Oklahoma film industry grows as incentives attract filmmakers

This story originally appeared on The Journal Record by Sam Royka

Public and private investments are fueling record growth across Oklahoma’s film industry, driven by state rebates, city incentives and a rising output of independent productions.

The growth is strategic, according to Jeanette Stanton, director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office.

In fiscal year 2026, Oklahoma hosted 45 productions, Stanton said. The projects generated an estimated $120 million in direct state spending, created 6,800 local jobs and logged 750 shooting days.

Activity in fiscal year 2027 is moving even faster, Stanton said. Since July 1, 20 films have qualified for incentives, generating $26 million in spending, 2,700 local jobs and 466 shooting days in just three months.

Statewide, film and TV production spending has grown $161.3 million annually since lawmakers raised the state’s annual cash rebate budget from $8 million to $30 million in 2021. 

That increase placed Oklahoma’s incentive program 18th nationally in film incentive rankings, according to a study by Oklahoma City-based economic research firm RegionTrack Inc.

While more than 40 states and 80 countries compete for film projects through financial rebates, Oklahoma counters that competition with a stacked-incentive strategy, said Jill Simpson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office.

Depending on where filmmakers choose to produce their movies, they can receive rebates of up to 40%. 

The state provides a 20% to 30% cash rebate, while city governments offer additional incentives. Oklahoma City, for example, offers a 5% to 10% city rebate on top of the state program. 

Other entities have built their own incentive programs to attract productions, including Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the Cherokee Nation.

The Cherokee Nation’s incentive program provides up to $1 million annually for films and TV shows shot within the tribe’s reservation.

Overall, the incentives are producing results.

In 2025, the film office reported that Oklahoma City’s $1 million film rebate for the feature film “Twisters” generated more than $60 million in direct economic returns, bringing production work to surrounding communities, including El Reno, Chickasha, Midwest City and Spencer.

Indie films

“In the current climate of major studios taking projects overseas to save on labor costs, Oklahoma is leaning back into independent filmmaking, which is in our roots,” Simpson said.

Independent films and smaller studios are central to this momentum, Stanton said. These productions can have higher budgets than some might realize, with independent film budgets in Oklahoma ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars.

“They’ve always been there,” Stanton said. “I believe they’ll continue to be there.”

In September, Polaris Films and Buffalo Roam Studios partnered to build a repeatable independent film production ecosystem in Bartlesville.

And there is another major indie example filming in Oklahoma City this fall, Simpson said. 

“Copperhead,” an independent feature film starring Jason Momoa, is currently shooting in Oklahoma City.

As with the 2024 film “Twisters,” Simpson said Oklahoma City’s rebate was the deciding factor in bringing “Copperhead” to Oklahoma.

“Black Label Media, producers of “Copperhead,” were planning to film in Ft. Worth, where the story is set,” she said. “The additional rebate offered by OKC was the additional factor.”

The film starring Momoa is expected to wrap production in early November.

“We’re super excited to have them,” Stanton said. “There’s a lot of local components tied to this.”

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is also preparing to announce a record number of productions filming simultaneously across the metro area, said Kayla Williams, the chamber’s communications director.

To grow the industry and streamline filmmaking, crews across Oklahoma are adopting back-end automation technology to reduce costs and shorten shooting schedules without sacrificing human talent.

In Bartlesville, that includes automating production scheduling so filmmakers can focus on working with their talent.

“I think even now in Oklahoma, especially in Oklahoma City, there’s individuals working on how to use updated technology to make their production maybe faster or even less expensive to produce,” Stanton said.