The Lonely Subtitle: Here's Why U.S. Audiences Are Abandoning Foreign-Language Films|Filmmakers,Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews | Indiewire

The Lonely Subtitle: Here's Why U.S. Audiences Are Abandoning Foreign-Language Films

"Last month, Variety chief film critic Scott Foundas wrote an article that should be heartwarming for anyone heading to the Cannes Film Festival: 'U.S. Audiences Are More Comfortable With Subtitles Than Ever.'

Unfortunately, it's not true: U.S. box office for the top five foreign-language films has declined by 61% in the last seven years."

It's not that difficult to explain. Hollywood sucks away all the potential box office life from the foreign talent pool. Talented foreign directors with mainstream potential like Verhoeven, Cuaron, and del Toro get hired to do Hollywood films (and with great success). That leaves only the beret-and-turtleneck people to do non-Hollywood movies, and their kinds of films will never add up to more than a miniscule market in America.