Summary

• Foreign films with captivating stories and universal themes can overcome language barriers and achieve commercial success in the United States, such as Like Water for Chocolate and Fearless.
• Films like Run Lola Run and Instructions Not Included broke new ground by leveraging innovative filmmaking techniques and appealing to specific audiences, which helped them become box office hits in the US.
• Movies like Amélie, Pan's Labyrinth, Parasite, and Life is Beautiful transcended borders with their unique storytelling and resonated with American audiences, paving the way for accessible foreign films in Hollywood.

Movies in languages other than English have a rich history of being box office hits in their respective countries. However, there are instances when an international film breaks new ground and achieves success in the United States. While Hollywood blockbusters have traditionally dominated the global cinematic landscape, subtitles haven't always been a barrier to American box office success for international films. In the mid-20th century, arthouse icons like Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini gained acclaim from U.S. audiences. Yet, as multiplexes favoring bigger spectacles rose to prominence, challenges in distribution and marketing for more niche foreign films increased.

Despite American perspectives and financial risks in backing a non-English production, standout films managed to defy the odds and language barriers to thrive critically and commercially in the U.S. With intriguing stories and captivating characters being universal, like Guillermo Del Toro’s sympathetic monster in Pan's Labyrinth's, these imports resonated, crossing oceans with a chord that transcends language. This collection of foreign triumphs reflects cinema's borderless emotional resonance, cleverly catering to viewers regardless of their native tongue.

10 Like Water For Chocolate (1993)

Mexico

Like Water for Chocolate captivated American audiences enough to earn almost $50 million domestically, an impressive haul for a subtitled film. Adapted from Laura Esquivel's bestselling novel, the film centers on family tensions sparked by forbidden love in early 20th century Mexico. Bolstered by distribution/marketing from the art house savvy Miramax, the movie's lyrical tone, magical realist elements, and resonantly tragic romance enabled its critical and commercial crossover stateside. Like Water for Chocolate prevailed where most subtitled imports falter, overcoming financial and cultural barriers through the raw power of its beautifully human story.

9 Run Lola Run (1999)

Run Lola Run stormed American arthouses, driven by a pulsating techno soundtrack and director Tom Tykwer's kinetic thriller style. Franka Potente, electrifying as flame-haired Lola, races through Berlin streets in three adrenaline-fueled timelines to deliver stolen cash and save her boyfriend. The film, featuring video game inspired vector graphics, pushes visual and aural filmmaking innovation beyond subtitles. Embraced by Sony Pictures Classics and propelled by Potente's star-making performance, Tykwer's style-soaked take on existential themes brought imports into the future, generating $12 million in box office momentum.

8 Fearless (2006)

China

The Mandarin martial arts drama Fearless resonated strongly enough with American audiences to earn $34.4 million domestically. Directed by Ronny Yu, the film depicts Chinese folk hero Huo Yuanjia utilizing a mix of emotional weight and thrilling hand-to-hand combat. One Jet Li's best movies, Fearless attracted substantial crowds as the foreign film with the second highest-grossing opening weekend that year. Backed by strong critical reviews for its blend of cultural history, character depth, and visual grandeur, Fearless succeeded through universal themes that crossed language barriers.

7 Il Postino (The Postman) (1995)

Italy

Dramatizing the friendship between poet Pablo Neruda and a shy Italian postman who seeks romantic advice, Il Postino enraptured American crowds in 1995. Moviegoers swooned over Massimo Troisi’s soulful lead performance as the title character and Philippe Noiret’s warm take on Neruda. With from Hollywood heavyweights for its stateside distribution, director Michael Radford's tender coming-of-age fable resonated through the universal language of love, as evidenced by its $46 million domestic gross. Fueled by glowing reviews praising its idyllic setting, lyrical sensibilities and charming performances, Il Postino delivered a timeless message about self-fulfillment's transformative power beyond all barriers.

6 Instructions Not Included (2013)

Mexico

Catapulted by the comedic appeal of star Eugenio Derbez, the dramedy Instructions Not Included became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film to date in the US market. Derbez portrays a playboy whose lifestyle is upended when an ex leaves an infant girl on his doorstep. The movie follows his transformation into a devoted single father, until the mother returns seeking custody years later. Backed by canny marketing to Latino audiences, Instructions Not Included leveraged its emotional family dynamics and crossover comedian into a sleeper box office hit stateside, earning over $50 million.

5 Amélie (2001)

Highlighting Audrey Tautou's magnetic charm, the romantic comedy Amélie endeared itself to American audiences in a way few foreign films had before. Tautou, portraying the whimsical Parisian matchmaker spreading joy through playful altruism, swiftly became a star in the United States. Amélie's visual creativity and infectious spirit allowed it to transcend subtitles, thanks to its irrepressible levity and romantic yearning that struck universal chords. With a $53.9 million domestic gross, confirming indie distributor Miramax's commercial gamble, the film's quirky allure marked the onset of a new wave of accessible foreign films.

4 Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Spain

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, achieved significant success at the American box office. The movie captivated with its immersive world-building, transporting them into a magical realm. Through rich allegories, the film's timeless exploration of the struggle between cruelty and innocence struck a profound chord. Given del Toro's track record for directing Hollywood films like Mimic, there was high critical anticipation for this Spanish fable. The movie lived up to expectations, earning positive reviews and an outstanding $52.6 million in US ticket sales. Pan's Labyrinth demonstrated that skillfully layering universal themes and innovative style can still attract mass audiences.

3 Parasite (2019)

South Korea

Parasite became a cultural phenomenon through its brilliantly subversive storytelling that transcended borders. Focused on an impoverished family strategizing their way into a wealthy household, Parasite effectively harnessed class tensions with provocative twists. Bong, known globally since his breakout with Snowpiercer five years earlier, brought his bold vision to the Korean-language film in the United States. Following a Palme d’Or win, the characters of Parasite helped achieved an impressive $53.4 million domestic box office. Beyond breaking the language barrier on its way to winning Best Picture at the Oscars, it solidified internationally resonant genre films as a powerful force in Hollywood.

2 Life Is Beautiful (1998)

Italy

Roberto Benigni's dramedy Life is Beautiful achieved its domestic box office success by juxtaposing Holocaust horrors with profound humor and uplift. The film resonated universally as Benigni portrayed an irrepressible father shielding his son from grim realities with whimsy reaching defiant heights. Overcoming doubts about its tragicomic balance translating stateside, word of mouth propelled the Best Foreign Film winner to an impressive $111.8 million gross. Beyond its substantial Oscar hauls, Life is Beautiful affirmed that conveying hope amidst history's darkest backdrops speaks universally when executed with skill and insight.

1 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

China

The wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, captivated right at the turn of the millennium, offering a compelling visual spectacle and emotional tour de force. Starring martial arts icons Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh as aging martial arts masters, the film weaved a tale of love, honor, and swordplay against mythic vistas that enthralled both critics and audiences. Director Ang Lee solidified his American acclaim by infusing fantastical tropes with piercing character drama. Earning $217.7 million in the United States, Crouching Tiger set records and achieved an unprecedented haul for a foreign language phenomenon at the time.