Between their use of subtitles and their limited distribution in the United States, most foreign-language films don’t stand much of a chance at the domestic box office. Every now and then, however, an international title bucks the trend and breaks through to the mainstream. A recent example includes Bong Joon-ho’s dark satire “Parasite,” which came from South Korea to become something of a global phenomenon and became the first foreign-language film to win a Best Picture Oscar. (Including that, here are 30 famous firsts in Oscars history.)
Why do some foreign-language films succeed where so many others fail? The answer can vary from one title to the next. For instance, a movie such as Eugenio Derbez’s 2013 Mexican dramedy “Instructions Not Included” arguably appealed to America’s Hispanic population. Then we have something like the 2002 wuxia (martial arts) film “Hero,” which capitalized on both Jet Li’s star power and the lingering popularity of the Oscar-winning wuxia blockbuster “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
To determine the foreign films that did the best in the United States, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on both domestic and international box office from ox Office Mojo. Foreign-language films were ranked based on inflation-adjusted domestic box office using historical ticket prices from the National Association of Theater Owners. Data on IMDb audience score and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score is current as of July 2022. English-language titles are given for all films where one was used for U.S. release.
Click here to see foreign films that did best in the U.S.
Meanwhile, a number of these classics of imported cinema offer more than just a glimpse into a different culture. Untethered from Hollywood formulas, they’re free to take their stories in dark and unpredictable directions. Should you enjoy some of the more commonly known titles, don’t stop there because a wide and exciting world of international cinema awaits. (These are the best foreign films of all time.)
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40. Dangal (2016)
> Domestic ticket sales: $13.1 million
> International ticket sales: $308.5 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.3/10 (185,460 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (17 votes)
> Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
Before “King Richard,” there came this Hindi-language biopic about former amateur wrestler and devoted father Mahavir Singh Phogat (played by Aamir Khan). Against all odds, Phogat helps turn his two daughters into wrestling phenoms. “Let it never be said that if you’ve seen one inspirational sports movie, you’ve seen them all,” wrote critic Ben Kenigsberg in the New York Times.
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39. Run Lola Run (1999)
> Domestic ticket sales: $13.2 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.7/10 (198,101 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (83 votes)
> Directed by: Tom Tykwer
After her criminal boyfriend loses stolen loot, Lola (Franka Pote) has just 20 minutes to come up with the cash in this German thriller. It depicts three sliding-doors versions of the same premise, each one unfolding in real time. Director Tykwer would go on to helm American films such as “A Hologram for the King” and “Cloud Atlas.”
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38. Kagemusha (1980)
> Domestic ticket sales: $13.6 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.9/10 (35,518 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (26 votes)
> Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
Set during the feudal era, Kurosawa’s Japanese-language epic tasks a petty thief (Tsutomu Yamazaki) with impersonating a powerful warlord (Tatsuya Nakadai). After taking on the role full time, the thief finds himself in the midst of a violent conflict. It was Japan’s highest-grossing domestic release of 1980.
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37. La Vie en Rose (2007)
> Domestic ticket sales: $13.7 million
> International ticket sales: $101.2 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.6/10 (86,782 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (153 votes)
> Directed by: Olivier Dahan
This acclaimed French biopic chronicles the tragic life of singer Edith Piaf (played by Marion Cotillard). Raised in a brothel, Piaf found unlikely success before succumbing to addiction. It won two Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Cotillard.
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36. Seducing Doctor Lewis (2003)
> Domestic ticket sales: $14.2 million
> International ticket sales: $5.9 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.3/10 (5,297 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (65 votes)
> Directed by: Jean-François Pouliot
A poor fishing village can only qualify for the construction of a local factory if they have a practicing doctor as a resident. So goes their seduction of plastic surgeon Dr. Lewis (David Boutin), which gives way to a series of harebrained schemes in this French-language comedy from Quebec. It won the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
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35. Talk to Her (2002)
> Domestic ticket sales: $14.7 million
> International ticket sales: $87.6 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.9/10 (111,935 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (135 votes)
> Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
From prolific Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar comes this twisted drama, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Told primarily through flashbacks, it depicts the overlapping sagas of four separate characters. In 2005, Time Magazine named it as one of the 100 best films ever made.
