The success of HBO's The Last of Us extended beyond its television audience, bringing a major production operation to Alberta and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. Filmed across towns, cities and some of the province's best-known landscapes, the first season created work for the Canadian cast and crew while bringing business to hotels, construction suppliers and catering companies. An economic assessment by Oxford Economics, released in November 2023, put the production spending at more than $141 million. The filming also supported 1,490 jobs and generated over C$182 million in contributions to Alberta's gross domestic product.
The first season of The Last of Us, adapted from the popular video game franchise, was filmed across several parts of Alberta. Its production brought together locations ranging from urban settings to smaller communities and landscapes that could stand in for a post-apocalyptic version of North America. The scale of the operation made it particularly significant for Canada's television industry. According to figures released by the Motion Picture Association – Canada (MPA Canada) on November 27, 2023, the HBO series was the largest television series ever filmed in the country at that time, measured by its production scale and economic impact. The assessment, prepared by Oxford Economics, examined how money spent during filming moved through Alberta's economy. Rather than limiting the calculation to the production company's direct expenses, it considered spending on workers and the businesses supplying goods and services.
Of the more than $141 million spent in Alberta, approximately $71 million went towards wages and salaries for local cast members, crew and other production personnel. The remaining $70 million was directed towards businesses operating across the province. Film productions depend on materials for constructing sets, transport, accommodation, food services and other everyday requirements. Local construction companies, hotels, catering providers and suppliers of production equipment were among the businesses that could benefit from the spending associated with the series. More than 1,000 Alberta businesses were involved in supplying goods and services to the production. This meant the financial activity was not confined to the studios or the immediate filming locations. Companies in different parts of the province became part of the operation, including businesses that would not normally be associated with television production.
The Oxford Economics assessment calculated that The Last of Us supported a total of 1,490 jobs in Alberta. The figure reflected employment generated through the production's wider economic activity, rather than simply counting the principal actors and people directly employed on set. Production work can involve a sizeable network of occupations. Alongside camera operators, designers, technicians and other film professionals, large projects require people working in construction, hospitality, transport, food services and supply companies. The series also provided opportunities for Canadian creative professionals to contribute to an internationally distributed television production. Several members of the Canadian team received recognition through the show's 24 Emmy nominations, which included categories covering production design, hairstyling, makeup, costumes and sound mixing.
The production's financial contribution was not limited to the money paid out during filming. The economic assessment estimated that its activities generated more than C$182 million in Alberta's gross domestic product. GDP measures the value added through economic activity, making it different from the amount a production spends directly. The figure reflects the wider contribution associated with the project, including the activity generated among businesses and workers connected to the production. The impact also extended to smaller communities where production teams worked and spent money. For businesses in these locations, a television production can bring temporary demand for accommodation, meals, equipment and other services that might otherwise come from a different source.
Alberta's geography played an important part in the production. Filming took place in communities including Canmore, Fort Macleod and Waterton, alongside other locations spread across the province. The production involved more than 180 filming locations distributed across a stretch of terrain exceeding 1,000 kilometres, according to Alberta Film Commissioner Mark Ham. Coordinating work across such a large area required support from regional film commissions, which helped the production navigate local locations and logistical arrangements. The settings also gave viewers a glimpse of Alberta's varied landscapes. The province offered a combination of towns, larger urban areas, open prairies, forests and Rocky Mountain scenery, allowing the production to create different environments as the story moved west. There was a possible longer-term benefit for the communities featured on screen, too. Television audiences sometimes seek out places they recognise from popular productions, creating opportunities for local tourism businesses. Visitors travelling to filming locations can generate spending at restaurants, hotels and other attractions, although the 2023 assessment did not establish a separate tourism revenue figure for the series.
Alberta's film and television industry had been developing its position as a destination for international productions, supported by financial incentives, industry training and access to local technical workers. The province's Film and Television Tax Credit was among the measures associated with attracting The Last of Us. The programme was designed to encourage production companies to spend money in Alberta and make use of its workforce and filming infrastructure. Alberta's then Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones said, “The Last of Us, the largest series ever filmed in Canada, has left an indelible mark on Alberta’s economic landscape.” “Supported by Alberta’s Film and Television Tax Credit, this monumental production not only showcased the breathtaking facets of our province but also emphasized why Alberta, with over 180 diverse filming locations, is a world-class destination for large-scale film and television productions. ”
