Film and TV production in Los Angeles has reached an all-time low, dropping to levels worse than during the SAG union strike of 2023. Despite new tax incentives introduced by the city to stimulate growth, many in the industry are skeptical about the possibility of a full recovery.
According to FilmLA, the city and county’s film permitting office, on-location production in the greater Los Angeles area declined by 13.2% from July through September 2025 compared to the same period last year, continuing a trend of decreasing local production over multiple years.
The decline in LA motion picture employment, plummeting from 142,000 in 2022 to 100,000 by the end of 2024, represents a 30% decrease equating to 42,000 lost jobs. Below-the-line crew members have been particularly hard hit, with 63% earning less in 2024 and 41% considering leaving the industry altogether.
High taxes in LA and California have driven some productions away, but the overall US film and TV production landscape is experiencing a decline regardless of location. The number of theatrical releases has dropped by 28% since 2019, and there has been a 25% decrease in scripted TV projects.
The majority of film and TV productions are concentrated in the greater Los Angeles area due to its proximity to studios, editing facilities, effects houses, and talent pools. A decline in production in Hollywood and LA signifies a broader downturn in the industry as a whole, coinciding with the decrease in box office revenues since 2019.
Despite claims that the pandemic was to blame for Hollywood’s struggles, the industry’s challenges predate COVID-19, with audience numbers already declining by 10% between 2015 and 2019. The rise of woke culture in media and the resulting negative impact on audience reception are also contributing factors.
Production companies point to inflation and higher ticket prices as deterrents for audiences, but the success of movies without woke messaging suggests that a shift away from such content could lead to increased profits. The solution to Hollywood’s woes appears to be clear: focus on quality storytelling and ditch the woke narrative for financial success.
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