Some posts may contain affiliate links which means our team could earn money if you purchase products from our site.
Film Studio Stocks Fall Amid Movie Tariff Concerns
The potential economic impact of President Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on international films is being felt by U.S. film studios, with stocks for companies like The Walt Disney Company and Comcast, which owns Universal Pictures, experiencing a decline
Related – 20th Century Studios’ Animated Film ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ to Premiere June 6th on Hulu
President Trump, in a Truth Social post, cited “National Security” concerns due to foreign incentives drawing U.S. filmmakers abroad, and announced he’s directing the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films (as reported by Variety).
The specifics of these tariffs remain unclear, particularly regarding films already in production or release. This announcement led to a Monday morning drop in Disney’s stock (from $92.52 to $89.70) and Comcast’s (from $34.46 to $34), though both have since shown a partial recovery.
The film industry reacted with surprise to Trump’s proposed tariffs. As reported by Variety, a U.K. producer highlighted the common practice of U.S. films shooting internationally, citing examples like “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings,” and “Mission Impossible.” They argued that these productions often filmed overseas for “obvious reasons,” questioning the logic of requiring all U.S. films to shoot domestically and deeming the announcement “absurd” and creatively misguided.
HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” TV series is set to film in the U.K., but Trump’s tariff plan didn’t mention TV. A London producer warned the tariffs could “decimate the industry,” questioning the impact on productions already underway and the lack of clear details. They suggested waiting for the “fine print.”
Several major upcoming and current Disney and Marvel productions have significant international filming components. For instance, “Avengers: Doomsday” is currently in production at Pinewood Studios in England. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” slated for release this July, filmed at Pinewood and in Spain.
Even “Thunderbolts*,” currently in theaters, while primarily shot in Atlanta, Georgia, also had location filming in Kuala Lumpur. Similarly, Disney’s “Star Wars” franchise frequently utilizes international locations, with “Andor” primarily filmed at Pinewood and across the U.K. While principal photography for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” took place in Los Angeles, the filming locations for future “Star Wars” movies remain uncertain.
Universal Pictures also has significant international production ties. Both “Wicked” films were shot in the U.K. at Sky Studios, with “Wicked: For Good” currently in post-production for its November 21, 2025 release. The live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while “Jurassic World: Rebirth” primarily utilized locations in Thailand and the U.K. Notably, Blumhouse productions distributed by Universal, “M3GAN” and its upcoming sequel, were both filmed in Auckland, New Zealand.
In related news, DiscussingFilm reported on X that the White House has stated “no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made.”
Get all the best Disney News
and more, straight to your inbox!
We don't spam. Read our privacy policy for more info.
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
