US President Donald Trump has announced another surprise. This time, the film industry is being targeted. He has announced that a 100 percent tariff will be imposed on movies made outside the United States. This decision could have a major impact on the business of Bollywood, South films and international productions.

From immigration to movies - Trump's tough policy

Trump has already taken a tough policy on visas, immigration and foreign products. This time, movies have been added to that list. It seems that he is not just trying to 'check' the entire entertainment world.

Imposition of tariffs on movies

On Monday, Trump wrote on his social media, "Our movie business has been stolen from America by other countries. Everything from babies to licenses." Earlier in May, he had threatened tariffs, but without giving details, the entertainment world was in a state of confusion. This time, it has become clear - tariffs are coming, and they are big.

Last January, Trump met with Hollywood veterans. Sylvester Stallone was also in the discussion. On the recommendation of the stars, tax breaks or tax credits have also been considered to save Hollywood.

When and how will it be implemented?

It is still unclear when and how the tax on the film industry will be implemented. The White House will explain later how the tax will be imposed on production houses, streaming platforms and movies released in cinemas.

The impact of shooting abroad

Hollywood is not limited to California. Recent big hits such as 'Deadpool and Wolverine', 'Wicked', 'Gladiator 2' have been shot abroad. According to ProdPro's annual report, US productions spent about $15 billion last year, which is 26% less than in 2022. On the other hand, costs increased in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain.

The impact is especially severe in Canada. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said that if the cost of US production increases, the economies of both countries and the middle-income job market will be affected.

Impact on audiences

If producers continue to shoot abroad, the 100% tariff will ultimately be passed on to the audience. Ticket prices will increase, streaming costs will also increase. That is, the cost of watching movies will increase even more.

A blow for Bollywood

America is a major market for Bollywood, where there are more than 5.2 million Indian expatriates. If the tariff is imposed, ticket prices will increase, audiences will decrease and people will turn to OTT platforms. 35-40% of Indian film revenue abroad comes from America. If the tariff increases, the cost of distribution will double, putting the release of many films at risk. Small and medium production companies will suffer the most.

Expert Analysis

Professor of Film Studies Manas Ghosh said, “Hollywood is in a bad situation now. On the other hand, Asian cinema is becoming a global center. Trump is trying to save his own country's circulation by imposing tariffs.”

Film researcher Someshwar Bhowmik said, “This is the era of supply chains. The cost depends on where the work is being done. How the tariffs will be imposed is still unclear. However, the Indian film business will be affected.”

Professor of Film Studies Anindya Sengupta said, “Where globalization has opened up the market for everyone, Trump is walking the opposite path. He is trying to control American culture. But he will not succeed. He actually wants to introduce national censorship like India. He wants to block foreign films to control opposition voices. This will hurt business, and will also affect the global entertainment industry.”