Schedule Shifts Soften May

The June edition of the Sohonet Screen Production Index records new scripted production starts in May at 7% above the May 2025 level, although 13% below the value projected in last month's report. The shortfall reflects an atypical number of titles being pushed into later months, with several major Amazon and Netflix productions now scheduled for June rather than May.

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H1 Projection Remains Strong

Our Q2 2026 projection now stands 32% above Q2 2025 and 14% below the 2022 reference point, comparable to last month's +35% and −13%. The slight softening is concentrated in May. Our projection for the June to August window grew 14% versus last month, split fairly evenly across the three months. The H1 view remains strong and intact.

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New York and Amazon Accelerate

After a strong April in which the UK took 29% of new productions, May saw the US re-establish dominance with 46% of starts (matching the March reading), while the UK softened to 16%. Whether this represents a return to the structural baseline or further volatility will be clearer over the next two cycles. Within the US, California led at 42% of domestic productions, followed by New York and Georgia. Of particular note, smoothed budget value in New York is now 178% higher than in May 2025, the strongest year-on-year movement of any major US market.

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At the studio level, Amazon was the standout. After a quiet 2025, the studio's smoothed value has accelerated through 2026 and in May overtook both Apple and Disney, leaving only Netflix ahead. Amazon's forward calendar reinforces this trajectory.

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Smoothed Spend Remains Buoyant

Our smoothed budget measure rose 3% in May, continuing the upward trajectory established through Q1. It is now 39% higher than May 2025 and 18% higher than three months ago, reaching its highest level since November 2024. With a dense pipeline confirmed across June, July, and August, we expect this measure to continue rising through H1 and into H2 2026.

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The Sohonet Screen Production Index tracks scripted, live-action productions entering principal photography each month from major studios and production companies across the US, UK, and Canada. A free two-page Snapshot is published monthly; the full Insight report, including regional breakdowns, studio analysis, and forward pipeline data, is available by subscription.

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[Learn more about the Screen Production Index]

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