The tensile properties of representative tablet film coating systems, containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose alone and in combination with either polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 1000 and pigmented with either talc or titanium dioxide, have been investigated. Tensile anisotropy was observed between film samples cut parallel to, and perpendicular to, the direction of rotation of the casting substrate and factors accounting for this phenomenon are presented.