Nikita Mikhalkov Wants a Tax on Foreign Movies to Fund Local Cinema
When your local film industry can't compete with Hollywood, why bother making better movies? Russian state-backed creators came up with a far easier solution: force foreign blockbusters to pay for local flops.
Film director Nikita Mikhalkov announced plans to impose a direct cut on foreign box office revenues to refinance domestic movie production through TASS. Under the proposed system, international distributors will also have to pay a hefty fee just to apply for release permits in Russia.
Inspiration for the project allegedly came from similar protectionist practices in France and China, though the local version resembles a toll booth placed directly in front of the multiplex entrance. Kremlin leadership has already instructed the State Duma and the government to prepare and pass the relevant legislation on a priority basis.
Economic experts are currently figuring out the exact percentage to slice off incoming foreign cash before the target deadline of September 25, 2026. The move follows Mikhalkov's earlier proposal to introduce an upfront payment of 5 million rubles for reviewing any Western movie alongside a mandatory 10% box office tax.
Forcing audience members to subsidize state-approved propaganda every time they try to watch a Hollywood hit is certainly one way to solve budget deficits. When quality fails to attract crowds, raw bureaucracy reliably picks up the slack.
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