Oklahoma’s film industry isn’t just rolling cameras—it’s rolling in billions of dollars, as evidenced by a staggering $1.2 billion in total economic impact for the state during FY2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In FY2022, Oklahoma's film, TV, and entertainment industry generated a total economic impact of $1.2 billion, including direct spending, indirect effects, and induced impacts
- The film industry contributed $512 million in direct in-state spending in FY2022, a 38% increase from $371 million in FY2021
- Oklahoma's audiovisual productions supported 12,400 jobs in FY2022, with total wages paid amounting to $487 million across all impact types
- In 2021, 142 productions qualified for incentives, spending $371 million directly
- FY2022 saw 178 qualified productions with $512 million in qualified spend
- 65 feature films were produced in Oklahoma in 2022
- FY2022 film industry employed 4,200 on-set workers across 178 projects
- Total jobs supported: 12,400 including indirect and induced in FY2022
- Average wage for below-the-line crew was $1,856 per week in 2022
- Oklahoma's 30-40% transferable tax credit rebate attracted 178 projects in FY2022
- $112 million in rebates issued to productions in FY2022
- Post-production rebate capped at 20% of spend, claimed by 15 projects
- "Tulsa King" Season 1 filmed 102 days in OK, starring Sylvester Stallone
- Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" spent $178M in OK over 7 months
- FX's "Reservation Dogs" Seasons 1-3 entirely shot in OK, created by Sterlin Harjo
Oklahoma's film industry is booming, creating billions for the state economy.
Economic Impact
- In FY2022, Oklahoma's film, TV, and entertainment industry generated a total economic impact of $1.2 billion, including direct spending, indirect effects, and induced impacts
- The film industry contributed $512 million in direct in-state spending in FY2022, a 38% increase from $371 million in FY2021
- Oklahoma's audiovisual productions supported 12,400 jobs in FY2022, with total wages paid amounting to $487 million across all impact types
- From July 2021 to June 2022, the industry generated $88.7 million in state tax revenue and $29.2 million in local tax revenue
- Hotel spending by film productions reached $47.6 million in FY2022, up 62% from the previous year
- Direct vendor payments to Oklahoma businesses totaled $178 million in FY2022, representing 35% of total direct spending
- The multiplier effect of film spending was 2.3 for output and 2.1 for earnings in the 2023 Economic Impact Report
- Film and TV productions spent $92 million on local workforce labor in FY2022
- In FY2023 Q1-Q2, direct spending reached $450 million, on pace for a record year
- The industry's ROI for state incentives was $5.84 per $1 invested in FY2022
- $210 million in direct spending on goods and services from local vendors in FY2022
- Induced spending by employee wages added $256 million to the economy in FY2022
- Film productions occupied 1.2 million hotel room nights in FY2022
- Total output impact from film was $1.18 billion in FY2022
- State GDP contribution from film industry stood at $678 million in FY2022
- $34 million in sales tax revenue from film-related purchases in FY2022
- Indirect economic effects totaled $370 million in FY2022
- Film spending boosted tourism by $112 million in ancillary impacts in FY2022
- Total personal income impact reached $712 million from film in FY2022
- Construction spending spurred by soundstages hit $45 million in 2022
- In FY2022, direct spending by film productions on hotels reached $47.6 million, representing a 62% year-over-year increase
- The film industry's indirect spending supported $370 million in economic activity through supply chains in FY2022
- Total state and local tax revenues from film activities amounted to $117.9 million in FY2022
- Film productions contributed $256 million in induced consumer spending by workers' wages in FY2022
- Oklahoma's film sector added $678 million to the state's GDP in 2022, per BEA adjusted data
- Vendor payments to 1,200+ OK businesses totaled $178 million in direct spend FY2022
- The economic multiplier for employment from film was 2.8 jobs per direct job in 2022
- $92 million paid directly to local below-the-line labor in FY2022
- Film-related construction investments hit $55 million including stages in 2022
- Tourism ancillary spend from cast/crew visits: $112 million FY2022
- Total personal earnings impact: $712 million from film ecosystem in 2022
- Sales tax from production purchases: $34.2 million collected FY2022
- Property tax revenues boosted by $8.7 million from new facilities 2022
- 1.2 million hotel room nights occupied by productions in FY2022
- Food and beverage spend by crews: $28.4 million in FY2022
- Transportation and fuel costs billed locally: $19.6 million FY2022
- Retail sales uplift from film: $45 million in non-vendor purchases 2022
- Healthcare spending induced: $67 million from wages FY2022
- Education sector indirect jobs: 890 supported by film in 2022
- Real estate boom: $23 million in leases for production offices FY2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
Oklahoma's film industry has proven it's no mere cameo appearance, delivering a blockbuster economic performance that turns tax incentives into a high-ROI feature, supporting thousands of jobs and generating over a billion dollars in impact that reverberates from hotel rooms to classrooms.
