# Americans, movies, stupidity, foreign countries... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585 "2009-10-04T20:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/1 "2009-10-04T20:35:53Z")
OK, I’m not sure how to word this to make my point properly, but here goes… I’m wondering if other countries are as dumb as Americans when it comes to movies. American movies are shit for the most part, at least the ones that are shown in theaters. There’s a hell of a lot of quality stuff being made, but it never opens in anywhere other than major cities, and even in those cities, the movies only seem to show for a few days. A lot of the “independent” stuff here is more comparable to foreign movies for the most part. So here’s what I’m getting at: In Germany, or Turkey, or Thailand, or anywhere that isn’t North America I guess, do their theaters show all the crap made here like “Land of the Lost”, “Norbit”, “Final Destination” in 3D, etc.? I mean I know they have “Hollywood movies” in theaters of course, but do they get everything that the U.S. shits out? Are the theaters mostly American movies or movies from other countries? Also, in foreign countries that don’t speak English, are English language movies subtitled or dubbed? Do American films that aren’t “big” enough for wide release get released in theaters in foreign countries? Sorry for kind of ranting and probably doing a sloppy job of articulating my points and questions. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/2 "2009-10-04T20:55:55Z")
Speaking for Britain and associated Islands - The simple answer is - Yes. (to the first part of your question) We do get things like Norbit, Final Destination, Balls of Fury. ETA: If you are standing in a typical British cinema you might as well be in America. (except that everything will be smaller of course, especially the portions) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/3 "2009-10-04T21:02:29Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > ETA: If you are standing in a typical British cinema you might as well be in America. (except that everything will be smaller of course, especially the portions) And assigned seats, yuck. I’d be curious in knowing if other countries show our GOOD movies or if they’re relegated to art houses and then DVD, or just DVD like they are here, for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/4 "2009-10-04T21:14:14Z")
Top films of 2008 in selected countries, according to [Box Office Mojo](http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/yearly/?page=yearcountry&yr=2008&sort=country&order=ASC&p=.htm): Overseas Total **Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull** Austria **Mamma Mia!** Brazil **What Happens in Vegas** Croatia **Sex and the City** Germany \*\*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa \*\* Latvia **Journey to the Center of the Earth** Peru **Kung Fu Panda** Thailand \*\*The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor \*\* Current No. 1 films: France: **The Proposal** Romania: **Final Destination: Death Trip 3-D** Russia: **Surrogates** Ukraine: **The Ugly Truth** U.K.: **Fame** I’d venture that American films that rely on hot bodies, slapstick comedy, impressive special effects, and/or extensive action sequences have a better chance of succeeding overseas than films that make heavy use of witty dialogue or complex plots. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/5 "2009-10-04T21:55:12Z")
My God that’s depressing. As if Mercedes Sosa’s dying wasn’t enough to ruin my day. Thanks a lot **TWDuke**. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/6 "2009-10-04T22:04:11Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > OK, I’m not sure how to word this to make my point properly, but here goes… I’m wondering if other countries are as dumb as Americans when it comes to movies. American movies are shit for the most part, at least the ones that are shown in theaters. There’s a hell of a lot of quality stuff being made, but it never opens in anywhere other than major cities, and even in those cities, the movies only seem to show for a few days. A lot of the “independent” stuff here is more comparable to foreign movies for the most part. Uhhh … except for specialized ethnic markets (Bollywood musicials, Mexican slapstick comedies, Asian martial arts films) we usually don’t see the shitty foreign movies on these shores. Not everything out of the cinema of every other country is some art house masterpiece. Another typical SDMB-style “Everything American is stupid and watered-down for the passes, and everything European is sophisticated and intelligent” post. Christ, I think Americans must be the most self-loathing people on the planet. You don’t see these “everything about our culture and society is shit” posts from people outside of the US. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/7 "2009-10-04T22:08:39Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > My God that’s depressing. As if Mercedes Sosa’s dying wasn’t enough to ruin my day. Thanks a lot **TWDuke**. You’re welcome! If it makes you feel better, I did cherry-pick the list. It’s just meant to show that some bad American movies succeed overseas, not that _only_ bad American movies do. