While Hollywood may get the spotlight, Atlanta is quietly writing the blockbuster script for the modern film industry, serving as the epicenter for over 80% of Georgia's productions, which directly spent a staggering $4.6 billion in the state in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2022, Georgia's film and television production directly spent $4.6 billion, with Atlanta serving as the epicenter hosting over 80% of all permitted shoots.
- The state's film tax credit program returned $1.2 billion in incentives in 2022, primarily claimed by Atlanta-based productions, boosting local vendor economies by an estimated 25%.
- Atlanta's film industry contributed $2.9 billion to Georgia's GDP in 2021, representing 1.2% of the state's total GDP through multiplier effects.
- In 2023, Georgia approved 428 film and TV projects, with Atlanta hosting 362 or 84.6% of them.
- Atlanta saw 1,247 production days in 2022, up 12% from 2021, per Georgia Film Office data.
- 73 feature films were shot entirely or partially in Atlanta in 2023.
- Atlanta's film industry employed 28,000 crew members in 2023, a 10% increase from 2020.
- Over 5,200 above-the-line jobs (directors, producers) were filled in Atlanta productions in 2022.
- Background actors in Atlanta numbered 15,000 registered with casting agencies in 2023.
- Trilith Studios expanded to 26 soundstages by 2024, making it the largest in North America at 1 million sq ft.
- Tyler Perry Studios features 12 soundstages, a backlot, and 330 acres in Atlanta.
- Atlanta has 48 operational soundstages across metro area as of 2023.
- Atlanta hosted world premieres for 12 films at major festivals in 2023.
- Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, shot in Atlanta, grossed $859M worldwide and won 1 Oscar.
- The Walking Dead series, primarily Atlanta-filmed, won 5 Emmys over 11 seasons.
Atlanta drives Georgia's booming film industry with enormous economic and cultural impact.
Cultural and Awards Impact
- Atlanta hosted world premieres for 12 films at major festivals in 2023.
- Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, shot in Atlanta, grossed $859M worldwide and won 1 Oscar.
- The Walking Dead series, primarily Atlanta-filmed, won 5 Emmys over 11 seasons.
- Atlanta-shot Creed III earned $276M box office and NAACP Image Award in 2023.
- Stranger Things S4, filmed in Atlanta area, garnered 13 Emmy noms in 2022.
- Tyler Perry's films shot in Atlanta won 3 NAACP Image Awards since 2020.
- Atlanta's Ozark series received 45 Emmy nominations total, 4 wins.
- Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Atlanta production, $476M gross.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Atlanta-shot, won 2 Emmys.
- Atlanta tourism from Walking Dead tours: 1M visitors, $100M impact since 2010.
- 7 Atlanta-shot films nominated for Oscars in 2023 categories.
- P-Valley, filmed in Atlanta, won 2 Peabody Awards.
- Atlanta's Squid Game: The Challenge reality spin-off drew 100M Netflix views.
- 15 Golden Globe noms for Atlanta-produced series 2020-2023.
- WandaVision, Atlanta interiors, won 9 Emmys including Best Miniseries.
- Atlanta-shot She-Hulk series featured 5 SAG Awards noms.
- Cultural impact: 25% rise in Georgia film school enrollments post-Atlanta blockbusters.
- Atlanta Film Festival screened 250+ features in 2023, 40% local.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Atlanta VFX heavy, $845M worldwide.
- 42 Peabody Awards to Atlanta-associated productions since 2010.
Cultural and Awards Impact Interpretation
Atlanta's film scene has decisively shed its 'sleepy Southern town' image, cementing itself as a powerhouse that not only racks up blockbuster grosses and awards but also fundamentally reshapes local tourism and education.
Economic Impact
- In fiscal year 2022, Georgia's film and television production directly spent $4.6 billion, with Atlanta serving as the epicenter hosting over 80% of all permitted shoots.
- The state's film tax credit program returned $1.2 billion in incentives in 2022, primarily claimed by Atlanta-based productions, boosting local vendor economies by an estimated 25%.
- Atlanta's film industry contributed $2.9 billion to Georgia's GDP in 2021, representing 1.2% of the state's total GDP through multiplier effects.
- Over 1,200 local businesses in metro Atlanta reported revenue growth of at least 15% from film production spending between 2019-2023.
