L.A. Soundstages Struggled to Fill Up in Early 2025

New data shows occupancy rates at major studios dropped in the first half of 2025 compared to previous years.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:25am

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The first few months of 2025 didn't give the new and upcoming soundstages in Los Angeles much in the way of hope for a rebound in production. The average occupancy rate for major soundstages in the city was 62 percent during the first six months of 2025, down one percent from the anemic 63 percent recorded in 2024, according to new data from local film office FilmLA released on Wednesday.

Why it matters

The drop in soundstage occupancy rates reflects the ongoing challenges facing the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, which has seen production levels fluctuate in recent years due to factors like the 2023 dual strikes and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The report also tallied shoot days and number of projects filmed in 2024 for the first time. It found that the total number of projects shot increased five percent between 2023 and 2024 (from 1,225 to 1,287), though it's important to note that 2023 was the year of the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which threw a major wrench into the production pipeline.

  • The report covers the first six months of 2025.
  • The average occupancy rate was 62% in the first half of 2025, down from 63% in 2024.
  • Between 2016 and 2022, soundstages reported an average occupancy rate of 90% or higher.

The players

FilmLA

The local film office in Los Angeles that released the new data on soundstage occupancy rates.

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The takeaway

The drop in soundstage occupancy rates in early 2025 highlights the ongoing challenges facing the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, which has seen production levels fluctuate in recent years due to factors like labor disputes and the pandemic's lingering impacts.