Production in Los Angeles experienced a significant downturn in the second quarter of 2026, with a 12.7% drop in film and television shoot days compared to the same period last year, according to a new report from FilmLA. The report logged 4,711 shoot days between April and June, a decrease from 5,394 shoot days in the second quarter of 2025. This figure also fell 8% below the first quarter of 2026, which recorded 5,121 shoot days, and represents a 35.9% decline from the five-year average.
Despite the overall slump in local production, the report highlighted a rebound in television production, particularly in the drama segment. Total television production saw 1,607 shoot days, a 27.7% decrease from the previous year, but the TV drama category experienced only a 6.4% decline from Q2 2025. Furthermore, TV shoot days saw a 34.4% increase from the first quarter of 2026, with several prominent series filmed in the area, including Hulu's "Prison Break" reboot and returning shows like Amazon's "Ballard" and Netflix's "The Night Agent."
TV drama shoot days specifically increased by 55% from the first quarter of 2026. Reality television production also saw an uptick, with 676 shoot days in Q2 2026, a 32% increase from the first quarter, although it was down 39.9% year-over-year. However, TV comedies experienced a sharp decline, with shoot days dropping 43% from the previous year.
Feature film production was also down, recording 443 shoot days in the second quarter, a 19.9% decrease from Q2 2025 and a 36% drop from the first quarter of 2026. Commercial production similarly declined, down 21.5% year-over-year to 543 shoot days in Q2 2026.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the report, stating that local incentives are contributing to an increase in incentivized productions. "While there is still much work to do, FilmLA’s quarterly report is proof that incentives are working: local incentivized productions are on the rise, creating good-paying union jobs and realizing economic opportunity for Angelenos," Bass said in a statement. She reiterated her commitment to expanding film tax credits and cutting local red tape to support the industry.
This decline in local production occurs even as national box office figures show signs of recovery, with projections indicating a potential $10 billion domestic box office year, the first since 2019. A total of 170 film and television projects have been awarded production tax credits through the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program, including 41 new projects announced recently.