NY Taxpayers Shelled Out $900 Million to Hollywood Producers in 2025
Empire State Development’s latest data shows New York taxpayers shelled out nearly $900 million in subsidies to Hollywood producers in 2025, consistent with Reinvent Albany’s projection from last September, which ESD derided. Unfortunately, New York taxpayers have to watch our money wasted both on huge film production subsidies and a staff of film industry advocates at ESD who continue to attempt to mislead the public and lawmakers.
ESD’s disbursement of $570 million in taxpayer subsidies for the third quarter of 2025 is one of the largest for film productions in state history, more than doubling the Q1 amount of $230 million, and dwarfing the $92 million in Q2. The Q4 totals have yet to be released.
Of the 49 productions subsidized by state tax dollars, Paramount’s “The Accused” cost taxpayers the most per job – a whopping $103,225. Some of Hollywood and television’s most successful productions continue to get eight-figure subsidies – the final season of “Succession” received $25.7 million, while season 2 of “The Gilded Age,” fittingly, received $35 million.
