Yesterday, Donald Trump announced a plan to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films. He claimed that international tax incentives were draining American productions from US soil and accused other nations of engaging in economic sabotage and cultural propaganda. In his Truth Social post, he wrote
We want movies made in America again!
The statement lit a fire under an issue the industry has rarely confronted head-on. What does it actually mean for a movie to be made in America? Is it about where the cameras roll, where the money comes from, or who controls the creative vision? And how many so-called Hollywood films would actually pass the test if one were imposed?
Film production has become one of the most globalised industries on earth. Crews, financing, visual effects, post-production, and even actors routinely cross borders. Many American films are shot in Canada, the UK, or Australia. And while Trump’s proposal assumes a clear line between foreign and domestic, the modern reality of filmmaking is a blur.
Let’s see what the data can reveal about where they are really made, and what factors any American tariff system would need to contend with.
How many movies are produced in America?
The phrase “made in America” sounds simple, but is hard to discern for most major movies. If we use IMDb’s country of origin, then around a third of global feature films could be classed as American since 2000.