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/8 "2009-10-04T22:10:05Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Top films of 2008 in selected countries, according to [Box Office Mojo](http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/yearly/?page=yearcountry&yr=2008&sort=country&order=ASC&p=.htm): > > Overseas Total **Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull** > Austria **Mamma Mia!** > Brazil **What Happens in Vegas** > Croatia **Sex and the City** > Germany \*\*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa \*\* > Latvia **Journey to the Center of the Earth** > Peru **Kung Fu Panda** > Thailand \*\*The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor \*\* > > Current No. 1 films: > > France: **The Proposal** > Romania: **Final Destination: Death Trip 3-D** > Russia: **Surrogates** > Ukraine: **The Ugly Truth** > U.K.: **Fame** > > I’d venture that American films that rely on hot bodies, slapstick comedy, impressive special effects, and/or extensive action sequences have a better chance of succeeding overseas than films that make heavy use of witty dialogue or complex plots. Well, nice to see that a lot of the countries in that link actually have domestic titles as their top movies. What the hell’s up with “Mamma Mia!”'s crazy popularity all over the place? Wouldn’t have expected that. Also, I wonder why the Ukraine gives a shit about “The Ugly Truth”! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/9 "2009-10-04T22:19:58Z")
These days the International markets account for an enormous amount of a US film’s revenue - in some cases it can account for all of a US film’s profit. So the US studios promote the hell out of these films in International markets. They can easily outspend the locals and certainly the indies. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/10 "2009-10-04T22:20:56Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Another typical SDMB-style “Everything American is stupid and watered-down for the passes, and everything European is sophisticated and intelligent” post. It’s so true, though! Americans could never have come up with as something as tasteful and classy as Eurovision. ---
**Author:** ![bagga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@bagga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagga)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/11 "2009-10-04T22:28:54Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > You don’t see these “everything about our culture and society is shit” posts from people outside of the US. You have never met a British person in your entire life. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/12 "2009-10-04T22:31:11Z")
> [@bagga](#): > > You have never met a British person in your entire life. I only just realized what **elmwood** is saying. We Brits are BEST IN THE WORLD at being shit at everything. And don’t you forget it! ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/13 "2009-10-04T22:35:10Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Uhhh … except for specialized ethnic markets (Bollywood musicials, Mexican slapstick comedies, Asian martial arts films) we usually don’t see the shitty foreign movies on these shores. Not everything out of the cinema of every other country is some art house masterpiece. > > Another typical SDMB-style “Everything American is stupid and watered-down for the passes, and everything European is sophisticated and intelligent” post. Christ, I think Americans must be the most self-loathing people on the planet. You don’t see these “everything about our culture and society is shit” posts from people outside of the US. Well elmwood, that certainly was not my intention at all. You’re taking what I said to an extreme. The movies I’m talking about, yes they are dumbed down for the masses. I by no means think that "everything out of the cinema of every other country is some art house masterpiece’ or that “everything European is sophisticated and intelligent”! I’ve seen Benny Hill for crying out loud!! What prompted me to start this was the fact that every once in a while something I really want to see comes out and I have to wait a year before it makes it to video while the movie goes on a dumbass tour basically, showing in a different place every few days. It happened with “Pi”, it happened with “American Movie”, “Inland Empire”, now with “[Big Fan](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228953/)” I have no interest in seeing another cliche romantic comedy or Will Smith playing a comedic action hero. I especially don’t want to see another garbage remake of something that was either done right the first time or wasn’t good enough to even justify a remake. All I want is to enjoy something original and well done rather than a movie that’s advertised on a Taco Bell cup. If that’s “self loathing”, then I guess you’re right, Elmwood. Really though, I was just expressing my frustration with something in hopes of starting a conversation. Damn, I’m a rambling fool. OK, the end. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/14 "2009-10-04T22:39:31Z")
