Wild Card

 Movies Changed for International Audiences

Hollywood has produced movies that are popular all over the world. In many ways, these films are created with an American audience in mind. Many movie viewers never consider the work put into making a movie presentable to other countries. It is common for certain aspects to be changed to cater to humor and cultural differences. Along with changing the language, films may make minor adjustments to change humor that may not be understood by an audience in another country. Often, translation may be an issue. Regardless of the reason, changing a movie for a foreign release is how companies make money all over the world. 

Pixar

One of the most popular changes made in movies is through Disney. There are several instances where scenes or dialogue were changed to fit a specific audience. For example, in the film Zootopia, the newscasters were altered based on the country each animal is from. Also, in the film Inside Out. Disney made multiple changes to the film for international release. According to the film's director, "some of the content wouldn't make sense in other countries. For example, in one scene, the main character Riley does not want to eat broccoli; in Japan, the animators changed it to green bell peppers because kids admitted that they found peppers gross and broccoli delicious. 

One humorous change made to a Pixar film was in Toy Story 2. In one scene, the main character Buzz Lightyear gives an inspiring speech in front of an American flag. The scene was funny for an American audience because it reflects our country's large sense of patriotism. Of course, this was changed to fireworks and a spinning globe in other countries. 

The Shining

Film studios will go to great lengths to change scenes for international audiences. For example, the 1980 horror film The Shining changed one of its 'bonechilling' scenes so international audiences could react similarly. American viewers remember the famous scene when the main character Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nickolson, types, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" constantly on what is supposed to be a novel. 

The scene is meant to highlight Jack falling into insanity. To resonate with international audiences, they filmed the scene using different phrases. For example, director Kubrick used other idioms since the original translation wouldn't fit international audiences. The phrase in Italy was "II mattino ha l'oro in bocca," translated to "the morning has gold in its mouth." This phrase is equivalent to "the early bird gets the worm." This phrase does keep the creepy factor that is meant to be portrayed in the scene. 

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen have been a beloved novel since 1813. The book and its characters have inspired many books, movies, and films. The direct adaptations of the story are very popular, especially with British audiences. For this reason, when the film was adapted in 2005, starring Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfayden, the American and British versions of the movie had minor changes. At the end of the version released in the U.S. the main characters, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, kiss on a moonlit lake. This ending did not happen in the book, leaving many fans, especially those in Britain, angry at the scene during test screenings. As a result, they left the scene out in the U.K. The following video is grainy; however, it describes the controversy regarding the ending quite well. 

Banned Movies

Sometimes more than changing aspects of a movie is needed to allow a film to be released. Some movies are banned because specific themes and subjects are offensive to other cultures. For example, The Hunger Games, a film based on a young adult book of the same name, was banned in Vietnam for violence. The 2017 film Wonder Woman was banned in Lebanon because of Gal Gadot's Israeli heritage and her time in the Israeli army. 

Conclusion

Countries worldwide watch movies produced by American media; however, some parts of these movies are always appropriate for international release. Understanding your audience is an essential aspect of filmmaking. Catering to cultural differences is, in part, to protect box office revenue, but it also allows citizens to enjoy the films no matter where they are from by avoiding confusion or controversy. Although, some films cannot be released no matter what is changed due to unfavorable content. There are many forms of art that unite people. People will come together to discuss them, whether it is books, plays, paintings, or films. All the better when each culture can understand and enjoy them no matter where they are from.