Trump’s proposed film tariffs could deal a blow to Hungary’s booming movie industry
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a bold new economic measure that could significantly impact global film production — and Hungary in particular. In a recent statement, Trump proposed imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States and imported into the American market. The aim, he says, is to bring production jobs back to U.S. soil and reverse what he called a “national security threat” posed by the offshoring of filmmaking.
Hollywood has increasingly looked abroad for filming locations in recent years, drawn by generous tax incentives, lower costs, and professional infrastructure. Hungary, with its well-established studio system, skilled workforce, and favourable tax regime, has become a major beneficiary of this trend, Index writes. Blockbusters like Black Widow, Poor Things, The Brutalist, and Alien: Romulus have all shot scenes in the country.
Even the idea of the measure could have consequences
Trump’s announcement, however, could rattle the foundation of Hungary’s success in the film sector. Even the mere threat of such tariffs may discourage U.S. studios from filming abroad, as investors face heightened uncertainty. Gábor Regős, chief economist at Gránit Alapkezelő, told Index: “The very idea of this measure might delay productions and push investors to wait it out.”
The Hungarian government’s film commissioner also responded to the news, noting that while the tariffs would technically apply to all foreign countries equally, they could ultimately push work back into the U.S.—where production is considerably more expensive. For Hungary, which has built a thriving service export industry around audiovisual production, this represents a real risk.
In 2023, Eurostat data show that Hungary exported EUR 754.4 million worth of audiovisual and related services, EUR 318.7 million of which went directly to the U.S. Given the impact of last year’s writers’ strike in the States, Regős estimates that real figures might be even higher this year, possibly approaching EUR 1 billion — a meaningful slice of Hungary’s GDP.
Hungary a top destination for U.S. filmmaking
Meanwhile, international giants like Disney, Netflix, and Universal have already been diversifying their production locations, favouring hubs such as Canada, the UK, and Central Europe. A 2023 report by ProdPro suggests that nearly half of all big-budget productions now shoot outside the U.S., with Hungary ranking among the top destinations.
The bigger picture suggests this may not be a one-off policy idea, but part of a wider trade strategy. Trump has repeatedly floated tariffs not just on goods, but also on services — a rare and controversial move that could backfire on the U.S., which is a net exporter in that domain.
Whether this proposal will materialise or fade like previous trade threats remains to be seen. For now, Hungary’s film sector — and others like it around the world — will be watching developments closely, as even the idea of tariffs could upend production plans and derail a growing industry.
Read more about films that were shot in or are, in any way, connected to Hungary HERE.
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