Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about non-american television series based on american television series.
What exactly does the category 'non-American series based on American series' include?
It covers any television show produced outside the United States that adapts, remakes, or reimagines a premise, format, or story structure originally developed in the US. These are distinct from spin-offs or sequels; they are new productions in a different country that reuse the core concept of the American original.
Why do foreign production companies choose to remake American shows rather than create originals?
A proven US format lowers the financial risk for a broadcaster because the underlying structure has already demonstrated audience appeal. Localizing the material also lets writers and producers swap in culturally specific humor, settings, and character dynamics that resonate with a domestic viewership.
What are some of the most recognizable examples in this space?
Procedural dramas such as 'Criminal Minds' and 'Castle' have been adapted in multiple countries across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, as have several ensemble-comedy formats. The procedural and multi-camera comedy genres are the most frequently licensed and reworked outside the US.
How do these international versions typically differ from the American original?
The most common changes involve rewriting character backstories, shifting the overall tone (often toward more drama or less quip), and replacing US-specific cultural references with locally relevant ones. Some versions also alter season length, setting, or even the gender of a lead role to match local broadcast expectations.
Where should a newcomer begin if they want to explore this category?
Pick an American series you already know well and track down its most widely discussed international adaptation, which in many cases aired in the UK, Australia, Germany, or Brazil. Comparing the two side by side makes it easy to spot what the local version changed and why those changes matter.
Can a non-American remake itself be remade in a third country?
Yes, this 'remake-of-a-remake' chain does happen, especially when a local adaptation becomes a hit and draws interest from a culturally neighboring market. In those cases the second-country version often borrows more from the first adaptation's alterations than from the American original, producing a distinctly different take.
What criticisms do fans most often level at these adaptations?
A frequent complaint is that the local version feels like a safe, formulaic copy that strips away the original's specificity and edge. Others argue the adaptation over-corrects by inserting so many local references that the core premise loses coherence, or that the writing and casting feel generic compared to the character-driven approach of the US show.
Have any non-American versions outperformed or outlasted the American original?
In a handful of cases a local adaptation has run for more seasons or earned stronger domestic ratings than its US counterpart, particularly when it is tuned to a smaller, more loyal audience. The American original, however, usually retains broader global recognition, so the remake is often perceived as a regional phenomenon rather than a worldwide replacement.
What role do global streaming platforms play in this category today?
Streaming services have both increased the visibility of these adaptations and reduced the commercial incentive to produce them, since the American original is now directly accessible in most territories. When a non-American remake is greenlit in the streaming era, it typically targets a specific local audience or a niche the original did not fully serve.
Is there a single authoritative database that tracks all of these international adaptations?
No single registry covers every version, but general television databases and fan-maintained wikis list international adaptations under the original series' entry. Dedicated fan forums and community wikis are often the most detailed sources for tracking which countries produced a version, when it aired, and how it diverges from the US original.