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34. All About My Mother (1999)
> Domestic ticket sales: $15.0 million
> International ticket sales: $107.9 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.8/10 (96,201 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (93 votes)
> Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
Widely considered Almodóvar‘s best effort at the time, this topical Spanish-language drama explores themes of AIDS and gender identity. After her son is killed in an accident, an Argentine nurse (Cecilia Roth) searches for the boy’s transgender second mother. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
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33. The Lives of Others (2007)
> Domestic ticket sales: $15.0 million
> International ticket sales: $88.0 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.4/10 (385,383 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (163 votes)
> Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
The feature debut from German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck takes place in communist East Berlin circa 1984. Assigned to spy on a writer and his wife, a government agent (Ulrich Mühe) begins intervening with their lives. It won numerous major awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
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32. The Wedding Banquet (1993)
> Domestic ticket sales: $15.3 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.6/10 (15,536 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (29 votes)
> Directed by: Ang Lee
This Chinese romantic comedy, which takes place in Manhattan, makes up part of director Ang Lee’s informal “Father Knows Best” trilogy. Afraid to come out to his parents, a gay landlord (Winston Chao) arranges a marriage of convenience with one of his Taiwanese tenants (May Chin). All is going according to plan until the parents arrive with the intention of throwing a massive wedding ceremony.
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31. Spirited Away (2002)
> Domestic ticket sales: $15.9 million
> International ticket sales: $540.1 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.6/10 (741,306 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (194 votes)
> Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Miyazaki’s animated classic broke box office records in Japan before arriving in the United States to modest fanfare, though it’s since gained a respectable domestic following. The story sends a young suburban girl into a fantastic netherworld, where humans turn into beasts and gods roam the skies. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
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30. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
> Domestic ticket sales: $16.0 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.5/10 (41,293 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (33 votes)
> Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
This Spanish adaptation of a French play brought worldwide recognition to director Almodóvar and actor Antonio Banderas. It centers on a TV actress named Pepa (Carmen Maura), who embarks on a life-changing journey after a sudden break-up. As with much of the director’s work, the story puts a darkly comic spin on otherwise dramatic themes.
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29. Under the Same Moon (2008)
> Domestic ticket sales: $16.1 million
> International ticket sales: $13.7 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.2/10 (7,023 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (95 votes)
> Directed by: Patricia Riggen
In this heartfelt drama (in Spanish and English), a young Mexican boy (Eugenio Derbez) illegally crosses the border to find his mother (Kate del Castillo). The feature debut from director Patricia Riggen, it alternates between two separate storylines to depict the modern struggles of undocumented immigrants.
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28. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
> Domestic ticket sales: $16.3 million
> International ticket sales: $120.7 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.5/10 (111,891 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (171 votes)
> Directed by: Yimou Zhang
Chinese director Yimou Zhang followed the smash hit “Hero” with this historical action drama, set during the waning days of the Tang Dynasty. It tells the story of an imprisoned rebel fighter (Ziyi Zhang), who lures two men into a dangerous escape plan.
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27. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
> Domestic ticket sales: $16.4 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.8/10 (20,924 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (50 votes)
> Directed by: Ang Lee
Ang Lee’s acclaimed dramedy explores multi-generational themes through the tale of a semi-retired chef (Sihung Lung) and his three unmarried daughters. The family convenes every Sunday for a dinner feast, where they discuss their romantic struggles and other topics. It makes up part of the director’s “Father Knows Best” trilogy.
