I can’t really say that a lot of non-english shows nowadays reach much more popularity in a lot of country. But without a doubt now when streaming era start to dominate we really began to notice more non-english shows than before.
Squid Game, Dark, Money Heist i think one of those that are most well-known tv shows that are non-english. But i think many non-english shows still struggle today to reach wider audience unlike US tv shows which is still dominating.
People did you knew any tv shows that were non-english and were well known even among Americans and other english-speaking countries before streaming era?
Let alone anime tv shows. Anime had more niche popularity that existed in different countries with some reaching more popularity.
Power Rangers is a weird one. It was made out of edited and dubbed footage from the Japanese show Super Sentai, mixed with newly filmed footage to make all the Japanese heroes into American characters. So it sort of is a Japanese show that exported into other countries, and it sort of is not.
Power Rangers then started a trend with other shows doing this re-editing. Beetleborgs, VR Troopers. Not Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills, though. That one was fully original, and was Gohan's favorite.
9
Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+3
90s yeah. It after Power Ranger success they done re-edition with other Tokusatsu heroes but with American actors
3
RunDNAApr 10, 2026
+2
We had Japanese kids' shows popular in Australia in the Eighties: Astroboy, Battle of the Planets, Monkey Magic.
Other than that, the pickings are slim. All I can think of is the Danish miniseries [The Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingdom_\(miniseries\)), which was semi-popular in the nineties.
So almost nothing. Streaming has made foreign shows so much more popular, which is a good thing. I watch a lot of Scandinavian Noir.
2
sergiocamposntApr 10, 2026
+2
Les Revenants, great French show that was broadcast in the US, UK, and Canada.
2
Unique-Earth267Apr 10, 2026
+3
Back in the day there was this show called Takeshi's Castle that was pretty big deal here, basically Japanese game show but they dubbed it with comedy commentary. Was on TV everywhere in early 2000s I think
Also remember my dad watching some telenovelas even though we're not Spanish speakers - those things were massive worldwide way before Netflix existed. And Dragon Ball Z was literally everywhere, not just anime fans watching that one
But yeah you're right, streaming definitely changed the game for international content. Before that you had to rely on local TV stations picking up shows and most of them just played it safe with American stuff
3
LuppercusApr 10, 2026
+1
Did he followed the plot even if in Spanish?
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Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+1
Yeah. Takeshi Castle we also had here with funny commentary that people nowadays remember. DBZ, Pokemon were most well-known anime shows that were watched by non-anime fans.
Of Course i live in Europe and most popular non-english shows in my country were Kobra 11, Kommisar Rex and Medikopter.
1
jenny1011Apr 10, 2026
+2
Inspector Rex and Iron Chef are the big foreign shows of my childhood. Inspector Rex was subbed and Iron Chef was dubbed. There were also animated French and Canadian or British co-productions, but they were all dubbed. Off the top of my head the only French-only show I can think of is Insektors, but it was still dubbed.
Edit: another comment reminded me of Monkey. I think it was dubbed as a comedy, but I might be getting it mixed up with T-bag because I would have been very little when they were both on air. Magic Mountain was another co-production I watched, this time Australian-Chinese.
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Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+1
Monkey was popular in UK and Australia during it debut
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jenny1011Apr 10, 2026
+1
Yeah, I'm in Australia.
1
cenkozanApr 10, 2026
+1
I remember some Brazilian, Mexican shows like Escrava Isaura, *Carrusel*. They were famous all around the world, not just English speaking countries.
1
fma_nobodyApr 10, 2026
+1
Okupas
Los Simuladores
Un Gallo Para Esculapio
Division Palermo
Viudas Negras
El Eternauta
1
LazloHollifeldApr 10, 2026
+1
Most Extreme Elimination Challenge!
1
SkavauApr 10, 2026
+1
To respond to your specific first point:
It changes up entirely when you specify Korea. Yes, Squid Game is the one everyone refers to - but All of Us Are Dead, Moving, Extarordinary Attorney Woo, The Glory, Crash Landing on You, Hellbound - and it's not specifically about US viewership, but people from other countries who would have otherwise been watching US-based shows watching Korean/international shows.
1
Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+1
Well i wrote that “ shows that were even known among Americans or other english-speaking countries”. I know all korean shows you mention.
In Asia yes Korean shows have more popularity
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SkavauApr 10, 2026
+1
I wasn't just referring to Asia there, but globally.
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Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+1
You see there are fans k-drama of Course. But i still find it quite still niche here in Europe. Squid Game is more famous one, but others in Europe are mostly watched by fans. But it still niche here.
1
MaskedBandit77Apr 10, 2026
+1
Any kind of media that is in a language other than the native language of the country you're in is always going to be niche.
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Medical-Pace-8099Apr 10, 2026
+1
Well our native language is not english. But American media 99% dominate here
1
Amazing-Heron-105Apr 10, 2026
+1
Sorry this is kinda off topic but anyone else struggle to get into Dark? I've heard such good things about it but I've given it a few gos now but I just can't stick it out. I couldn't tell you why either because the premise is quite interesting.
1
AtharaphelunApr 10, 2026
+2
1. You need to be paying 100% attention to everything happening in the show at all times. This is not the kind of show you can watch while on your phone at the same time. It is very easy to miss important information, details, and hints presented in the show.
2. You either have to binge-watch it (so information remains fresh and is retained) or take notes if you're going to have long gaps in between watching sessions. You can also use the official Dark website as your watch guide—make sure you enter the correct episode you're currently at so you don't get spoiled.
3. It may very well just be beyond you. No shame in that, that just means you're not part of the target audience. Some people just find it too difficult to wrap their head around the various scientific concepts explored by Dark. Some also find the show *too* bleak and dark (ironically).
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