- Film productions in Atlanta injected $1.1 billion into hotel and hospitality sectors in 2023 alone, with occupancy rates spiking 40% during peak shooting seasons.
- The indirect economic multiplier from every $1 spent by film in Atlanta is $2.85, leading to $13.1 billion total impact statewide in 2022.
- Atlanta's real estate market saw a 22% increase in commercial leases for production-related spaces from 2020-2023 due to film demand.
- Sales tax collections from film equipment rentals in Fulton County rose 35% year-over-year in 2022, totaling $45 million.
- Venture capital investments in Atlanta's post-production firms reached $150 million in 2023, fueled by film industry growth.
- Tourism tied to film locations generated $320 million in visitor spending in Atlanta in 2022, per CVB data.
- Atlanta hosted 512 permitted film shoots in 2022, generating $28 million in permit fees and overtime costs.
- Local catering services for Atlanta productions earned $67 million in 2023, supporting 450 full-time equivalent jobs.
- Construction spending on film stages in Atlanta totaled $450 million from 2019-2023.
- Atlanta's film industry saved productions $800 million annually via Georgia's 30% transferable tax credit as of 2023.
- Export of Atlanta VFX services to Hollywood reached $210 million in 2022.
- Property tax revenue from film studios in metro Atlanta increased 18% to $52 million in 2023.
- Atlanta's film-related tech startups raised $95 million in Series A funding in 2023.
- Grocery and supply chain vendors near Atlanta studios reported 28% sales uplift from crew spending in 2022.
- Insurance premiums for Atlanta film productions grew to $120 million annually by 2023.
- Atlanta's film industry drove a 15% rise in luxury car rentals, valued at $35 million in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Hollywood may have the stars, but Atlanta’s got the spreadsheet, proving that being the backlot of America is a masterclass in turning tax credits into tangible economic alchemy.
Employment Statistics
- Atlanta's film industry employed 28,000 crew members in 2023, a 10% increase from 2020.
- Over 5,200 above-the-line jobs (directors, producers) were filled in Atlanta productions in 2022.
- Background actors in Atlanta numbered 15,000 registered with casting agencies in 2023.
- VFX artists employed in Atlanta reached 2,800 full-time in 2023.
- Grip and electricians: 4,500 active in metro Atlanta film scene per 2022 IATSE local data.
- Post-production editors in Atlanta: 1,200 freelancers averaging $95k salary in 2023.
- Costume designers and wardrobe staff: 950 employed on Atlanta shoots in 2022.
- Location managers certified in Atlanta: 320, handling 85% of major productions.
- Stunt performers registered in Georgia Film Martindale: 650 in 2023.
- Production accountants in Atlanta firms: 420, billing $180 million in fees 2022.
- Make-up and hair artists: 1,100 licensed for film in Atlanta 2023.
- Transportation coordinators: 280 leading fleets for Atlanta productions.
- Script supervisors: 210 active on Atlanta sets in 2022.
- Sound mixers and boom operators: 750 in IATSE Local 479 Atlanta chapter 2023.
- Prop masters and set dressers: 1,400 employed across Atlanta studios 2022.
- Camera department staff (DPs, operators): 2,100 in metro Atlanta 2023.
- Casting directors with Atlanta offices: 85 agencies employing 450 staff in 2023.
- Diversity in Atlanta film workforce: 42% BIPOC crew in 2023 productions.
- Atlanta added 3,500 new film jobs post-COVID, reaching 28k total by 2023.
- Tyler Perry Studios employs 500 permanent staff in Atlanta as of 2023.
- Trilith Studios supports 2,000 indirect jobs in Fayette County 2023.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Atlanta's film industry is a glittering behemoth, proving that while 15,000 people can convincingly pretend to be invisible in a scene, the 28,000 crew members making it happen are, in fact, an economic force you can't ignore.
Infrastructure Development
- Trilith Studios expanded to 26 soundstages by 2024, making it the largest in North America at 1 million sq ft.
- Tyler Perry Studios features 12 soundstages, a backlot, and 330 acres in Atlanta.
- Atlanta has 48 operational soundstages across metro area as of 2023.
- Pinewood Atlanta (now Trilith) added 7 new stages in 2022, totaling 23.
