him throughout his three-month stay in LA. As always, nothing goes right when Mr. Bean is around.
The British comedy seriesremains a staple for people all over the world, except for the United States. The film adapts the spirit of the beloved series but attempts to fit it into a more conventional narrative with higher stakes and sentimental beats. WhileBeanperformed modestly in the U.S., its international success was staggering, makingover $200 million overseas, including blockbuster numbers in Europe and Asia. The appeal of Mr. Bean lies in his near-universal accessibility as his comedy is almost entirely visual and nonverbal, transcending language and cultural differences with ease. While this film is an American co-production, the sequel,Mr. Bean’s Holiday,is entirely British and enjoyed similar runaway success.
9’Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' (2016)
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Based on the iconic video game series,Resident Evil: The Final Chaptersees Alice (Milla Jovovich) return to Raccoon City for one last stand against the Umbrella Corporation. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, she races against time to release an airborne antivirus that could wipe out the undead. The film aims to tie upthe series' convoluted storylineswith returning characters and callbacks to the previous films.
If you did not realize thatPaul W.S. Anderson’sResident Evilmovie series has six installments, you might not be alone. The franchise had long lost favor with U.S. critics and audiences ever since the third film. Nevertheless,the IP is still a household name in worldwide markets, including Japan, where it was released with its original game title,Biohazard. Compared to the$26 million domestic haul, the film earned more than ten times that abroad. The appeal of the film is easy; it’s a thrilling, mindless shoot-em-up action that doesn’t require deep context to follow. SinceThe Final Chapter, the franchise has had multiple iterations, including the animated films, a reboot and a live-action series on Netflix, proving that it is here to stay despite the domestic audience’s lack of interest.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
8’The Expendables 3' (2014)
Directed by Patrick Hughes
InThe Expendables 3,Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross recruits a younger team to take down Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), a former co-founder of the Expendables who has gone rogue and turned into a dangerous arms dealer. Alongside returning action icons likeJason Statham,Jet Li, andArnold Schwarzenegger, the film expands its cast to include newcomers likeAntonio Banderas,Wesley Snipes, andRonda Rousey.
By the timeThe Expendables 3arrived in U.S. theaters, the novelty of watching'80s and ’90s action starsreunited had worn thin, and the filmmakers and producers knew that. So, theyopened up the rating to PG-13to snare more audiences andmake it more accessible worldwide. Internationally,The Expendables 3thrived, earning nearly four times its U.S. gross. In markets like Russia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, stars like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Banderas still carry significant nostalgia-driven cachet. The film’s straightforward action and ensemble of globally recognized faces made itan easy sell for international audiences hungry for fast action thrills. The fourth film, however, was rejected by audiences from every region.
The Expendables 3
7’The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' (2013)
Directed by Peter Jackson
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaugfollows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he continues his journey with Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his company of dwarves toward the Lonely Mountain to reclaim their ancestral homeland, Erebor, from the dragon Smaug. From facing the Orcs to being imprisoned by the Woodland Elves, the company goes through all the trials to finally reach Lake-Town, the nearest settlement near the Mountain.
While the film did solid business at the domestic box office, its power is diminishing compared toThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy. Domestic audiences, especially die-hard fans, are much more reluctant to see the children’s bookexpanded into three films. However,overseas audiences pulled through and contributed nearly 70% of its global box office. Thanks to the beloved previous trilogy,Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga had already developed a huge international following andThe Hobbitfilms capitalized on that goodwill. The returning characters, such asOrlando Bloom’s Legolas, are one of the highlights for general audiences.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
6'2012' (2009)
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Disaster epic2012follows struggling writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) as he tries to save his family during a series of apocalyptic events predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar. As massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions ravage the Earth, governments secretly prepare colossal arks to preserve a small segment of humanity. With all his might, Curtis tries to get on board the ark with his family.
The Mayan calendar was a cultural discussion back in the late 2000s, and directorRoland Emmerichwas quick to capitalize on this idea. His massive disaster film was treated as popcorn entertainment domestically, while for international audiences, it became a must-see film of the year. Over 75% of its$769 millionglobal box office came from overseas. The film itself is like a throwback to Emmerich’slarge-scale disaster filmmakingthat puts spectacle first. However,2012’s emotional journey through Cusack’s charactermade this film accessible for all audiences. Its action-paced, effects-heavy approach also made iteasily digestible across language barriers.
