Economic Development

Lights, Camera, Jersey!

The Garden State reclaims its legacy as 'Hollywood East'

By Irene Maslowski, Contributing Writer On Mar 16, 2026

New Jersey has quietly emerged as a prime location for film and television production – and the industry is now booming. This resurgence creates opportunities for the state, local businesses, and workforce development while reclaiming New Jersey’s legacy as “Hollywood East.”

The Garden State’s film legacy dates back to 1893, when Thomas Edison built the world’s first film production studio in West Orange – the “Black Maria.” Some of cinema’s earliest moments were captured there, including performances by vaudeville acts and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows featuring legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

Edison, though an inventive genius, employed aggressive business practices that ultimately drove the film industry away from New Jersey. His formation of the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) created a monopoly that used patents to control virtually all film production and exhibitions. As a result, independent filmmakers fled west to California, where courts were less favorable to monopolistic practices, land was affordable, and labor remained largely non-union.

Economic Incentives

Today’s economic incentives have been the driver to fuel the resurgence. The largest draw bringing production back to New Jersey is Gov. Phil Murphy’s reinstatement and significant expansion of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit program in 2018, which runs through 2049. This program offers 30-35% tax credits, with additional diversity bonuses. Since its reinstatement, total production spending in New Jersey hit $833 million in 2024 – up from $702 million in 2022 – with 556 productions and over 30,000 crew members hired.

“The Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program was created via legislation and has been amended several times over the years by the Legislature, including this month,” an NJEDA spokesperson tells New Jersey Business Magazine. “As we have done in the past, we look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with the Sherrill/Caldwell administration and our bipartisan partners in the Legislature, whose leadership has helped strengthen and elevate the program into one of the premier film tax incentive programs in the nation.”

In the past 5-10 years, growth has also been particularly notable, as the state has become more aggressive about promoting itself and streamlining permitting processes.

Location & Talent Pool

Location diversity in New Jersey is a producer’s dream. In addition to tax and economic incentives, it is a major selling point. Within a relatively small geographic area, productions can access urban streetscapes (Newark, Jersey City), classic suburban settings, beaches, mountains, pine forests, industrial backdrops, and locations that can double for other regions. The Shore, the Palisades, the Pine Barrens – all create remarkable variety without requiring an entire production crew to move across states. The proximity to New York City means productions can also access that metro area easily while filming more affordably in New Jersey.

The talent pool and infrastructure have also grown considerably. Three major studios are now establishing facilities in the state, and with other soundstages opening, there has been substantial investment in production infrastructure. The talent pool benefits from overflow from New York’s entertainment industry – experienced crew members who can live in New Jersey and work locally rather than commuting into the city.

New Jersey, for example, boasts a world-class pool of behind-the-camera talent, second only to Los Angeles, with 65% of the crews that service the tri-state studio market living in New Jersey.

“When reaching out to movie producers that are interested in filming in New Jersey, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC) highlights the countless benefits of filming in the Garden State, including the third-largest experienced workforce outside of Los Angeles and New York, mature infrastructure that is constantly expanding, a diversity of film locations, nation-leading incentives, and a hands-on film commission that can streamline scouting and permitting,” says NJMPTVC Executive Director Jon Crowley. “Whatever a production needs, New Jersey has it covered!”

The need also exists for building the workforce pipeline, and workforce development for the industry is booming as well. While 40% of the greater New York City area’s film crews already live in New Jersey – experienced professionals who’ve been commuting to New York City – they can now work locally. However, demand for additional trained professionals continues to grow.

To meet this need, film schools at colleges such as Montclair State University and Rutgers University are feeding the pipeline. The New Jersey Film Academy, launched in 2025 and headquartered at Brookdale Community College, began in partnership with community colleges in Mercer, Camden, and Hudson counties. Eight additional colleges have since joined, bringing the total to 12 participating institutions.

The film academy received funding to support the Center of Workforce Innovation for Film and Television Production through the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges Pathways Program, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The program provides a standardized curriculum for participating schools across the state, with courses including Introduction to the Entertainment Industry, On-set Production, