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“Is Tom Cruise Gay?”

“Keanu Reeves Arrested on Drug Charges at the Viper Room”

“Jennifer Lopez Caught Dirty Dancing with Britney Spears”

Do these fictional headlines sound like typical tidbits of Hollywood gossip? Well, try replacing the names with Gael Garcia Bernal, Stephen Fung, and Meenakshi Seshadri. It’s still gossip, but these rich and famous individuals are from Mexico City, Hong Kong, and Bombay. History classes tend to emphasize the cultural differences between isolationist America and the rest of the world, but we all know that sex and violence is at the heart of entertainment in any country. For years, the film industries of Mexico, India and China have shown that people all over the world appreciate the tried-and-true formula of entertaining with sexy actors and violent plotlines. Both the sexual adventure Y Tu Mama Tambien and the martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon have transcended cultural boundaries to become international smash hits. The success of these films has been bolstered by other international hits with more psychological themes, such as Monsoon Wedding and Eat, Drink, Man, Woman. The stars of successful international films, including Gael Garcia Bernal of Y Tu Mama Tambien, are now globally recognized. The cultural exchange between nations via these films and their international stars shows that international films can now have as much global influence as American films.

In India’s “Bollywood,” female stars, such as Rekha, Deepti, and Meenakshi Seshadri are beautiful and alluring, much like Hollywood’s Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, or Cameron Diaz. Young heartthrobs, such as China’s Stephen Fung, have dedicated fans all over the world. Stephen Fung, who is both an actor and a musician, is one of many in the entertainment industry with aspirations for both movie and rock stardom. Keanu Reeves, Russell Crowe, and Billy Bob Thornton are just a few familiar examples of Hollywood actors who experiment with the music industry in addition to making popular films.

Scandalous celebrity behavior is another ubiquitous aspect of the movies in any country. Indian star Sanjay Dutt notoriously fails to show up at promotional events, opting instead to “paint the town red” as one article put it. His predilection for whiskey, and his wild behavior have been well documented by the Indian press, much like the drug troubles of Robert Downey Jr. have been scrutinized by the American press.

If you are sick of American and European films, the films of India and China provide a fresh take on both the drama and action genres. In an article for Time International, Richard Corliss suggests visiting “Planet Bollywood” for a fresh spike of cinematic luster. Indian popular film is known for being melodramatic and spectacular, often including grandiose dance and song numbers. Chinese action flicks tend to set the standard in America for exciting combat scenes and new twists on the proverbial battle between good and evil.

Like Indian and Chinese cinema, the Mexican film industry is making waves in the U.S. Between the 1930s and the 1950s, Mexican cinema flourished. After the 1950s, competition from America made it very difficult for Mexican directors to acquire the funding for their projects. Recently, however, a string of Mexican films have become domestic and international hits. Most notable are Amores Perros, by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the aforementioned Y Tu Mama Tambien, by Alfonso Cuaron, and El Crimen del Padre Amaro, directed by Carlos Carrera, and also starring Gael Garcia Bernal. The revival of foreign films in America provides a refreshing alternative to the films produced by American studios. Wherever they come from, glamorous movie stars embody the ideals of beauty and heroism that fans just can’t get enough of. The headlines about the stars will never cease to intrigue, whether the subjects of gossip are Mexican, Chinese, Indian, American, or any other nationality. The juicy news churned out by the tabloids may not be accurate, but whether it’s gossip from Hollywood or the Far East, it’s certainly entertaining!