As production levels remain uneven across the United States, Illinois is quietly gaining ground.

The state posted a record $703 million in film and television production spending in 2025, marking a significant rebound from pre-pandemic levels and positioning the Prairie State as one of the few domestic markets currently expanding while others contract. The figure represents a roughly 25 percent increase from 2019 and underscores a broader shift in where Hollywood dollars are flowing.

At a time when production volumes have softened in traditional strongholds like Georgia and New Mexico, Illinois is benefiting from a combination of long-running series, targeted incentives and growing infrastructure investment.

“For nearly 120 years, Illinois has helped shape the film and television industry — from the early days of Charlie Chaplin to today’s hit productions like Chicago Fire, The Bear, and The Chi,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “With more than $700 million in film production in 2025, the message is clear: Illinois is a top destination to make movies and television.”

Anchored by Long-Running Series

A key driver of Illinois’ stability has been its ability to sustain multi-season television franchises.

NBC’s trio of Dick Wolf procedurals — Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. — continue to anchor production in the state, delivering consistent employment and stage utilization. The shows recently drew more than 6 million viewers for a crossover event, reinforcing their value not just creatively but economically.

They are joined by a mix of prestige and streaming titles, including FX’s The Bear, Paramount+’s The Chi, Starz’s Power Book IV: Force and HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Together, they form a diversified production base that has helped buffer Illinois from the volatility impacting other markets.

That consistency is increasingly valuable in a market where stop-and-start production cycles have left many soundstages across the country underutilized.

Incentives Driving Growth

At the center of Illinois’ rise is its 35 percent transferable film tax credit, which lawmakers extended through 2039, providing long-term certainty for studios and producers.

The incentive has proven highly effective: state officials estimate that more than 90 percent of productions filming in Illinois utilize the credit, which has generated over $4.5 billion in economic activity between 2017 and 2024, with a reported $6.81 return for every dollar spent.

The state has also introduced additional layers to remain competitive, including a 5 percent sustainability uplift for environmentally friendly productions — one of the first programs of its kind in the U.S.

“The future of film, the future of storytelling, is going to be shaped right here,” Pritzker said at a recent event at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios.