Overview
- Illinois officials announced 2025 production spending reached $703 million, the highest total on record for the state.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted the 35% Film Production Tax Credit, extended through 2039, and a $10 million Soundstage Capital Grant as key draws for shoots.
- State data show industry hires reached about 18,000 last year with more than $400 million in wages paid.
- Industry tracker ProdPro reported fourth‑quarter 2025 spending in Illinois rose 46% to $240 million, with a 70% year‑over‑year jump in filming count.
- Pritzker said the credit attracts roughly 90% of local production and generates $7 in in‑state activity per dollar, while cited studies report far lower tax recapture rates, keeping the program’s fiscal impact in dispute.