Production in Los Angeles shows no signs of recovery in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the industry is still awaiting the effects of state incentive increases.
Film, TV and commercial production days decreased by 12.3% compared to the previous quarter, according to data from FilmLA. This trend has continued since 2022 and continues to decline. The total number of shooting days across these categories has not increased for two consecutive quarters since 2021.
In 2025 as a whole, production volume was about half that of 2019.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a major expansion of the state’s film and television production incentives in July. The California Film Commission has since allocated $771 million in tax breaks to dozens of film and television projects, including “Jumanji,” “Heat 2” and “Baywatch,” but the impact of that spending is not yet visible in production numbers. Approved projects will take 180 days from the time credits are issued to begin filming.
FilmLA spokesman Philip Sokolowski said the latest numbers were “disappointing” but not surprising.
“FilmLA has consistently predicted that the full effects of the expanded Motion Picture and Television Tax Credit program will take time to be realized, and while overall numbers remain low, there are dozens of promoted projects that have not yet begun filming,” he said in a statement.
According to FilmLA, 17.3% of film projects shot on location last quarter received state funding. This was down from 19.2% in the same quarter in 2024, but up from 2023 (8.7% received state subsidies) during the actors’ strike.
The increase in state incentives was more pronounced for television, where the share of subsidized projects increased from 1.5% in Q4 2023 to 6.5% in Q4 2024. That number rose to 11.1% in the same quarter of 2025. For TV comedies, 31.8% of filming days were tied to subsidy projects, and 31% of TV drama productions received state support. The state has traditionally supported only scripted programming, but recently added “massive” reality TV to its roster.
But the increase in state aid comes amid a dramatic decline overall. TV production days in the fourth quarter were 50% below the five-year average and down 22% compared to the same quarter in 2024. Film production days were 31.7% below the five-year average and down 19.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
Television comedy was relatively flat compared to the same period last year, down just 6%, but 66% below the five-year average. TV dramas were down 36.4% in Q4 2025 compared to Q4 2024, and 43.3% below the five-year average.
