Hollywood split over Trump’s tariff proposal

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Hollywood’s next big drama may not be on the big screen — but in the White House.

President Donald Trump is proposing to impose 100% tariffs on all foreign-made films, claiming that film jobs have been “stolen” by international competitors. The announcement marks the second time Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on films produced outside the United States.

“Our movie business has been stolen from the USA, by other countries, just like candy is stolen from a baby,” President Trump said in the Truth Social Post. “California has been particularly hard hit, with its weak and incompetent governor! Therefore, in order to solve this long, never-ending problem, I will impose a 100% tariff on any and all films produced outside of the United States.”

Fayette County, Georgia – home to Trilith Studios and known as the “Hollywood of the South” – has been a magnet for blockbuster productions, including Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home and Captain America: Brave New World.

Trump announces 100% tariffs on all foreign-produced films: “We want movies made in America back!”

Marvel is among several Hollywood studios that have filmed in Georgia to take advantage of the state’s generous film tax incentives. The company has produced nearly two dozen superhero films and television shows in the Atlanta area.

However, the studio has recently seen some film jobs move overseas. Marvel Studios has announced plans to move from Georgia to the United Kingdom after more than a decade of filming in the state. Starting with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” this summer, Marvel is making most of its upcoming projects in the UK.

Some in the industry believe Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made films could help the film industry keep jobs in the United States.

Marvel Studios began filming at Trilith Studios over ten years ago. (Trilith Studios/Credible)

“He wants to bring movies back to our home country… to prevent movie companies from going to Budapest, Australia,” said Eddie Matthews, a film industry veteran and president of Hollywood South Films. “They’ll be taxed when they come back, so they’ll say, ‘Well, we can’t leave the country now. What’s the best tax incentive in this country to go to?’ Hopefully, it will be Atlanta, and we will thrive here.”

Matthews, a veteran of the film industry, noted that the United States is losing major projects to Canada and other major film markets.

“I mean, Canada alone produces hundreds and hundreds of films a year, and if we got them on our own, not to mention the hundreds that are showing everywhere else, it would be amazing,” Matthews said.

Film producer: “Trump’s tariffs on foreign films will devastate” Hollywood workers

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, US film production in 2023 will represent 5.32% of global output – down from 9.53% the previous year.

Some in the industry believe that tariffs could have a negative impact on the film industry, given the nature of the film industry.

A view of the Hollywood Sign on September 30, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images)

“The tariff is not really going to work the same way people generally see tariffs work,” said Randy Davidson, CEO of Georgia Entertainment. “It’s usually based on products for cars or computers or things that actually cross the border, and it’s a physical product.” “The film has multiple owners — and then you have projects and productions just like Superman that was recently produced in Georgia, with location shooting all over the country and all over the world. It’s going to be very difficult to put those things together.”

Construction begins on Netflix’s new $1 billion studio with an expected opening in 2028. (Netflix)

Davidson warned that tariffs could backfire and dramatically increase prices for movie theaters and streaming services.

“Trump’s bold move: impose 100% tariffs on foreign films to revive the American film industry.”

“You gave me an example where you could go to the theater, and there would be a list of movies on the left that were made overseas that cost $40 each to see, and there would be movies on the right that were made in America that cost $15.”

Instead of tariffs, Davidson believes that state-level tax incentives – similar to what has been done in other countries – could be more effective.

“When the president mentioned the tariffs before, there was a group that came together and there are legislators who are doing this through our legislative process in D.C. as we speak in the Senate and the House,” Davidson said. “We’ve heard from production executives at Netflix, Warner Brothers and others that a federal stimulus would make it easier to stay in America.”

For now, Trump’s tariff proposal remains just a proposal, and the White House has not said when the tariffs might take effect. However, the idea is already dividing the industry.

For more of Fox’s work click here

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.