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
1NYC won 45 Oscars for films shot there since 2000.
Verified2Tribeca Film Festival screened 600 films from NYC in 2022.
Verified3NYC films took 12 Emmys for Best Drama in last decade.
Verified4Independent Spirit Awards to NYC indies: 20 since 2015.
Directional5Gotham Awards recognized 50 NYC features in 2022.
Single source6Sundance premieres of NYC-shot films: 15 in 2023.
Verified7Cannes Palme d'Or winners filmed in NYC: 3 historically.
Verified8Golden Globe wins for NYC TV series: 25 in 10 years.
Verified9BAFTA nominations for NYC productions: 40 in 2022 cycle.
Directional10Critics Choice Awards to NYC films: 18 in recent years.
Single source11NYC Film Critics Circle honored 30 local films in 2022.
Verified12Peabody Awards to NYC TV: 50 since 2010.
Verified13Tony Awards crossovers to film from NYC theater: 10 adaptations.
Verified14Venice Film Festival NYC premieres: 8 in 2022.
Directional15Berlin Film Fest NYC selections: 12 in recent years.
Single source16Toronto TIFF NYC spotlights: 25 films in 2022.
Verified17NYC Webby Awards for digital series: 40 wins.
Verified18Clio Awards for NYC commercials: 100 annually avg.
Verified19DGA Awards to NYC directors: 15 in 2022.
Directional20SAG Awards for NYC ensembles: 20 over decade.
Single source21WGA Awards NYC scripts: 25 wins recent.
Verified22ASC Awards cinematography NYC: 10 since 2015.
Verified23ADG Awards production design NYC: 12 noms 2022.
Verified24Makeup Artists & Hairstylists Guild NYC wins: 8.
Directional25Costume Designers Guild NYC: 15 awards decade.
Single source26MTV Movie Awards NYC films: 30 noms.
Verified27People's Choice Awards NYC: 22 wins.
Verified28NAACP Image Awards NYC: 18 for series.
VerifiedAwards 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
1In 2022, the NYC film and television industry direct spending reached $3.3 billion, supporting local businesses and crews.
Verified2The NYC film sector contributed $9.5 billion to the city's GDP in 2022 including indirect and induced effects.
Verified3Film and TV production in NYC generated $1.2 billion in wages for New Yorkers in 2022.
Verified4NYC's screen production tax credit program returned $700 million to productions in 2022.
Directional5The multiplier effect of NYC film spending was 2.8 times, turning $1 billion direct spend into $2.8 billion total impact in 2021.
Single source6Commercial production in NYC spent $450 million in 2022, boosting local vendors.
Verified7NYC film industry tourism from productions added $150 million to hotel and restaurant revenues in 2022.
Verified8Post-production spending in NYC totaled $800 million in 2022.
Verified9NYC's film incentives program has returned $3 billion to productions since 2004.
Directional10In 2023 Q1, NYC film spending hit $950 million, up 15% YoY.
Single source11NYC film exports services worth $200 million annually to global markets.
Verified12Local hiring mandates saved productions $100 million in out-of-state costs in 2022.
Verified13NYC film industry's property taxes contribution was $50 million in 2022.
Verified14Vendor spending by NYC productions reached $1.5 billion in 2022.
Directional15Economic impact per film permit in NYC averaged $2.5 million in 2022.
Single source16NYC film sector supported 15% growth in creative economy GDP share in 2022.
Verified17Hotel bookings from scouting and shoots added $80 million to NYC economy in 2022.
Verified18NYC's film production saved $500 million in location fees vs. international alternatives in 2022.
Verified19Tax revenue from NYC film payroll taxes was $120 million in 2022.
Directional20NYC film industry's indirect job multiplier was 1.5 in 2022 economic study.
Single source21In 2021, NYC TV series production spent $2.1 billion directly.
Verified22Feature film spending in NYC was $900 million in 2022.
Verified23NYC MOW (movies of the week) production economic input $150 million in 2022.
Verified24Reality TV shoots contributed $300 million to NYC economy in 2022.
Directional25Student film permits generated $20 million local spend in 2022.
Single source26NYC film festival economic impact was $250 million in 2022.
Verified27Post-COVID recovery saw NYC film spend rebound 25% to $3.3B in 2022.
Verified28NYC film labor unions received $400 million in wages via productions in 2022.
Verified29Equipment rental firms in NYC earned $350 million from film in 2022.
Directional30Catering and craft services for NYC shoots totaled $120 million spend in 2022.
Single sourceEconomic 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
1In 2022, NYC film industry employed over 62,000 New Yorkers directly and indirectly.
Verified2IATSE Local 1 in NYC has 4,500 members working on film sets.
Verified3NYC film production supported 30,000 union jobs in 2022.
Verified4Average annual wage for NYC film crew was $85,000 in 2022.
Directional515,000 freelancers in NYC post-production sector in 2022.
Single source6NYC's made-in-NYC workforce grew 10% to 25,000 in 2022.
Verified7Women comprise 28% of NYC film directors in 2022 surveys.
Verified8BIPOC representation in NYC film crews reached 35% in 2022.
Verified9NYC film training programs graduated 2,500 workers in 2022.
