China is turning down the volume on Hollywood.
In a dramatic response to Washington’s latest trade move, Beijing has announced plans to “moderately reduce” the number of US movies allowed in Chinese cinemas — a move that directly links entertainment to geopolitics.
This comes after US President Donald Trump slapped a staggering 145% tariff on Chinese imports, escalating the already tense US-China trade war.
China’s National Film Administration didn’t mince words:
“The wrong move by the US government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favourability towards American films.”
Hollywood movies — long a dominant force at China’s box office — could soon face fewer release slots, less promotion, and dwindling public support as national sentiment hardens.
China’s market has become increasingly critical to Hollywood’s global revenue. Blockbusters like Marvel’s superhero sagas and Fast & Furious rely heavily on Chinese audiences.
But now, China is signaling that cultural influence is also a battlefield — and Hollywood might be the latest casualty in this tariff war.