From the original “Oceans Eleven” and “Viva Las Vegas” to “Casino” and “The Hangover,” Las Vegas has long been a captivating backdrop for movies and TV shows such as “CSI: Vegas” and “Pawn Stars.”
“Hacks,” the HBO Max series set in Las Vegas, was one of 337 productions that spent $93.3 million last year in Nevada, according to Film Nevada, a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
GOED recently hosted a special screening of the season five finale of the critically-acclaimed series — which received a tax credit from Film Nevada — followed by a panel discussion that highlighted the economic impact of the film and television production in the state.
The final season of “Hacks,” which featured two episodes filmed at the Fontainebleau, employed more than 1,100 Nevada residents, supported nearly 300 businesses across the state and injected millions of dollars into the Nevada economy, according to production representatives.
“‘Hacks’ is one example of how film and television productions can deliver meaningful economic benefits while promoting Nevada’s unique communities and landscapes,” Film Nevada director Kim Spurgeon said. “Our team works closely with productions to identify locations, connect them with local crew and vendors, and help ensure successful filming experiences throughout the state.”
How tax credits work
The state’s film tax credit program gives a 15 percent transferable tax credit to qualified productions that spend at least $500,000 and 60 percent of their budget in Nevada. An additional 5 percent bonus can be earned by a production if at least half of its crew members are Nevada residents, and another 5 percent can be earned if it spends more than half of its filming days outside of Clark County.
As the credits are transferable, the production can sell the credit to a Nevada business that can use them. The credits are used as a tool to attract productions to spend money with Nevada businesses, hire Nevada residents and showcase Nevada locations on screen.
The total tax credits awarded by the state are capped at $10 million annually.
“Flight Risk,” an action movie released last year that filmed in Nevada in 2023 and starred Las Vegas resident Mark Wahlberg, received $1.3 million in tax credits.
“The Studio,” an Apple TV comedy series starring Seth Rogen that filmed the final two episodes of its first season at The Venetian in 2024, received roughly $685,000 in tax credits.
The amount has yet to be determined for “Hacks,” which applied for the tax credit for two episodes of its fifth season — one that filmed in September 2025 and one that filmed in January. After the production films, the program allows up to 360 days to complete the required audit, and GOED has yet to receive the completed audits for either episode.
‘Hacks Day’
During the event, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley presented the production with custom “Deborah Vance Way” street signs in honor of the show’s main character. Berkley also proclaimed May 28, 2026, as “Hacks Day” to honor the show’s connection to Las Vegas and its role in bringing the city to audiences around the world.
“Las Vegas continues to capture the world’s imagination as a one-of-a-kind location for the film and television industry,” Berkley said. “‘Hacks’ has brought international attention to Las Vegas showcasing our city and its unique character. The series underscores the importance of entertainment as a driver of economic development, job creation and community investment.”
SetJetters
GOED also recently announced a new partnership between Film Nevada and SetJetters, a screen tourism app that enables users to visit more than 10,000 scene locations around the world from movies, TV and video games.
“Nevada is home to so many iconic scenes on screen,” Spurgeon said. “The SetJetters app makes the actual filming locations easy to find so users can relive their favorite cinematic moments, from the classics like ‘The Shootist’ house in Carson City and Genoa’s main street showcased in ‘Misery,’ to modern classics like the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ closing scene at the Fountains of Bellagio and the unforgettable line from ‘The Hangover,’ ‘Did Caesar live here?’
“It’s a natural partnership for our office to promote the productions we’ve helped bring to the state.”
The partnership aims to promote screen tourism, a growing trend where visitors travel to the scene of their favorite movies and shows. More than 100 million people a year are inspired to travel by films and TV, according to SetJetters.
“Film-driven tourism continues to deliver real value for our state,” Film Nevada deputy director Danette Tull said. “It’s a powerful reminder that the influence of film extends far beyond production, and Nevada is positioned to benefit from both the economic impact of filming and the cultural tourism that follows.”
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.