Directional10Local Hire program filled 85% of crew positions with NYC residents in 2022.
Single source115,000 above-the-line jobs in NYC film/TV in 2022.
Verified12NYC VFX artists numbered 8,000 employed in 2022.
Verified13Film editors in NYC: 3,200 full-time equivalents in 2022.
Verified14Production assistants in NYC: 4,000 entry-level jobs in 2022.
Directional15NYC sound mixers and boom ops: 1,200 employed in 2022.
Single source16Costume and wardrobe staff in NYC film: 1,500 in 2022.
Verified17NYC location managers: 800 registered and active in 2022.
Verified18Script supervisors in NYC: 600 working on productions in 2022.
Verified19NYC stunt coordinators: 400 certified for film in 2022.
Directional20Animal wranglers in NYC film: 150 full-time in 2022.
Single source21Drone operators certified for NYC film shoots: 500 in 2022.
Verified22NYC film accountants: 350 handling production books in 2022.
Verified23Transportation coordinators in NYC film: 900 in 2022.
Verified24Hair and makeup artists: 2,000 employed in NYC film 2022.
Directional25Set designers and art dept: 3,500 in NYC 2022.
Single source26Camera dept (DPs, ops): 2,200 in NYC film 2022.
Verified27Gaffers and lighting techs: 1,800 NYC-based in 2022.
Verified28Prop masters and set dressers: 1,400 in NYC 2022.
VerifiedEmployment 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
1NYC has 25 major soundstages totaling 1.2 million sq ft.
Verified2Steiner Studios in Brooklyn offers 30 soundstages.
Verified3Kaufman Astoria Studios: 7 stages, 576,000 sq ft in Queens.
Verified4Silvercup Studios East/West: 10 stages in Queens.
Directional5Broadway Stages: 18 warehouse stages in Brooklyn.
Single source6The Lot at Gowanus: 4 new stages opened 2022 in Brooklyn.
Verified7NYC post-production houses: 150 facilities.
Verified8VFX studios in NYC: 40 companies employing 5,000.
Verified9NYC film equipment rental houses: 75 major vendors.
Directional10Prop houses in NYC: 20 warehouses stocking 1M+ items.
Single source11Costume rental facilities: 15 in NYC metro area.
Verified12NYC film commission offices in 5 boroughs.
Verified1350+ parking lots dedicated to production trucks in NYC.
Verified14High-speed fiber optic for shoots: 90% coverage in Manhattan.
Directional15NYC green screen studios: 12 facilities.
Single source16Underwater tanks for filming: 3 in NYC area.
Verified17Helicopter pads approved for aerials: 20 sites in NYC.
Verified18Subway access for filming: 50 stations permitted.
Verified19Central Park film zones: 10 designated areas.
Directional20Brooklyn Navy Yard stages: 300,000 sq ft new build.
Single source21Harlem Stageworks: 3 stages for indie productions.
Verified22Industry City Brooklyn: 500,000 sq ft adaptable space.
Verified23Pier 17 rooftop stage for music/performance capture.
Verified24NYC film training centers: 10 major academies.
Directional25Digital lab facilities for dailies: 8 in NYC.
Single source26NYC warehouses converted to stages: 40 since 2010.
Verified27Mobile stage trucks: 15 available for rent in NYC.
VerifiedInfrastructure 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
1In 2022, NYC issued 12,500 film permits for productions.
Verified2NYC hosted 250 days of TV series shooting in 2022.
Verified3Feature films shot entirely in NYC: 45 in 2022.
Verified4Commercial shoots in NYC: 3,200 permitted in 2022.
Directional5NYC street closures for film: 1,800 instances in 2022.
Single source6TV episodes filmed in NYC: 1,200 in 2022.
Verified7Reality TV production days in NYC: 450 in 2022.
Verified8Student and indie film permits: 2,500 in NYC 2022.
Verified9Post-production projects completed in NYC: 1,800 in 2022.
Directional10VFX shots created in NYC facilities: 150,000 for major films in 2022.
Single source11NYC soundstages utilized: 85% occupancy rate in 2022.
Verified12Pilots shot in NYC: 25 in 2022.
Verified13Music videos produced in NYC: 1,200 permitted in 2022.
Verified14Fashion shoots for film promo: 800 in NYC 2022.
Directional15NYC as second unit location for 100 Hollywood features in 2022.
Single source16Digital content creators filming in NYC streets: 5,000 permits in 2022.
Verified17Late-night shows tapings in NYC: 520 episodes in 2022.
Verified18Theater-to-film adaptations shot in NYC: 15 in 2022.
Verified19Drone-aerial shoots permitted in NYC: 400 in 2022.
Directional20Underwater filming permits in NYC pools: 50 in 2022.
Single source21Car chase scenes filmed on NYC streets: 120 sequences in 2022.
Verified22Period drama location shoots: 200 days in NYC 2022.
Verified23NYC rooftops used for shoots: 650 permits in 2022.
Verified24Subway filming days: 180 permitted in NYC 2022.
Directional25Park shoots in Central Park: 900 days in 2022.
Single source26Brooklyn as top borough for shoots: 35% of total permits in 2022.
Verified27Manhattan film days: 4,500 in 2022.
VerifiedProduction 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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