While New Yorkers might see the occasional traffic delay from a film shoot, the real story unfolding behind the barricades is a multi-billion dollar economic engine, as evidenced by the staggering $3.3 billion in direct spending and $9.5 billion contribution to the city's GDP that the NYC film and television industry generated in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the NYC film and television industry direct spending reached $3.3 billion, supporting local businesses and crews.
- The NYC film sector contributed $9.5 billion to the city's GDP in 2022 including indirect and induced effects.
- Film and TV production in NYC generated $1.2 billion in wages for New Yorkers in 2022.
- In 2022, NYC film industry employed over 62,000 New Yorkers directly and indirectly.
- IATSE Local 1 in NYC has 4,500 members working on film sets.
- NYC film production supported 30,000 union jobs in 2022.
- In 2022, NYC issued 12,500 film permits for productions.
- NYC hosted 250 days of TV series shooting in 2022.
- Feature films shot entirely in NYC: 45 in 2022.
- NYC has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft.
- Steiner Studios in Brooklyn offers 30 soundstages.
- Kaufman Astoria Studios: 7 stages, 576,000 sq ft in Queens.
- NYC won 45 Oscars for films shot there since 2000.
- Tribeca Film Festival screened 600 films from NYC in 2022.
- NYC films took 12 Emmys for Best Drama in last decade.
New York City's film industry generated a massive $9.5 billion economic impact last year.
Awards and Recognition
- NYC won 45 Oscars for films shot there since 2000.
- Tribeca Film Festival screened 600 films from NYC in 2022.
- NYC films took 12 Emmys for Best Drama in last decade.
- Independent Spirit Awards to NYC indies: 20 since 2015.
- Gotham Awards recognized 50 NYC features in 2022.
- Sundance premieres of NYC-shot films: 15 in 2023.
- Cannes Palme d'Or winners filmed in NYC: 3 historically.
- Golden Globe wins for NYC TV series: 25 in 10 years.
- BAFTA nominations for NYC productions: 40 in 2022 cycle.
- Critics Choice Awards to NYC films: 18 in recent years.
- NYC Film Critics Circle honored 30 local films in 2022.
- Peabody Awards to NYC TV: 50 since 2010.
- Tony Awards crossovers to film from NYC theater: 10 adaptations.
- Venice Film Festival NYC premieres: 8 in 2022.
- Berlin Film Fest NYC selections: 12 in recent years.
- Toronto TIFF NYC spotlights: 25 films in 2022.
- NYC Webby Awards for digital series: 40 wins.
- Clio Awards for NYC commercials: 100 annually avg.
- DGA Awards to NYC directors: 15 in 2022.
- SAG Awards for NYC ensembles: 20 over decade.
- WGA Awards NYC scripts: 25 wins recent.
- ASC Awards cinematography NYC: 10 since 2015.
- ADG Awards production design NYC: 12 noms 2022.
- Makeup Artists & Hairstylists Guild NYC wins: 8.
- Costume Designers Guild NYC: 15 awards decade.
- MTV Movie Awards NYC films: 30 noms.
- People's Choice Awards NYC: 22 wins.
- NAACP Image Awards NYC: 18 for series.
Awards and Recognition Interpretation
Despite the glitz of its awards cabinet, New York City’s film industry is essentially a high-stakes, round-the-clock production where the most authentic performance is the collective panic to out-create itself year after year.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the NYC film and television industry direct spending reached $3.3 billion, supporting local businesses and crews.
- The NYC film sector contributed $9.5 billion to the city's GDP in 2022 including indirect and induced effects.
- Film and TV production in NYC generated $1.2 billion in wages for New Yorkers in 2022.
- NYC's screen production tax credit program returned $700 million to productions in 2022.
- The multiplier effect of NYC film spending was 2.8 times, turning $1 billion direct spend into $2.8 billion total impact in 2021.
- Commercial production in NYC spent $450 million in 2022, boosting local vendors.
