US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration will impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-made movies, a move that could reshape Hollywood’s global business model.
The policy, unprecedented in scope, extends Trump’s protectionist trade approach into the cultural sector, sparking unease among studios that rely on international box office revenue and cross-border collaborations.
Trump revealed the decision through a post on Truth Social, stating that America’s film industry was being “stolen” by foreign competition. “Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby,” he wrote.
The White House has not clarified the legal authority under which the tariffs would be enacted. Analysts note that films, as intellectual property, are typically considered part of global services trade—an area where the U.S. traditionally enjoys a surplus—raising doubts about the feasibility of such tariffs.
Major studios, including Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Paramount, Skydance, and Netflix, did not immediately comment on the announcement. Netflix shares fell 1.5% in early trading following Trump’s remarks.
The president had first floated the idea in May but offered little detail, leaving entertainment executives unsure whether tariffs would target specific countries or all imports.
Industry insiders have highlighted the complexity of enforcement, as modern filmmaking often involves multinational financing, production, and post-production work.
Legal and trade experts remain skeptical about how such tariffs could be practically applied, especially in cases of international co-productions where classification of films could be contested.
While the measure is positioned as a way to protect American moviemaking, it risks straining global creative partnerships and could trigger retaliatory measures from other countries. The uncertainty has left studios, investors, and analysts awaiting clearer guidance on how the policy might be implemented.
