Why Hollywood Is Moving Productions to New Mexico
For decades, Hollywood productions were almost exclusively centered around Los Angeles. But over the past twenty years, the film industry has undergone a major shift. More and more productions—from independent films to major studio projects—are choosing to shoot outside California.
One state that has emerged as a major filming destination is New Mexico.
Thanks to its diverse landscapes, competitive film incentives, growing production infrastructure, and relatively low production costs, the state has become one of the most attractive filming locations in the United States.
From large studio projects to independent filmmakers, Hollywood is increasingly moving productions to New Mexico—and for good reason.
One of the Most Competitive Film Incentive Programs in the U.S.
One of the biggest drivers behind New Mexico’s film boom is the state’s film tax incentive program.
Productions that meet eligibility requirements can receive roughly 25–40% in refundable tax credits on qualifying in-state spending.
For large productions, this can represent millions of dollars in savings.
The incentive program also encourages productions to hire local crew members, businesses, and services, which strengthens the local film economy and production ecosystem.
Because of this financial advantage, many films that are set in other states or even other countries are actually filmed in New Mexico.
An Incredible Variety of Landscapes
While the desert environments of the American Southwest are often the first thing filmmakers think about, New Mexico offers far more than desert landscapes.
One of the biggest advantages of filming in the state is the extraordinary diversity of locations within relatively short driving distances.
Filmmakers can find:
desert landscapes
alpine mountain ranges
dense forests
grasslands and plains
canyons and mesas
historic towns
modern cities
ranches and farmland
In northern New Mexico alone, productions can shoot in mountains, forests, and alpine landscapes that double for states like Colorado, Montana, or Idaho.
Southern New Mexico, meanwhile, offers desert terrain that can represent Arizona, Nevada, Mexico, or Middle Eastern environments.
This geographic diversity allows filmmakers to shoot multiple locations within the same state without moving their entire production.
Desert Landscapes That Double for the Middle East
For war films and action movies, New Mexico’s desert terrain is particularly valuable.
The southern part of the state features:
wide desert plains
rocky hills and mountains
dusty roads
isolated landscapes
These environments closely resemble regions in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Because of this, New Mexico has become a popular war movie filming location in the United States.
Productions can recreate settings in places such as:
Afghanistan
Iraq
Syria
North Africa
Without leaving the country.
One example of a specialized location designed for these kinds of productions is the Wesely Bros Military Film Set in Deming, New Mexico.
A Purpose-Built Military Film Set in the Desert
Located in the desert landscape of southern New Mexico, the Wesely Bros Military Film Set provides a realistic forward operating base designed specifically for military-themed productions.
The property sits on roughly five acres of desert terrain, while the main base itself covers approximately 1,350 square meters.
The base is built as a realistic Forward Operating Base (FOB) similar to those used by deployed military units.
The perimeter includes:
HESCO barriers
barbed wire defenses
defensive perimeter walls
two secured entrance gates
two watchtowers
A camp of this size would realistically house 70 to 100 soldiers, making it suitable for a wide range of war film scenarios.
Because the base is relatively compact, it can represent either a standalone military outpost or a section of a larger military installation.
Interior Military Sets Ready for Filming
To support interior scenes, the base includes four shipping containers converted into functional film sets.
Barracks Container
The barracks container represents the living quarters of soldiers and includes:
bunk beds
two working bathrooms
a functional shower
a separate captain’s quarters
Armory Container
The armory container contains military gear used for filming, including:
uniforms
helmets
tactical vests
prop weapons
Command Office Container
The command container functions as a military operations room where briefings and strategy discussions take place.
Medical Container
The medical container is designed as a field hospital environment, suitable for scenes involving battlefield injuries or emergency treatment.
These ready-to-use environments can significantly reduce production setup time.
Major Studios Are Investing in the State
The growth of New Mexico’s film industry is not just driven by incentives—it is also supported by major studio investment.
For example:
Netflix established a major production hub at Albuquerque Studios and committed to spending over $1 billion in the state.
NBCUniversal also opened a large production facility and pledged hundreds of millions in production spending.
These investments have helped turn New Mexico into one of the fastest-growing production hubs in the United States.
A Growing Local Film Workforce
Another reason Hollywood productions choose New Mexico is the growing availability of experienced local crew.
The state has invested heavily in training programs and workforce development, helping build a professional film workforce capable of supporting major productions.
This allows productions to hire locally for positions such as:
camera departments
lighting crews
production design
construction teams
transportation departments
Hiring local crew members also helps productions qualify for additional incentives.
Exceptional Natural Light for Cinematography
Cinematographers often mention another reason they enjoy filming in New Mexico: the quality of the light.
The state is known for its:
dramatic sunsets
clear skies
strong natural contrast
large open horizons
This natural lighting environment can enhance the visual quality of outdoor scenes and reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Reliable Weather and Long Shooting Seasons
New Mexico also offers excellent filming weather.
The state averages around 300 days of sunshine per year, which allows productions to shoot exterior scenes with fewer weather interruptions.
Compared with coastal filming locations, the region is also less prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes.
This reliability makes scheduling production much easier.
Lower Production Costs
Beyond incentives, New Mexico often offers lower overall production costs compared with traditional film markets.
These savings can include:
lower location rental fees
more affordable lodging for crews
lower permitting costs
less congestion at filming locations
For independent filmmakers in particular, these cost advantages can make the difference between a project moving forward or not.
Strategic Location in the Southwest
New Mexico is also geographically well positioned for productions working across the Southwest.
For example, Deming, New Mexico, is located within driving distance of several major cities:
El Paso – about 1.5 hours
Tucson – about 3 hours
Albuquerque – about 4 hours
Phoenix – about 4.5 hours
Even major production hubs like Los Angeles and Las Vegas are reachable within a day’s drive.
Conclusion
Hollywood’s shift toward regional production hubs has opened new opportunities for filmmakers across the United States.
Among these emerging production centers, New Mexico has become one of the most important filming destinations in the country.
With its diverse landscapes, competitive film incentives, strong production infrastructure, and reliable weather, the state offers filmmakers a powerful combination of creative flexibility and financial advantages.
Locations such as the Wesely Bros Military Film Set in Deming, New Mexico demonstrate how specialized environments within the state can support productions that require realistic military settings.
For filmmakers searching for film locations in New Mexico, desert film locations, or war movie filming environments in the United States, the state continues to offer some of the most compelling opportunities in the industry.