- NYC film industry tourism from productions added $150 million to hotel and restaurant revenues in 2022.
- Post-production spending in NYC totaled $800 million in 2022.
- NYC's film incentives program has returned $3 billion to productions since 2004.
- In 2023 Q1, NYC film spending hit $950 million, up 15% YoY.
- NYC film exports services worth $200 million annually to global markets.
- Local hiring mandates saved productions $100 million in out-of-state costs in 2022.
- NYC film industry's property taxes contribution was $50 million in 2022.
- Vendor spending by NYC productions reached $1.5 billion in 2022.
- Economic impact per film permit in NYC averaged $2.5 million in 2022.
- NYC film sector supported 15% growth in creative economy GDP share in 2022.
- Hotel bookings from scouting and shoots added $80 million to NYC economy in 2022.
- NYC's film production saved $500 million in location fees vs. international alternatives in 2022.
- Tax revenue from NYC film payroll taxes was $120 million in 2022.
- NYC film industry's indirect job multiplier was 1.5 in 2022 economic study.
- In 2021, NYC TV series production spent $2.1 billion directly.
- Feature film spending in NYC was $900 million in 2022.
- NYC MOW (movies of the week) production economic input $150 million in 2022.
- Reality TV shoots contributed $300 million to NYC economy in 2022.
- Student film permits generated $20 million local spend in 2022.
- NYC film festival economic impact was $250 million in 2022.
- Post-COVID recovery saw NYC film spend rebound 25% to $3.3B in 2022.
- NYC film labor unions received $400 million in wages via productions in 2022.
- Equipment rental firms in NYC earned $350 million from film in 2022.
- Catering and craft services for NYC shoots totaled $120 million spend in 2022.
Economic Impact Interpretation
New York’s film industry is a blockbuster economic engine in its own right, generating billions not just for star-studded premieres but for the caterers, electricians, hoteliers, and countless other New Yorkers who power every scene behind the scenes.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, NYC film industry employed over 62,000 New Yorkers directly and indirectly.
- IATSE Local 1 in NYC has 4,500 members working on film sets.
- NYC film production supported 30,000 union jobs in 2022.
- Average annual wage for NYC film crew was $85,000 in 2022.
- 15,000 freelancers in NYC post-production sector in 2022.
- NYC's made-in-NYC workforce grew 10% to 25,000 in 2022.
- Women comprise 28% of NYC film directors in 2022 surveys.
- BIPOC representation in NYC film crews reached 35% in 2022.
- NYC film training programs graduated 2,500 workers in 2022.
- Local Hire program filled 85% of crew positions with NYC residents in 2022.
- 5,000 above-the-line jobs in NYC film/TV in 2022.
- NYC VFX artists numbered 8,000 employed in 2022.
- Film editors in NYC: 3,200 full-time equivalents in 2022.
- Production assistants in NYC: 4,000 entry-level jobs in 2022.
- NYC sound mixers and boom ops: 1,200 employed in 2022.
- Costume and wardrobe staff in NYC film: 1,500 in 2022.
- NYC location managers: 800 registered and active in 2022.
- Script supervisors in NYC: 600 working on productions in 2022.
- NYC stunt coordinators: 400 certified for film in 2022.
- Animal wranglers in NYC film: 150 full-time in 2022.
- Drone operators certified for NYC film shoots: 500 in 2022.
- NYC film accountants: 350 handling production books in 2022.
- Transportation coordinators in NYC film: 900 in 2022.
- Hair and makeup artists: 2,000 employed in NYC film 2022.
- Set designers and art dept: 3,500 in NYC 2022.
- Camera dept (DPs, ops): 2,200 in NYC film 2022.
- Gaffers and lighting techs: 1,800 NYC-based in 2022.
- Prop masters and set dressers: 1,400 in NYC 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
New York's film industry in 2022 was a sprawling, well-paid, and increasingly homegrown circus, employing tens of thousands—from 400 people who get paid to fall down to 350 who make sure everyone else gets paid for it.
