Hollywood Confused and Concerned Over Trump’s Proposed 100% Tariff on Foreign Films

The U.S. film industry was left in shock after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced movies—without providing concrete details on how the policy would be applied or enforced.

Studio executives, speaking anonymously to Reuters, expressed concern over how the complex, global nature of movie production would fit into the proposed tariff framework. Many modern blockbusters involve international shooting locations, cross-border financing, and global post-production teams.

The announcement followed a meeting at Mar-a-Lago between Trump, actor Jon Voight, media advisor Steven Paul, and executive Scott Karol. The group discussed ways to revitalize American film production, including tax reforms and tariffs.

While Trump said he intends to consult the industry before finalizing the plan, experts warn it could backfire—limiting creativity and hurting the U.S.’s film trade dominance. Producer Todd Garner questioned how U.S.-only productions would handle international settings, referencing Saving Private Ryan and Mission: Impossible.

Hollywood unions responded with cautious optimism. SAG-AFTRA said it supports efforts to boost local production and jobs, while IATSE stressed the need for a balanced approach that doesn’t harm cross-border partnerships, especially with Canada.

Media companies’ stocks dipped following the news, with Netflix, Disney, and theater chains like Cinemark and IMAX seeing losses. Analysts warned the policy could be difficult to enforce in a digital, cloud-based distribution era.

The film industry earns most of its box office income overseas—about 70% of the $30 billion global total in 2024—making foreign access critical to its success.