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Film Studios and Backlots – the Latest

Updated list of the major film studio and backlot facilities worldwide - updated 2020
A record expansion of studio space is underway.

Our film studios and backlots directory is updated from time to time, as new projects are announced and existing venues change ownership or affiliation.   Some of these facilities include significant backlots and other interesting features.

 

The directory shows an unprecedented number of new studio facilities in development at this point in 2020, more than 20 new film studios.   The rapid increase in streaming of top-quality films and film series has created the demand for additional production locations.

 

The compilation we have here shows a first film studio facility in 1902 – Ealing Studios in the U.K.   There are some other facilities that claim the title as the first, such as Studio Babelsberg (1912) and Paramount Studios also in 1912 – United Studios opened at Paramount’s present location then and was acquired by Brunton Studio which itself was acquired by Paramount.  Gorkyfilm Studio (Moscow), Famous Players Fiction Studios (now owned by Raleigh Studios), and Carl Laemmle’s Universal Studios all followed in 1915.   We’re focused here on the studio facilities and their history, and not the studios as filmed content creators.

 

StoneCreek Partners | AEC gets involved with such projects when part of larger mixed-use developments.   The mixed-use economics, to the developers and investors, provides a more stable financial foundation than a standalone studio.   Some of our project involvements include Park City Film Studios, Camel Rock Studios, Wuxi Studios and several potential studio locations in France among other projects.  Some of our work has included highest-and-best-use and redevelopment strategies for existing studios, such as Lorimar Studios before it became part of Sony Pictures.

 

Highlights from our Film Studios and Backlots Directory are included below.   Our full report is available by contacting our office.

 

Film Studios Development Consultants - film studio and backlot facilities

Film Studios and Backlots Directory

Studio FacilitiesTypeEstablishedRegion
3 Mills Studios
London
Located on the site of a repurposed former distillery.1980'sU.K.
Albuquerque Studios / Netflix
5650 University Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, New Mexico
www.abqstudios.com
Purpose-built. Re-purposed site of former barracks. Developed by Pacifica Ventures.2007U.S.
Area 51 at Universal City
Universal City, California
Purpose-built, two new sound stages and production support building on the Universal City lot. Includes a pair of 18,000 SF stages (Soundstage 29 and 31) and a 23,000 SF 3-story production support building.2016U.S.
Ashford International Studios
Ashford Borough, Kent
Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI)
A planned (and approved) $300 million film studio, at the site of the former Newtown railway works.2023eU.K.
Atlas Film Studios / CLA Studios
Purpose-built1983 (Atlas)
2004 (CLA)
Morocco
ATX Studios
5330 Fleming Court, Austin, Texas
www.atxfilmstudios.com
Repurposed U.S. Food Service warehouse.2010U.S.
Auckland Film StudiosSituated on a 10.5-acre site.2016New Zealand
Austin Studios