Infrastructure
- NYC has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft.
- Steiner Studios in Brooklyn offers 30 soundstages.
- Kaufman Astoria Studios: 7 stages, 576,000 sq ft in Queens.
- Silvercup Studios East/West: 10 stages in Queens.
- Broadway Stages: 18 warehouse stages in Brooklyn.
- The Lot at Gowanus: 4 new stages opened 2022 in Brooklyn.
- NYC post-production houses: 150 facilities.
- VFX studios in NYC: 40 companies employing 5,000.
- NYC film equipment rental houses: 75 major vendors.
- Prop houses in NYC: 20 warehouses stocking 1M+ items.
- Costume rental facilities: 15 in NYC metro area.
- NYC film commission offices in 5 boroughs.
- 50+ parking lots dedicated to production trucks in NYC.
- High-speed fiber optic for shoots: 90% coverage in Manhattan.
- NYC green screen studios: 12 facilities.
- Underwater tanks for filming: 3 in NYC area.
- Helicopter pads approved for aerials: 20 sites in NYC.
- Subway access for filming: 50 stations permitted.
- Central Park film zones: 10 designated areas.
- Brooklyn Navy Yard stages: 300,000 sq ft new build.
- Harlem Stageworks: 3 stages for indie productions.
- Industry City Brooklyn: 500,000 sq ft adaptable space.
- Pier 17 rooftop stage for music/performance capture.
- NYC film training centers: 10 major academies.
- Digital lab facilities for dailies: 8 in NYC.
- NYC warehouses converted to stages: 40 since 2010.
- Mobile stage trucks: 15 available for rent in NYC.
Infrastructure Interpretation
If a film crew ever got lost in New York, they'd be swimming in options, as these stats reveal a city so thoroughly equipped for production that a director could spontaneously shoot a blockbuster underwater, on a subway, or from a helicopter—all before lunch, and still have 149 post-production houses to choose from for the edit.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, NYC issued 12,500 film permits for productions.
- NYC hosted 250 days of TV series shooting in 2022.
- Feature films shot entirely in NYC: 45 in 2022.
- Commercial shoots in NYC: 3,200 permitted in 2022.
- NYC street closures for film: 1,800 instances in 2022.
- TV episodes filmed in NYC: 1,200 in 2022.
- Reality TV production days in NYC: 450 in 2022.
- Student and indie film permits: 2,500 in NYC 2022.
- Post-production projects completed in NYC: 1,800 in 2022.
- VFX shots created in NYC facilities: 150,000 for major films in 2022.
- NYC soundstages utilized: 85% occupancy rate in 2022.
- Pilots shot in NYC: 25 in 2022.
- Music videos produced in NYC: 1,200 permitted in 2022.
- Fashion shoots for film promo: 800 in NYC 2022.
- NYC as second unit location for 100 Hollywood features in 2022.
- Digital content creators filming in NYC streets: 5,000 permits in 2022.
- Late-night shows tapings in NYC: 520 episodes in 2022.
- Theater-to-film adaptations shot in NYC: 15 in 2022.
- Drone-aerial shoots permitted in NYC: 400 in 2022.
- Underwater filming permits in NYC pools: 50 in 2022.
- Car chase scenes filmed on NYC streets: 120 sequences in 2022.
- Period drama location shoots: 200 days in NYC 2022.
- NYC rooftops used for shoots: 650 permits in 2022.
- Subway filming days: 180 permitted in NYC 2022.
- Park shoots in Central Park: 900 days in 2022.
- Brooklyn as top borough for shoots: 35% of total permits in 2022.
- Manhattan film days: 4,500 in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
While the city that never sleeps may occasionally need a street closure for a car chase, these numbers prove New York's real starring role is as the relentless, humming backlot where every frame of the modern visual era—from blockbuster VFX to your neighbor's TikTok—gets meticulously crafted.
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