BRITISH FILMS TRAVEL

Nearly one third of the world’s most successful films are British or feature British talent.

It’s a well known secret that the international market is now often more important than the domestic audience for films from all countries.

Again and again, some film will prove only modestly popular at home, then be clasped with open arms abroad and go on to great success. Croupier, the film that launched Clive Owen’s career, is one classic example. Overlooked in Britain, it was so much admired in America that it earned a second opening here and went on to triumph.

This new global hunger for foreign films is obvious in the news that fully 29 big films have done more than $100m box office outside the US, which was not long ago considered the world’ premiere audience, including 22 films which sold more tickets globally than in American.

A goodly number of these worldwide successes – nine at least - are British or have noticeable British talent.

Leading the pack are the two Pirates films, featuring Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom, along with a host of other British talent, both of which earned more than $500m OUTSIDE the US.

The other top performers display a remarkable range of interests and styles: * Borat * Casino Royale * Mr. Bean's Holiday * 300 * Perfume: The Story of a Murderer * The Devil Wears Prada * The Holiday

Filed July 4, 2007