operated by the Austin Film Society in partnership with the City of Austin.
Repurposed airport hangars.2000U.S.
Avalon StudiosPurpose-built1975New Zealand
Backlot at Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD)The 70,000-square meter backlot, the largest in the Middle East, with facilities including costume, makeup and dressing rooms as well as canteen and production offices.2016YAE
Barrandov Studios
Kříženeckého nám. 322/5, Prague
www.barrandov.cz
The largest film production studio in the Czech Republic.1931Czech Republic
Bastrop 552 Studios
Bastrup, Texas
546-acre master-planned development. Located about 30 miles southeast of Austin.2023eU.S.
Blackhall Studios
1415 Constitution Road SE, Atlanta
www.blackhallstudios.com
Purpose-built. Owned by Blackhall Global Partners, a part of Commonwealth Asset Management.2017U.S.
Blackhall Studios SFV
Los Angeles / Burbank
Owned by Blackhall Global Partners, a part of Commonwealth Asset Management.TBDU.S.
Blue Cloud Movie Ranch
20019 Blue Cloud Road
Santa Clarita, California
www.bluecloud.com
2001U.S.
Bridge StudiosRe-purposed, former Dominion Bridge property.1987Canada
Broadway Stages
New York
www.broadway-stages.com
Broadway Stages owns and operates over 50 sound stages throughout Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The company also acquired and converted the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, into a production complex.1983U.S.
Buffalo Studios
Buffalo, New York
Planned repurposing of the former 27-acre Republic Steel mill and Brownfield site on South Park Avenue near the Tesla plant. TBDU.S.
Camel Rock Studios
First Native-American owned studio
Re-purposed former casino.2020U.S.
Canadian Motion Picture Park Studios
8085 Glenwood Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia
www.cmppstudios.com
Studio with 35-acre lot and 18 stages. Has a 10-acre backlot resembling six American City streets. First established in 2000, as MJA Studios and expanded (and renamed) with 4 new stages in 2004.2004Canada
Cape Town Film Studios
Film City Boulevard, Faure, Cape Town
www.capetownfilmstudios.co.za
Purpose-built2010South Africa
Castel Film Studios1992Romania
CBS Stages Canada
1850 Matheson Blvd E, Mississauga, Ontario
2019Canada
Church Fenton Studios / Yorkshire
Church Fenton
Repurposed former Royal Air Force base.2016UK
Cinecittà Studios
Rome
1937Italy
Cinelease Studios Caven Point
21 Caven Point Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey
Criterion Group
A planned 135,000 SF film studio at a repurposed vacant warehouse property. 5.6-acre site. Some 70,000 SF of the facility will house 3 soundstages. A significant portion of the single-story structure will be retrofitted to rise to 53 FT. 2021U.S.
Ciudad de la Luz (Alicante)
Shuttered in 2012
Purpose-built2005Spain
Culver Studios
9336 West Washington Blvd., Culver City, California
Owned by Hackman Capital Partners.1918U.S,
Deep South Studios
1200 Mardi Gras Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana
www.deepsouthstudios.com
First announced in 2015.2018U.S.
Diamond Sky Studio Complex
East Scottsdale Consulting Inc.
Peoria, Arizona
www.diamondskystudio.com
Purpose-builtTBDU.S.
Docklands Studios
Melbourne
2004Australia
DreamWorks Animation Studios
Glendale, California
Totals 497,403 SF over 15 acres, and includes office space, production and motion-capture studios, a theater, and green rooms, 1997U.S.
Ealing Studios1902U.K.
East Studios LLC
New Orleans, Louisiana
Reported to be a project of Actor Anthony Mackie. Planned on a 20-acre site, near the Little Woods neighborhood on the Interstate 10 Service Road at Read Boulevard. TBDU.S.
Eastbrook Studios London
Dagenham, U.K.
Hackman Capital has agreed to take this project forward, envisioned to include 12 soundstages and 3 acres of backlot, offices and ancillary space, totaling over half a million SF. In October, 2019, Pacifica Ventures indicated it would not take the project forward, having been selected in 2018 as the preferred bidder. Re-purposed, former 22-acre pharmaceutical factory site at London East Business and Technical Park. 2023 eU.K.
Echelon Studios
Bain Capital Real Estate. Near Paramount and Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, the site of an old Sears store. Plans call for a studio with five soundstages and support facilities including offices and space for production base camps where trucks, equipment and actors’ trailers are placed.2025eU.S.
Estudios Churubusco Azteca1945Mexico
EUE/Screen Gems - Atlanta
Atlanta
Purpose-built.
Located at former Lakewood Fairgrounds site. 33-acre facility.
2010U.S.
EUE/Screen Gems - Miami
Miami
2015U.S.
EUE/Screen Gems - Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
1985U.S.
Farm Studios
13416 Dickson Road, Hiwasse, Arkansas
www.bentonvillestudios.com
Includes 10,000 SF of shooting space.2019U.S.
First Stage Studio
31 Bath Road, Port of Leith
www.firststagestudios.com