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26. The Protector (2006)
> Domestic ticket sales: $16.8 million
> International ticket sales: $21.1 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.0/10 (37,381 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (90 votes)
> Directed by: Prachya Pinkaew
A young man (Tony Jaa) journeys to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant in this Thai martial arts action flick. Threadbare plotting and elaborate fight sequences ensue. It reunited Jaa with “Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior” director Prachya Pinkaew and was internationally distributed under various names.
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25. Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002)
> Domestic ticket sales: $17.8 million
> International ticket sales: $94.0 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.0/10 (66,585 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (123 votes)
> Directed by: Christophe Gans
Director Christophe Gans blends multiple genre tropes to deliver this French-language historical thriller, which draws loose inspiration from real-life events. The story takes place in 18th-century rural France and follows two men as they hunt for a murderous beast. “Its heart is in the horror-monster-sex-fantasy-special effects tradition,” wrote Roger Ebert in his 3-star review.
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24. Volver (2006)
> Domestic ticket sales: $18.0 million
> International ticket sales: $101.6 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.6/10 (101,263 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (173 votes)
> Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar re-teamed with frequent collaborator Penélope Cruz for this award-winning Spanish dramedy. It follows a woman (Cruz) back to the small town of her upbringing, where she confronts her tragic past. The story draws loose inspiration from a fictional character’s rejected novel in the previous Almodovar film “The Flowers of My Secret.”
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23. Shall We Dance? (1997)
> Domestic ticket sales: $19.0 million
> International ticket sales: $224.0 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.7/10 (11,138 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (157 votes)
> Directed by: Masayuki Suô
A married accountant Shohei Sugiyama (Kôji Yakusho) exits his comfort zone and enters the world of ballroom dancing in this Japanese dramedy. With his newfound passion comes a renewed sense of purpose. It was the second-highest grossing film of the year in Japan and also a respectable box office performer in the USA.
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22. My Life as a Dog (1987)
> Domestic ticket sales: $19.6 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.6/10 (21,138 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (34 votes)
> Directed by: Lasse Hallström
This Swedish coming-of-age dramedy, which takes place in the 1950s, is an adaptation of a semi-autobiographical book series. It sends a young boy (Anton Glanzelius) to a small town, where he’s exposed to a different side of life. Director Hallström would go on to helm a number of North American films, including 1993’s “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and 2009’s “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.”
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21. Fanny and Alexander (1983)
> Domestic ticket sales: $19.7 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 8.1/10 (63,492 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (41 votes)
> Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Abridged from a much-longer mini-series, Bergman’s Swedish autobiographical drama tells the story of two privileged siblings and their eccentric family. A hit in the director’s native country, it was also one of the era’s highest-grossing foreign-language films in the U.S. It went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film.
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20. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
> Domestic ticket sales: $20.6 million
> International ticket sales: $238.9 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.2/10 (95,090 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (22 votes)
> Directed by: S.S. Rajamouli
This Tollywood epic makes up the second part of the Baahubali series and functions as both a prequel and a sequel to its predecessor. The story centers on Mahendra Baahubali (Prabhas), who seeks revenge against his uncle over his father’s death. Its opening in North America broke box office records for an Indian film.
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19. Y tu mamá también (2002)
> Domestic ticket sales: $21.9 million
> International ticket sales: $31.2 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.7/10 (122,326 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (137 votes)
> Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Hollywood director Alfonso Cuarón returned to his Mexican roots with this coming-of-age Spanish-language drama. It sends two close friends and an older woman on a consequential road trip, where they cross all kinds of sexual boundaries. The story takes place in 1999 against a somewhat distant backdrop of socio-political turmoil.
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18. Monsoon Wedding (2002)
> Domestic ticket sales: $21.9 million
> International ticket sales: $26.7 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.3/10 (25,776 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (128 votes)
> Directed by: Mira Nair
Mira Nair’s Indian dramedy examines themes of family tradition as it builds toward an elaborate arranged marriage. “A late radical shift in tone, from jittery exuberance to ruinous alienation, strikes an impressive contemporary note amid all the obeisance to custom,” wrote critic Joshua Rothkopf for the Chicago Reader.
