New York is rapidly closing the gap with California in film and television production. The latest figures suggest a major shift in America’s entertainment industry.
New York film production is experiencing remarkable growth. According to industry tracker ProdPro, the state’s production spending surged 87% during the third quarter of 2026.
As a result, New York’s quarterly spending reached $1.61 billion. Meanwhile, California remained the national leader with $1.76 billion.
However, California recorded a smaller growth rate of 17%.
Consequently, the gap between the two entertainment hubs narrowed to approximately $147 million.
The figures highlight growing competition for Hollywood projects, studio investment and entertainment jobs.
New York Film Production Records Massive Growth
New York has emerged as California’s strongest challenger in film and television production.
According to ProdPro, the state’s production spending increased 87% compared with the same quarter in 2025.
Moreover, total spending reached $1.61 billion.
California remained ahead with $1.76 billion. However, New York’s faster growth suggests that the industry’s production landscape is changing.
As a result, East Coast filming locations are becoming increasingly important.
California Maintains Its Hollywood Production Lead
California remains America’s largest film and television production centre.
The state recorded $1.76 billion in production spending during the third quarter of 2026.
Moreover, the figure represented a 17% increase from the previous year.
ProdPro also reported that approximately 80 live-action film and television projects filmed in California during the quarter.
However, New York’s rapid expansion has reduced California’s lead.
Therefore, the competition between the two states is becoming more intense.
New York Closes the Gap to Just $147 Million
The spending difference between California and New York has become surprisingly small.
California recorded $1.76 billion, while New York reached $1.61 billion.
As a result, the gap stood at approximately $147 million.
Moreover, ProdPro co-founder and CEO Alex LoVerde identified the fourth quarter of 2026 and 2027 as important periods to watch.
New York could potentially overtake California in a future reporting period.
However, California remains the leader for now.
The next production reports will show whether New York can maintain its momentum.
Expanded Soundstages Drive New York’s Success
One major reason behind New York’s growth is its expanding production infrastructure.
The state has invested in facilities designed to support large film and television projects.
Moreover, commercial real estate firm CBRE reported that New York’s soundstage inventory increased 43% between 2020 and 2026.
These facilities provide controlled environments for filming complex scenes.
They also allow television productions to remain in one location for extended periods.
As a result, New York can accommodate more projects without relying entirely on outdoor filming locations.
Television Series Strengthen New York’s Position
Long-running television productions play an important role in New York’s entertainment economy.
Popular shows require soundstages, production crews and support services for several seasons.
Moreover, recurring television projects can provide steadier employment than individual film shoots.
CBS productions such as FBI, CIA and Elsbeth contribute to the state’s television activity.
Meanwhile, NBC’s Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU remain established New York productions.
These shows help maintain demand for local production resources.
Therefore, television remains a major advantage for New York’s entertainment industry.
Ben Stiller’s Protective Custody Films in New York
New York continues to attract high-profile film and television projects.
Apple TV’s upcoming comedy series Protective Custody, featuring Ben Stiller, has been filming in Manhattan.
Moreover, the project highlights the city’s appeal to major streaming platforms.
Other productions have also selected New York locations.
These include A24’s romantic drama Deep Cuts and the true-crime film PREPPY, featuring Kit Connor.
As a result, the city remains an attractive destination for independent and studio-backed productions.
Miami Vice: 85 Uses Multiple East Coast Locations
Universal Pictures’ Miami Vice: 85 provides another example of changing production patterns.
The upcoming action film stars Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler.
Moreover, the production has used locations in New York and Wayne, New Jersey.
Filming has also taken place in Florida.
This approach shows how productions can combine locations across different states.
Meanwhile, nearby facilities and experienced crews make the New York region attractive to filmmakers.
Therefore, the wider East Coast production network offers studios greater flexibility.
California Expands Film and Television Tax Credits
California is taking steps to protect its entertainment industry.
Governor Gavin Newsom expanded the state’s film and television tax credit program in 2025.
As a result, the annual program increased from $330 million to $750 million.
Moreover, California has introduced additional measures to support production and post-production work.
These incentives aim to encourage studios to film locally.
They also seek to protect jobs for production crews and entertainment professionals.
However, California continues to face strong competition from other states offering financial incentives.
Hollywood Works to Prevent Production Flight
California officials are increasingly focused on keeping film and television projects within the state.
Los Angeles and Burbank remain home to major studios and production facilities.
However, rising production costs have encouraged companies to explore alternative filming locations.
Moreover, competing states continue to offer attractive tax incentives.
California officials have also pledged to simplify certain production processes.
The goal is to make filming in the state more competitive.
Therefore, retaining production remains an important priority for California’s entertainment economy.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Add Industry Pressure
Changes involving major Hollywood studios are also influencing the production landscape.
Paramount’s combination with Warner Bros. Discovery has drawn attention to the future of studio operations in Los Angeles.
Moreover, the merged company’s production commitments could affect employment and investment.
Studio leadership has outlined plans to release at least 30 theatrical films annually.
However, producing more movies does not guarantee that every project will film in California.
Studios may continue selecting locations based on budgets, incentives and creative requirements.
Therefore, California must remain competitive even when major entertainment companies maintain operations in the state.
Georgia Records Strong Production Growth
New York is not the only state gaining momentum.
Georgia recorded a 32% increase in production spending during the third quarter of 2026.
Moreover, the state continues to attract major studio projects.