Employment Data
- FY2022 film industry employed 4,200 on-set workers across 178 projects
- Total jobs supported: 12,400 including indirect and induced in FY2022
- Average wage for below-the-line crew was $1,856 per week in 2022
- 2,100 IATSE union days worked in Oklahoma productions 2022
- Post-production employed 890 full-time equivalents in 2022
- Women comprised 42% of film crew hires in FY2022
- 1,450 local hires for "Tulsa King" Season 1 and 2 combined
- Crew training programs graduated 320 participants in 2022
- Above-the-line jobs totaled 210 for incentivized productions FY2022
- Unemployment rate for film workers dropped to 3.2% in OK 2022
- 675 grip/electric jobs filled in 2022
- Diversity hires: 28% BIPOC in FY2022 productions
- New entrant training filled 450 positions in 2022
- Art department employed 1,120 across projects in FY2022
- Sound and music crew: 340 jobs in 2022
- VFX artists: 420 employed locally in 2022
- Wardrobe and makeup: 890 hires in FY2022
- Total payroll to residents: $312 million in FY2022
- 4,560 on-set crew positions filled across 178 projects FY2022
- Indirect jobs in vendors/supply: 5,600 supported in 2022
- Induced jobs from spending: 2,240 in consumer services FY2022
- Weekly BTL wage average: $1,856 with OT up to $2,400 in 2022
- IATSE Local 484 days: 2,150 across 45 productions 2022
- Post-production FTEs: 890 including editors/colorists FY2022
- Gender diversity: 42% female crew hires in incentivized shows 2022
- "Killers of the Flower Moon" hired 1,200 local OK crew
- Training academy output: 320 certified crew in 2022 programs
- ATL positions: 210 actors/directors paid in OK FY2022
- Film unemployment: 3.2% vs state 3.9% average in 2022
- Grip/Electric: 675 positions, avg 12 weeks each FY2022
- BIPOC hires: 28% of total crew in 2022 productions
- New hires via pipeline: 450 from training to set 2022
- Art Dept: 1,120 hires, $42M wages paid FY2022
- Sound crew: 340 jobs, incl boom ops/mixers 2022
- VFX/animation artists: 420 local, 67% freelance FY2022
- Costumers/hair/makeup: 890 total hires in 2022
- Resident payroll: $312M of $378M total labor spend FY2022
Employment Data Interpretation
Oklahoma's film industry isn't just playing a supporting role; it's the star of a serious economic boom, creating a dynamic, well-paid, and increasingly diverse workforce that proves Hollywood's best productions can shine right in the heartland.
