How Film Production Impacts Utah’s Economy

Film production is a reliable economic driver that impacts the entire state — creating jobs in the creative sector, supporting local businesses, and encouraging tourism across the state. In the last 10 years, Utah’s film incentive program has generated over $736 million of economic impact by productions with an average daily production spend of $270,000 into Utah’s economy.

Utah has been in the filmmaking industry for over 100 years and in 2011 established the Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program (MPIP) to attract more film productions to our state and remain competitive in today’s industry. The Rural Utah Film Incentive Program (RUFIP) was established in 2022 with broad support by rural leaders to specifically encourage production off the Wasatch Front and into Utah’s rural areas. This program provides funding for productions that shoot at least 75% of their production days in a rural county. Since 2022, 28 productions have utilized the Rural Utah Film Incentive Program, and those productions have collectively spent over $200 million in Utah across 28 of Utah’s 29 counties (as of October 2025). This economic impact is vital to our rural communities and for many local businesses. 

To support our efforts to encourage more film production in Utah’s rural counties, the Utah Film Commission established the Film Ready Utah certification program in 2022. All 29 counties are Film Ready Utah certified communities with a film liaison in each county ready to support film productions with local permitting processes and access to film-friendly locations. The Utah Film Commission is also working with tribal nations to identify more film-friendly locations in these areas and film permitting policies.

Below are some highlights and economic impact case studies demonstrating how Film Ready Utah certified communities have worked with productions to create lasting impact.

Thunderbolts* (2025) / Marvel Studios

The first Marvel Studios movie to shoot in Utah, Thunderbolts* filmed in Green River for 11 days and spent $1.2 Million in Emery County and another $3.9 Million spent in 12 other counties across the state.

“The production filmed for 11 days in and around Green River with a
substantial economic impact on both our hotels and restaurants.”

-AnnDee Mead, Emery County Travel Bureau Director

Mountainhead (2025) / HBO

HBO chose Utah over other locations to film Mountainhead. The film starred Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef and shot in and around Park City, Utah. The production was persuaded to film in Utah not only for the 25% Incentive and ideal Location, but they also found experienced crew and vendors, access to existing infrastructure, and a better return on their investment. 

“Film is a powerful form of economic diversification — especially for counties whose primary economy depends on tourism. The HBO production demonstrated that film incentives are not merely tools to attract productions; they are vital economic development strategies that help stabilize and sustain local economies and help offset the seasonality of tourism in our communities.”

-Jennifer Wesselhoff, President & CEO of Park City Chamber of Commerce / Summit County

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) / Warner Bros.

Kevin Costner chose to film his western epic Horizon: An American Saga in Utah and the production filmed in 5 counties — Carbon, Grand, Kane, San Juan, and Washington over 70 days, but spent $94.6 Million across 22 counties (75% of Utah). This demonstrates how film and television production spend often spreads across the state. Each production is like a small business that is purchasing goods, supporting restaurants, booking hotels and injecting new dollars into Utah’s economy.

 “The production has made good on their commitment of local spend through not only the hiring of local crew and extras, but in purchase of raw materials and infrastructure services required to produce a film of this magnitude with minimal impact to our community. Because of their work in our community, our film industry is strengthening and expanding.”

-Joyce Kelly, Sales Manager / Film Commission, Greater Zion Tourism / Washington County

An Investment in What's Working for Rural Utah

The economic success of the Rural Utah Film Incentive Program illustrate that this investment in Utah’s film industry is critical to economic diversification in rural areas. With a consistent film incentive program, Utah remains globally competitive and when productions film here, they showcase our landscapes and talent to the world.

Learn more about Utah’s Motion Picture Incentive Program or contact the Utah Film Commission for more information.