Entertainment
'After Earth' is a Major Hit in China; What Other Films are Hits overseas?
Almost everyone hated M. Night Shyamalan's Will Smith vehicle After Earth, so there's little surprise that the film flopped at the box office. But while Americans were bored to death by this sci-fi flick, the film is pulling in great box-office numbers in China. But it's not the first time a lackluster American film hit it big overseas. Here is a list of surprising successes in the global market. Image: Columbia Pictures
Box Office Bombs That Other Countries Love
Almost everyone hated M. Night Shyamalan's Will Smith vehicle After Earth, so there's little surprise that the film flopped at the box office. But while Americans were bored to death by this sci-fi flick, the film is pulling in great box-office numbers in China. But it's not the first time a lackluster American film hit it big overseas. Here is a list of surprising successes in the global market. Image: Columbia Pictures
'Major Movie Star' (2008)
This 2008 Jessica Simpson film — about a movie star who joins the army, because reasons — was so terrible that it was never released in the United States. Yet, somehow, Russia got ahold of it and decided it was the greatest thing ever. If you can find this movie somewhere on the Internet, you be the judge. Image: Sony Pictures
'In Time' (2011)
This sci-fi movie about paying for things with time... or something... made only $37 million domestically. Yet, the second this Justin Timberlake/Amanda Seyfried film was moved across the pond, it made a cool $173 million. Nice. Image: 20th Century Fox
'The Tourist' (2010)
Though The Tourist starred Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie — arguably two of the biggest names in Hollywood — the film barely made a blip on the American movie-goer's radar. It pulled in a mere $68 million in the US. When the film opened overseas, it was surprisingly successful — it raked in $211 million dollars. Seems other countries like our movie stars more than we do. Image: Columbia Pictures
'American Reunion' (2012)
The American Pie series has gotten older than Paul Finch's taste in women. (How many times can you violate baked goods and have it be funny?) While this installment — about the gang getting back together for their high school reunion — made only $57 million in the U.S., the film brought in $176 million abroad. That's a nice slice of the, umm, pie. Image: Universal Pictures
'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' (2009)
While the Ice Age franchise has done well in the American markets, the third installment's release abroad solidified its status as the world's biggest animated franchise. The film made nearly $700 million dollars worldwide. And, for Ice Age, that's pretty cool. Image: 20th Century Fox
