5 May 2025 : Hours after US President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the country, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur criticised the move, saying it would be detrimental to American cinema. Shekhar, known in the West for his two Oscar-winning films on Queen Elizabeth I, said the move may lead to Hollywood mulling a move outside the US.
Shekhar Kapur criticises Trump’s tariffs
Taking to Twitter (now called X), the veteran Indian filmmaker wrote, “Over 75% of box office of Hollywood films come from outside the US. And significant part of the budget of those films are spent outside the US.”
Talking about how the move may adversely affect American cinema, the filmmaker added, “President Trump’s imposition of 100% tarif on all films imported into the US may encourage Hollywood to move outside the US! Quite the opposite of what he intended.”
Trump announces tariffs on films
Donald Trump on Sunday announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the country, saying the American movie industry was dying a “very fast death” due to the incentives that other countries were offering to lure filmmakers.
Summary: Shekhar Kapur warned that President Trump’s 100% tariff on imported films might push Hollywood to relocate outside the US due to rising competition and costs.