James Gunn’s DC sequel Superman: Man of Tomorrow has been filming in Georgia.
Meanwhile, Benny Safdie’s Lizard Music and Netflix’s Scooby-Doo origin series have also contributed to production activity.
These projects highlight Georgia’s importance as a filming destination.
As a result, the state remains a major competitor in America’s entertainment production market.
American Idol Plans a Move to Atlanta
Another important development involves American Idol.
The long-running television competition is preparing to move production from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
Moreover, the relocation could provide Georgia with a recurring production commitment.
Unlike a single film shoot, established television franchises may remain in one location for several seasons.
This creates opportunities for local crews and production facilities.
Meanwhile, the move illustrates how major entertainment programmes are reconsidering their production bases.
Therefore, Georgia could benefit from more consistent television activity.
New Jersey Emerges as Another Production Hub
New Jersey is also becoming an important destination for film and television projects.
The state has attracted investment from major entertainment companies.
Moreover, Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate have developed significant production plans in the region.
Recent projects include Spy Duo, featuring Kevin Hart and Henry Cavill.
Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups 3 has also filmed in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, television productions such as Cupertino and Big Mistakes have used locations in the state.
As a result, New Jersey is strengthening its position within the East Coast entertainment industry.
New Jersey Faces Soundstage Challenges
Despite growing investment, New Jersey faces infrastructure limitations.
The state’s filming count declined 24% year over year during the third quarter.
However, industry representatives have suggested that limited soundstage availability contributed to the decline.
Several major facilities remain under development.
Netflix is building a production base at the former Fort Monmouth site.
Moreover, Paramount has signed a long-term lease at 1888 Studios in Bayonne.
Lionsgate is also connected to Great Point Studios in Newark.
Therefore, additional studio capacity could support future production growth.
Illinois Continues to Attract Television Projects
Illinois remains another important filming destination.
The state recorded a 15% increase in live-action film and television projects during the quarter.
However, overall production spending declined compared with the previous year.
Chicago continues to benefit from established television franchises.
These include Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.
Moreover, recurring television productions help support local crews and production services.
As a result, Illinois remains an active competitor for Hollywood projects.
New Mexico Experiences a Production Slowdown
Not every state experienced growth during the quarter.
New Mexico recorded a sharp decline in production spending.
According to ProdPro, spending fell 93% compared with the same period in 2025.
Moreover, the state faced challenges following changes in major television productions.
Netflix’s Ransom Canyon, which employed hundreds of local cast and crew members, was cancelled after two seasons.
However, new projects could help improve activity.
Netflix’s The Four Seasons began production near the end of the quarter.
Meanwhile, Pluribus was scheduled to begin filming during the fourth quarter.
US Production Spending Reaches $4.9 Billion
Despite regional differences, overall American production spending increased.
ProdPro reported approximately $4.9 billion in U.S. film and television production spending during the third quarter of 2026.
Moreover, the figure represented a 17% increase from the previous year.
The improvement suggests that production activity is recovering across parts of the industry.
However, the benefits are not evenly distributed.
Some states are attracting more projects, while others continue to experience slowdowns.
Therefore, regional competition remains an important factor in Hollywood’s changing production landscape.
Federal Film Tax Incentives Could Change the Market
Federal lawmakers have introduced proposals aimed at supporting domestic film and television production.
A bipartisan bill introduced in September 2026 proposes federal tax incentives for qualifying entertainment projects.
Moreover, the proposed legislation could complement existing state programmes.
Supporters believe national incentives could encourage studios to keep more productions in the United States.
However, the legislation has not yet become law.
Therefore, its potential impact remains uncertain.
If approved, federal incentives could influence how studios choose filming locations.
Why Hollywood Production Jobs Matter
Film and television production supports more than actors and directors.
Each project creates opportunities for camera operators, editors, costume designers and production assistants.
Moreover, productions often hire local businesses for transportation, catering and accommodation.
Large television series can provide employment across several seasons.
Meanwhile, feature films may generate significant spending during shorter production periods.
As a result, attracting entertainment projects can benefit regional economies.
Therefore, states are increasingly competing for the jobs and investment associated with Hollywood productions.
Can New York Overtake California in 2027?
New York’s rapid growth has made the competition more interesting.
The state’s 87% spending increase significantly outpaced California’s 17% rise.
Moreover, expanded soundstages and established television productions provide a strong foundation.
However, California still maintains the country’s largest production spending total.
Its expanded incentives and extensive studio infrastructure remain important advantages.
Therefore, New York’s future position will depend on whether its current growth continues.
The fourth quarter of 2026 and the 2027 production reports will offer important answers.
New York’s Growth Signals a Changing Hollywood Industry
New York film production is moving closer to California’s long-held leadership position.
The latest ProdPro figures show New York reaching $1.61 billion in quarterly spending.
Meanwhile, California remains ahead with $1.76 billion.
Moreover, Georgia, New Jersey and Illinois are competing for additional projects.
Expanded soundstages, tax incentives and experienced production crews are reshaping filming decisions.
However, California remains a major entertainment centre with extensive resources and industry connections.
Ultimately, the latest figures suggest that Hollywood production is becoming more geographically diverse.
The next several quarters will reveal whether New York can turn its rapid growth into a lasting leadership position.
Do you think New York will overtake California as America’s biggest film and television production hub? Share your views and follow us for the latest Hollywood news, film industry updates and entertainment business developments!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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