Repurposing of existing Port of Leith industrial building. Envisioned to include 60,000 SF to house up to five sound stages, workshops, 27,000 SF of production offices, along with an extensive backlot. The developer was awarded the tender by Screen Scotland. In 2017, the building had been temporarily used as part of the production for Disney/Marvel's blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War.
TBDScotland
First Studio City Toronto
Markham, Toronto
www.firststudiocity.com
TBDCanada
Fox Studios AustraliaRe-purposed former former Sydney Showground at Moore Park.1998Australia
Fox Studios Baja2001Mexico
Garson Studios
1600 St. Michaels Drive, Santa Fe
www.garsonstudios.com
Founded by actress Greer Garson.1990U.S.
Gorkyfilm Studio
Moscow
www.gorkyfilm.ru
1915Russia
Hamilton Studio District
Hamilton, Ontario
Aeon Studio Group (Toronto)
The plan is to build the "Hamilton Studio District," a "live-work-play development" that will include a production campus, studios for post-production, animation and visual effects, a crew training facility, office buildings and more. On the Barton-Tiffany Lands in central Hamilton.TBDCanada
Henderson Valley Studios
Henderson, West Auckland
1994New Zealand
Hengdian World StudiosCovering almost 3,000 hectares (7,000 acres) and known to some as Chinawood.1996China
Huairou complex
China Film Group’
Replacement facility for the former (storied) Beijing Film Studio
Purpose-built. In 2021, the Beijing Film Academy (first established 1952) opened a campus here.2008China
Huayi Brothers Movie World
Suzhou
2018China
I-25 Studios
9201 Pan American Fwy. NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico
www.i-25studios.com
Re-purposed. First used as a “location” on projects in 2006, the former Philips facility.2006U.S.
Industry Go
14-16 Burma Road, New Jersey
150 Theodore Conrad Drive, New Jersey
The existing buildings will be converted into 180,777 SF of Class A film and television production studio space. Both venues will be 50 FT in height; renovations envisioned to include full structural reinforcement, raising the roof heights, adding new HVAC systems, and bringing power up to studio requirements.TBDU.S.
Iskandar Malaysia Studios
Associated with Pinewood during its initial 10 years of operation. Has a 30-acre forest backlot.
2014Malaysia
Kaufman Astoria Studios
34-12 36th St, Queens, New York
The studio was originally established for constructed for Famous Players-Lasky in 1920.1920U.S.
Korda Studios
Etyek
www.kordastudio.hu
2007Hungary
Kumeu Film Studios
Kumeu, Auckland
2017New Zealand
La Cité du CinémaAlso known as Les Studios de Paris, a project of French director and mogul Luc Besson.2012France
Leeds Studio
Whitehall Road, Holbeck
2020U.K.
Lionsgate Studios Yonkers
1 Larkin Plaza, Yonkers, New York
Purpose-built, 500,000 SF. Great Point Capital Management and Natural Resources, in partnership with Lionsgate Studios. Owned and operated by Great Point Studios.2022U.S.
Los Angeles Center Studios
450 S Bixel Street, Los Angeles
The studio itself was opened in 1999, three years after Union Oil Company of California vacated the premises.1999U.S.
Mafilm Studios1948Hungary
Mammoth Studios
2880 Underhill Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia
www.mammothstudios.ca
Includes North Shore Studios, a separate facility, once known as Lions Gate Studios (North Vancouver).2002 eCanada
Manhattan Beach Studios (MBS) Media Campus
1600 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California
www.mbsmediacampus.com
Purpose-built. Acquired by Square Mile Capital with Hackman Capital Partners (2019).1998U.S.
Martini Film Studios
9390 198th Street Langley, BC
www.martinifilmstudios.com
Purpose-built expansion. Upon the completion of the new facility, MFS will more than triple its current size and capacity, and become the largest provider of film studio facilities in the region. It is estimated Metro Vancouver’s film and television production capacity will increase by up to 15% as a result of the new 216th Street studio location. MFS first opened in Metro Vancouver in 2017 with warehouse-to-studio converted facilities, totaling 250,000 sq. ft. at 9390-9390 198th Street and 19714 96th Avenue near Highway 1’s 200 Street interchange in Langley City.2017Canada
Mehboob Studio
Mumbai
Includes five shooting stages.1954India
Mel's Cité du Cinéma
Montreal
www.mels-studios.com
2000Canada
Mercian Studios
Birmingham
Nikal (developer)
Mercian Studios will comprise six soundstages, including one space suitable for TV broadcasts, along with pre- and post-production facilities.TBDU.K.
Michigan Motion Picture StudiosRe-purposed, former GM auto factory.2011U.S.
Milan StudioAt the site of an abandoned Manifattura Tabacchi tobacco plant. At the time, a project of Pirelli Real Estaten/aItaly
Monumental Studios
Albuquerque, New Mexico
www.monumentalstudios.com
Newly-formed studio facility and studio services management group, a venture of Adventure Entertainment Cos., LLC, Justin Zoladz, and Shayne Hartigan.2021U.S.
Mosfilm1923Russia
Netflix New York
333 Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
At Johnson Avenue In Brooklyn, the company leased about 170,000 SF to build six sound stages and support spaces. Corporate offices are at 888 Broadway (Flatiron District) in NYC.2021U.S.
