In 2022 alone, New York’s film and television industry backed by $3.3 billion in direct spending and generated $9.5 billion for the city’s GDP, with productions also supporting $1.2 billion in wages. Yet the calendar picture is just as telling as the money, from 12,500 film permits and 250 days of TV series shooting to 45 features filmed entirely in NYC. Let’s look at how Oscars, festivals, awards, and infrastructure staffing stack up against that on the ground production pace.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
New York’s film and TV boom in 2022 drove billions in spending, thousands of jobs, and major awards.
Related reading
01 · Category
Awards And Recognition28 stats
01
NYC won 45 Oscars for films shot there since 2000.
02
Tribeca Film Festival screened 600 films from NYC in 2022.
03
NYC films took 12 Emmys for Best Drama in last decade.
04
Independent Spirit Awards to NYC indies: 20 since 2015.
05
Gotham Awards recognized 50 NYC features in 2022.
06
Sundance premieres of NYC-shot films: 15 in 2023.
07
Cannes Palme d'Or winners filmed in NYC: 3 historically.
08
Golden Globe wins for NYC TV series: 25 in 10 years.
09
BAFTA nominations for NYC productions: 40 in 2022 cycle.
10
Critics Choice Awards to NYC films: 18 in recent years.
11
NYC Film Critics Circle honored 30 local films in 2022.
12
Peabody Awards to NYC TV: 50 since 2010.
13
Tony Awards crossovers to film from NYC theater: 10 adaptations.
14
Venice Film Festival NYC premieres: 8 in 2022.
15
Berlin Film Fest NYC selections: 12 in recent years.
16
Toronto TIFF NYC spotlights: 25 films in 2022.
17
NYC Webby Awards for digital series: 40 wins.
18
Clio Awards for NYC commercials: 100 annually avg.
19
DGA Awards to NYC directors: 15 in 2022.
20
SAG Awards for NYC ensembles: 20 over decade.
21
WGA Awards NYC scripts: 25 wins recent.
22
ASC Awards cinematography NYC: 10 since 2015.
23
ADG Awards production design NYC: 12 noms 2022.
24
Makeup Artists & Hairstylists Guild NYC wins: 8.
25
Costume Designers Guild NYC: 15 awards decade.
26
MTV Movie Awards NYC films: 30 noms.
27
People's Choice Awards NYC: 22 wins.
28
NAACP Image Awards NYC: 18 for series.
Interpretation
Awards And Recognition Interpretation
Since 2000, New York has won 45 Oscars for films shot there and in the last decade its TV and indie work has also been heavily honored with 12 Emmys for Best Drama and 20 Independent Spirit Awards since 2015, showing a sustained awards presence across major film and television categories.
02 · Category
Economic Impact30 stats
01
In 2022, the NYC film and television industry direct spending reached $3.3 billion, supporting local businesses and crews.
02
The NYC film sector contributed $9.5 billion to the city's GDP in 2022 including indirect and induced effects.
03
Film and TV production in NYC generated $1.2 billion in wages for New Yorkers in 2022.
04
NYC's screen production tax credit program returned $700 million to productions in 2022.
05
The multiplier effect of NYC film spending was 2.8 times, turning $1 billion direct spend into $2.8 billion total impact in 2021.
06
Commercial production in NYC spent $450 million in 2022, boosting local vendors.
07
NYC film industry tourism from productions added $150 million to hotel and restaurant revenues in 2022.
08
Post-production spending in NYC totaled $800 million in 2022.
09
NYC's film incentives program has returned $3 billion to productions since 2004.
10
In 2023 Q1, NYC film spending hit $950 million, up 15% YoY.
11
NYC film exports services worth $200 million annually to global markets.
12
Local hiring mandates saved productions $100 million in out-of-state costs in 2022.
13
NYC film industry's property taxes contribution was $50 million in 2022.
14
Vendor spending by NYC productions reached $1.5 billion in 2022.
15
Economic impact per film permit in NYC averaged $2.5 million in 2022.
16
NYC film sector supported 15% growth in creative economy GDP share in 2022.
