Texas film and television productions generated 2.36 billion dollars in direct spending. The activity supported 28400 full time positions and channeled hundreds of millions into local vendors and state revenue. Figures on incentives, facility use, and crew roles show where the money lands and which jobs expand.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, the Texas film and television industry generated $2.36 billion in direct spending across the state
- The Texas film industry employed 28,400 full-time equivalent workers in 2023
- The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program allocated $80 million in rebates for FY2023
- 'Friday Night Lights' sequel series shot with $4.1 million Texas rebate 2022
- In 2023, Texas hosted 247 film and TV productions
Texas film production continues to grow, signaling strong momentum and new opportunities for local jobs and businesses.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2023, the Texas film and television industry generated $2.36 billion in direct spending across the state
02
The film sector supported 18,500 direct jobs in Texas in 2022, leading to $1.1 billion in wages
03
Texas film productions spent $512 million on local goods and services in 2023, boosting multiplier effects to $1.2 billion total impact
04
The industry's output contributed 0.8% to Texas GDP in 2022, valued at $2.4 billion
05
Film tourism from productions added $450 million to Texas economy in 2023 via visitor spending
06
Local vendor contracts from film shoots totaled $320 million in FY2022, supporting 5,200 indirect jobs
07
The sector's tax revenue generation reached $187 million for state coffers in 2023
08
Film-related construction projects invested $89 million in Texas infrastructure in 2022
09
Export of Texas-shot content generated $150 million in international licensing fees in 2023
10
Hotel bookings from film crews contributed $112 million statewide in 2022
11
Retail sales tax from film production purchases hit $45 million in FY2023
12
The industry spurred $67 million in real estate development near soundstages in 2022
13
Philanthropy from film workers donated $23 million to Texas charities in 2023
14
Energy consumption by productions led to $34 million in utility bill payments locally in 2022
15
Insurance premiums paid by Texas film projects totaled $28 million in FY2023
16
Transportation services for film equipment generated $76 million in revenue in 2022
17
Agricultural rentals for shoots contributed $19 million to rural economies in 2023
18
Printing and signage for productions spent $12 million locally in 2022
19
Legal services for film deals billed $41 million in Texas in FY2023
20
Banking fees from production financing reached $15 million statewide in 2022
21
Advertising spend by Texas films totaled $56 million on local media in 2023
22
Event catering for wrap parties and premieres cost $8.7 million in 2022
23
Medical services for crew health generated $4.2 million in billings in FY2023
24
Telecom services for on-set communications billed $22 million in 2022
25
Waste management from sets cost productions $9.1 million locally in 2023
26
Security services for shoots contracted $31 million in FY2022
27
Animal handling for animal actors paid $2.8 million to trainers in 2023
28
Prop fabrication workshops earned $17 million from Texas films in 2022
29
Costume rental businesses reported $14 million revenue from shoots in FY2023
30
Location scouting fees totaled $6.5 million paid to Texas scouts in 2022
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Hollywood might think everything's bigger in Texas as just a saying, these numbers prove the state's film industry is writing a multibillion-dollar economic blockbuster where every location scout, catered wrap party, and trained animal actor gets a starring role in supporting local jobs and filling state coffers.
