Overview

• President Trump has proposed a 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S., aiming to boost domestic production but raising widespread concern across the entertainment industry.
• Hollywood studios, led by the Motion Picture Association, held a special meeting to strategize responses and emphasize the complexities of applying tariffs to films with global production elements.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta is exploring a First Amendment-based legal challenge, arguing the tariffs may target free expression and disproportionately impact California’s film industry.
• Actor Jon Voight has presented an alternative federal incentive plan, including a 20% tax credit and a cultural test for U.S. productions, which some industry leaders see as a more viable solution.
• Uncertainty persists over the scope and enforcement of the tariff proposal, with concerns about its application to theatrical, TV, and streaming content and potential retaliation from foreign markets.