## If you want to talk TV, let’s not forget that Europe (including the UK) gave us _American Idol (Pop Idol), Survivor, Big Brother, Dancing With the Stars (Strictly Come dancing), America’s Got Talent (Britain’s Got Talent),_ Fear Factor (Now or Neverland), Wife Swap, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!,\* and _Deal or No Deal_. I know some of these have fans on this board, but they’re hardly brain food. - The U.S. version of Simon Cowell’s brainchild aired first, but only because of production delays in the U.K… ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/15 "2009-10-04T22:40:24Z")
One of the very worst movies I’ve ever seen in my entire life is an Italian movie called (at least in English) “The Belt.” The basic premise was that an Italian guy beat his girlfriend enough with a belt that she eventually saw the light and realized the belt was really an object of affection, and he was only beating her because he loved her so damn much. A large part of the movie took place in a courtroom, where she was attempting to save him from going to jail for beating her, because, you know, he only did it because he _loved_ her so much. So yeah, they do make really, horrendously bad movies in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/16 "2009-10-04T22:43:03Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > ## If you want to talk TV, let’s not forget that Europe (including the UK) gave us _American Idol (Pop Idol), Survivor, Big Brother, Dancing With the Stars (Strictly Come dancing), America’s Got Talent (Britain’s Got Talent),_ Fear Factor (Now or Neverland), Wife Swap, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!,\* and _Deal or No Deal_. I know some of these have fans on this board, but they’re hardly brain food. > > - The U.S. version of Simon Cowell’s brainchild aired first, but only because of production delays in the U.K.. Really?! ALL of that shit on American tv is based on European shows? Well Elmwood is way off now in saying that I’m another person that thinks all foreign stuff is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/17 "2009-10-04T23:49:56Z")
I saw Final Destination 2 (might have been 1 or 3), Hulk and some random comedy about a gay boat cruise in Turkey. Does that help answer your question? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/18 "2009-10-04T23:57:49Z")
I have been to multiplexes in Macedonia, Singapore, Turkey, Dubai, Malaysia, Indonesia, and probably ten other countries that are almost exactly like the ones in the states. The differences are that often the American movies are released a month or so behind the date in the US, there might be some local or regional movies also showing, and there might be some censorship depending on the country, but all the movie releases from the US are there. Sometimes there will be some crap movie that already tanked in the US on the bill with a big line to get in. The same crap is on sale at the concession stands with the same crap prices. Usually the movie is in English with subtitles, sometimes there will be a dubbed version playing as well and it will indicate that on the board. Sitting around bemoaning the state of ones culture is not unique to the US in my experience, lots of people from lots of places do it. I think it is healthy to analyze one’s culture from time to time and not just accept everything that is thrown at you. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/19 "2009-10-05T00:20:06Z")
amen, monk ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585/20 "2009-10-05T05:01:11Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > So here’s what I’m getting at: In Germany, or Turkey, or Thailand, or anywhere that isn’t North America I guess, do their theaters show all the crap made here like “Land of the Lost”, “Norbit”, “Final Destination” in 3D, etc.? I’m not outside North America, but yes, I’d assume we get most of the movies they get in the US. I can’t say which American movies currently shown in our theatres you’d consider “crap”, since I haven’t watched most of them. Among your selections, _Final Destination_ is currently shown in one of two theatres near my home, but not _Land of the Lost_ or _Norbit_. I don’t know if they’re current movies. > [@](#): > > Are the theaters mostly American movies or movies from other countries? For the summer of 2009, in Quebec movie theatres, 71% of box office figures were from American movies and 18% from Quebec movies. So mostly American movies. The movie with the highest figures, though, was [_De père en flic_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1258134/), a Quebec movie (which I haven’t seen). [Cite here](http://www.showbizz.net/articles/20090915113004/boxoffice_quebecois_lete_record_battu_pere_flic_sommet.html). > [@](#): > > Also, in foreign countries that don’t speak English, are English language movies subtitled or dubbed? Dubbed, here. I’d prefer subtitles, but most people here seem to prefer dubbing. > [@](#): > > Do American films that aren’t “big” enough for wide release get released in theaters in foreign countries? Maybe in independent theatres, but probably not in more commercial ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-movies-stupidity-foreign-countries/512585.md?page=2)