Atlanta's Film Industry Faces Uncertain Future After Production Boom

The 'Hollywood of the South' sees a sharp decline in film and TV production, leaving many industry workers struggling.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Atlanta's film industry, once a booming hub dubbed the 'Hollywood of the South', is now facing a significant downturn. After reaching a peak of $4.4 billion in production spending in 2022, the industry has seen a sharp decline, with spending dropping to just $2.3 billion in the last fiscal year. This has led to a dramatic decrease in the number of productions, from 412 in 2022 to only 245 last year. The decline has hit many industry workers hard, with some, like digital imaging technician Chris Ratledge, now relying on food stamps and struggling to make ends meet.

Why it matters

Atlanta's rise as a film production hub has been a major economic boon for the city, attracting talent and investment. However, the industry's downturn raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of this growth and the impact on the local workforce. The shift of major productions, like Marvel films, to other locations and the increased competition from other states with better incentives threaten to undermine Atlanta's status as the 'Hollywood of the South'.

The details

The decline in film and TV production in Atlanta has been attributed to several factors, including the 2023 writers and actors strikes, which halted productions for months, and the increasing trend of streamers and studios filming abroad to take advantage of lower labor and production costs. Marvel, a major driver of the industry's growth in Atlanta, has shifted its productions to the United Kingdom, while other states have upped their incentives to compete with Georgia's tax credits. The result has been a sharp drop in available jobs, with some veteran crew members struggling to find work and newcomers facing an increasingly competitive landscape.

  • In the last fiscal year, production spending in Georgia dropped to $2.3 billion, down from a peak of $4.4 billion in 2022.
  • The number of total productions in Georgia declined from 412 in 2022 to 245 last year.

The players

Chris Ratledge

A 48-year-old digital imaging technician who moved from Indiana to Georgia in 2017 to work on film sets, but is now on food stamps and struggling to support his family after the industry downturn.

Lee Thomas

The deputy commissioner of the Georgia Film Office, who acknowledged that the industry's decline has been 'bigger, harder, and longer' than anticipated.

Monique Younger

An Atlanta costume supervisor who says her work is less than half of what it once was, making her 'feel a little bit useless'.

Jen Farris

An Atlanta native and longtime location scout who used to reject offers due to too much work, but is now navigating two- or three-month gaps between projects.

Mike Mosallam

The COO of Shadowbox Studios, one of metro Atlanta's largest soundstage operators, who is betting on the area's future and working to diversify the local film industry workforce.

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What they’re saying

“All I want for Christmas is for my film career back.”

— Chris Ratledge (Instagram)

“We saw a lot of productions start looking overseas, knowing that they wouldn't have another work stoppage. We knew that it would be like a reset to the industry … but it certainly was a bigger, harder fall than we anticipated — and longer.”

— Lee Thomas, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Film Office

“You just pray that you have nested away enough to float a little bit.”

— Jen Farris, Location Scout

“People are genuinely helpful and willing to share what they know.”

— Julian Williams, Digital Media Student, Georgia Piedmont Technical College

“It changed my life.”

— Joseph Jones, Production Assistant

What’s next

Shadowbox Studios, one of metro Atlanta's largest soundstage operators, is working to diversify the local film industry workforce through its Backlot Academy program, which provides training and mentorship to Black college students interested in breaking into the industry.

The takeaway

Atlanta's once-booming film industry is facing a significant downturn, with production spending and the number of projects declining sharply in recent years. This has left many industry workers, like Chris Ratledge, struggling to make ends meet. While some industry veterans remain optimistic about Atlanta's future, the city's status as the 'Hollywood of the South' is being tested, and it will require concerted efforts to maintain the local talent pipeline and attract new productions to the area.