The determinants of foreign box office revenue for English language movies

This paper examines the determinants of foreign box office revenue for English language movies. The sample consists of 449 films released during 2006-2008. Regression results indicate the primary determinants of foreign box office revenue for English language movies are U.S. domestic box office revenue, action movies, children’s movies, sequels, Academy Award wins, and production budget. Specific results include the observation that action movies increase foreign box office revenues fifteen to twenty-six million dollars, children’s movies add approximately twenty-four million dollars, an academy award win is worth over nine million dollars, and the built in audience from sequels add thirty-one to thirty-six million dollars in foreign box office revenue.