> Look at all those top non-American films on that list:

That’s not a list of non-American films, it’s a list of non-American directors.

To answer what I assume is your every so snarkily delivered point: Yes, about a third of the directors on that list ended up successful in Hollywood. Does that mean international films are bad? Probably not! Does it maybe mean even Hollywood recognizes that there is a lot of international talent, and very good international films being made? Probably yes?

What’s the relevance of non-American directors?

Nicole Kidman and Chris Hemsworth, say, are as Hollywood as it gets.

Heck so is Salma Hayek.

The point is that intl can’t compete with Hollywood because Hollywood is widely appealing and relatively very good.

It doesn’t matter that Alfred Hitchcock became a naturalized US citizen.