UK Outpaces Los Angeles in Scripted Production Amid Hollywood’s Shift
Demand for filming in Britain soars as Los Angeles records steep drop in project volume, new data shows
Los Angeles-area production of scripted film and television projects has fallen significantly, while the United Kingdom has recorded a sharp rise in on-location work, according to newly released data.
A report by the production monitoring body FilmLA found that in 2024 the Greater Los Angeles region hosted 157 scripted projects, a decline of 14.2 per cent compared with 2023. The tally marked a reduced market share of roughly 18.3 per cent, down from 18.5 per cent the year before and 21.9 per cent in 2022.
In contrast, the UK filmed 39 scripted television series during the same year—a substantial increase of 77.2 per cent compared with 2023. Streaming series volumes were up 81.3 per cent to 29 productions, cable shows rose 66.7 per cent to ten series, and streaming movies climbed 23.1 per cent to 16 films.
Though UK theatrical-release films fell 38.5 per cent to 16, the overall surge underscores Britain’s growing appeal for global production.
FilmLA attributed the Los Angeles decline to a combination of factors: the dual writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023, which disrupted project pipelines; subsequent cutbacks by studios eager to control costs after the streaming-boom overspend; and aggressive competition from overseas jurisdictions offering enhanced tax incentives and expansive studio infrastructure.
For Los Angeles, the contraction in scripted project volume dovetails with broader trends of reduced production days and economic pressure on local crew and services.
British industry officials point to competitive tax credits, strong studio ecosystems such as Pinewood and Leavesden, and favourable exchange rates as key drivers attracting international shoots.
The UK’s marked uptick signals not only a rebound from strike-induced interruption but a structural re-positioning in the global production landscape.
Los Angeles still remains the single largest region for scripted work, but the data suggests its dominance is under sustained challenge as productions follow cost, incentives and stability.
With Britain rapidly expanding its production footprint and California’s industry confronting headwinds, the balance of global filming power may be shifting for a new era of location economics.
A report by the production monitoring body FilmLA found that in 2024 the Greater Los Angeles region hosted 157 scripted projects, a decline of 14.2 per cent compared with 2023. The tally marked a reduced market share of roughly 18.3 per cent, down from 18.5 per cent the year before and 21.9 per cent in 2022.
In contrast, the UK filmed 39 scripted television series during the same year—a substantial increase of 77.2 per cent compared with 2023. Streaming series volumes were up 81.3 per cent to 29 productions, cable shows rose 66.7 per cent to ten series, and streaming movies climbed 23.1 per cent to 16 films.
Though UK theatrical-release films fell 38.5 per cent to 16, the overall surge underscores Britain’s growing appeal for global production.
FilmLA attributed the Los Angeles decline to a combination of factors: the dual writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023, which disrupted project pipelines; subsequent cutbacks by studios eager to control costs after the streaming-boom overspend; and aggressive competition from overseas jurisdictions offering enhanced tax incentives and expansive studio infrastructure.
For Los Angeles, the contraction in scripted project volume dovetails with broader trends of reduced production days and economic pressure on local crew and services.
British industry officials point to competitive tax credits, strong studio ecosystems such as Pinewood and Leavesden, and favourable exchange rates as key drivers attracting international shoots.
The UK’s marked uptick signals not only a rebound from strike-induced interruption but a structural re-positioning in the global production landscape.
Los Angeles still remains the single largest region for scripted work, but the data suggests its dominance is under sustained challenge as productions follow cost, incentives and stability.
With Britain rapidly expanding its production footprint and California’s industry confronting headwinds, the balance of global filming power may be shifting for a new era of location economics.
