Tom Cruise dodges Trump’s overseas film tariff question at Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning event
Tom Cruise shut down a reporter who questioned him about US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on the film industry during a press appearance in South Korea.
The 62-year-old actor was promoting his latest film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, in Seoul when he was asked about Mr Trump’s recent threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on movies produced outside the United States, News.com reported.
Cruise appeared visibly unimpressed after a reporter from South Korean outlet MBC asked, “How much of the film was shot overseas?”
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The reporter then continued, “We all are aware of the tariffs that President Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie under that tariff?”
Cruise paused and looked to the translator-moderator before responding off-microphone.
“We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you,” he said.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is the eighth film in the franchise and was filmed primarily in England, with additional scenes shot in Italy, Norway and South Africa.
The production reportedly cost $US400 million ($A600 million).
Mr Trump announced his tariff plans last week, prompting concern among world leaders and within the entertainment industry.
In a social media post, he said the American movie industry was “dying a very fast death,” and blamed foreign governments for attracting US studios with financial incentives.
He said he had directed the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin implementing a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the US, stating that “we want movies made in America, again”.
In recent years, major Hollywood productions have increasingly moved away from Los Angeles to countries like England and Australia, driven by generous tax incentives.
Despite being initially promoted as the final chapter in the long-running franchise, Final Reckoning may not be the last. Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have left the possibility open for more films, depending on how the latest instalment performs at the box office.
Its predecessor, Dead Reckoning, underperformed following its 2023 release, which coincided with the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer—a cultural moment dubbed the Barbenheimer phenomenon.
