The 10 Most Cinematic Countries and the Films That Defined Them
Quartz has compiled a list of the ten countries most notable for their cinematic contributions. At the forefront is India, renowned for Bollywood, which has produced a vast number of films, including the iconic 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' since 1995. The United States is home to Hollywood, famous for classics such as 'The Godfather,' 'Jaws,' and 'Titanic.' Japan has made significant contributions with Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' and Toho's 'Godzilla,' both released in 1954, alongside Studio Ghibli's beloved animations. South Korea made history with 'Parasite,' the first non-English film to win the Best Picture Oscar. Italy’s postwar filmmakers, notably Fellini, shaped realism with 'La Dolce Vita.' France, the cradle of cinema, gave rise to the French New Wave. New Zealand's 'Lord of the Rings' enhanced tourism, while Morocco often represents ancient Rome and Egypt. Iceland's glaciers appeared in 'Interstellar,' and the U.K. is known for exporting franchises like Harry Potter.
Key facts
- India produces more feature films annually than any other country.
- 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' has screened daily at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir since 1995, surpassing 30 years in October 2025.
- The U.S. studio system was built in Hollywood in the early 1900s.
- 'Titanic' was the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide and won 11 Oscars.
- Japan's 'Seven Samurai' and 'Godzilla' were both released in 1954.
- 'Spirited Away' was the first non-English film to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar (2003).
- 'Parasite' won Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars, the first non-English film to do so.
- France hosted the first paying public film screening on December 28, 1895.
- New Zealand's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' won all 11 of its Oscar nominations in 2004.
- Morocco's Atlas Studios is one of the largest film studios by land area.
- Iceland's Svínafellsjökull glacier was used in 'Batman Begins' and 'Interstellar'.
- The U.K.'s James Bond series began with 'Dr. No' in 1962.
Entities
Artists
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Kajol
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Mario Puzo
- James Cameron
- Akira Kurosawa
- Ishiro Honda
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Isao Takahata
- Bong Joon-ho
- Park Chan-wook
- Quentin Tarantino
- Federico Fellini
- Audrey Hepburn
- Gregory Peck
- William Wyler
- Giuseppe Tornatore
- Roberto Benigni
- Auguste Lumière
- Louis Lumière
- Jean-Luc Godard
- Jean-Paul Belmondo
- Jean Seberg
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Peter Jackson
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- Ridley Scott
- Russell Crowe
- Brendan Fraser
- Christopher Nolan
- Christian Bale
- Liam Neeson
- Julia Roberts
- Hugh Grant
- J.K. Rowling
Institutions
- Bollywood
- Maratha Mandir
- Paramount
- Warner Bros.
- Universal
- Toho Studios
- Studio Ghibli
- Cannes Film Festival
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Weta Workshop
- Weta Digital
- Atlas Studios
- UNESCO
- Eon Productions
- Pinewood Studios
- Leavesden Studios
- Tourism New Zealand
Locations
- India
- Mumbai
- United States
- Hollywood
- Los Angeles
- Japan
- South Korea
- Italy
- Rome
- France
- Paris
- Boulevard des Capucines
- Montmartre
- New Zealand
- Waikato
- Morocco
- Ouarzazate
- Aït Benhaddou
- Marrakech
- Erfoud
- Iceland
- Svínafellsjökull
- Jökulsárlón
- United Kingdom
- London
- Pinewood Studios
- Alnwick Castle
- Northumberland
- Christ Church College
- Oxford
- Notting Hill
Sources
- Quartz —