Mexico Makes Its Production Pitch As Netflix’s $1 Billion Commitment And New Incentives Fuel Filming Momentum
MEXICO CITY — Mexico is sharpening its bid for film and television production, pairing Netflix’s $1 billion investment commitment with a new federal incentive designed to attract international projects and keep Mexican productions working at home.
Netflix announced the four-year commitment in February 2025, positioning Mexican filmmakers, crews and stories at the center of its expansion. The company also pledged to help upgrade the historic Churubusco Studios, connecting its streaming ambitions with one of the country’s most established production facilities.
The investment is now accompanied by a stronger government pitch. A decree published in February 2026 established a transferable tax credit of up to 30% of qualifying production costs incurred in Mexico, capped at 40 million pesos per project or production process and beneficiary. The program requires at least 70% national suppliers, tying the incentive to participation by the local industry.
For producers comparing locations, that combination strengthens Mexico’s case: financial support alongside an established filmmaking infrastructure. For Mexican companies, the supplier requirement creates an opportunity to turn incoming projects into work across production, equipment, transportation and postproduction.
Netflix’s latest figures suggest the activity already extends well beyond the capital. In September, the company reported that it had produced or co-produced more than 200 titles in Mexico between 2016 and 2025, filming in more than 100 cities. Approximately half of its filming locations were outside Mexico City, including Guadalajara, Puerto Escondido, San Miguel de Allende and Tijuana. Those figures are company-reported.
The production footprint is illustrated by Las Muertas, Luis Estrada’s adaptation of Jorge Ibargüengoitia’s novel. Netflix announced its production launch at Churubusco Studios in 2024, with additional filming planned in San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato and Veracruz. The project brought together Mexican literary material, an established director and a cast including Paulina Gaitán, Arcelia Ramírez, Joaquín Cosío and Alfonso Herrera.
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has framed the new incentive as a way to attract international productions while strengthening domestic filmmaking. Announced alongside Salma Hayek, the broader support plan also includes training, exhibition and preservation initiatives.
The industry test will be whether those commitments translate into sustained employment, stronger production companies and continued opportunities for Mexican creators. Mexico’s pitch is becoming more competitive; its lasting value will depend on how much of that momentum remains with the people making the films.
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