Tom Cruise Shuts Down Tariffs Talk at ‘Mission: Impossible’ Press Event: “We’d Rather Answer Questions About the Movie”

Entertainment NewsActorsActors CommentaryBusinessInternationalPress ReleaseOpinionFilmmakingFilmCultureCommunity

May 11

Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie at the Seoul, South Korea 'Mission: Impossible' press conference on Thursday. **Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images for Paramount**

The star is promoting the final film in his action franchise, which has made billions of dollars and shoots overseas.

Tom Cruise ensured that the spotlight remained firmly on Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning during a press event in Seoul on Thursday, swiftly redirecting a politically sensitive question about proposed tariffs on overseas film productions. Known for his laser-like focus and polished media presence, Cruise made it clear that the priority was the film itself, not the politics swirling around it.

The event featured Cruise alongside longtime collaborator and director Christopher McQuarrie, as well as other cast members, to promote what has been billed as the climactic installment of the beloved action franchise. With over $4 billion in global box office revenue, the Mission: Impossible series is not only a commercial juggernaut but also a benchmark for practical stunts and large-scale filmmaking. Naturally, the press turnout in South Korea was enthusiastic, with questions ranging from Cruise’s stunt work to character arcs. But one particular question broke from the film-related script.

A reporter, referencing the film’s numerous international shooting locations, including Africa, asked about President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on movies shot outside the U.S. “I’d like to ask this question to anybody who’s up for it,” the reporter began, according to a translator. “Of course, 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? And how much of the film was shot overseas?”

Without hesitation, Cruise signaled to the moderator, saying quietly but firmly, “We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you.” The moderator agreed, calling it a “fair response” before moving on to a new topic. Cruise’s reaction quickly made headlines, showcasing his preference to maintain a promotional narrative centered on cinema, not geopolitics.

The timing of the question coincided with recent statements made by Trump on Truth Social, in which he called for the imposition of tariffs on foreign-shot productions. “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States,” he wrote. “Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.”

Though the White House later clarified that no policy had been finalized, Trump’s remarks introduced uncertainty into an already turbulent media landscape. Studios, producers, and financiers have taken notice, particularly given that most modern tentpole films rely on international locations for both financial and narrative scope.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is among the most visible of these global productions, having filmed across multiple continents, including extended sequences in the United Kingdom, Norway, and South Africa. Cruise’s affinity for filming abroad is well-documented—part of his commitment to finding the most dramatic and authentic backdrops for his high-octane stunt work. From scaling the Burj Khalifa in Dubai to hanging off cliffs in Norway, Cruise has turned international spectacle into a franchise hallmark.

Other high-profile productions that could be affected if the tariff plan gains traction include Avengers: Doomsday, Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, and the recently wrapped Deadpool & Wolverine. In recent years, global tax incentives, diverse landscapes, and skilled labor pools have made shooting overseas a common practice, not just for Hollywood but for global streaming platforms as well.

Nonetheless, Cruise’s decision to brush aside the tariff question isn’t simply media management—it reflects a larger industry desire to keep the focus on the art and logistics of filmmaking rather than the increasingly politicized discourse surrounding it. His response was not dismissive, but pointed: the work itself, and its celebration, must take precedence.

POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP

As Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning prepares for its May 23 theatrical release, fans are eager to see how the saga concludes. Promising one final set of jaw-dropping stunts and the culmination of decades of storytelling, the film is poised to be one of the summer’s biggest events. For now, Cruise remains mission-focused—committed to closing out the series on his own terms, and letting the action speak louder than politics.