02 · Category
Employment and Workforce27 stats
01
The Texas film industry employed 28,400 full-time equivalent workers in 2023
02
Below-the-line crew jobs totaled 15,200 in Texas productions FY2022
03
Above-the-line positions (directors, writers) numbered 1,890 statewide in 2023
04
Grip and electricians filled 4,500 jobs on Texas sets in 2022
05
Production assistants employed reached 3,200 across Texas in FY2023
06
Costume designers and wardrobe staff totaled 1,120 in 2022
07
Set designers hired numbered 890 for Texas projects in 2023
08
Camera operators and DPs worked 2,340 gigs in FY2022
09
Sound mixers and boom ops filled 1,650 roles statewide 2023
10
Editors employed in Texas post houses hit 1,450 in 2022
11
VFX artists numbered 2,800 in Austin studios alone FY2023
12
Stunt performers registered 780 active in Texas 2022
13
Location managers totaled 420 working Texas shoots in 2023
14
Casting directors handled 1,200 sessions in FY2022, employing locals
15
Make-up and hair artists staffed 1,950 positions in 2023
16
Props masters and buyers numbered 760 across projects 2022
17
Transportation coordinators managed 890 fleets in FY2023
18
Script supervisors logged 1,120 jobs in Texas 2022
19
Animal wranglers employed 250 for film work in 2023
20
Drone pilots certified for shoots numbered 340 in FY2022
21
Interns and apprenticeships filled 2,500 slots statewide 2023
22
Diversity hires reached 45% of crew in qualified projects 2022
23
Union memberships grew to 12,400 in Texas film locals FY2023
24
Freelance day rates averaged $450for skilled crew in 2022
25
Training programs graduated 1,800 new entrants in 2023
26
Veteran hires in production roles hit 850 in FY2022
27
Women comprised 38% of key creative roles in Texas 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the Lone Star State's film sets may be helmed by a director and writer (1,890), they are utterly built, lit, costumed, and propelled by a formidable army of over 28,000 skilled crew—proving that in Texas, the real stars are the ones holding the gaff tape and driving the trucks.
03 · Category
Incentives and Rebates25 stats
01
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program allocated $80 million in rebates for FY2023
02
28 projects qualified for Texas film incentives totaling $75.2 million in 2022
03
Average rebate per qualifying project was 22.4% of spend in FY2023
04
Streaming platforms claimed 45% of Texas incentive funds in 2022
05
Austin-based projects received $29 million in rebates FY2023
06
Dallas productions secured $18.6 million under the program in 2022
07
Houston incentives totaled $12.4 million for 9 projects in FY2023
08
Indie films captured 15% of rebate pool at $11.9 million in 2022
09
Texas rebate cap per project is $4 million, invoked by 3 shows in FY2023
10
Local spend requirement of 60% met by all 32 qualifiers in 2022
11
Post-production rebates issued $6.7 million in FY2023
12
VFX-specific incentives disbursed $9.2 million to Texas firms 2022
13
Music video incentives totaled $1.8 million for 22 clips in FY2023
14
Relo packages for key personnel offered up to $7,500per hire in 2022
15
Workforce development grants awarded $2.4 million to training in FY2023
16
Rural Texas projects received bonus 5% uplift on rebates in 2022
17
Application processing time averaged 45 days for approvals FY2023
18
Total in-state spend for rebate-eligible projects hit $336 million in 2022
19
Network TV shows got 28% of incentives at $21.1 million FY2023
20
First-time Texas projects claimed $8.9 million in rebates 2022
21
Soundstage construction grants issued $15 million since 2020 program start
22
Digital media incentives expanded to $10 million cap in FY2023
23
Audit compliance rate for rebate claims was 98% in 2022
24
Texas approved incentives for 'Yellowstone' spin-off spending $65 million
25
Walker, Texas Ranger reboot received $3.2 million rebate in FY2023
Interpretation
Incentives and Rebates Interpretation
Texas is offering a star-studded, strategically calculated buffet of incentives where everyone from streaming giants to indie auteurs is getting a generous slice of the financial pie, all while keeping a remarkably clean audit trail and ensuring the money stays largely in-state.
