Trump Threatens 100 Percent Tariffs on Movies Made Outside U.S.

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President Donald Trump is planning to hit movies made outside the US with 100 percent tariffs.

After his re-election in January, Trump has imposed various substantial import taxes on numerous nations worldwide.

Currently, he has empowered both the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Trade Representative with the authority to impose trade penalties on international films, as a means to revitalize Hollywood, which he believes is experiencing rapid decline.

The global head of state asserts that foreign nations are providing various enticing benefits for films to be produced elsewhere instead of the U.S., and he views this practice as posing a significant risk to our national security.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday:

The American Film Industry is rapidly declining, as other countries entice our filmmakers and studios with various incentives to work outside the U.S. This trend is causing significant damage to Hollywood and many other areas within the country. This strategic move by foreign nations poses a threat to our national security, and it’s more than just economic competition – it’s also about messaging and propaganda. To counter this, I am directing the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to promptly initiate the process of imposing a 100% tariff on movies produced overseas and shown in our country. Our goal is to revitalize movie production within America once more!

After Trump announced Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as his special representatives, the tariffs were implemented as an effort to steer Hollywood back towards its original course.

At a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” held in Washington D.C. this year, he mentioned on stage: “We also have an outstanding actor, exceptionally gifted individual, Jon Voight, who’s truly impressive, and a good friend of mine.

Sylvester Stallone is present, a wonderful individual. Plus, I managed to enlist Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight as representatives for Hollywood, California, to help steer it back on course. Therefore, they are all representatives. Please address them formally as ‘Mr. Representative’.

Last week, Trump declared on Truth Social that a three-member team from Hollywood would be appointed to his administration.

I’m pleased to share that Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone have been appointed as Special Ambassadors to the struggling yet remarkable location, Hollywood, California. Their role will involve serving as my representatives, with the aim of rejuvenating Hollywood, which has experienced a decline in business relationships with foreign countries over the past four years. My hope is that they can help bring it back, not just as it was before, but even better and stronger than ever!

“These three exceptionally skilled individuals will serve as my guides, and I’ll act upon their advice. It feels like we’re embarking on a new era – reminiscent of the legendary Golden Age of Hollywood!”

By using “guides” instead of “eyes and ears”, the sentence becomes more natural and easier to read while maintaining the original meaning. Additionally, I’ve changed “I will get done what they suggest” to “I’ll act upon their advice” for improved clarity and flow. Lastly, I’ve replaced “It will again be” with “We’re embarking on a new era” to make it clear that the speaker is part of the process, rather than passively waiting for an event to happen as suggested in the original sentence.

10 Successful Movies That Could Have Gotten a Sequel, But Didn’t

1. The Dark Crystal (1982)

Picture crafting an entire universe teeming with a rich mythology, diverse characters each boasting unique visual styles, yet stepping into it just once. This was the experience for a while with ‘The Dark Crystal’, the groundbreaking collaboration between Jim Henson and Frank Oz that unveiled the world of Thra and its eerie denizens to audiences. Unlike anticipated, this movie featuring puppets had a somber tone and intricate narrative, making it a hard sell. Nevertheless, it surpassed expectations at the box office and swiftly gained cult status. Its distinctive visuals have become so iconic that numerous sequel and prequel novels and comics were published years later (including a series of books derived from aborted sequel ideas), and a prequel series streamed for one season on Netflix in 2019.

2. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Until a different film directed by Steven Spielberg took over the title, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” held the record as the highest-grossing movie ever made, revolutionizing both the film industry and science fiction films. The heartwarming tale of a boy and his extraterrestrial companion was adored by audiences worldwide, earning critical acclaim, and recouping its $10 million budget within the first week of release. Such success left studio executives salivating at the prospect of an “E.T.” sequel.

Spielberg and screenwriter Melissa Mathison did draft a concept for one, titled “E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears,” which followed Elliott and his friends being abducted by malevolent aliens, with E.T. coming to their aid. However, Spielberg opted against making it, stating that such a sequel would only tarnish the original’s purity. This time around, E.T. will be staying put at home.

3. The Fifth Element (1997)

Either you’re a fan of Luc Besson’s vibrant space epic, The Fifth Element, or you can’t stand it – perhaps explaining why the team never returned to 23rd century New York City with Korben Dallas and Leeloo. The film received recognition from esteemed awarding bodies such as the British Academy Film Awards, the César Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Lumières Awards, but was also nominated for less favorable awards like the Razzies and the Stinkers in the same year. So, it’s unclear what the general consensus is.
Despite this, The Fifth Element has a dedicated fanbase, and over time, these fans have come to appreciate it even more as contemporary sci-fi blockbusters tend to become repetitive and lack originality. Therefore, by the 23rd century, we might finally reach an agreement on whether it’s a good film or not.

