As reported earlier, Donald Trump has just dropped a bombshell by issuing an order to impose a 100% tax on foreign films imported into the United States.
To say the industry is shocked would be an understatement.
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The ripple effect of this move has sent waves of concern not only through Indian and Telugu film distributors but also across the UK and Chinese film industries.
Amid widespread speculation, a key question has emerged: Will this new tax cause Telugu movie ticket prices in the US to spike even further?
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Ticket pricing has already been a contentious issue among Telugu moviegoers in the US.
Recently, tickets for Nani’s Hit 3 sold for over $20, while films starring Tier-1 heroes often hit the $35+ mark.
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This high pricing has been a major factor behind audiences shifting away from theaters toward IPTV and piracy.
So, what impact will the 100% tax have?
We reached out to Telugu film distributors operating in the US, and their concern is clear: Ticket prices are likely to rise even more.
Without price hikes, bringing Telugu films into the US might become financially unviable.
While some producers may consider reducing the overseas rights cost, even that won’t offset the steep tax.
In any case, audiences can expect a price bump—whether that’s $5, $10, or more will depend on how the policy shapes up.
There’s also uncertainty around whether this will be a flat 100% tax or if the US might match India’s 18% GST, effectively pushing the total tax burden to 36%.
Right now, it’s all speculation.
But one thing’s certain: Telugu movie tickets in the US are set to get more expensive—very soon.
And with this being a Trump-driven directive, chances are it will be implemented without much delay.
