Don't forget about Japan. They're also an epicenter of extraterrestrial activity and supernatural disaster

That is also how americans see America. So that means all americans are aliens?

...wait

That's fair given that the movies in question are also American.

That's generally Reddit too. Everything is /r/usdefaultism

Wait, if you look really closely at that globe, you’ll find New Zealand is missing

Not my fault the euros don't know what a culture victory looks like.

There’s also China, i.e. the Great Wall and some high-tech megacities, because the studios want a chance at that billion-viewer market.

Maybe the bad guys will also blow up Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower if the Europeans are lucky.

That map is wrong. You have stuff in the void between Las Vegas and Chicago.

That's one of the best aspects of District 9. Johannesburg. Right out of left field.

I see this criticism a lot and I just wonder how many films from outside the US people have seen because this kind of thing happens in pretty much every country that makes films. The film will usually take place in and feature heroes from the country that made it. Like most Godzilla movies take place in Japan and the day is saved by Japanese people (or Godzilla himself depending on the movie).

They occasionally land in the U.K.

District 9 literally calls this out in the first five minutes.

They painted over Maine! Those bastard's

Based on what, watching Men In Black, but not the whole series?

"Heroes" the TV show was legit pretty good about stretching outside the three largest American cities.

Also "Independence Day" at least flirted with the idea of a global invasion, even if all the action took place in DC and Nevada.

Otherwise... yeah.

Not just movies. Sci-fi series also have a heavy tendency to base their stories in/on the US.

Like Stargate SG-1, filmed around Vancouver and considered an American-Canadian show while having Canada completely irrelevant. At least they got better with Stargate Atlantis and the international team. I consider Rodney McKay and Radek Zelenka heroes.

There is also Farscape that was filmed in Australia and is loosely international, as Crichton is an "international" astronaut but he's still American.

The only sci-fi series that I know is taking place outside of the US is Continuum. Everything is revolving around Vancouver.

This is the wrong country if you're watching anime.

This is a bit reductive. You could add in Alaska (blue filter, remote military base, etc...) and Mexico (yellow filter, foreign land, grungy dusty bar).

Rule America! America rules the waves! Yankees never, never, never will be slaves! Errr, umm