What Hollywood Film Productions Were Originally Foreign Films?

Hollywood, USA is still the world's most notable movie generating machine in the industry. However, the film market is quite expansive with foreign films as well. In the USA foreign films generally do not do as well with the mass population, due to either a refusal to read subtitles or an annoyance with poor dubbing. However, the same people who may speak of how they despise trying to watch a foreign film have probably seen many without even realizing it. I'm not talking about locations where the movie was made, but rather the fact that American companies have been jumping on the trend of buying up the rights to foreign films and remaking them as American with all the familiar stars attached. Often times the actual stories found within these films translate quite well, with a huge chunk coming from the Asian markets, and the trend does not seem to be slowing. The following is a showcase of hit movies that were originally foreign films and also a list of upcoming projects that will be made in the same vein.

THE DEPARTED was an adaptation based off of the Hong Kong film: Infernal Affairs. The Departed not only raked in piles of cash from theatre ticket sales, but also gained Martin Scorsese an Oscar for Best Picture. Infernal Affairs was made with a sequels and the makers of The Departed have talked about doing so as well.

THE RING did around $129 million at the box office and was based off of a film from Japan: Ringu. The Ring 2 did considerably less in sales, and was a dull film I might add, however it too originated from the plot of a Japanese film.

THE GRUDGE was based on Ju-On, from Japan and it too followed up with a sequel; The Grudge 2.

SHALL WE DANCE a romantic film starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon was not a runaway box office succes, though $58 million isn't small change. This movie is an example of a film that was not action or horror and was based on a Japanese film; Shall We Dansu?

THE LAKE HOUSE the romantic drama with a time twist featured Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. The original film was made in South Korea and titled Siworae, or it was also called "II Mare."