The £5.6bn total spend was a rise of almost a third on the previous year and ahead of the 2019 pre-pandemic figures

The BFI’s latest production-spend stats show that inward investment and co-production in the UK on film and HETV was £4.8bn last year, up 43% on 2023 figures and making up 86% of the total spend.

The total spend on film and high-end television production in the UK was £5.6bn in 2024, a 31% increase on 2023 and ahead of 2019 pre-covid production spend.

Film production hit £2.1bn, an increase of 56% on 2023; HETV production was nearly £3.4bn (*including £511m from 25 ‘film’ productions made for streaming platforms), an increase of 20% on 2023 and still third highest annual spend since tax relief was introduced in 2013.

UK domestic film production spend was £186m, a 24% increase on 2023 and 9% of the total spend on film; UK domestic HETV production spend is £598m, 17% of total HETV production, and a 22% decrease on 2023.

BFI chief executive Ben Roberts said: “The UK’s film and TV industries continue to be a powerhouse for creativity, investment and jobs. After a disrupted 2023, including the impact of US strikes, production spend rebounded to £5.6 billion in 2024 – up 31% on the previous year – demonstrating the UK’s strength as a world-leading destination for filmmaking. Wicked, made here in the UK, led the box office, following Barbie’s success in 2023, while independent films like Back to Black and One Life helped grow market share.

“At the same time, we know these figures don’t tell the whole story. The 22% drop in domestic HETV spend is a reminder that many in the industry are feeling the pressure, and what happens next will be critical. Continued investment in skills and infrastructure, alongside strong government support, is essential to ensuring the UK remains a magnet for international productions while strengthening our independent sector for the future.”

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, added: “Today’s figures reflect the buoyancy and continued growth of our inward investment film and HETV production sector in the UK. After a challenging 2023 due to US strikes, and a slower than expected return to production, these figures reflect the increased inward investment film and HETV production activity we saw in the UK as 2024 gathered pace. So we see 2024 as a transitional year.

“Looking forward, we’re cautiously optimistic. The British Film Commission is experiencing the highest level of inward investment production enquiries for many years. And while we’re still waiting for the market to settle, to reach a ‘new normal’, we have strong support from UK Government, new and enhanced tax credits – including an increased VFX tax credit and the all-new credit for independent films – a world-class skills base and a UK-wide offer of diverse locations and stage space boasting cutting edge facilities.

“The UK remains well-placed to see a competitive share of the global production spend and all signs are that we’ll see strong growth in film and HETV in coming months.”

• Whilst most productions for streamers are captured as HETV production because they use the HETV cultural test to access tax relief, some are captured within film data because they use the film cultural test.
  

The BFI’s regional breakdown of productions around the UK in 2024 is as follows:

• Northern Ireland: film – How to Train Your Dragon, World Breaker, Saipan; HETV – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: the Hedge Knight, Art Detectives, Dalgleish (series 3), Malpractice (series 2), How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, Trespasses
• Scotland: film – Borges and Me, Son of Sardaar 2, Glenrothan, Grow, Tornado, California Schemin; HETV – Karen Pirie (series 2), The Island (An t-Eilean), Blood of My Blood, Outlander (season 8). Shetland (series 9), The Buccaneers (series 2)
• Wales: film – The Scurry, The Man in My Basement, H is for Hawk, Madfabulous, Mr Burton, Out There; HETV – Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, Mudtown, The War Between the Land and the Sea, Under Salt Marsh, The Change (series 2), Young Sherlock (series 2)
• London: film – Downton Abbey 3, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Christmas Karma, Marching Powder, Moss and Freud; HETV – Slow Horses (seasons 5 & 6), Strike: The Ink Black Heart, Deep Cover, Too Much, The Diplomat (season 3)
• East of England: film – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Warfare, The Running Man, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Jurassic World, Rebirth; HETV – the Cleaner (series 3), Ludwig, The Franchise, Grantchester (series 10), Code of Silence, Silo (season 3), Man vs Baby
• East Midlands: film – Hedda, CC: Emily; HETV – The Seven Dials Mystery, Missing You, Frankenstein, Reunion, Peaky Blinders: War aka The Immortal Man
• West Midlands: film – Hamnet; HETV – Three Birds, aka We Go Again, Man Like Mobeen (series 5), The Immortal Man: A Peaky Blinders Film
• North-east: film – 28 Years Later Parts 1 and 2, Night and Day, Housefull 5; HETV – Transaction, Vera (series 14), I Fought the Law
• North-west: film – Greenland: Migration, Bank of Dave 2: the Loan Ranger, Fackham Hall, CC: Emily; HETV – Disability Benefits, Fountain of Youth, Missing You, This City is Ours, House of Guinness, The Talamasca
• South-east: film – The Magic Faraway Tree, Bugonia, Project Hail Mary, Pressure, The Fantastic Four: First Steps; The Thursday Murder Club; HETV – The Witcher (season 4), Grace (series 5), The Devil’s Hour (season 3), The Gold (series 2), Wild Cherry, Ladies First
• South-west: film – Bad Apples, Umbaro, Retreat, Rose of Nevada, Mother’s Pride, The Dreadful; HETV – The Forsyte Saga, Am I Being Unreasonable (series 2), Boarders (series 2), Inheritance, The Crow Girl, Beyond Paradise (series 3)
• Yorkshire and the Humber: film – Giant, 28 Years Later, The Choral, Falling, Maintenance Required; HETV – All Creatures Great and Small (series 5), Riot Women, Virdee, Reunion, Adolescence