Georgia's Film Industry Faces Painful Reset After Years of Growth

Pandemic, strikes, and competition from other states have led to a sharp decline in production spending and jobs in the once-booming 'Hollywood of the South'.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:48pm

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After years of rapid growth fueled by generous tax credits, Georgia's film industry is now facing a painful reset. Production spending has plummeted from a peak of $4.4 billion in 2022 to just $2.3 billion last fiscal year, as major studios like Marvel have shifted work overseas and streamers produce fewer shows. This has left many experienced crew members, like digital imaging technician Chris Ratledge, struggling to find steady work and facing financial hardship.

Why it matters

Georgia's film industry boom transformed Atlanta into a major production hub, bringing in hundreds of projects and thousands of jobs. The sharp decline now threatens the livelihoods of many industry workers and raises questions about the state's ability to maintain its status as the 'Hollywood of the South' in the face of competition from other states and countries offering better incentives.

The details

The downturn accelerated after the 2023 writers and actors strikes halted productions for months, dealing a blow to an industry still recovering from COVID-19 shutdowns. Marvel has left Georgia's market, with its last movie filmed there in 2025, and shifted its massive productions to the United Kingdom where labor and production costs are cheaper. Streamers like Netflix are also increasingly filming abroad, while producing fewer shows in general. Other states, including California and Texas, have upped incentives to compete with Georgia's tax credits, which can cover up to 30% of production costs.

  • In 2022, spending on film and TV production in Georgia hit a peak of $4.4 billion.
  • In the last fiscal year, production spending in Georgia reached just $2.3 billion, as total productions dropped from 412 in 2022 to 245.
  • The 2023 writers and actors strikes halted productions for months, dealing a blow to the industry.
  • Marvel's last movie filmed in Georgia was 'Thunderbolts' in 2025.

The players

Chris Ratledge

A 48-year-old digital imaging technician who moved from Indiana to Georgia in 2017 to work on film sets around Atlanta, but has only worked 4 days on set since May 2024 and is now struggling to support his family of five on a $15-per-hour part-time job.

Lee Thomas

The deputy commissioner of the Georgia Film Office, who said the industry's decline was 'a bigger, harder fall than we anticipated — and longer'.

Shadowbox Studios

One of metro Atlanta's largest soundstage operators, which is betting on the area's future and has been pitching its spaces to everyone from indie filmmakers to content creators and esports organizers.

Julian Williams

A 24-year-old digital media student at Georgia Piedmont Technical College who is determined to break into the film industry as a production assistant, with the hope of one day becoming an assistant director.

Joseph Jones

A Backlot Academy alumnus who credits Shadowbox with helping him embark on a rewarding career as a production assistant after years of working in hotels.

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What they’re saying

“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

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

— Julian Williams

“It changed my life.”

— Joseph Jones, Backlot Academy Alumnus

What’s next

Shadowbox Studios is continuing to pitch its spaces to a wide range of content creators in an effort to keep the local film industry talent pipeline strong, despite the current downturn.

The takeaway

Georgia's once-booming film industry is facing a painful reset, as major studios shift work overseas and streamers produce fewer shows, leaving many experienced crew members struggling to find steady work. While some industry veterans see a path forward, the state must find ways to compete with better incentives offered by other states and countries in order to maintain its status as the 'Hollywood of the South'.