DC Studios’ blockbuster Superman reboot is flying at the box office but its largesse began earlier with shooting in Georgia and Ohio contributing more than $100 million in direct spending to the local economies.
Superman filmed a total of 68 days throughout the greater Atlanta region, accounting for $82.8 million in local economic activity, according to a report by the Motion Picture Association. The production created 1,233 jobs, used 2,628 local extras, supported 441 local businesses and delivered $43.6 million in local wages.
Production incentives have become a major focus for the MPA and its chairman and CEO Charlie Rivkin and the group take periodic looks at the impact of specific projects.
State legislators have been recognizing the benefits with sweetened packages put in place recently in California, as well as New York and Texas. Benefits locally include spending on lodging and catering, car and truck rentals, camera and lighting equipment, local props and location fees and VFX and post-production.
The Warner Bros. Discovery film by James Gunn just had a massive opening weekend and stands at about $138 million domestic and $233 million worldwide.
In Ohio, Superman filmed a total of 21 days in Cleveland, contributing over $17.5 million in direct spending there. That included hiring 2,898 local cast, extras, and crew members earning more than $5.9 million in wages, and supporting 272 local Cleveland-based businesses and government agencies.
Combined, the total U.S. economic impactof Superman lands at $100.3+ million including a combined $49.5 million in wages; $11.8 million on lighting and electrical; $5.6 million on lodging and catering; $5.2 million on car and truck rentals; $4.5 million on lumber and hardware; $2.5 million on location fees and $1.04 million on VFX & postproduction.
The production hired a total of 6,759 local cast, crew and extras and worked with 713 vendors.
“When production of Superman took flight, residents of Georgia and Ohio witnessed more than a hero who could leap tall buildings in a single bound. They experienced the immediate benefits that spring from a singular investment in great storytelling,” said Rivkin. “With every production comes good-paying jobs for local workers, support for local small businesses, and prosperity for local economies. The Man of Steel’s rebirth is no different, translating scenes on the streets of Metropolis into a real economic boost for communities from Atlanta to Cleveland.”