New England Studios
100 Studio Way, Devens, Massachusetts
www.nestudios.com
Purpose-built2013U.S.
New Republic Studios
140 Utley Road, Elgin, Texas
www.newrepublicstudios.com
The former Spiderwood Studios.2009U.S.
Noida Film City
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
1,000 acres. Expected to boost the Agra-Mathura-Vrindavan tourism circuit, along with overall economic development in the region. Noida is a planned city in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh.TBDIndia
North Shore Studios1989Canada
Nu BoyanaSuccessor of the state-owned Boyana Film Studio1962Bulgaria
Old Tucson (Studios)Expansion of standings sets for film, "Arizona" (1940).1960U.S.
OMA Film Studios
1 Mollison Avenue, Waltham Cross London
Location Collective
www.omafilmstudios.co.uk
139,000 SFTBDU.K.
Oriental Movie Metropolis (Wanda)
Qingdao
166-hectare film campus2018China
Origo Studios2010Hungary
Paramount Studios
The former Brunton Studio, first opened as United Studios.
Purpose-built1912Russia
Pentland Studios
Edinburgh, Scotland
PSL Land
Project will not proceed - a Scottish Land Court ruled that land from two smallholdings could not be used for the development (11/2018).n/aScotland
Pinewood Atlanta Studios
River's Rock Trust (Cathy family)
Purpose-built on a 700-acre site.2013U.S.
Pinewood Indomina Studios
Dominican Republic
2013Dominican Republic
Pinewood Toronto Studios
Formerly known as Filmport
225 Commissioners St, Toronto, Ontario
www.pinewoodgroup.com
Bell Media, major shareholder. Re-purposed, former Imperial Oil brownfield site (Port Lands).2008Canada
Pinewood/Shepperton Studios
London
1931U.K.
Prague Studios1999Czech Republic
Raleigh Studios
Opened as Famous Players Fiction Studios, with several owners to follow.
Purpose-built1915U.S.
Ramoji Film City
www.ramojifilmcity.com
Purpose-built, on 1,666 acres.1996India
Rich Products Film Studio
Buffalo, New York
Purpose-built, groundbreaking scheduled for September 2020.TBDU.S.
Santa Fe Studios
1 Santa Fe Studios Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico
www.santafestudios.com
Purpose-built2011U.S.
Saticoy Studios (Raleigh)
Van Nuys, California
Features two high bay, purpose-built sound stages featuring pre/post production offices2012U.S.
Second Line Stages
Louisiana
www.secondlinestages.com
Owned by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital.2009U.S.
Shanghai Film Studio
Shanghai Film Group Corporation
1962China
Sharpened Iron Studios
Amarillo, Texas
www.sharpenedironstudios.com
First facilities in operation in a repurposed portion of Amarillo College.2021U.S.
Shinfield Studios by Blackhall
Reading, Berkshire, England. U.K.
Purpose-built, to be situated in the Thames Valley Science Park (University of Reading). Owned by Blackhall Global Partners, a part of Commonwealth Asset Management. December 2021 - the project has received full planning permission from Wokingham Borough Council to begin construction, which will include 18 sound stages. Some stages received expedited planning approval and are completed.2022U.K.
Silvercup Studios
42-22 22nd Street, Long Island City, New York
www.silvercupstudios.com
Hackman Capital Partners (Culver City) is leading an investor group to acquire, for $500 million, to close by September 2020, month-end. Silvercup includes three campuses totaling 10.4 acres, the Main lot and East lot in Long Island City, Queens, and Silvercup North in the Bronx. Silvercup Studios was first established on the site of historic Silvercup Bakery in 1983.2016U.S.
Sky Studios Elstree
Elstree (London), England
Will include 14 soundstages on a 32-acre project site.TBDU.K.
Snowdonia Studios
North Wales
TBDWales
Steiner Studios
Brooklyn, New York
Facilities include 30 soundstages and a backlot, along the Brooklyn waterfront.2004U.S.
Stone Street Studios
Miramar, Wellington
www.stonestreetstudios.co.nz
Stone Street Studios has four warehouse stages and two sound stages, including a 24,500 SF stage built for King Kong. Purpose-built, on 8 acres. New Zealand's only purpose-built sound stages. A former paint factory that was converted into studios while The Lord of the Rings was in pre-production. 1999New Zealand
Studio Babelsberg
The world's oldest film studio, famous for being the setting for the films "Nosferatu" and Fritz Lang's "Metropolis."
Set on 41 acres.1912Germany
Studio City / Gray Television
Doraville, Georgia
Former General Motors plant. In Spring 2021, the Doraville Downtown Development Authority has voted to transfer the property to Gray Television. The development is envisioned to include apartments, townhomes, a hotel, 10 movie and television studios, offices, retail space and an e-gaming facility. TBDU.S.
Studio City at Mina Zayed
Twofour54
Purpose-built, announced.TBDUAE
Studio City Toronto
915 Lake Shore Blvd E., Toronto, Ontario
www.studiocitytoronto.ca
6/15/20 - Three (3) new soundstages now under construction. Studio City’s new stages, opening in 2021, will include the renowned Jumbo; a 36,000 sf stage with height clearance up to 55' at its peak, purpose-built to accommodate the needs of the blockbuster film sets.

