The film industry in Atlanta, Georgia, known as "the second Hollywood," appears to be in decline. The trend of American production companies, once leading the global film industry, leaving the U.S. is accelerating.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 17th (local time), the number of projects filmed in Georgia for the fiscal year 2025, which ended in June, was 245, a 10% decrease from the previous year. Considering that in 2022, 412 films and TV programs were filmed in Georgia, the decrease exceeds 40% in just three years.
Marvel, a renowned American film production company that has led the film industry in Georgia, has decided to shoot most of its future content in the U.K., starting with this summer's release of "Fantastic 4: First Steps." Marvel has produced about 24 superhero films and TV programs in Atlanta, Georgia.
Since 2008, Georgia has established itself as a new center of the film industry by providing production companies with a tax credit of up to 30%. Unlike other states at the time, Georgia did not set an upper limit on tax exemptions, allowing production companies to be reimbursed for about one-third of their expenditures, resulting in a flood of production companies.
In the meantime, films like Lionsgate's "Hunger Games," Universal's "Fast and Furious" series, Netflix's "Stranger Things," and AMC's "The Walking Dead" series have been produced in Georgia. According to a study by Georgia State University, the entertainment industry has created about 20,000 jobs in Georgia, becoming a key pillar of the local economy.
However, as regions offering similar benefits have increased and production labor costs in Georgia have risen, film production companies have gradually started leaving. Various states within the U.S., including California, New York, New Jersey, and Texas, as well as several overseas countries, are expanding benefits to attract the film industry.
WSJ reported that "studios often film in Canada and Australia," and "are continuing their production activities around the world to find the best conditions." An industry insider told the WSJ, "The rising production expense in Georgia has made shooting films in the U.K. now cheaper."
The U.K., chosen by Marvel as its new production site, offers tax credits similar to those of Georgia, but generally pays lower wages and has no obligation for production companies to cover workers' health insurance. Marvel is producing the "Avengers" and "Spider-Man" series at facilities outside London operated by its parent company Disney.
Lee Thomas, Director General of the Georgia Film Office, pointed out that rising labor costs are the biggest factor causing studios to leave Georgia, hoping for an unusual situation where studios try other markets and then return to Georgia.
The atmosphere in Georgia is subdued due to the departure of film production companies. Janine Gosselin, who participated in several Marvel projects such as "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," has been unable to find stable employment since February last year and is covering living expenses with severance pay. She said, "I feel like a lover who has been abandoned."