4. Elf (2003)

The iconic Christmas movie “Elf,” adored by many and financially successful despite not having a follow-up film, remains a staple on cable during December. Given its earning potential, a sequel might seem redundant. However, plans for a second installment called “Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas” were once in the works, with director Jon Favreau having an idea, but Will Ferrell, typically hesitant about sequels, consistently expressed disinterest. As “Elf” cannot exist without its protagonist, it seems unlikely we’ll ever witness a second installment.

5. Ratatouille (2007)

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard any news about another Ratatouille movie, considering its immense popularity among both critics and audiences. Remarkably, Pixar has yet to produce a sequel for this beloved film, joining the ranks of others like A Bug’s Life, WALL-E, and Up that have not received follow-ups. Given that they granted director Brad Bird the freedom to create another Incredibles movie, it’s puzzling as to why Ratatouille hasn’t been revisited. The original film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature that year and held the top spot on the French box office longer than Titanic, even inspiring an unauthorized musical adaptation during the Covid-19 pandemic, featuring Titus Burgess, Adam Lambert, and Wayne Brady.

6. Wanted (2008)

Initially, before the emergence of John Wick, there was the action movie “Wanted”, directed by Timur Bekmambetov. This film follows a man who discovers extraordinary abilities due to his high adrenaline levels and becomes part of a clandestine group of assassins that maintains global balance by eliminating dangerous individuals. The movie was financially successful, breaking several records for R-rated films, and received both positive and negative reviews (though some critics and audiences disliked it due to its highly stylized nature). Despite the comic book it’s based on not having a sequel, there were discussions about a second film, either a follow-up or a prequel, with production supposed to begin a year after the first movie’s release. However, with numerous ideas being thrown around, actors pulling out, and no firm commitments from others, the plans ultimately fell through, leading Bekmambetov to direct “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” instead.

7. District 9 (2009)

Among the movies released in 2009 that have “9” in their titles (which include the musical drama “Nine” and the animated horror movie “9”), it was “District 9” that proved to be the most successful. This film, a gritty sci-fi production, presents an intriguing tale of an unsuccessful alien invasion where extraterrestrial beings were stranded in a shantytown near Johannesburg, South Africa. It marks Neill Blomkamp’s debut and best work as a director to date. Rumors of a sequel have been circulating since before the movie was even released. However, as time passes, it appears less likely that the sequel will actually be made.

8. Inception (2010)

As a follower of Christopher Nolan’s work, it’s no secret that he generally avoids making sequels to his films, with the exception of the Dark Knight trilogy. However, if Inception were directed by someone else, I believe we would have seen several sequels, prequels, and perhaps even a mediocre streaming TV series by now. But, Inception was more than just a box office hit; it was nominated for numerous awards, considered one of the best films of its decade, and has left an enduring mark on pop culture. From Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Lopez songs to Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift music videos, episodes of South Park, Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, and a multitude of popular memes, Inception’s influence is far-reaching. Yet, Nolan chose to explore different ideas, ensuring that the purity of Inception remains intact.

9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

As a devoted cinephile, I must share that there’s a film, not exactly a direct follow-up, to David Fincher’s critically acclaimed adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” However, unlike the original, this sequel doesn’t feature the same cast and was not intended as a straight continuation of the previous movie. Instead, it serves as an adaptation of the fourth book in Stieg Larsson’s crime novel series, essentially attempting to revive the franchise.

Originally, David Fincher had plans for another adaptation, this time of “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” but when those plans fell through, the studio opted for a fresh director, new actors, and a different book in the series for their subsequent movie.

10. World War Z (2013)

If you’re familiar with Max Brooks’ novel “World War Z” and its movie adaptation, you know that the film only scratched the surface of the book’s content. The narrative, which spans months and years, was condensed chronologically in the movie, leaving ample room for further exploration if the studio chose to delve deeper. In fact, as recently as 2019, director David Fincher was attached to a second film that would revisit a world devastated by zombies and bring Brad Pitt back into the fray. However, unfortunately, the project was ultimately scrapped in February 2019. The main reason given for this cancellation was China’s prohibition on movies featuring zombies or ghosts. This might explain why we’ve been seeing more zombie-themed content on television lately.

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2025-05-05 16:30