{"id":6609,"date":"2025-05-08T09:23:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T09:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/?p=6609"},"modified":"2025-05-08T18:17:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T18:17:43","slug":"what-trumps-delusional-100-film-tariff-really-means-for-the-uk-and-hollywood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/what-trumps-delusional-100-film-tariff-really-means-for-the-uk-and-hollywood\/","title":{"rendered":"What Trump\u2019s \u2018delusional\u2019 100% film tariff really means for the UK and Hollywood"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Margot\t<\/div>
Barbie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and the James Bond franchise are all films shot in the UK – is Donald Trump about to ruin this? (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

President Donald Trump<\/a> has been branded \u2018delusional\u2019 by leading film professionals in the UK following his proposal of a \u2018100% tariff\u2019 on non-US movies, in a bid to \u2018make Hollywood great again\u2019.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, film fans have been left to fret over what it could mean for the future of anticipated releases like the next James Bond<\/a> film, with the franchise now fully in the hands of American owners Amazon<\/a>, who could shift production away from the UK to avoid a potential ruinous additional bill of hundreds of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n

The US<\/a> leader, 78, boldly announced on Truth Social<\/a> on Sunday night that he had authorised government departments to impose tariffs \u2018on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018The movie industry in America is DYING a very fast death,\u2019 he claimed, saying Hollywood was being \u2018devastated\u2019 by incentives offered by other countries to produce films there \u2013 something he classified as a \u2018national security threat\u2019.<\/p>\n

Details have remained scarce over what this actually<\/em> means and how any potential tariffs would even be implemented, although Trump has already appeared to walk back his approach by insisting he\u2019s \u2018not looking to hurt the industry\u2019 and will meet with Hollywood leaders to ensure \u2018they\u2019re happy\u2019 with his plans.<\/p>\n

The UK film sector is potentially a major victim of these \u2013 likely catastrophic \u2013 proposed tariffs.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Mandatory\t<\/div>
The US President has announced his intention to levy a 100% tariff on all movies ‘produced in foreign lands’ that want to release in America (Picture: Pool\/ABACA\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
James Bond is one of Britain’s leading film franchises, but could its US owners be pushed to abandon producing it in the UK? (Picture: Greg Williams\/Eon Productions via Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s worth \u00a31.36billion and employs more than 195,000 people, according to the government in 2024 \u2013 many of these workers will have contributed to massive Hollywood films recently made here, like blockbuster Barbie, musical Wicked and the upcoming Mission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s unlikely any tariffs could be imposed in time to affect Mission: Impossible\u2019s release later this month, they could certainly put a considerable dent in franchise producer and star Tom Cruise<\/a>\u2019s long-standing working relationship with the UK if the cost suddenly doubles.<\/p>\n

And Wicked: For Good<\/a> \u2013 which shot exclusively in the UK \u2013 is not out until November, so will it and Universal Pictures retroactively be punished for that decision to the tune of 100% added on in astronomical new charges? (And would they classify the back-to-back shoot of both parts as one production\/movie, so the full budget was tariff-able?)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to predict the full impact yet without any specifics, which has industry experts exasperated.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"This\t<\/div>
Tom Cruise has a long-standing and very fruitful partnership with the UK film industry, where he shoots most of his films – including the latest Mission: Impossible (Picture: Paramount Pictures\/Skydance)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For starters, how could the tariffs even be levied given \u2018films are a service industry that result in intellectual property, not a physical good\u2019, pointed out Eugenio Triana, course director for Birmingham City University\u2019s MA Film Distribution and Marketing.<\/p>\n

