Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, and that includes Japanese anime. He made the announcement on Truth Social, claiming that other countries are pulling film production away from the U.S. and bringing in content with foreign agendas.
He directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to start charging this tax on every movie made overseas, writing: “We want movies made in America again.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed the message with a brief online post: “We’re on it.”
This new policy means that foreign films, anime included, could cost twice as much to screen in U.S. theaters. But it’s still unclear how this would work. Unlike physical imports, films are usually licensed as intellectual property. The government hasn’t explained whether the fee will be added when studios buy rights, collect ticket revenue, or through some other method.
Studios and Distributors React With Concern
Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on all foreign films could impact the U.S. release of future Anime films such as Demon Slayer, Studio Ghibli, and many more pic.twitter.com/Ymt3AraqJO
— Anime Updates (@animeupdates__) May 5, 2025
The announcement caught Hollywood and anime distributors off guard. Many are now trying to figure out how this will be enforced. No timeline or instructions have been shared, and there’s still uncertainty over whether the rule would also apply to streaming platforms.
Studios are confused. Variety reported that several major companies held meetings immediately after the news to discuss what could happen. The Motion Picture Association, which represents the big film studios, has not made any official statements.
Distributors like Crunchyroll and GKIDS, which handle most anime releases in the U.S., haven’t said anything yet either. But it’s clear that this new rule could make anime releases too expensive for some companies to handle, especially smaller ones.
There’s growing worry that this will lead to higher ticket prices or fewer foreign films showing in theaters. If the added cost is included in the licensing fee, companies might raise prices to make up for it. If it’s applied on ticket revenue, then cinemas might avoid screening these films entirely.
Some in the industry also think the plan could work against its goal. Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur pointed out that U.S. studios earn much of their money overseas. If other countries answer back with their own restrictions, American films could lose access to major international markets.
Anime Movies Are Directly Affected
The policy could impact anime films the hardest. Since most anime movies are made entirely in Japan, they clearly fit the criteria laid out by Trump’s statement about foreign productions.
If U.S. companies like Crunchyroll are forced to pay twice the usual cost to bring these films to local theaters, they may either raise ticket prices or reduce the number of releases. If the fee is collected on earnings, a big share of U.S. ticket money would go straight to the government.
This would make it more expensive for fans to see their favorite anime in theaters. A film that might have cost $15 per ticket before could end up costing $25 or more.
Until now, anime has been doing well in U.S. cinemas. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train brought in over $500 million globally, with almost $50 million from American audiences. Distributors like Funimation, GKIDS, and Crunchyroll have been steadily building their presence in theaters each year.
But this new tariff could slow that progress. One editor from Polygon noted that this rule might apply to nearly every anime movie. Films with smaller budgets or less mainstream appeal could be pulled from U.S. release plans entirely.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Could Be at Risk
The upcoming Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc movie could be one of the first big anime releases affected by this new rule. The film is the start of a planned trilogy that will wrap up the Demon Slayer anime. It’s scheduled for 2025, with Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll managing its release in most countries outside Asia.
Fans have already seen early trailers and were expecting a big theatrical rollout. Some people in the business even said this movie might match or beat the box office numbers of Mugen Train.
But now, there’s a real chance the film’s U.S. release could be pushed back, limited in scope, or made more expensive. If Crunchyroll and Sony have to pay more to bring the film over, that extra cost may fall on the viewers. A regular ticket could be priced much higher to make up the difference.
In a worst-case scenario, the movie might skip theaters in the U.S. altogether and be released directly on streaming platforms or home media. That would be a letdown for fans who had hoped to see it on the big screen.
Sony recently acquired Alamo Drafthouse, a theater chain known for its support of anime and indie films. That move was supposed to boost anime’s reach in U.S. cinemas, but this tariff might complicate those plans.
Source: TruthSocial