Currently offering over 80,000 sf of production facilities. In May 2018, CreateTO issued an RFP from companies to lease the former Showline property and operate the production facility. Studio City Toronto won the bid.
TBDCanada
Studio Cube
Daejeon
A two-story building with floor space of 345,000 SF. Located in the EXPO Science Park in Daejeon, 164 km south of Seoul.2017South Korea
Studio West1975New Zealand
Sunset Bronson Studios
5800 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood
Home to Netflix. A Hudson Pacific Properties / Blackstone property.1923U.S.
Sunset Gower Studios
1438 N. Gower Street, Los Angeles
Sunset Gower Studios is the largest independent studio in Hollywood with 12 stages. A Hudson Pacific Properties / Blackstone property.1912U.S.
Sunset Las Palmas Studios
1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Los Angeles
A Hudson Pacific Properties / Blackstone property1919U.S.
Sunset Park Film Production FacilitySteiner Studios has been selected by the city to build this new production facility, at the Economic Development Corp.'s Made In New York campus at Bush Terminal.TBDU.S.
Television City
Los Angeles, California
Purpose-built, 780,000 SF on 22 acres. Constructed on a former football field and race track, Gilmore Stadium. Before the stadium, the property was an oil field. Owned by Hackman Capital Partners.1952U.S.
The Center at Needham Ranch
Operated by LA North Studios
113,640 SF as a satellite soundstage hub.2020U.S.
The MBS Group
Lighting & Grip company. Owned by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital.2012U.S.
The Studio Ranch
Weber County, Utah
Bay Entertainment Group
Proposed film studio, film school, and mixed-use amenities, on 87-acre parcel off 1200 South abutting the Weber River and the southwestern Marriott-Slaterville city boundary.TBDU.S.
Tony Robbins Studio
2951 Electronics Way, West Palm Beach, Florida
October 2020 - Ohio Resources LLC has acquired a 28,000 SF warehouse (38 FT interior ceilings) for adaptive re-use as a production studio.TBDU.S.
Totah Studios
Farmington, New Mexico
2021U.S.
Troy Studios
Limerick
2017Ireland
Tyler Perry Studios at Fort McPherson
One Tyler Perry Studios Way, Atlanta
www.tylerperrystudios.com
Re-purposed, part of former Fort McPherson complex. Relocated from first location in Inman Park (established 2006).2019U.S.
Universal StudiosPurpose-built1915U.S.
Utah Film Studios
4001 Kearns Blvd, Park City, Utah
www.utahfilmstudios.com
Purpose-built. Known as Park City Film Studios at its opening.2015U.S.
Vancouver Film Studios
McLean Group of Companies
First established as Northstar International Studios
Purpose-built and re-purposed buildings1987Canada
Village Roadshow Studios1986Australia
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden
Warner Drive, Leavesden, Watford
www.wbsl.com
2012U.K.
Warner Bros.
www.studiooperations.warnerbros.com
1923U.S.
Wildflower Film Studio
Astoria, Queens, New York
Wildflower Development Group
New facility announced on a five acre project site, envisioned to include 600,000 SF of stages and product support.TBDU.S.
Wolf Studios2017UK
Workpoint Entertainment Studio
Bangkok
Purpose-built, including five NC 30-approved soundstages.2007Thailand
Wuxi StudiosRe-purposed, on site of Xuelang Steel Mill.2012China
Xiangshan Film and TV City (Ningbo)2005China
Yas Creative Hub
Abu Dhabi
2022eUAE
York Studios
34-02 Laurel Hill Blvd, Maspeth, New York
www.yorkstudios.com
Consists of a 175,000 SF facility at York's Michaelangelo Campus, and 40,000 SF at the their Maspeth campus. First established in 2012.2020U.S.
Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio
Ningxia, near Yinchuan
1992China
Athena Studios, Georgia
2023eU.S.

Directory of Film Studios & Backlots

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