In a move that could shake up the entertainment industry, President Trump says he’s directed his administration to put a “100% tariff” on any movies coming into the U.S. that were not produced in this country.
He posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that he’s authorized the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to institute the tariff.
“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” he wrote. “Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!
“Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
For years, Hollywood productions have flocked to countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and Spain for their tax incentives.
Talking with C-SPAN on Sunday, Trump was asked about the tariffs, and he briefly expounded upon his post and put some of the blame on California Gov. Gavin Newsom in addition to other countries.
“What they’ve done is other nations have been stealing the movies, the moviemaking capabilities from the united States,” he said, adding: “I’ve done some very strong research over the past week, and we’re making very few movies now. Hollywood is being destroyed. Now, you have a … grossly incompetent governor that allowed that to happen, so I’m not just blaming other nations, but other nations have stolen our movie industry. If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States, then we should have a tariff on movies that come in. And not only that, governments are actually giving big money. They’re supporting them financially. That’s sort of a threat to our country in a sense.”
Asked for comment, a spokesperson in Newsom’s office said: “Looks like it’s distraction day again in Washington, D.C.”
Meanwhile, top entertainment execs say this would be devastating for TV and not just movies. “Vancouver is over,” said one source.
The MPA has yet to comment.
There are a number of expensive tentpoles due out in the coming months that filmed overseas. Would they be grandfathered in via a grace period or hit with a tariff? And what would the tariff even look like? This was all unlear.
The ultra-pricey Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning (May 23) was shot all over the world, which is one of the key selling points of the globetrotting franchise, which films overseas for the exotic locales, not the tax credits.
Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff Ballerina (June 6) filmed in the Czech Republic.
Disney and 20th Century’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec. 19) was made in New Zealand, which has become a production hub over the past 20 years after The Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson put it on the map.
Disney sister company Marvel Studios could also be hit by the tariffs. It recently began filming Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) in London and plans to film Sony co-production Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026) there this year as well. The U.K. offers generous tax incentives that helped lure production away from Atlanta, where Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame filmed.
Disney-owned Lucasfilm is also expected to shoot the Ryan Gosling Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027) in the United Kingdom this year.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s rival comic book brand DC Studios has been beefing up its London presence, filming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (June 26, 2026) in London.
There’s a cottage industry of low-budget, VOD movies that shoot in Eastern European countries such as Romania and Bulgaria for the low labor costs and tax incentives. (Think: anything low budget starring an aging action star.)
Trump, of course, last month announced a plan to place at least 10 percent tariffs on goods from every country that trades with the U.S. As a result, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both dropped amid fears of a recession. A week later, he said he was putting a “90-day PAUSE” on most of the tariffs, except those against China. The stock market has since rebounded.
6:07 p.m. Sunday, May 4: Added Trump’s quotes to C-SPAN.
8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4: Added comment from Newsom’s office.
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