According to the latest report from FilmLA Research, Hollywood’s production landscape showed signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2026, with on-location filming in Greater Los Angeles rising by 10.7% over the previous quarter to reach 5,121 shoot days.
While this represents a slight 3.3% decline compared to the same period last year, the data highlights a significant boom in the feature film category, which soared by 45.2% quarterly and 52.3% year-over-year. This surge was largely fueled by independent films and state-incentivized projects such as Behemoth! and One Attempt Remaining.
The impact of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program (Version 4.0) has become increasingly evident, accounting for 21.8% of all feature production and 17.1% of television production during this period.
Scripted content also saw a healthy uptick in Hollywood, with TV drama productions rising by 40.5%, driven by high-profile projects like the Baywatch reboot and The Morning Show, while TV Comedy grew by 9.1% thanks to returning favorites like Hacks and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
In contrast, the reality TV sector in Hollywood remains the industry’s biggest disappointment, plummeting by 52.2% compared to the previous year as the global market for unscripted content continues to contract. On a more positive note, commercial production experienced a 35.5% quarterly boost, supported by ongoing industry efforts to secure a dedicated $15 million incentive package through Assembly Bill AB2403 to stabilize the local advertising sector.
