In 2024, the US national box office brought in about $ 8.56 billion, marking a drop of 4% compared to the previous year. This slowdown can be attributed to various factors, including the consequences of industry strikes and the evolution of public preferences.
In particular, the number of films produced at the national level has decreased, many studios choosing to shoot abroad, capitalizing on favorable tax incentives and production costs in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
For example, Australia Gold Coast has attracted major Hollywood productions, contributing to more than $ 2 billion to its economy and creating more than 20,000 jobs since 2015.
Read also: US President Donald Trump announces 100% prices on all films produced abroad to protect HollywoodJustification behind the priceTrump's administration argues that foreign tax incentives distort the world film market, creating an unequal playing field that makes American productions more difficult to compete. By imposing a 100% price on films made abroad, the administration hopes to level the rules of the game, encouraging studios to produce films at the national level.
In addition, this decision is made as a national security measure, fearing that the content produced abroad can serve as propaganda.
Economic implications
The American film industry remains a major economic contributor, supporting approximately 2.4 million jobs and generating approximately $ 310 billion in 2025. This is a significant increase compared to the $ 279 billion generated in 2022, highlighting industry resilience despite the challenges of industry and the evolution of audience behavior.
The sector extends over a wide range of roles, actors and directors to crew members, playing a crucial role in the country's economic and cultural fabric.
However, the outsourcing of production to countries with more attractive tax incentives continues to raise concerns concerning the loss of interior jobs and the erosion of creative infrastructure. In response, the 100% Trump rate aims to encourage studios to bring production to the United States, potentially revitalizing local savings and the preservation of jobs.
Read also: If Trump's pricing threat will have an impact on Indian films affairs: producers
On the international front, exports of American films have experienced regular growth, reaching approximately $ 24.1 billion in 2025, compared to $ 22.6 billion in 2023. This contributed to a trade surplus of around 16.8 billion dollars, against $ 15.3 billion in 2023. Despite the growing foreign influence on the American film market income flow lives
Income trends in the American film (2020-2025)
The American film industry has experienced notable revenue fluctuations from 2020 to 2025, motivated by the pandemic, industry strikes and changes in public preferences:
2020: 2.1 billion dollars (↓ ↓ 81% from 2019) – The pandemic resulted in generalized theater closures and delayed film versions, resulting in a sharp drop in box office income.
2021: 4.5 billion dollars (↑ 113% from 2020) – as the theaters reopened, there was a resurgence in the cinema, although still lower than the pre -pale levels.
2022: $ 7.4 billion (↑ 64% from 2021) – The industry continued its recovery, driven by successful films like Top Gun: Maverick.
2023: 8.9 billion dollars (↑ 21% from 2022) – a strong year for the box office, with versions such as Barbie And Oppenheimer Driving performance.
2024: 8.56 billion dollars (↓ 4% from 2023) – Despite a strong start, the year was faced with challenges, including strikes, resulting in a slight drop in income.
2025: $ 1.07 billion (March 5) – The year started with an increase of 9.6% compared to the same period in 2024, indicating positive momentum.
Also read: Trump announces a 100% price on all foreign manufacturing films; wants to keep the crypto “far from China”
Income from foreign films in the United States (2020-2025)
Although specific annual figures for foreign films are not easily available, the market share of foreign films at the American box office remains important. In 2024, international films represented around 20% of total box office income, indicating a strong presence of foreign productions on the American market.
Income from American films in the United States (2020-2025)
American product films have always been dominant contributors to box office income. In 2024, interior films represented around 80% of the total box office revenues, stressing Hollywood's continuous domination from the American market.
Industry response
Trump's tariff announcement has aroused mixed reactions from the entertainment industry. Some support the initiative to strengthen domestic production, while others express concerns about higher production costs and potential disruptions for international collaborations. Large media companies, including Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery experienced a decrease in shares following the announcement.
The logistics of the implementation of the rate also remains unclear, given the worldwide nature of film production and distribution. Many films are co -productions involving several countries, which makes it difficult to determine the “origin” of a film for pricing purposes.
Ahead
While the American film industry adapts to these changes, the impact of the proposed price will depend on its implementation and how international partners react. Although the objective is to encourage more domestic production and to reduce the market share of foreign films in the United States, the larger implications for world trade in films and cultural exchanges remain uncertain. With the global nature of film production which continues to question traditional models, Trump's decision could both present new opportunities and trigger tensions on the international film market.
