More than 4,000 actors, directors and film workers in Hollywood have signed a pledge to boycott Israel’s film industry, in protest over the war in Gaza.
The move, announced this week, is one of the largest collective actions taken by people in the entertainment world on the issue, and supporters say it could mark a turning point in how culture is used to apply political pressure.
The Pledge
The statement, organised by the group Film Workers for Palestine, says signatories will not screen films, attend festivals, or work with Israeli broadcasters and production companies “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
It has attracted some of Hollywood’s most recognisable names. Actors Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Riz Ahmed, Mark Ruffalo, Andrew Garfield, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem and Susan Sarandon have all signed. Directors including Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Joshua Oppenheimer and Boots Riley are also on the list.
Rare Unity in Hollywood
Hollywood stars do not often take such strong public stands on global conflicts, fearing backlash or lost work. But with the war in Gaza continuing and international anger growing, campaigners say this shows a shift in mood.
The pledge has already drawn criticism in Israel. Nadav Ben Simon, head of the Israeli screenwriters’ guild, called it “deeply troubling.” But backers argue it reflects changing opinion, particularly in the United States, where younger voters have become more critical of Israel in recent years.
Historical Echoes
While unusual for Hollywood, cultural boycotts are not new. In the 1960s, writers like Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter refused to let their plays be performed before segregated audiences in apartheid South Africa.
In the 1980s, international artists joined campaigns against the South African regime. Steven Van Zandt led Artists United Against Apartheid, urging musicians not to perform at the Sun City resort. Queen, who played there, faced heavy criticism.
Filmmakers joined too. In 1987, Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme launched a group called Filmmakers United Against Apartheid. They and 100 colleagues refused to let their films be screened in South Africa and wrote to then-President Ronald Reagan, asking him to support sanctions. Reagan refused, but the boycott helped increase South Africa’s isolation.
Many historians now believe cultural boycotts played a significant role in weakening the apartheid regime’s international reputation.
Why Culture Matters
Cultural boycotts are rarely about money. Instead, they attack what countries value most: their image abroad. Film, music and art are forms of “soft power,” shaping how nations are seen on the world stage.
Hollywood has long been America’s strongest cultural export, spreading its values and influence around the globe. Israel, too, has promoted its film and arts industries as a sign of openness and creativity. Campaigners believe refusing to engage with those industries undermines that narrative.
Palestinian Calls for Action
The latest boycott did not start in Los Angeles. It was organised in response to appeals from Palestinian cultural workers, who last year urged colleagues abroad to “do everything humanly possible to stop complicity” in the war.
Film Workers for Palestine, set up in early 2024, coordinated the pledge. The group has previously pushed streaming services and production companies to cut ties with firms linked to Israel. Their approach is closely aligned with the wider Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for cultural boycotts as one of its main strategies.
Divisions and Criticism
As with South Africa in the 1980s, not everyone agrees on the value of cultural boycotts. Some argue they unfairly punish artists and can silence voices inside Israel who also criticise government policy. Others point out that boycotts are often broken and may not bring immediate results.
But supporters say they add moral pressure and can shift the debate. “Boycotts don’t work overnight,” one campaigner said. “But they force people to take sides and they show the world that silence is not an option.”
Hollywood Shifts Position
The fact that so many Hollywood figures have signed this time is striking. For years, the industry avoided coordinated action on Israel. The Gaza war appears to have changed that.
Celebrity involvement ensures attention. Coverage has focused on the big names, and while this risks overshadowing Palestinian voices, campaigners say star power is vital to keeping the issue in the headlines.
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how much practical impact the boycott will have. Will major studios or festivals pull out of partnerships with Israel? Will films skip Israeli distribution? Those questions are still open.
But symbolically, the move is significant. For Israel, the risk is not just economic but reputational. Just as South Africa became a cultural outcast in the 1980s, campaigners believe Israel could face similar isolation.
Key Takeaway
Hollywood’s boycott of Israel’s film industry is one of the most visible acts of cultural protest in years. Inspired by Palestinian calls and echoing anti-apartheid campaigns, it shows how culture continues to be used as a weapon of political pressure. Whether or not it leads to change, it signals a shift in global opinion — and marks a rare moment when Hollywood is willing to speak with one voice.