17
Hotel bookings from scouting and shoots added $80 million to NYC economy in 2022.
18
NYC's film production saved $500 million in location fees vs. international alternatives in 2022.
19
Tax revenue from NYC film payroll taxes was $120 million in 2022.
20
NYC film industry's indirect job multiplier was 1.5 in 2022 economic study.
21
In 2021, NYC TV series production spent $2.1 billion directly.
22
Feature film spending in NYC was $900 million in 2022.
23
NYC MOW (movies of the week) production economic input $150 million in 2022.
24
Reality TV shoots contributed $300 million to NYC economy in 2022.
25
Student film permits generated $20 million local spend in 2022.
26
NYC film festival economic impact was $250 million in 2022.
27
Post-COVID recovery saw NYC film spend rebound 25% to $3.3B in 2022.
28
NYC film labor unions received $400 million in wages via productions in 2022.
29
Equipment rental firms in NYC earned $350 million from film in 2022.
30
Catering and craft services for NYC shoots totaled $120 million spend in 2022.
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic impact in New York City is growing and broad, since 2022 direct film and television spending of $3.3 billion translated into $9.5 billion of GDP contribution and generated $1.2 billion in New Yorker wages, while tax credits returned $700 million to productions and the 2.8 times multiplier effect shows how each dollar of spending ripples through the local economy.
03 · Category
Employment Statistics28 stats
01
In 2022, NYC film industry employed over 62,000 New Yorkers directly and indirectly.
02
IATSE Local 1 in NYC has 4,500 members working on film sets.
03
NYC film production supported 30,000 union jobs in 2022.
04
Average annual wage for NYC film crew was $85,000in 2022.
05
15,000 freelancers in NYC post-production sector in 2022.
06
NYC's made-in-NYC workforce grew 10% to 25,000 in 2022.
07
Women comprise 28% of NYC film directors in 2022 surveys.
08
BIPOC representation in NYC film crews reached 35% in 2022.
09
NYC film training programs graduated 2,500 workers in 2022.
10
Local Hire program filled 85% of crew positions with NYC residents in 2022.
11
5,000 above-the-line jobs in NYC film/TV in 2022.
12
NYC VFX artists numbered 8,000 employed in 2022.
13
Film editors in NYC: 3,200 full-time equivalents in 2022.
14
Production assistants in NYC: 4,000 entry-level jobs in 2022.
15
NYC sound mixers and boom ops: 1,200 employed in 2022.
16
Costume and wardrobe staff in NYC film: 1,500 in 2022.
17
NYC location managers: 800 registered and active in 2022.
18
Script supervisors in NYC: 600 working on productions in 2022.
19
NYC stunt coordinators: 400 certified for film in 2022.
20
Animal wranglers in NYC film: 150 full-time in 2022.
21
Drone operators certified for NYC film shoots: 500 in 2022.
22
NYC film accountants: 350 handling production books in 2022.
23
Transportation coordinators in NYC film: 900 in 2022.
24
Hair and makeup artists: 2,000 employed in NYC film 2022.
25
Set designers and art dept: 3,500 in NYC 2022.
26
Camera dept (DPs, ops): 2,200 in NYC film 2022.
27
Gaffers and lighting techs: 1,800 NYC-based in 2022.
28
Prop masters and set dressers: 1,400 in NYC 2022.
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
In 2022, NYC’s film industry sustained a large employment footprint, including over 62,000 New Yorkers directly and indirectly and 30,000 union jobs, while wages averaged $85,000 and the made-in-NYC workforce grew 10% to 25,000.
More related reading
04 · Category
Infrastructure27 stats
01
NYC has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft.
02
Steiner Studios in Brooklyn offers 30 soundstages.
03
Kaufman Astoria Studios: 7 stages, 576,000 sq ft in Queens.
04
Silvercup Studios East/West: 10 stages in Queens.
05
Broadway Stages: 18 warehouse stages in Brooklyn.
06
The Lot at Gowanus: 4 new stages opened 2022 in Brooklyn.
07
NYC post-production houses: 150 facilities.