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17. La Cage aux Folles II (1981)
> Domestic ticket sales: $22.9 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 5.7/10 (2,063 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 57% (7 votes)
> Directed by: Édouard Molinaro
Continuing the misadventures of a French gay couple, this middling sequel puts a slapstick twist on the spy thriller sub-genre. Upon taking possession of a stolen microfilm, the couple goes on the run. Its popularity in France and abroad was arguably powered by the success of its predecessor.
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16. Iron Monkey (1993)
> Domestic ticket sales: $23.8 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.5/10 (16,398 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (96 votes)
> Directed by: Woo-Ping Yuen
From the stunt coordinator of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” comes this Hong Kong actioner, which interprets the story of Robin Hood through a martial arts lens. It debuted in 1993 but didn’t reach North American theaters until 2001, where it was shown with a number of controversial edits.
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15. Kung Fu Hustle (2005)
> Domestic ticket sales: $24.4 million
> International ticket sales: $119.8 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.7/10 (138,210 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (189 votes)
> Directed by: Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow directs and stars in this action comedy masterpiece (in Cantonese and Mandarin), in which a small village protects itself from an invading gang. Set in the 1940s, the film’s unique characters and cartoonish effects exist in a class of their own.
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14. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
> Domestic ticket sales: $24.8 million
> International ticket sales: $60.3 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.8/10 (100,998 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (158 votes)
> Directed by: Walter Salles
This Spanish biopic loosely adapts Che Guevara’s memoir and chronicles a life-changing road trip from his youth. Traversing South America in 1952, Guevara is forever changed by his exposure to economic inequality. It marked the second time that actor Gael García Bernal played the revolutionary leader, having done so before in the 2002 miniseries “Fidel.”
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13. Cinema Paradiso (1990)
> Domestic ticket sales: $26.0 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 8.5/10 (256,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (80 votes)
> Directed by: Giuseppe Tornatore
Giuseppe Tornatore’s sweeping Italian drama is both a semi-autobiographical story and a passionate ode to cinema itself. Upon visiting the Sicilian village of his youth, an accomplished director recounts his early love affair with moviegoing. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
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12. The Boat (1982)
> Domestic ticket sales: $34.0 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 8.4/10 (248,434 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (55 votes)
> Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
This seminal WWII drama brings viewers aboard the German submarine U-96, where the crew alternates between boredom and terror. It was released in various versions, including a 1984 BBC mini-series that clocked in at 300 minutes. On IMDb’s list of The Top 250 Movies, it currently sits at #77.
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11. Fearless (2006)
> Domestic ticket sales: $34.4 million
> International ticket sales: $60.7 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.6/10 (75,875 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (110 votes)
> Directed by: Ronny Yu
Jet Li was still an international star when he appeared in this martial arts epic in Mandarin, Japanese, and English, from director Ronny Yu. He plays a fictionalized version of real-life figure Huo Yuanjia, one of the most famous fighters in Chinese history. The film opened second at the North American box office, which made it, well, number two.
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10. The Postman (1995)
> Domestic ticket sales: $46.0 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.7/10 (36,400 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (35 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Radford
Not to be confused with Kevin Costner’s 1997 sci-fi effort of the same name (its Italian title is “Il postino”), this is the story of a simple postman (Massimo Troisi) who’s helped by exiled poet Pablo Neruda in wooing the woman of his dreams. The film’s captivating performances and touching themes earned rave reviews. Troisi tragically died just after principal photography wrapped.
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9. Like Water for Chocolate (1993)
> Domestic ticket sales: $47.9 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.1/10 (17,922 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (46 votes)
> Directed by: Alfonso Arau
Forbidden love and epicurean delight collide in this Mexican romantic drama with elements of magical realism. Director Alfonso Arau adapted it from a novel and screenplay by his then-wife Laura Esquivel. It was the highest-grossing foreign-language film in the USA at the time of its release.
