Hollywood Is Collapsing: Film and Television Productions Drop Dramatically in California as Studios Leave Golden State

It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. But it’s real: Hollywood is quietly collapsing.

Despite the glamour, events, and red carpets that continue on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, the hub of the U.S. entertainment industry, there’s a deep-seated problem beneath the surface of stardom and status. This issue, if not addressed, could make Hollywood a mere remnant of its former self. A recent report from FilmLA, an organization responsible for filming permits in the city and county, shows that the first quarter of 2025 saw a significant 22% decrease in on-location filming compared to the previous year. Television production, once a reliable economic driver for the area, fell by almost half compared to the average over the last five years. A striking figure: only 13 pilots were filmed in L.A. this year—a record low.

This isn’t a bump in the road. It’s the new normal.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed the root of the issue: a perfect tempest of sluggishness following the strike, studio-enforced cost-cutting, and a worldwide battle for tax incentives that California seems to be losing. Meanwhile, rivals like Australia are seeing a 14% surge in production volume, while countries such as Slovakia and Austria are stealing our postproduction work by offering savings of up to 90% on music scoring alone. That’s quite a significant advantage they have!