08
VFX studios in NYC: 40 companies employing 5,000.
09
NYC film equipment rental houses: 75 major vendors.
10
Prop houses in NYC: 20 warehouses stocking 1M+ items.
11
Costume rental facilities: 15 in NYC metro area.
12
NYC film commission offices in 5 boroughs.
13
50+ parking lots dedicated to production trucks in NYC.
14
High-speed fiber optic for shoots: 90% coverage in Manhattan.
15
NYC green screen studios: 12 facilities.
16
Underwater tanks for filming: 3 in NYC area.
17
Helicopter pads approved for aerials: 20 sites in NYC.
18
Subway access for filming: 50 stations permitted.
19
Central Park film zones: 10 designated areas.
20
Brooklyn Navy Yard stages: 300,000 sq ft new build.
21
Harlem Stageworks: 3 stages for indie productions.
22
Industry City Brooklyn: 500,000 sq ft adaptable space.
23
Pier 17 rooftop stage for music/performance capture.
24
NYC film training centers: 10 major academies.
25
Digital lab facilities for dailies: 8 in NYC.
26
NYC warehouses converted to stages: 40 since 2010.
27
Mobile stage trucks: 15 available for rent in NYC.
Interpretation
Infrastructure Interpretation
Nyc’s film infrastructure is scaling with major facilities totaling 1.2 million square feet across 25 soundstages, and with Brooklyn and Queens adding more capacity through multiple large operators like Steiner’s 30 stages and the 4 new stages at The Lot at Gowanus opening in 2022.
05 · Category
Production Statistics27 stats
01
In 2022, NYC issued 12,500 film permits for productions.
02
NYC hosted 250 days of TV series shooting in 2022.
03
Feature films shot entirely in NYC: 45 in 2022.
04
Commercial shoots in NYC: 3,200 permitted in 2022.
05
NYC street closures for film: 1,800 instances in 2022.
06
TV episodes filmed in NYC: 1,200 in 2022.
07
Reality TV production days in NYC: 450 in 2022.
08
Student and indie film permits: 2,500 in NYC 2022.
09
Post-production projects completed in NYC: 1,800 in 2022.
10
VFX shots created in NYC facilities: 150,000 for major films in 2022.
11
NYC soundstages utilized: 85% occupancy rate in 2022.
12
Pilots shot in NYC: 25 in 2022.
13
Music videos produced in NYC: 1,200 permitted in 2022.
14
Fashion shoots for film promo: 800 in NYC 2022.
15
NYC as second unit location for 100 Hollywood features in 2022.
16
Digital content creators filming in NYC streets: 5,000 permits in 2022.
17
Late-night shows tapings in NYC: 520 episodes in 2022.
18
Theater-to-film adaptations shot in NYC: 15 in 2022.
19
Drone-aerial shoots permitted in NYC: 400 in 2022.
20
Underwater filming permits in NYC pools: 50 in 2022.
21
Car chase scenes filmed on NYC streets: 120 sequences in 2022.
22
Period drama location shoots: 200 days in NYC 2022.
23
NYC rooftops used for shoots: 650 permits in 2022.
24
Subway filming days: 180 permitted in NYC 2022.
25
Park shoots in Central Park: 900 days in 2022.
26
Brooklyn as top borough for shoots: 35% of total permits in 2022.
27
Manhattan film days: 4,500 in 2022.
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Production activity in New York City stayed especially steady in 2022, with 12,500 film permits issued and a strong mix of 250 days of TV shooting and 1,200 TV episodes, pointing to sustained demand for filming across multiple formats.
report visual · Comparison
NYC film & TV impact: spending vs. economic output (2022)
In 2022, NYC’s film and TV direct spending generated large economic returns for the city.
The NYC film sector contributed $9.5 billion to the city's GDP in 2022 including indirect and induced effects.$9.5 billion
In 2022, the NYC film and television industry direct spending reached $3.3 billion, supporting local businesses and crew
$3.3 billion
NYC won 45 Oscars for films shot there since 2000.
45
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Nyc Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nyc-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Nyc Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nyc-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Nyc Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nyc-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
54 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level