Speculating on how they could impact film fans in US cinemas, he added to Metro<\/strong>: \u2018Would they make ticket prices be more expensive, since almost all Hollywood films have some portion shot outside the US? I don’t see how this would be beneficial to the US consumer, but my understanding of how the tariffs would work is unclear.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Do you think Donald Trump’s tariffs will help or hinder Hollywood?<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>As Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, founder of the British Urban Film Festival suggested, Trump is <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/05\/08\/donald-trump-set-announce-trade-deal-uk-know-far-23046401\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">treating films just like he has trading physical products<\/a> in \u2018trying to boost American-made movies by making imported ones way more expensive\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It might mean more money goes into Hollywood, but it could also mean fewer international films showing up in US cinemas. That\u2019s a shame, because some of the best stories and talent come from all over the world,\u2019 he observed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"351\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23046763 lazyload\" alt=\"This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_239347252-4b0b.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Wicked was a US studio production filmed and produced almost entirely in the UK (Picture: Universal Pictures)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The fact that filmmaking is such a global, collaborative business now is also a major stumbling block for Trump\u2019s tariffs \u2013 implemented in an attempt to return movies to being a \u2018largely national US-based industry\u2019 like Hollywood\u2019s heyday a century ago \u2013 several experts argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The film industry just doesn\u2019t work like that anymore, and with funding, resources and crew so internationally spread out I don\u2019t even see how you would begin to apply a tariff system,\u2019 Peter Spence, Sheffield Hallam University\u2019s senior lecturer in Film, told Metro.<\/p>\n<p>Spence dismissed tariffs as \u2018a very blunt instrument\u2019 in achieving any kind of successful outcome for Hollywood, while also raising a key issue baffling many: how do you even define if (and to what degree) a film was \u2018made in a foreign land\u2019 anyway?<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The British Film Institute operate a points-based system to determine if a film is British based not only on tangibles like nationality of director, cast, crew and filming locations, but also how British culture, heritage and identity is portrayed in the film\u2019s narrative through its characters, storylines and dialogue,\u2019 Spence explained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tFilms which could be impacted by Trump's '100% tariff' on foreign movies\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 21)<\/strong> – while unlikely Trump can move swiftly enough with any tariffs to impact this release, Tom Cruise has a long and successful partnership with the UK film industry the president might be looking to disrupt<\/li>\n<li><strong>F1 (June 25) –<\/strong> the upcoming driving drama, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, filmed a chunk of its scenes at Silverstone and other UK spots, among other countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Abu Dhabi, and Belgium<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2) – <\/strong>the Jurassic Park\/World franchise has made its main filming home the UK since Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and its 2022 follow-up Jurassic World Dominion. The same applies for its next sequel, stomping into cinemas this summer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wicked: For Good (November 21) –<\/strong> both parts of the Wicked movie adaptation filmed exclusively in the UK, so if there’s any kind of retroactive\/pre-release implementation of tariffs then Universal Pictures could be in for a 100% cost increase<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026) –<\/strong> currently filming at Pinewood Studios, where Disney has multiple lots on permanent loan, could the film anticipated to ‘save’ Marvel with the Russo Brothers return and a star-studded cast in fact lead to its financial ruin? Its budget (without tariffs) is projected to be in the region of $450m<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event (April 2028) – <\/strong>we’ve got a British and Irish cast and team telling a distinctly British story with this four-part biopic, each told from a different Beatle’s perspective. But will they make it over to the US ever with four possible lots of tariffs to pay in one go?<\/li>\n<li><strong>New James Bond (TBC) – <\/strong>there are very few confirmed details yet, but US entity Amazon MGM Studios now has creative control with producing duties split between Amy Pascal (American, Spider-Man) and David Heyman (British, Harry Potter). Could possible spiraling costs impact on 007’s distinct – and authentic – Britishness?<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018For instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/01\/03\/saltburn-viewers-point-plot-hole-doesnt-add-up-20058053\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saltburn couldn\u2019t be more British<\/a> in terms of content \u2013 but the financing was all American so can we really call it a \u2018British film\u2019?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Hill, director of branded content at Apostle Studios \u2013 who worked alongside Trump as a producer on the US version of The Apprentice \u2013 also raised this point as he blasted his former colleague\u2019s approach as \u2018delusional\u2019 and observed that \u2018Donald Trump must really hate Hollywood\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What makes a movie \u2018foreign\u2019? Where it\u2019s shot? Who funds it? The director\u2019s passport? Take an American script, shoot it at Pinewood with a German crew and French money\u2026 is that \u2018foreign\u2019?\u2019 he asked Metro.<\/p>\n<p>Acknowledging that Hollywood films \u2018are global by default\u2019 he said Trump\u2019s plan to slap tariffs on non-US films \u2018isn\u2019t protectionist, it\u2019s delusional\u2019 because it wouldn\u2019t fix the real problem.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23046794 lazyload\" alt=\"This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows director Emerald Fennell, left, with actors Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi on the set of "Saltburn." (Chiabella James\/Amazon Prime Video via AP)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_188369836-af6c.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Saltburn ‘couldn’t be more British’ argued one expert – but its financing was American. So is it an American film? (Picture: Chiabella James\/Amazon Prime Video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Hollywood is just too expensive. High union costs, pricey real estate, rigid hierarchies \u2013 none of that changes with tariffs. If Trump wants more movies made in LA, he\u2019d be better off copying the UK, Hungary or Australia and offering tax incentives,\u2019 he suggested.<\/p>\n<p>Film and TV lawyer Juliane Althoff, partner at Simkins LLP, also warned that the proposed US tariffs could \u2018provoke retaliation from other countries\u2019, leading to \u2018higher barriers for American films\u2019 in Europe and China which would then \u2018threaten Hollywood\u2019s dominance at the global box office\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>So, a major potential backfire then for the American film industry \u2013 something echoed by Sarah Purser, founder of Little White Rose Films, who sees the tariffs \u2018hurting both sides\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018If President Trump were to make it more expensive for Hollywood to shoot abroad, it could disrupt the UK\u2019s thriving film economy \u2013 but it wouldn\u2019t magically bring jobs back to LA. Tariffs wouldn\u2019t change the fact that the UK offers top tier talent and facilities at lower cost,\u2019 she argued to Metro.