Ranked: The 20+ Most Popular American Celebrities In Europe

30. Kevin James (Germany)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Believe it or not, people in Germany hold a very special place in their hearts for actor and comedian, Kevin James.  His most popular movies in Germany are "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" where he got way more attention than Adam Sandler and "The Zookeeper" which got its highest foreign gross!

29. Kelly Rowland (UK)

Image Source: Forbes 

Kelly Rowland was one-third of Destiny's Child and has risen to fame as a solo artist over the years, with hits such as Dilemma and Stole.  And she has absolutely taken the UK by storm over the years with appearances on the UK version of The X Factor.  She even said that London stole her heart!

28. Clint Eastwood (Italy)

Image Source: Reddit.com

During the sixties, actor turned film director, Clint Eastwood became one of the biggest ever Hollywood stars, making spaghetti western movies in Italy and Spain.  He worked closely with Italian film director, Sergio Leone, and so, his popularity rose in Italy.

27. Garth Brooks (Ireland)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Garth Brooks has a really strong connection to Ireland.  To start with, he has Irish ancestry on his mother's side, and since the 90s, he has had an enormous fanbase there.  In fact, he once said that Ireland was the only country where all of his gigs sold out.  And if that's not enough, he even has a song called Ireland.

26. Tim Burton (Spain)

Image Source: MovieNewsNet.com

Tim Burton is absolutely adored across Europe, but one city that pays particular homage to the American director is Madrid, the capital of Spain.  You see, Madrid plays host to The Labyrinth, which is an immersive exhibition, based on the man himself!

25. George Clooney (Italy)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Since George Clooney got his big break into TV in the hit drama ER, he has become one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood and branched out into writing, directing, and producing, and he even co-founded Casamigos Tequila.  His popularity has spread across the Atlantic, and he even followed it, purchasing a villa in Italy, on Lake Como.

24. Jared Leto (Croatia)

Image Source: Vulture 

Jared Leto made the headlines in 2019 when he was said to have started a so-called cult in Croatia.  The Thirty Seconds To Mars singer dressed in white robes at a three-day music festival that also hosted yoga sessions and movie screenings.  And his devotees call themselves The Echelon.  A cult or a festival?  We'll let you decide on that one!

23. John Malkovich (Croatia)

Image Source: GQ

Hollywood star, John Malkovich has been to Europe many times: starring in plays in Romania, backing a new studio in North Macedonia, performing in a castle in the Czech Republic, and acting on a movie set in Wroclaw.  But he is, in fact, quite popular in Croatia as his paternal grandparents were actually Croatian!

22. Frank Zappa (Lithuania)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Frank Zappa never went to Lithuania in his life.  But despite the lack of a connection with the country, the country seemed to have a special connection with him.  In fact, there's a memorial statue of Zappa near Vilinus' city center, and it is said that he was a symbol of the country's freedom after its liberation from the Soviet Bloc.

21. Chuck Norris (Romania)

Image Source: Lad Bible

Communist Romania was culturally censored which meant that images of life outside of its borders were completely cut off.  But in the mid-80s, many Hollywood films were smuggled into the country and then dubbed so people could watch and understand them in secret screenings.  Amongst other famous actors of the time, Chuck Norris rapidly grew his fan base and he has been said to have kept his popularity there since!

20. Tom Hanks (Portugal)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Tom Hanks has remained active in the movie industry for more than four decades and he is one of the most successful actors in the world.  So it is no surprise that he is hugely popular across the pond.  And he has family ties to Europe too, with his mom's family heritage being entirely Portuguese!

19. Renee Zellweger (UK)

Image Source: Golden Globes

Hollywood actress, Renee Zellweger, shot to fame in the UK and is well-known, and well-loved, for her portrayal of Bridget Jones in the movie adaptation of Bridget Jones' Diary.  She received lots of praise for this role and was nominated for a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, AND an Academy Award!

18. Sylvester Stallone (Russia)

Image Source: Indie Wire

Despite his movies, like Rocky and Rambo, being banned in the Soviet Union, they were popular in the underground market, and Sly Stallone became a star in Russia.  And back in 2008, he branched out and teamed up with Russian vodka producer, Synergy, on an advertising campaign that explored his maternal Russian roots.

17. Jessica Simpson (Ukraine)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Jessica Simpson's movie, Blonde Ambition, completely flopped in America.  But Ukrainians absolutely loved it.  In fact, it landed at the very top of the box office even grossing more than No Country for Old Men!  It is said to have done so well because it is a straight-up comedy with a huge star.  And these kinds of films are said to be very popular in former Soviet countries as a form of escapism.

16. Bruce Lee (Bosnia and Hertzagovina)

Image Source: Reddit.com

A statue of Bruce Lee, created by the sculptor, Ivan Fijolic, stands proudly in the city of Moster in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  And it has been described as the most unlikely tribute to him.  But, the country was once hugely divided, and it is said that Bruce Lee was the only figure that all ethnic groups embraced.  And martial arts is still a very popular pastime there today!

