Jon Voight's plan to revive Hollywood: federal theater upgrades and film tariffs
May 6, 2025
Key Points
- Trump announced 100% tariffs on overseas film production, sending US entertainment stocks lower and pressuring theater operators like AMC.
- Actor Jon Voight presented Trump with a competing plan featuring federal theater upgrade incentives and tax code changes to boost domestic film investment.
- Voight's approach targets both supply constraints in aging theaters and production cost barriers that industry workers cite as obstacles to keeping filmmaking in the US.
Summary
Actor Jon Voight presented a plan to President Trump over the weekend to revive US film production and theater operations. The proposal includes federal incentives for theater owners to upgrade facilities and tax code changes to encourage domestic film investment.
Voight's plan arrives as Trump announced 100% tariffs on films produced overseas. US entertainment company stocks fell on the news, including AMC and other theater operators.
The proposal targets both infrastructure and cost barriers. Voight offers federal support for theater upgrades paired with tax incentives to make domestic production more competitive, rather than relying on tariffs alone.
Specifics on funding, timeline, and which tax code provisions Voight proposed remain unclear. It is also unclear whether the plan has gained formal backing from the Trump administration or been introduced as policy.