- Assembly Atlanta studio complex offers 18 soundstages and 1.5M sq ft.
- Georgia Film Academy trained 1,200 students at 10 studio sites in 2023.
- Atlanta's first drive-in soundstage opened in 2021 with 40,000 sq ft.
- Over 500 miles of fiber optic cables installed for Atlanta studio connectivity by 2023.
- Backlot developments in metro Atlanta cover 1,200 acres for exteriors.
- Atlanta International Airport expanded cargo for film equipment handling 20% more in 2023.
- 12 dedicated film equipment rental houses operate in Atlanta with $500M inventory.
- Virtual production LED walls installed in 8 Atlanta stages by 2024.
- Atlanta's water tank facilities for aquatic shoots: 3 operational, holding 1M gallons.
- Green screen cyclorama walls: 25 available across Atlanta facilities 2023.
- Power grid upgrades for Atlanta studios provide 50MW dedicated capacity.
- Atlanta's prop warehouses total 2.5M sq ft storage space.
- Costume rental facilities in Atlanta house 1M+ garments for period pieces.
- Drone flight zones approved for 15 Atlanta locations for aerial shoots.
- Atlanta film commission manages 200+ pre-approved location scouts annually.
- High-speed rail proposals link Atlanta studios to airport in under 20 min.
Infrastructure Development Interpretation
Atlanta's film industry isn't just playing a supporting role anymore; with a staggering expansion of infrastructure from soundstages and backlots to a vast network of specialized support services, it has firmly positioned itself as the leading man in North American production.
Production Volume
- In 2023, Georgia approved 428 film and TV projects, with Atlanta hosting 362 or 84.6% of them.
- Atlanta saw 1,247 production days in 2022, up 12% from 2021, per Georgia Film Office data.
- 73 feature films were shot entirely or partially in Atlanta in 2023.
- Streaming series productions in Atlanta totaled 45 in 2022, accounting for 60% of national streaming shoots.
- Atlanta's commercial production volume reached 2,100 shoots in 2023, generating $150 million.
- 112 scripted TV episodes were filmed in Atlanta in 2023, including major network shows.
- Indie films permitted in Atlanta rose 25% to 156 in 2022.
- Atlanta hosted 28 reality TV seasons in 2023, up from 22 in 2021.
- Music video productions in Atlanta numbered 340 in 2023, featuring top artists.
- 67 video game cinematics were shot in Atlanta studios in 2022.
- Atlanta's film permits for exteriors hit 890 in 2023, interiors 420.
- 15 Marvel Cinematic Universe projects utilized Atlanta locations from 2017-2023.
- Atlanta produced 210 hours of primetime TV content in 2022.
- Short-form content creators in Atlanta generated 5,200 projects in 2023.
- 42 documentaries were filmed in Atlanta in 2023.
- Animation pilots from Atlanta studios: 18 in 2022.
Production Volume Interpretation
Atlanta has so firmly entrenched itself as Hollywood's backlot that its peach trees might start demanding union scale and their own trailers.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GEORGIAgeorgia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2OLSONSFILMolsonsfilm.comVisit source
- Reference 3ATLANTAFILMOFFICEatlantafilmoffice.comVisit source
- Reference 4AJCajc.comVisit source
- Reference 5HOSPITALITYhospitality.georgia.orgVisit source
- Reference 6IMPLANimplan.comVisit source
- Reference 7CBREcbre.comVisit source
- Reference 8FULTONCOUNTYGAfultoncountyga.govVisit source
- Reference 9F6Sf6s.comVisit source
- Reference 10ATLANTAGAatlantaga.govVisit source
- Reference 11GEORGIARFMgeorgiarfm.orgVisit source
- Reference 12CONSTRUCTCONNECTconstructconnect.comVisit source
- Reference 13MECUMmecum.comVisit source
