Taraji P. Henson Says Hollywood ‘Lied to Me’ About Black Movies and TV Not Selling Overseas, Spent Years Being ‘Graceful in Getting Paid Less … Not Anymore Though!’

https://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/taraji-p-henson-hollywood-lying-black-films-dont-sell-overseas-1236404330/

15 comments

  1. > “When I did the international press for ‘Empire,’ up until then I was told Black doesn’t translate overseas,” she said. “Really? We went to Paris. Lee Daniels kept me a secret to the audience at a Q&A. The fans started asking the Cookie questions and he said, ‘Why don’t you ask her.’ Before he could finish saying my name, the entire room erupted in applause and was screaming. For me? I got up on the stage and I ugly-faced cried. The myth was busting. You lied to me my entire career. I leave the stage and there are fans outside who know my name. That changed the game.”

  2. Don’t give a shit about entitled millionaires complaining about not having enough money, bootstrap yo ass

  3. Im about at my limit with rich people mad that they don’t have even more money.

  4. No offense but there hasn’t been a good black movie in a while . Hollywood likes them because they are consistent . They can spend 30-100 million on a so-so movie and expect a good return . They get this because a bunch of liberals will praise an ok movie based on subject matter . Like 42 could have been incredible but it was so average it felt like being lied to after seeing it . With how many reviews were given

    #Edit:

    Of course everyone is taking us the wrong way. My point is Hollywood could make really good movies telling stories about Black people. They don’t because they can spend a minimal investment and get it back most of the time. I think we should expect more.

  5. No they didn’t. It’s the truth. China is almost (is?) the largest foreign movie market. They’re very racist there.

  6. It’s not about millionaires wanting more money guys 😩 I remember when Sorry to Bother You was exploding in the US and the UK had to wait months because “black movies dont sell overseas” so no distributor would pick it up. Even Get Out didn’t get same day release. Same with Moonlight. Black movies always get the shaft outside of the US and it’s always been bullshit. Engage with the argument instead of deflecting because a rich woman talks about being paid less

  7. Europe has something like 750M people. China has double that. When they say Overseas they mean the largest market.

  9. If only the corporate CEOs treated everyone as human and not let their ego and greed mislead the general audience.

  10. Hollywood made a separate genre and categorized it Black Films for a reason, they know if white demos (nonblack) in the US dont find the genre relatable then there is a likelihood of a chance that other nonblack demos outside of the US wont either.

    Big Action, Adventure & Animated movies are the only ones that have mass appeal over every other genres regardless of race

  11. She was probably thinking Europe and not Asia.

    But tbf, Paris is a diverse city. I can’t imagine some countries in Eastern Europe would have a huge market.

  12. You’ve got 30 million dollars, Taraji. 30 million dollars.

  13. I’m sure they’ll tell you anything to undercut you in negotiations. Sort of how negotiations work. Just needs to point to the box office data and use a great agent.

  14. I mean we are kinda seeing this with sinners, truly weak overseas box office numbers despite being a hit in the US.

  15. Thunderbolts just bombed would anyone white actors don’t translate well?

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