President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he plans to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas and imported into the United States. The move repeats a threat he made in May and could disrupt Hollywood’s global business model.
This decision shows Trump’s intent to expand protectionist trade policies into the cultural sector. It also creates uncertainty for U.S. studios that rely on international co-productions and global box-office revenue.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby.”
At this stage, it is not clear what legal authority the president would use to enforce a 100% tariff on foreign films. The White House has not responded to questions from Reuters about how such tariffs would be implemented. Major studios including Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Skydance, Netflix, and Comcast either declined or did not respond to requests for comment.
Industry analyst Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight warned that the proposal creates more uncertainty. “Costs are likely to increase, and this will inevitably be passed on to consumers,” he said.
Trump first floated the idea of a movie tariff in May, but details remain vague. Entertainment executives are unsure whether the tax would apply to certain countries or all imported films. Following Trump’s comments, shares of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery dropped by 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively.
From Canada to Australia, Hollywood has long relied on international production hubs. Countries like the UK and Australia attract U.S. studios with generous tax incentives, making them popular destinations for blockbuster films and streaming projects.
Global co-productions have also grown in Asia and Europe, where foreign partners contribute financing, market access, and distribution networks. Experts caution that a sweeping tariff could impact thousands of American workers involved in overseas shoots, including visual effects teams and production crews.