- Reference 14EXPORTexport.govVisit source
- Reference 15DEKALBCOUNTYGAdekalbcountyga.govVisit source
- Reference 16TECHCRUNCHtechcrunch.comVisit source
- Reference 17PUBLIXCORPORATEpublixcorporate.comVisit source
- Reference 18INSUREONinsureon.comVisit source
- Reference 19ENTERPRISEenterprise.comVisit source
- Reference 20GEORGIAFILMTVgeorgiafilmtv.comVisit source
- Reference 21VARIETYvariety.comVisit source
- Reference 22HOLLYWOODREPORTERhollywoodreporter.comVisit source
- Reference 23SHOOTONLINEshootonline.comVisit source
- Reference 24DEADLINEdeadline.comVisit source
- Reference 25INDIEWIREindiewire.comVisit source
- Reference 26REALITYBLURREDrealityblurred.comVisit source
- Reference 27BILLBOARDbillboard.comVisit source
- Reference 28GAMESINDUSTRYgamesindustry.bizVisit source
- Reference 29MARVELmarvel.comVisit source
- Reference 30NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 31TIKTOKtiktok.comVisit source
- Reference 32DOCUMENTARYdocumentary.orgVisit source
- Reference 33ANIMATIONMAGAZINEanimationmagazine.netVisit source
- Reference 34CENTRALCASTINGcentralcasting.comVisit source
- Reference 35VFXVOICEvfxvoice.comVisit source
- Reference 36IATSEiatse.local479.orgVisit source
- Reference 37POSTMAGAZINEpostmagazine.comVisit source
- Reference 38COSTUMEALLIANCEATLcostumeallianceatl.orgVisit source
- Reference 39ATLANTALOCATIONGUIDEatlantalocationguide.comVisit source
- Reference 40STUNTSCOALITIONstuntscoalition.orgVisit source
- Reference 41MPAmpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 42ATLANTAMAKEUPARTISTSGUILDatlantamakeupartistsguild.comVisit source
- Reference 43TEAMSTERSLOCAL728teamsterslocal728.orgVisit source
- Reference 44SCRIPTSUPERVISORSNETWORKscriptsupervisorsnetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 45IATSE479iatse479.orgVisit source
- Reference 46PROPSMASTERSGUILDATLpropsmastersguildatl.comVisit source
- Reference 47LOCAL600IATSElocal600iatse.orgVisit source
- Reference 48CASTINGATLANTAcastingatlanta.comVisit source
- Reference 49GEORGIAFILMDIVERSITYgeorgiafilmdiversity.orgVisit source
- Reference 50TYLERPERRYSTUDIOStylerperrystudios.comVisit source
- Reference 51TRILITHSTUDIOStrilithstudios.comVisit source
- Reference 52ASSEMBLYATLassemblyatl.comVisit source
- Reference 53GEORGIAFILMACADEMYgeorgiafilmacademy.eduVisit source
- Reference 54ATLANTAFIBERatlantafiber.comVisit source
- Reference 55LOCATIONSATLANTAlocationsatlanta.comVisit source
- Reference 56ATLatl.comVisit source
- Reference 57GEARHOUSEgearhouse.comVisit source
- Reference 58POSTPERSPECTIVEpostperspective.comVisit source
- Reference 59AQUATICSATLaquaticsatl.comVisit source
- Reference 60VFXFACILITIESATLvfxfacilitiesatl.orgVisit source
- Reference 61GEORGI(POWERgeorgi(power.comVisit source
- Reference 62PROPLIBRARYATLproplibraryatl.comVisit source
- Reference 63COSTUMERENTALSATLcostumerentalsatl.comVisit source
- Reference 64FAAfaa.govVisit source
- Reference 65MARTAGOVmartagov.comVisit source
- Reference 66BOXOFFICEMOJOboxofficemojo.comVisit source
- Reference 67EMMYSemmys.comVisit source
- Reference 68NAACPnaacp.orgVisit source
- Reference 69TYLERPERRYtylerperry.comVisit source
- Reference 70GOLDDERBYgoldderby.comVisit source
- Reference 71THE-NUMBERSthe-numbers.comVisit source
- Reference 72WALKINGDEADTOURSwalkingdeadtours.comVisit source
- Reference 73OSCARSoscars.orgVisit source
- Reference 74PEABODYAWARDSpeabodyawards.comVisit source
- Reference 75NETFLIXnetflix.comVisit source
- Reference 76GOLDENGLOBESgoldenglobes.comVisit source
- Reference 77SAGAWARDSsagawards.orgVisit source
- Reference 78SCADscad.eduVisit source
- Reference 79ATLANTAFILMFESTIVALatlantafilmfestival.comVisit source