Hollywood Exodus: Film Production Flees Los Angeles for Cheaper Shores
Since the conclusion of the streaming bubble in 2022, the U.S. has seen a reduction of 73,000 production jobs, predominantly in Los Angeles, as film and television projects relocate abroad or to different states. The Fox reboot of "Baywatch," set for March 2025, encountered hurdles from the California Coastal Commission. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom increased the state’s incentive program to $750 million in 2025, although this does not cover above-the-line salaries. In 2024, the U.K. allocated $2.2 billion for film and TV subsidies. Productions like "The Rockford Files" and "Little House on the Prairie" are now filmed outside California. In May 2025, President Trump threatened a 100% tariff on foreign films, while Senator Adam Schiff is working on a federal 15% labor credit. Despite these issues, California hosted 81 projects in Q1 2026.
Key facts
- 73,000 production jobs lost in America since 2022, two-thirds in Los Angeles
- Fox reboot of 'Baywatch' filmed in L.A. in March 2025 with $21 million state subsidy
- California's incentive program capped at $750 million, excludes above-the-line salaries
- U.K. spent $2.2 billion on film/TV subsidies in 2024
- Senator Adam Schiff drafting federal 15% labor credit; MPA pushes for 20% plus bonuses
- President Trump threatened 100% tariff on foreign-made films in May 2025
- 'The Rockford Files' reboot films outside Atlanta; 'Little House on the Prairie' in Winnipeg
- New 'Avengers' films being made in London
Entities
Artists
- David Hasselhoff
- Greg Bonann
- Charles Roven
- Xavier Becerra
- Karen Bass
- Nithya Raman
- Spencer Pratt
- Adam Schiff
- Noelle Stehman
- Mike Miller
- Bill Lawrence
- Brian Grazer
- Brady Corbet
- David Kaplan
- John Hadity
- Lori McCreary
- Donald Trump
- Scott Karol
- Jon Voight
- Laura Friedman
- Zachary Levi
- Corri Levelle
- Michael Cimarusti
- James Weaver
- Seth Rogen
- Harrison Ford
- Kathy Bates
- James Hohman
- Michael Landon
Institutions
- Fox
- California Coastal Commission
- Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department
- Atlas Entertainment
- Imagine Entertainment
- Kaplan Morrison
- Point Grey Pictures
- Lionsgate
- Apple TV+
- Warner Bros. Television
- Disney
- CBS Studios
- Netflix
- Prime Video
- NBC
- ABC
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
- Producers Guild of America
- Motion Picture Association
- Mackinac Center for Fiscal Policy
- Stay in L.A.
- Sandy Rose Floral
- Connie & Ted's
- FilmLA
- ProdPro
- Variety
Locations
- Los Angeles
- California
- United States
- United Kingdom
- London
- Atlanta
- Georgia
- Winnipeg
- Manitoba
- Canada
- Vancouver
- British Columbia
- Australia
- Hungary
- Portugal
- South Africa
- Romania
- Richmond
- Virginia
- Boston
- Baltimore
- Simi Valley
- San Fernando Valley
- West Hollywood
- North Hollywood
- New York
- Detroit
- Michigan
- Cleveland
- Hawaii
- Bulgaria