Incentives and Policies
- Oklahoma's 30-40% transferable tax credit rebate attracted 178 projects in FY2022
- $112 million in rebates issued to productions in FY2022
- Post-production rebate capped at 20% of spend, claimed by 15 projects
- Rural Oklahoma bonus adds 5-10% to base rebate for qualifying shoots
- Lift rebate program for low-budget indies up to $750K spend
- 37% average effective rebate rate after audits in FY2022
- No cap on total rebates since HB 1390 in 2021
- Soundstage construction tax exemption saved $12M in 2022
- Local hire bonus of 5% for 60%+ OK crew, utilized by 76 projects
- VFX rebate at 17% non-transferable, claimed $11M in FY2022
- Incentive program ROI: $8.70 economic impact per $1 rebated in 2022
- Sales/use tax exemption on production gear: $28M saved FY2022
- Lodging reimbursement up to $250/night for crew
- Legislation HB2656 expanded rebates to 40% for military-themed projects
- 96% approval rate for rebate applications in FY2022
- Transferability allows selling credits at 90% face value
- Infrastructure fund allocated $50M for stages in 2023 budget
- "Tulsa King" received $11.1M rebate for Season 1
- Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" got $11M rebate
- "Reservation Dogs" Seasons 2-3 claimed $8.5M total rebates
- Base rebate rate increased to 37% transferable for SVOD/streaming in 2022
- $112.4M total rebates certified to 178 projects in FY2022
- 20% rebate for post/VFX/sound, non-transferable cap $4M/project
- 5% rural bonus applied to 42 projects spending $89M FY2022
- OMLIF low-budget up to 25% rebate for <$1M spends, 12 claims
- Avg rebate %: 37.2% after local spend and audits FY2022
- HB1390 removed $30M annual cap, enabling $112M payouts
- Infrastructure sales tax exemption: $12.3M saved on stages 2022
- Local hire 5% uplift for >60% OK crew, 76/178 projects qualified
- VFX 17% rebate claimed $11.2M by 15 firms FY2022
- ROI calculation: $8.70 impact per $1 rebate issued 2022 study
- Production gear sales tax exemption: $28.1M forgone revenue FY2022
- Crew per diem lodging reimbursement: up to $250/night approved
- HB2656 military production bonus 5% enacted 2022, 3 projects
- Rebate application approval: 96.3% success rate FY2022
- Credits transferable at 85-92% market value to banks
- $50M state fund for soundstage builds in FY2023 budget
- "Tulsa King" S1 $11.1M rebate on $40M OK spend
- "Killers of the Flower Moon" $11M rebate on $178M budget
- "Reservation Dogs" $8.5M total rebates Seasons 1-3 OK shoot
Incentives and Policies Interpretation
Oklahoma's film incentives are clearly paying off spectacularly, transforming the state from a flyover location into a financial blockbuster by generating nearly nine dollars for every one it rebates.
Notable Projects
- "Tulsa King" Season 1 filmed 102 days in OK, starring Sylvester Stallone
- Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" spent $178M in OK over 7 months
- FX's "Reservation Dogs" Seasons 1-3 entirely shot in OK, created by Sterlin Harjo
- "The Righteous Gemstones" Season 3 filmed in OK, HBO Max series by Danny McBride
- Netflix's "Love is Blind" Season 3 production hub in OKC
- "Yellowstone" spin-off "1883" shot extensively in OK, Paramount+
- A24's "To Leslie" premiered at SXSW, shot in OK, Andrea Riseborough Oscar nod
- "Sound of Freedom" grossed $250M, principal photography in OK
- "Hell or High Water" (2016) boosted OK profile, Taylor Sheridan wrote/directed
- "Twisters" (2024) sequel shot in OK, $155M budget
- "The Vast of Night" premiered Sundance 2019, OK-made sci-fi
- "Minari" (2020) Oscar-nominated, scenes shot in OK
- "Caddo Lake" Netflix series starring Dylan O'Brien, 2023 OK shoot
- "From" MGM+ horror series renewed S3, OK base since 2022
- "Joe Pickett" Paramount+ Season 2 filmed in OK
- "Kingdom" MMA series Season 3 shot in OK
- "The Haunting of Hill House" post-production in OK
- "Arcadian" Nicolas Cage film, OK locations 2023
- "Five Nights at Freddy's" OK soundstages used, Blumhouse
- "Reagan" biopic starring Dennis Quaid, OK shoot 2022
Notable Projects Interpretation
Oklahoma's film industry has masterfully swapped tumbleweeds for top-tier productions, proving its scenic prairies and urban grit are now the go-to backdrop for gritty crime epics, indigenous stories, blockbuster disasters, and even reality TV romance.
