President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films is a shot across the bow for Hollywood’s global production machine.
The move is meant to bring jobs back to American soil, but it’s likely to hit the studios that rely on international locations for tax breaks, cinematic landscapes, and local talent.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest franchises that could be hit hardest.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
From Thor: Ragnarok (filmed in Australia) to Avengers: Age of Ultron (South Africa, South Korea, Italy), the MCU is practically a global brand in itself. The franchise relies on sprawling, exotic locations to give its films the epic scope audiences expect. If those productions suddenly double in cost, expect more green screens and less authenticity. Not exactly a crowd-pleaser.
Mission: Impossible
This franchise thrives on high-risk stunts in real-world locations. Recent installments shot in Norway, New Zealand, and the UAE, with Tom Cruise hanging off cliffs, helicopters, and even the world’s tallest building. Moving those scenes stateside? Not impossible, but it loses the franchise’s signature authenticity. Plus, it cuts into the cool factor of the globetrotting IMF team.
Fast & Furious
This franchise lives on international spectacle. From the streets of Rio to the ice fields of Siberia, every location is a character in the film. Pulling that back to Los Angeles backlots risks gutting the brand’s global appeal and undermining its status as a billion-dollar powerhouse.
James Bond
Bond isn’t Bond without exotic locales. From Jamaica to Italy to the frozen lakes of Norway, the series depends on sweeping landscapes to set the tone for its espionage-heavy plots. Tariffs like these could turn future Bond films into tighter, cheaper affairs, more “back alley brawler” than “suave globe-trotter.”
Star Wars
Since the original Tatooine scenes were shot in Tunisia, Star Wars has relied on real-world locations to ground its galaxy in gritty reality. The UK’s Pinewood Studios has been a critical partner for decades. Pull that plug, and you’re looking at a much more digital, less textured galaxy.
Jurassic Park(s) and World(s)
The Jurassic franchise has made extensive use of real-world landscapes, from the jungles of Hawaii to the red deserts of Nevada. If future installments are forced to stay stateside, you lose the sense of scale that makes these films work. Suddenly, the “world” in Jurassic World gets a lot smaller.
Harry Potter / Wizarding World
The UK is practically a character in these films, with many iconic scenes shot at real British castles, schools, and countryside. Relocating the Wizarding World to a California soundstage? That’s a hard pass for fans.
Dune
Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune leaned heavily on the deserts of Jordan and the futuristic architecture of the UAE to create the alien landscapes of Arrakis. Those locations are impossible to replicate without adding millions in CGI costs.
John Wick
From Tokyo to Paris to Rome, John Wick is a franchise that lives on style and international flair. Removing those locations means removing part of the character’s mythos. Wick is a global force, and confining him to a single continent won’t sit well with fans.
Transformers
Michael Bay’s blockbusters are global destruction porn, with real-world monuments and cities becoming collateral damage. A U.S.-only production strategy risks limiting the scale and spectacle that define these films.
International Response
Countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK — all major hubs for U.S. productions — are bracing for the economic hit if these tariffs go through. Local film commissions are already lobbying for exemptions, warning that the loss of American productions would gut their film economies.
Industry Perspective
Hollywood insiders argue that instead of tariffs, the U.S. should focus on boosting domestic incentives — tax breaks, grants, and streamlined permitting. Forcing every production back to the U.S. isn’t just a creative chokehold — it’s bad business.
