Foreign Film Markets Continue to Expand

Among the highlights of the record-setting 1987-88 sales year abroad--for example, United International Pictures, the foreign sales arm for Paramount, MGM/UA and Universal films, had its best year ever--were “Fatal Attraction,” which did $181 million outside North America, and “The Living Daylights,” which picked up $135 million more. Even films that had less than terrific years at American theaters did sell-out business abroad: Universal/UIP’s “Cry Freedom,” for instance, which had a very limited release in the U.S. but did $46 million in business elsewhere. Such “boffo” foreign box office comes in a year when the U.S. dollar is in its weakest state in years, which makes American films more attractive than ever for foreign buyers. There’s always the exception too: “The Secret of My Success,” which might be thought of as American in its appeal, did far better in this country than the $49 million it garnered elsewhere.

BY THE NUMBERS The 10 Biggest Foreign Markets for American Film

1.Japan 2.West Germany 3.Great Britain 4.France 5.Italy 6.Spain 7.Australia and Oceania 8.Sweden 9.The Netherlands 10.Switzerland SOURCE: Variety