The sequel to The Simpsons Movie headlines the 38 movies granted subsidies in the latest round of tax credits granted to productions by California’s film office.
Disney’s 20th Century Studios will get $21.9 million for shooting the film in the state. The company is taking advantage of California’s recent changes to the tax incentive program expanding the eligible categories of production to include animated movies.
Other projects that will get subsidies include untitled films from Paramount ($25.9 million) and Dreamworks Animation ($24.7 million), plus a Disney live-action title ($18.2 million). In total, the 38 films will nab roughly $193.5 million for $545 million in qualified spending, which includes $373 million in wages. They’re expected to generate nearly $800 million in economic activity across more than 1,000 shooting days while employing over 5,300 cast and crew.
“California remains the entertainment capital of the world — and we’re making sure it stays that way,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Our expanded film and television tax credit is keeping more productions here in the Golden State, creating good-paying jobs and supporting communities statewide.”
The announcement comes amid a historic production slump in California and, specifically, Los Angeles. Major soundstages recorded a 62 percent occupancy rate during the first six months of 2025, down one percent from anemic levels recorded in 2024, according to data released from local film office FilmLA in March. For comparison soundstages participating in the survey from 2016 to 2022 reported an average occupancy rate of at least 90 percent.
In this allotment of tax credits, animation emerged as major participants as the production category became eligible for the first time in the program’s history. They include a Phineas and Ferb film from Disney, which will get $3.5 million for creating the title in the state.
“This round marks a truly exciting milestone for our program. For the first time, we’re welcoming animated feature films from powerhouses DreamWorks Animation and Walt Disney, alongside a strong slate of big budget features and independent productions, that bring fresh voices and original storytelling to the screen,” said California Film Commission director Colleen Bell in a statement. “With more than 45% of filming days taking place outside the traditional studio zone, we’re seeing the real-world economic impact of this program reach communities across the entire state.”
Other titles nabbing tax credits: Black is Blue ($1.3 million), The Renewal ($14 million), Self-Help ($2.6 million) and Tommy & Me ($9.8 million).
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