15. Woody Allen (Europe)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Woody Allen's movies were set and shot in Europe and it's true that they are actually more popular in Europe than in America.  He has been known to criticize the Hollywood system and, he does receive more praise in Europe, giving European adults what they want to see: complex plots, and high-concept comedy with that what-if scenario!

14. Miley Cyrus (Hungary)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Singer-songwriter, Miley Cyrus, has often topped the charts worldwide.  But, interestingly, she is particularly popular in Eastern Europe, including in Hungary and Croatia.  And she is always welcome at summer A-List festivals around Europe, including Glastonbury and Primavera Sound!

13. Britney Spears (Eastern Europe)

Image Source: Metro UK

The Princess of Pop, Britney Spears, is often credited with reviving pop music in the late 90s-early 00s.  But, more recently, the world has followed her huge conservatorship lawsuit.  She has always taken everywhere by storm, but she has particular success in Eastern Europe, including in Belarus and Ukraine.

12. Beyonce (France)

Image Source: Reddit.com

World-famous, Beyonce Knowles, is said to have roots in Breton, near Brittany in France, by a French genealogical association.  An interesting fact for awestruck fans who welcomed superstar couple, Beyonce and Jay-Z, to Paris where they shot their music video at the Louvre.  And very welcome indeed, as they boosted visitor numbers to a record 10.2 million that year!

11. Ariana Grande (UK)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Ariana Grande has topped the UK charts ever since she graced their shores, and she was crowned as the only person to ever replace themselves in the Number 1 spot!  And she was the second female artist, after Madonna, to actually fill the top two chart spots at the same time!  Go, Ariana!

10. Rihanna (France)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Rihanna is known as the best-selling music artist of all time, and the owner of a world-famous fashion label, Fenty.  Not only this, but she also built her own fashion label, LVMH, from scratch.  In fact, LVMH opened in Paris and became France's biggest company by market value!

9. Kanye West (France)

Image Source: Reddit.com

In a bit of strange news from Europe, apparently, three hundred Kanye fans made their way to an empty field just outside of Paris for a secret gig.  They were expecting to get a secret hearing of his new album and were influenced by the album's advertising campaign which involved releasing geographical coordinates, including the French field, as well as Cardiff Castle and others.  But it was feared to grow too big so the events were called off!

8. Jenna Ortega (Germany)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Known for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the Netflix horror comedy, Wednesday, Jenna Ortega really got into character for her role.  In fact, it is said that she learned how to play the cello, learned to fence, and even learned a bit of German!  And the original scene where she speaks German has over 50 million views on TikTok!

7. Johnny Depp (France)

Image Source: Reddit.com

It is no lie that Johnny Depp is renowned around the world for his acting, his rockstar status, oh, and that court case.  But it may intrigue you to know that he once bought and restored a dazzling abandoned 19th-century stone village in France, located just a few miles outside of St. Tropez.  And it comes complete with a wine cave and a skate park!

6. Dolly Parton (UK)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Dolly Parton is known for her kind heart, and over the pond in the UK, her munificence is seen by many children across the nation.  You see, she opened her Imagination Library, which is a generous book-giving scheme that gifts books to children to inspire them to read.  Something that is really close to her heart.

5. Peter Dinklage (Ireland)

Image Source: Reddit.com

You might know Peter Dinklage as the quick-witted, sharp-tongued Tyrion Lannister, who drinks and knows things, from the HBO show, Game of Thrones.  But you might not know that whilst he starred in the show, Peter lived in Ireland.  In fact, he once said that he misses living in Belfast and that it will always have a place in his heart.

4. Madonna (Macedonia)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Madonna's fame seems to stretch to absolutely every corner of the globe and each time she reinvents herself, she becomes a major fashion trendsetter that influences people everywhere.  And in Europe, her biggest markets include Macedonia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Croatia.

3. Kim Kardashian (UK)

Image Source: Reddit.com

It's hard to rival America's complete with The Kardashians (or the KarJenner Family), and, looking at their socials, the Kardashians' followers collectively add up to more than double the UK population, with Kim coming in second with over 281 million followers!  She has also been ranked quite highly in the UK as one of the most popular contemporary TV personalities.  But will it last?

2. Billie Eilish (Ukraine)

Image Source: Reddit.com

Billie Eilish has often said that "fame sucks" and confusingly, she said that she hates it but it's great though!  So it's clear that she grapples with her popularity!  She is known all over the world for her music, and her trademark baggy shirts.  And in Europe, she is the most famous in Ukraine!

1. David Hasselhoff (Germany)

Image Source: Fashionista 

Germany has had a love affair with the former Baywatch star, David Hasselhoff, for over 30 years.  And he became so much more than a hunk in red shorts.  In fact, he became a cultural icon when on New Year's Eve in 1989, he was hoisted up in a bucket crane to perform over the Berlin Wall and sing his hit single (in Germany) "Looking for Freedom".  We didn't know you sang, David!