A National Opportunity: Why Mexico Must Seize the Global Film Industry Now

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Coach JP Money
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By Johnny Punish

With former U.S. President Donald Trump calling for a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, the global entertainment industry is entering a moment of unprecedented disruption.

For Mexico, this is not a threat. It’s a massive opportunity.

The question is simple: Will Mexico step up to become the next global entertainment powerhouse, or let this moment pass into history?

Hollywood Is Looking for a New Home

Trump’s proposal, if implemented, will suffocate U.S. studios that rely on international production and distribution models to survive. Faced with skyrocketing costs and regulatory obstacles, these companies will be forced to relocate operations to friendlier, more cost-efficient environments.


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Mexico is the obvious choice.

We have the geographic advantage, situated just across the border from Los Angeles. We offer lower production costs, world-class talent, and an emerging creative class. What we need now is a bold, national initiative to capture this incoming wave.

A Strategic Vision: “Hollywood Sur”

Imagine the creation of a brand-new film city in Baja California, just south of Ensenada or east near Monterrey—places with vast affordable land, direct access to major highways and ports, and room for full-scale infrastructure development.

This initiative could include:

  • Tax incentives and investment zones for studios and service providers

  • Public-private partnerships to fund infrastructure and facilities

  • Fast-tracked residency and work visas for U.S.-based executives and workers

  • Film-friendly legislation that streamlines production and protects intellectual property

  • Specialized training programs through universities and vocational schools to develop local crews and talent

We’re not just talking about film studios. We’re talking about building a new industry—from equipment suppliers to digital VFX firms, from set designers to post-production hubs.

The Economic Impact

This move would inject billions into the Mexican economy, create tens of thousands of skilled jobs, and spark development in sectors far beyond entertainment: real estate, transportation, tourism, education, and technology.

Hollywood’s relocation could become Mexico’s Silicon Valley moment—a permanent shift in the global power structure that lifts the entire country into a new economic tier.

A Call to Action

Mexican policymakers and business leaders must act quickly and decisively. Other countries—Canada, Spain, Australia—are already making moves to attract displaced film production.

But Mexico has the competitive edge they don’t: proximity, cultural synergy, economic scalability, and shared history with the U.S. entertainment industry.

We must convene business coalitions, government agencies, and international investors now to create a unified relocation strategy. This is more than economic development—it’s nation branding.

Let the world say: Hollywood once ruled entertainment, but Mexico reimagined it.

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