Los Angeles film production falls 13% despite tax incentives

FilmLA data show that film and television production in Los Angeles dropped 13% year‑over‑year in the second quarter of 2026, and the overall pace of filming was 8% lower than in the first quarter. Feature‑film production declined by about 20%, while television production rose 34% quarter‑on‑quarter but remained 28% below the same period a year earlier. The decline occurs despite an expanded California film and TV tax credit program that now offers $750 million in incentives and promises faster permitting.

Mayor Karen Bass called for additional incentives, reduced bureaucracy and lower permit fees, and urged that more production categories—including competitive reality series—be eligible for tax credits. While the state as a whole saw a 5% increase in film spending and an 11% rise in shooting days, the Los Angeles area experienced the opposite trend. The downturn is noted alongside recent box‑office successes such as “The Odyssey,” the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” and the low‑budget hit “Obsession.”