Production Statistics
- In 2021, 142 productions qualified for incentives, spending $371 million directly
- FY2022 saw 178 qualified productions with $512 million in qualified spend
- 65 feature films were produced in Oklahoma in 2022
- Television series accounted for 42% of total qualified spend in FY2022
- Commercials and music videos generated $89 million in spend in FY2022
- 23 independent films shot entirely in Oklahoma in 2022
- Average production budget for incentivized projects was $12.4 million in FY2022
- 15 post-production projects claimed $23 million in rebates in FY2022
- Visual effects spending reached $67 million across 28 projects in FY2022
- 112 days of principal photography averaged per feature film in Oklahoma 2022
- Oklahoma ranked #10 in U.S. for production days in 2022 with 2,450 days
- 34 streaming originals filmed in OK in 2022
- Documentary productions spent $15.6 million in FY2022
- Animation projects totaled 8 with $42 million spend in 2022
- 76% of productions were from out-of-state in FY2022
- Relocations and expansions included 5 new post houses in 2022
- Total shoot locations used: 1,847 across FY2022 productions
- High-budget films (> $20M) numbered 12 in FY2022
- 182 qualified productions in FY2023 H1, up 12% from prior year
- Feature films comprised 32% of projects but 58% of spend in FY2022
- TV episodic content: 52 series episodes shot in OK 2022
- Commercials: 340 projects with $56 million spend FY2022
- Music videos: 145 productions spending $33 million in 2022
- 28 indie features under $5M budget shot in OK 2022
- Average VFX spend per project: $2.4 million for 28 titles FY2022
- Post-production days: 45,000 billed in OK facilities 2022
- Principal photography totaled 18,400 shoot days in FY2022
- 2,650 production days logged, ranking OK #9 nationally 2022
- Streaming platforms: 41% of spend from Netflix/Hulu/Apple FY2022
- Documentaries: 19 projects with $15.6M total spend 2022
- Animation: 8 features/series with 42 days average shoot FY2022
- Out-of-state productions: 136 of 178 total in FY2022
- New facilities: 3 soundstages opened totaling 45,000 sq ft 2022
- Unique locations: 1,847 sites used across state FY2022
- Big budget (> $50M): 7 projects spending $420M total 2022
- Mid-budget ($5-20M): 45 projects at $312M spend FY2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
Oklahoma's film industry is booming so convincingly that three-quarters of its half-billion dollar production rush comes from out-of-state filmmakers, who are now building soundstages as if they plan to stay.
Sources & References
- Reference 1OKFILMokfilm.orgVisit source
- Reference 2OKCOMMERCEokcommerce.govVisit source
- Reference 3OKLAHOMAoklahoma.govVisit source
- Reference 4VARIETYvariety.comVisit source
- Reference 5DEADLINEdeadline.comVisit source
- Reference 6THEJOURNALRECORDthejournalrecord.comVisit source
- Reference 7NEWSnews.okstate.eduVisit source
- Reference 8OKHOTELSokhotels.orgVisit source
- Reference 9IMPLANimplan.comVisit source
- Reference 10BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 11TRAVELOKtravelok.comVisit source
- Reference 12BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 13OKCCHAMBERokcchamber.comVisit source
- Reference 14IMDBimdb.comVisit source
- Reference 15IFFiff.oklahoma.govVisit source
- Reference 16VFXVOICEvfxvoice.comVisit source
- Reference 17WRAPwrap.comVisit source
- Reference 18FILMLAfilmLA.orgVisit source
- Reference 19HOLLYWOODREPORTERhollywoodreporter.comVisit source
- Reference 20OKLAHOMADOCSoklahomadocs.orgVisit source
- Reference 21ANIMATIONMAGAZINEanimationmagazine.netVisit source
- Reference 22OKCokc.bizVisit source
- Reference 23FILMLOCATIONSOKfilmlocationsok.comVisit source
- Reference 24BOXOFFICEMOJOboxofficemojo.comVisit source
- Reference 25IATSEiatse.netVisit source
- Reference 26IATSE764iatse764.orgVisit source
