From U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films to Netflix’s release of Kpop Demon Hunters becoming a cultural phenomenon, 2025 has been a headline-filled year for cinema.

President Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas and sent into the U.S., a threat he made twice this year that could upend Hollywood's global business model. The move signals Trump’s willingness to extend protectionist trade policies into cultural industries, creating uncertainty for studios that rely heavily on cross-border co-productions and international box-office revenue.

"Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

It remains unclear what legal authority the president would use to impose such tariffs. Trump first floated the idea in May but offered few details, leaving entertainment executives unsure whether it would apply to specific countries or all imports.

The announcement jolted Hollywood, temporarily halting projects and international financing deals as producers assessed the potential financial impact of the levy, according to sources familiar with motion-picture financing. Modern films often rely on production, financing, post-production, and visual effects spread across multiple countries.

After the May announcement, a coalition of American film unions and guilds urged Trump to support tax incentives for domestic production in a reconciliation package being drafted in Congress. The U.S. film industry recorded a $15.3 billion trade surplus in 2023, backed by $22.6 billion in exports, according to the Motion Picture Association. Hollywood increasingly relies on overseas production hubs such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, where tax incentives attract big-budget shoots. Co-productions with foreign studios have also grown, especially in Asia and Europe, where local partners provide financing, market access, and distribution networks. Industry executives warn that a broad tariff could affect thousands of U.S. workers employed on overseas shoots, from visual effects artists to production crews.

Awards Season Highlights

The drama Anora, about a New York sex worker who marries a wealthy Russian client on a whim, dominated the Academy Awards, winning five Oscars, including Best Picture. Sean Baker also won Best Director, Original Screenplay, and Editing, tying Walt Disney’s 1954 record of four Oscars in a single year. Mikey Madison earned Best Actress, beating out favorite Demi Moore, while Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for The Brutalist.

Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language musical, while Kieran Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain.

Box Office and Streaming Highlights

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 was the highest-grossing movie of the year, taking in $1.9 billion globally, surpassing the 2021 epic The Battle at Lake Changjin. Disney’s live-action remake Lilo & Stitch grossed $1.04 billion. Completing the top five were A Minecraft Movie ($958 million), Zootopia 2 ($918 million), and Jurassic World: Rebirth ($869 million).

Kpop Demon Hunters became a Netflix phenomenon, amassing over 325 million views. Its soundtrack went platinum, and the breakout single Golden hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, also earning a 2026 Grammy nomination. The film has inspired a surge of cosplay and dance challenges on social media.

Disney’s Freakier Friday, a sequel to the 2003 cult classic Freaky Friday, reunited Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan for a multi-generational body swap story.

Disappointments and Controversies

Not all releases fared well. Disney’s Snow White, a live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic, struggled amid casting controversies and culture war debates, earning only $205 million. Pixar’s Elio recorded its worst opening in 30 years, taking $154 million against a $150 million budget.

Robert De Niro’s Alto Knights and The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow also underperformed at the box office.

Notable Announcements and Upcoming Projects

Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve was named director of the next James Bond film under Amazon’s MGM Studios, while Alec Baldwin’s Rust received a muted release years after the on-set shooting incident. Sony announced a four-film series about The Beatles, set for release in April 2028.

Meghan Markle is returning to acting in Close Personal Friends, alongside Lilly Collins, Brie Larson, and Henry Golding.

Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for It Was Just An Accident, marking a rare achievement of winning the top prize at all three major European film festivals. Meanwhile, Jim Jarmusch unexpectedly won the Golden Lion at Venice for Father Mother Sister Brother.

Other highlights included Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Wicked: For Good, and James Cameron’s third Avatar installment.

-Production: Shaurya Thapa, Lisa Giles-Keddie, Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Photo Credit: Marco Bello/Reuters