'Absolution' and other films received millions in state aid last year

Four movies filmed in the state each received more than $1 million in tax credits last year, according to preliminary data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

The largest was $5.2 million for “Absolution,” a crime thriller starring Liam Neeson. It was filmed in Boston, Norwood and Winthrop, according to IMDb, which catalogs facts and trivia about film and television productions.

Another drama made in Greater Boston, “The Collaboration,” received $4 million. It hasn’t been released yet.

Two movies that hit the box office are “Aftermath,” another thriller, which received more than $2 million, and “American Fiction,” nominated for Best Picture in the Academy Awards, which was reimbursed $1.5 million.

To encourage film production in the state, Massachusetts offers to reimburse companies for up to one-quarter of the cost to film a movie, television show or commercial in Massachusetts. These credits can be issued for previous years of production.

Instead of cash, the subsidies came in the form of tax credits that producers can use themselves or sell to insurers, banks and other taxpayers. Most of the credits are sold.

The state gave smaller awards for everything from GBH’s Frontline and Nova television programs to commercials.

The tax credit program has long been controversial. Proponents say they create jobs by luring films and other productions to Massachusetts. Critics say they cost the state money that could go to teachers and other government programs.

In 2021, the movie “Don’t Look Up,” which was mostly filmed in Massachusetts, received a record $46 million in taxpayer-funded incentives.

Overall, the state doled out $22.5 million in film tax credits to production companies last year, down 76% from 2023, according to the state Department of Revenue.

Meg Jarrett, director of the Massachusetts Film Office, said the decline largely stems from strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA actors union in 2023. She said the strikes prompted Hollywood to put off many productions across the country or move them overseas.

“It wasn’t just Massachusetts,” Jarrett noted.

But Jarrett said she believes film production in Massachusetts has largely recovered from the strikes. She noted a number of shows or movies have been filmed in the state recently, including a 10-part horror-comedy series for Apple TV+ called “Widows Bay.”

Jarrett said four film crews are busy and location scouts are on other projects.

“2025 has been a strong year for film production in Massachusetts,” she said.