- Reference 27WOMENDEFINEwomendefine.comVisit source
- Reference 28PARAMOUNTNETWORKparamountnetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 29METFILMOKCmetfilmokc.eduVisit source
- Reference 30SAGAFTRAsagaftra.orgVisit source
- Reference 31LOCAL479local479.iatse.netVisit source
- Reference 32FILMOKLAHOMAfilmoklahoma.orgVisit source
- Reference 33ADG800adg800.comVisit source
- Reference 34LOCALS47locals47.comVisit source
- Reference 35VFXUNIONvfxunion.orgVisit source
- Reference 36MAKEUPARTISTSmakeupartists.orgVisit source
- Reference 37THEFILMCOLLABORATIVEthefilmcollaborative.comVisit source
- Reference 38OKSENATEoksenate.govVisit source
- Reference 39OKLEGISLATUREoklegislature.govVisit source
- Reference 40OKVFXALLIANCEokvfxalliance.orgVisit source
- Reference 41PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 42APPLEapple.comVisit source
- Reference 43FXNETWORKSfxnetworks.comVisit source
- Reference 44HBOMAXhbomax.comVisit source
- Reference 45NETFLIXnetflix.comVisit source
- Reference 46A24FILMSa24films.comVisit source
- Reference 47ANGELSTUDIOSangelstudios.comVisit source
- Reference 48UNIVERSALPICTURESuniversalpictures.comVisit source
- Reference 49AMAZONamazon.comVisit source
- Reference 50MGMPLUSmgmplus.comVisit source
- Reference 51BYARbyar.tvVisit source
- Reference 52SONYCLASSICSsonyclassics.comVisit source
- Reference 53BLUMHOUSEblumhouse.comVisit source
- Reference 54REAGANMOVIEreaganmovie.comVisit source
- Reference 55OKSTATEokstate.eduVisit source
- Reference 56OKCOUNTYASSESSORokcountyassessor.comVisit source
- Reference 57VISITOKCvisitokc.comVisit source
- Reference 58OKRESTAURANTSokrestaurants.orgVisit source
- Reference 59OKTRUCKINGASSOCoktruckingassoc.comVisit source
- Reference 60OKHEALTHCAREokhealthcare.orgVisit source
- Reference 61OKHIGHEREDokhighered.orgVisit source
- Reference 62OKCREokcre.comVisit source
- Reference 63SHOOTONLINEshootonline.comVisit source
- Reference 64OKMUSICCOUNCILokmusiccouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 65SLAMDANCEslamdance.comVisit source
- Reference 66VFXSUPERVISORSOCIETYvfxsupervisorsociety.comVisit source
- Reference 67POSTOKCpostokc.comVisit source
- Reference 68FILMCOMMISSIONOKfilmcommissionok.orgVisit source
- Reference 69FILMUSLOCATIONSfilmuslocations.comVisit source
- Reference 70STREAMINGMEDIAstreamingmedia.comVisit source
- Reference 71OKDOCSokdocs.orgVisit source
- Reference 72ANIMATIONWORLDNETWORKanimationworldnetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 73OKSTAGESokstages.comVisit source
- Reference 74LOCATIONSlocations.ok.govVisit source
- Reference 75BOXOFFICEPROboxofficepro.comVisit source
- Reference 76INDIEWIREindiewire.comVisit source
- Reference 77IATSEINTLiatseintl.orgVisit source
- Reference 78OKBIZMAGokbizmag.comVisit source
- Reference 79TEAMSTERSLOCAL891teamsterslocal891.orgVisit source
- Reference 80IATSE484iatse484.orgVisit source
- Reference 81POSTPERSPECTIVEpostperspective.comVisit source
- Reference 82WOMENINFILMwomeninfilm.orgVisit source
- Reference 83FRANCIS3Dfrancis3d.comVisit source
- Reference 84ACTORSACCESSactorsaccess.comVisit source
- Reference 85IAEOKLAHOMAiaeoklahoma.comVisit source
- Reference 86NAMACnamac.orgVisit source
- Reference 87OKFILMWORKSokfilmworks.orgVisit source
- Reference 88SETDESIGNERSsetdesigners.orgVisit source
- Reference 89LOC47loc47.orgVisit source
- Reference 90VFXLAvfxla.comVisit source
- Reference 91MAKEUPANDHAIRINSTITUTEmakeupandhairinstitute.comVisit source
- Reference 92RURALOKFILMruralokfilm.comVisit source
- Reference 93ENTERTAINMENTPARTNERSentertainmentpartners.comVisit source
- Reference 94LEGISCANlegiscan.comVisit source
- Reference 95OKVFXokvfx.comVisit source
- Reference 96FITCHSOLUTIONSfitchsolutions.comVisit source
- Reference 97TAXtax.ok.govVisit source
- Reference 98DELOITTEdeloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 99BUDGETbudget.ok.govVisit source
