Hold onto your popcorn, cinephiles, because the Hollywood saga just got a whole lot more dramatic. Former President Donald Trump is back with another wild economic plot twist that could shake up the global film industry faster than a Michael Bay explosion.

The Tariff Showdown

In a classic Trump-style social media declaration, he’s threatening to slap a 100% tariff on any foreign-made films entering the United States. His reasoning? The American movie industry is supposedly “dying a very fast death,” and international productions are “stealing” filmmaking capabilities from the US.

California’s Cinematic Struggles

Trump’s not entirely wrong about the challenges facing US film production. California’s movie-making scene has been hit hard by pandemic shutdowns, Hollywood strikes, and increasingly attractive international tax incentives. Cities like Toronto, London, and Vancouver are becoming more appealing to filmmakers than traditional Hollywood hotspots.

Global Film Market Dynamics

Despite the dramatic threat, the reality is more nuanced. US films still dominate global markets, generating $22.6 billion in exports in 2023. Countries like New Zealand have successfully used film incentives to boost their economies, with productions like “Lord of the Rings” generating billions in tourism revenue.

While Trump’s tariff threat sounds like another episode in his trade war saga, the practical implementation remains as unclear as a low-budget indie film’s plot. The global film industry is deeply interconnected, with most blockbusters shot across multiple countries.

Stay tuned, film fans - this storyline is far from its final cut.