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23046801 lazyload\" alt=\"This image released by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment shows, from left, Bechir Sylvain, Jonathan Bailey, and Scarlett Johansson in a scene from " Jurassic World Rebirth." (Jasin Boland\/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment via AP)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_249249697-3e50.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Jurassic World Rebirth is out later this summer – another big Hollywood franchise that has found its production home in the UK (Picture: Jasin Boland\/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"586\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23046772 lazyload\" alt=\"Undated handout photo issued by Sony UK of (left to right) Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, as they have been confirmed as the four stars of a collection of new Beatles biopics. Sony Pictures announced there will be four films, with an April 2028 release date, directed by British filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes. Issue date: Tuesday April 1, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Beatles. Photo credit should read: John Russo\/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_245902598-de01-e1746689047754.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The Beatles’ four biopics, starring some of Hollywood’s hottest leading men, could find their US release in question if four US tariffs have to be paid <br \/>(Picture: Sony UK)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Instead, Purser sees tariffs forcing studios to \u2018cut back or get more selective\u2019, with mid-budget films (already a rarity nowadays) and experimental work \u2018squeezed hardest\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The producer has an office at Pinewood Studios, where she said of the current mood: \u2018There\u2019s definitely concern, but also quiet confidence \u2013 the quality of work here speaks for itself and President Trump has been known to backpedal.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Big-budget films today rely on international collaboration. You need the best talent, wherever they are, to deliver world-class results,\u2019 agreed Joseph Steel. \u2018The UK has been at the heart of that with films like Barbie, Mission: Impossible, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Napoleon <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/11\/07\/ben-whishaw-reveals-surprising-thing-people-dont-realise-paddingtons-voice-21940338\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">and Paddington in Peru<\/a> all either shot or heavily produced and post-produced here.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>His VFX company Visualskies worked on the latter three films, and he praised the UK film industry \u2013 despite the pressure it\u2019s still under as it continues to recover from the 2023 actors\u2019 strike \u2013 for offering a unique mix of \u2018cutting-edge studios, highly skilled crews, competitive costs and strong tax incentives\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"271\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22870006 lazyload\" alt=\"Undated film still from Paddington In Peru. Pictured: Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw). See PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: StudioCanal. All Rights Reserved. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_228434896-f77a.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The founder of a UK VFX company that worked on the Paddington franchise has praised the British film industry for delivering ‘world-class’ results (Picture: StudioCanal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But if the US \u2018shuts that out\u2019, he sees production costs soaring and profits being reduced with \u2018fewer tentpole blockbusters\u2019 as a result \u2013 although he actually predicts the unexpected bonus of \u2018more high-quality indie films stepping into the spotlight\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>An executive producer on Michael Mann\u2019s film Ferrari was, in contrast, happy to provide a more \u2018contrarian\u2019 view as he slammed California\u2019s leadership for \u2018lacking common sense\u2019 and agreed with Trump\u2019s motives.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018This is stunningly and painfully obviously to anyone who lives in Los Angeles,\u2019 DC Cassidy, managing partner at Interstellar Entertainment, added to Metro, observing that the UK in contrast \u2018has built one of the smartest creative economies in the world\u2019 thanks to its tax incentives.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy defended Trump\u2019s position as \u2018not anti-global\u2019 while sharing sympathy with the President\u2019s view \u2013 if not the way he\u2019s choosing to potentially impose it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23047143 lazyload\" alt=\"The Prince Of Wales Visits The James Bond Set\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1157153128.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The mood at Pinewood Studios – a world-leading facility and James Bond’s home has been described as ‘concerned’ but with a ‘quiet confidence’ in face of potential US tariffs (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Trump\u2019s message is simple: \u201cWe don\u2019t need fancy degrees. We need leaders with common sense.\u201d And in this case \u2013 he\u2019s right. The UK applies common sense to film, California does not. One is gaining ground, the other is losing it. This isn\u2019t about tariffs. It\u2019s about accountability.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s been fighting talk too from politicians, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey vowing at Prime Minister\u2019s Questions on Wednesday that if Trump \u2018picks a fight with James Bond, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/bridget-jones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bridget Jones<\/a> and Paddington Bear he will lose\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The UK film industry and Hollywood both wait on high alert to see if they\u2019ll be any fight at all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\">Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barbie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and the James Bond franchise are all films shot in the UK – is Donald Trump about to ruin this? (Picture: Getty) President Donald Trump has been branded \u2018delusional\u2019 by leading film professionals in the UK following his proposal of a \u2018100% tariff\u2019 on non-US movies, in a bid to \u2018make Hollywood great again\u2019. Meanwhile, film fans have been left to fret over what it could mean for the future of anticipated releases … <a href=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/what-trumps-delusional-100-film-tariff-really-means-for-the-uk-and-hollywood\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> “What Trump\u2019s \u2018delusional\u2019 100% film tariff really means for the UK and Hollywood”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6609"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6609"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6621,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6609\/revisions\/6621"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}