Georgia’s film industry, often hailed as the “Hollywood of the South,” has transformed the Peach State into a powerhouse of entertainment production, rivaling traditional hubs like California and New York.
With billions in annual economic spending, expansive studio infrastructure, and a robust workforce, the sector continues to drive growth despite recent industry-wide challenges.
As of mid-2025, Georgia stands as the No. 1 state for film production in the U.S., according to Business Facilities Magazine’s annual rankings, underscoring its pivotal role in the national entertainment landscape.
The state’s largest city is a who’s who of what’s filming in Atlanta day in and day out.
As of the latest comprehensive data leading into 2025, here’s a breakdown of its size and impact:
The industry’s meteoric rise can be traced back to strategic investments and incentives dating to the early 2000s. In 2002, Georgia introduced a point-of-purchase sales and use tax exemption for film productions, followed by the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act in 2005, which was strengthened in 2008.
This legislation offers a transferable 20% income tax credit on in-state costs for qualified productions spending at least $500,000, plus an additional 10% “rising star” credit for embedding a promotional logo in credits.
These incentives have been a game-changer, catapulting direct spending from a modest $135 million in 2007—the year before the tax credit’s full effect—to peaks exceeding $4 billion annually in recent years.Economic Impact:
A Blockbuster Contribution
The numbers paint a vivid picture of the industry’s scale. In fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024), film and television productions spent $2.6 billion directly in Georgia, marking a three-year total of $11 billion from FY 2022 to FY 2024. This figure, while down from the $4.4 billion high in FY 2022 and $4.1 billion in FY 2023, reflects recovery from the 2023 Hollywood strikes and pandemic disruptions. A comprehensive 2023 study by Olsberg SPI, commissioned by the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, revealed that production spending grew over 17% annually from 2012 to 2023, generating a cumulative $29.65 billion in economic impact and supporting $12.2 billion in wages over the past five years alone.
In FY 2022, the industry’s value added to Georgia’s economy reached $5.54 billion, with $3.54 billion in wages, retirement, and healthcare benefits.
The return on investment is equally impressive: for every $1 in tax incentives, the state sees $6.30 back in economic benefits. Beyond direct spending, the sector has spurred significant infrastructure development. Studio construction— ineligible for tax credits—invested $1.28 billion from 2012 to 2022, expanding dedicated stage space from 45,000 square feet in 2010 to over 5.6 million square feet across 212 stages by 2023.
With nearly $3 billion more in planned investments for 2024–2027, Georgia is projected to reach 7 million square feet of stages by the end of 2025, surpassing all other states and solidifying its position as the U.S. leader in production capacity. This expansion alone is expected to create an additional $5.7 billion in economic impact and support 15,400 new jobs by 2025.
| Fiscal Year | Direct Spending ($B) | Number of Productions | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2.7 | N/A | Economic impact: $9.5B |
| 2022 | 4.4 | 400+ | Peak pre-strike year |
| 2023 | 4.1 | 390 | 31 feature films, 241 TV/episodic |
| 2024 | 2.6 | 273 | Post-strike recovery; 25 feature films, 166 TV/episodic |
Georgia’s film boom has created a ripple effect across the economy, employing nearly 60,000 people statewide, including direct roles in production and indirect jobs in construction, hospitality, and real estate. In metro Atlanta alone, over 5,000 technicians and crew members support ongoing projects, with a typical medium-budget feature film hiring 150–175 locals and larger blockbusters employing 200–250.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more than 10,000 workers in motion picture and video production, many of whom benefit from the industry’s high wages—averaging well above state medians.The sector’s influence extends to rural areas, where filming locations like Savannah and Stone Mountain Park inject funds into local businesses.
Productions such as Marvel’s Black Panther alone employed over 3,100 Georgians and paid out $26.5 million in wages, while ongoing series like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead have become economic anchors. As one industry expert noted in a recent Georgia Trend analysis, “The geographic topography of Georgia is amazing,” allowing diverse shoots from urban Atlanta skylines to coastal marshes.
Major Productions and Infrastructure: The Stars Align
Since 1972, over 700 feature films, TV movies, series, and pilots have been produced in Georgia, with Atlanta serving as the epicenter.
Iconic studios like Tyler Perry Studios (330 acres with 12 soundstages), Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta, spanning 700+ acres), and Assembly Atlanta (home to recent Marvel projects) host simultaneous shoots.
Notable films include Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, and James Gunn’s Superman (2025), which reportedly tripled the profits of its predecessor and boosted local opportunities. In early 2025, 20–30 active productions were underway at any given time, including TV pilots, episodic series, and commercials.
How Georgia’s Creative Community Has Been Impacted
Many creatives living in Georgia have been able to cash in on the movie productions. However, freelancers have voiced challenges, with one noting the industry’s “imploding” effect on opportunities amid global shifts.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite its dominance, Georgia’s film industry faces headwinds. The 2023 strikes halved production numbers in FY 2024, and broader trends like streaming consolidation and AI advancements have led to uncertainty. Tyler Perry paused an $800 million studio expansion in 2024 due to AI concerns, and indie films ($1–15 million budgets) are hit hardest by new auditing requirements for tax credits. Globally, production has declined due to changing viewer habits, yet Georgia bucks the trend with $2.6 billion in FY 2024 spending amid a downturn.
Experts anticipate a rebound by late 2025, driven by new studios and projects. Georgia Film Office Director Lee Thomas emphasized the long-term impact: “Beyond the direct spend, it may take years… to understand the complete economic impact.”
With its skilled workforce, diverse locations, and unmatched infrastructure, Georgia remains poised for continued growth. As the state eyes 50 years of the Georgia Film Office in 2023’s legacy, the industry’s story is far from over—it’s just hitting its sequel stride.
Final Word
Atlanta has become a movie mecca in recent years and Georgia has been a favorite location for TV productions since the state instituted generous tax breaks for film companies that agree to shoot locally. Projects from CBS, NBC, HBO, BET and more are slated to shoot in the latter part of the year and the foreseeable future.
Because of the steady flow of movie and TV productions, Atlanta has been called the Hollywood of the South and it’s not just a label.. If you want to be an actor, the city has classes you can take as well as places that provide headshots and more. You can also audition at numerous casting calls to build your movie and TV reel.
Are you interested in becoming an actor in Atlanta? You’re in the right place!
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