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8. Instructions Not Included (2013)
> Domestic ticket sales: $50.1 million
> International ticket sales: $63.1 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.5/10 (30,949 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 57% (21 votes)
> Directed by: Eugenio Derbez
When a daughter is left at his doorstep, a freewheeling bachelor becomes an overnight parent in this Mexican dramedy. The story takes a heart-wrenching turn when the mother returns after six years, wanting her child back. Eugenio Derbez directed, co-wrote, co-produced, co-edited, and stars.
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7. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
> Domestic ticket sales: $52.6 million
> International ticket sales: $64.6 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.2/10 (660,229 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (241 votes)
> Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Director Guillermo del Toro briefly strayed from Hollywood to direct this Spanish-Mexican fantasy. Set five years into the Francoist era, it follows a young girl (Ivana Baquero) into a vivid netherworld. It appeared on a number of critics’ Top 10 lists and won three Academy Awards.
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6. Parasite (2019)
> Domestic ticket sales: $53.4 million
> International ticket sales: $209.8 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.5/10 (759,487 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (468 votes)
> Directed by: Bong Joon-ho
Movie-lovers are still talking about the twisty plot points and socio-economic themes of this darkly comic thriller. Under various guises, an impoverished family slinks their way into an upper class household. It was the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes and also the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
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5. Amélie (2001)
> Domestic ticket sales: $53.9 million
> International ticket sales: $228.1 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.3/10 (747,528 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (186 votes)
> Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
This vibrant French classic centers on the charming title character (Audrey Tautou), whose innocent worldview inspires all those around her. It was France’s highest-grossing film of 2001 and also a popular title on the home rental market in places such as the U.K.
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4. La Cage aux Folles (1979)
> Domestic ticket sales: $75.7 million
> International ticket sales: Not available
> IMDb audience score: 7.2/10 (10,866 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (21 votes)
> Directed by: Édouard Molinaro
Adapted from a play of the same name, this French comedy finds a gay couple playing straight for their soon-to-be in-laws. It yielded an inferior 1991 sequel (see No. 17) and was later remade in Hollywood as the 1996 hit “The Birdcage,” starring Gene Hackman, Robin Williams, Dianne Wiest, and Nathan Lane.
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3. Hero (2004)
> Domestic ticket sales: $79.2 million
> International ticket sales: $182.4 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.9/10 (180,741 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (210 votes)
> Directed by: Yimou Zhang
Director Yimou Zhang’s action-packed Mandarin-language blockbuster takes place in ancient China and stars Jet Li as a nameless warrior. Borrowing from iconic films such as “Rashomon,” it examines an event from multiple angles and plays on the concept of unreliable narration. Writing for The New Republic, critic Christopher Orr called it one of the year’s “best films to be released in the United States.”
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2. Life Is Beautiful (1998)
> Domestic ticket sales: $111.8 million
> International ticket sales: $337.0 million
> IMDb audience score: 8.6/10 (681,806 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (89 votes)
> Directed by: Roberto Benigni
This Italian tragi-comedy takes place in a concentration camp during the Holocaust and finds light in the darkest of places. Hoping to shield his son from the omnipresent horror, a prisoner (Benigni) pretends that it’s all just an elaborate game. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film.
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1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
> Domestic ticket sales: $217.7 million
> International ticket sales: $145.2 million
> IMDb audience score: 7.9/10 (267,347 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (159 votes)
> Directed by: Ang Lee
Director Ang Lee followed a trio of Hollywood films with this Mandarin-language wuxia masterpiece. Against the backdrop of the Qing dynasty, two veteran warriors (Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh) must retrieve a stolen ancient sword. It was a domestic blockbuster and the winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film.
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