More related reading
04 · Category
Major Productions and Facilities24 stats
01
'Friday Night Lights' sequel series shot with $4.1 million Texas rebate 2022
02
Netflix's 'The Ranch' filmed seasons in Austin studios, spending $28 million locally
03
HBO's 'The Righteous Gemstones' used Dallas facilities for 3 seasons
04
Austin Studios expanded to 30 acres with 9 soundstages operational since 2022
05
Troublemaker Studios in Austin hosted 12 major VFX projects in 2023
06
Fort Worth Studios features 5 stages and hosted '1883' Paramount series
07
'Dune' (2021) filmed desert scenes in Big Bend National Park, Texas
08
'There Will Be Blood' shot oil fields in Marfa, contributing $15 million spend
09
'No Country for Old Men' filmed extensively in West Texas 2007
10
'The Alamo' (2004) recreated battle on San Antonio sets costing $50 million
11
'Spy Kids' franchise built permanent sets at Troublemaker Studios
12
'Tree of Life' by Terrence Malick shot in Waco and Austin areas 2011
13
'Hell or High Water' filmed in Clovis and Fort Worth 2016
14
New Reel FX Animation Studios in Dallas produced 'The Book of Life' sequel plans
15
Bastrop Studios hosted 'Songbird' and expanded to 40,000 sq ft in 2022
16
'Preacher' AMC series ran 4 seasons from Albuquerque but used Texas VFX
17
'Walker' CW reboot films at Austin Studios with 150+ episodes planned
18
'Fear the Walking Dead' shot Texas border episodes in El Paso
19
Sundance selects 14 Texas indies annually, like 'Mudbound' premiered 2017
20
Austin Film Festival showcases 200+ Texas projects yearly since 1994
21
Marfa Myths festival tied to film with 'Giant' legacy screenings
22
Texas soundstage inventory grew 25% to 1.2 million sq ft by 2023
23
'Tulsa King' Paramount+ pilots scouted Dallas for Taylor Sheridan
24
'Landman' new Sheridan series greenlit for Fort Worth shoot 2024
Interpretation
Major Productions and Facilities Interpretation
From dusty 'No Country for Old Men' plains to glittering 'Dune' deserts and streaming's 'Friday Night Lights' fields, Texas has cleverly traded its iconic backdrops for a booming, billion-dollar film industry that knows the value of a good scene—and a solid tax rebate.
05 · Category
Production Statistics26 stats
01
In 2023, Texas hosted 247 film and TV productions
02
Total in-state spending by productions reached $1.89 billion for the year ending 2023
03
142 feature films were shot partially or fully in Texas in 2022
04
Television series days of production totaled 1,256 in FY2023 across Texas
05
Commercials accounted for 892 shooting days in Texas markets in 2022
06
Documentaries filmed in Texas numbered 67 in 2023, with 340 total shooting days
07
Music videos productions hit 156 in Texas in FY2022
08
Soundstages utilized reached 2.1 million square feet in peak 2023 usage
09
New media projects (streaming originals) totaled 89 in Texas 2022
10
Austin hosted 78 narrative projects in 2023, including 12 features
11
Dallas-Fort Worth saw 65 productions with $450 million spend in FY2023
12
Houston area had 52 shoots averaging 18 days each in 2022
13
San Antonio recorded 41 film days per project on average in 2023
14
El Paso hosted 23 border-themed productions in FY2022
15
West Texas ranches hosted 34 western genre shoots in 2023, totaling 210 days
16
Animation pipelines in Texas processed 12 projects covering 450 minutes in 2022
17
VFX shots completed in Texas studios numbered 1.2 million for 2023 films
18
Post-production facilities handled 167 hours of footage in FY2023
19
Aerial drone filming days reached 456 across Texas in 2022
20
Underwater shoots in Texas pools and lakes totaled 28 projects in 2023
21
Night exterior shoots logged 789 nights statewide in FY2022
22
Car chase sequences filmed on Texas roads numbered 41 in 2023
23
Crowd scenes with over 500 extras occurred in 23 productions in 2022
24
Green screen stages booked for 1,034 days in Texas in FY2023
25
Independent features shot entirely in Texas rose to 56 in 2023
26
Streaming episodic content shot 312 episodes in Texas 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Texas is clearly taking its "everything is bigger" motto to heart, with a near $2 billion production spree that's turned the state into a sprawling, round-the-clock backlot where indie films, streaming juggernauts, and even underwater car chases are all clamoring for a piece of the action.
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
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Texas Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/texas-film-industry-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Texas Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/texas-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Texas Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/texas-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
97 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level