5’Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' (2016)
Directed by David Yates
Set decades before the events ofHarry Potter,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themintroduces magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. When several of his beasts escape and strange magical disturbances threaten to expose the wizarding world to Muggles, or No-Majs, as Americans call them, Newt is drawn into a much larger conflict involving dark magic and the rise of a dangerous wizard.
As an exercise to revive the lucrativeWizarding Worldfranchise, the film was moderately successful domestically. It was already reaching quite far by adapting a book that was originally a Hogwarts textbook. That did not stop international audiences from returning to the fantastical world to the tune ofover $580 millionoverseas. Much of that success can be attributed tothe enduringglobal power of theHarry Potterbrand, which has a deeply loyal fan base all over the world. With a likable lead in Redmayne and a fresh new exploration of its universe, the future looked bright for the new film series, as four more films were planned. Alas, the series stopped at film number three, abandoning the rest as the box office haul dwindled.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
4’The Meg' (2018)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
The Megfollows deep-sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) as he’s called back into action to help a team of scientists trapped in a research submersible at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. In the process, they inadvertently awaken a prehistoric creature long thought extinct, a 75-foot-long apex predator shark called the Megalodon. As the Meg rises to the surface and begins terrorizing everything in its path, Jonas must lead the effort to stop the creature before it causes mass destruction.
ThoughThe Megperformed solidly in the U.S., its greatest success came abroad, especially in China, where it was partially set and co-produced. The film’s straightforward plot, emphasis on visuals, and diverse casting, which includes Chinese starLi Bingbing, made ita perfect vehicle for international markets. It tapped into China’s growing appetite for Hollywood spectacles and gave Chinese viewers a rare blockbuster set in their backyard. For many viewers around the world,The Megwas comfort food,entertaining with just enough self-awarenessto play as both thrilling and fun. The film spawned a sequel,The Meg 2: The Trench, that pairs Statham with Chinese superstarWu Jing.
3’Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (2011)
Directed by Rob Marshall
Image via Walt Disney Pictures
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tidessees Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) return for a new adventure searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Along the way, he crosses paths with Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and her father, the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), who commands a ship of zombie sailors. Jack is reluctantly roped into their quest, which becomes a race against rival factions, including the Spanish Navy and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), now a privateer working for the British crown.
Though it earned a respectable haul domestically,On Stranger Tideswas an even greater phenomenon overseas, bringing inover $800 million internationally, more than three-quarters of its total box office. Much of its appeal abroad stemmed from the film’s brand, which successfully enthralled audiences with the previous trilogy. Depp’s quirky,globally recognized portrayalof Jack Sparrow remained a huge draw back then. The film’s contained story and the addition of the 3D gimmick also made it easier for audiences to spend their money on this adventure flick.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
2’Transformers: Age of Extinction' (2014)
Directed by Michael Bay
Transformers: Age of Extinctionkicks off a new chapter in the franchise, following self-proclaimed inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), who discovers the dormant Optimus Prime in a junkyard. As the Autobots are now hunted, Cade, his daughter and her boyfriend are swept into the conflict, being chased by a ruthless CIA unit and a Transformer bounty hunter named Lockdown. In the meantime, an ambitious businessman attempts to revive Megatron with his tech.
TheTransformersfilms were always lambasted by critics for prioritizing Bayhem over a cohesive story. Globally, the franchise’s appeal remained rooted in its spectacular visual effects and explosive action, all of which transcended language barriers. But now the producers have found a cheat code: the Chinese market. The movie waspartially shot in China, featured Chinese actors and product placements, and wasstrategically marketed to appeal to local audiences. The film becamea colossal hit abroad, especially in the Middle Kingdom, where it earned over $300 million. The film’s success became a trendsetter forHollywood productions to tweak their filmsin order to secure a larger market outside of America.
Transformers: Age of Extinction
1’Fate of the Furious' (2017)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
The eighth installment in the high-octane, physics-defying franchise,The Fate of the Furiousshifts gears as Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) seemingly betrays his family to work for a cyberterrorist named Cipher (Charlize Theron).The family, with the help of Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham), must work together to bring Dom back into the fold and figure out Cipher’s grand plan.
TheFast & Furiousseries has steadily evolved into a global juggernaut, butFate of the Furioussolidified that transformation. The franchise’s appeal abroad lies in itsinternational locations, diverse ensemble cast, and action setpiecesthat transcend language barriers. While American viewers grew tired of the series’over-the-top stuntsand increasingly implausible plots, audiences all over the world ate it up, pushing its earnings to over 1 billion dollars only from international markets. Its blend of high-octane stunts and exciting characters made it an audience favorite anda cultural discussion for audiences everywhere.
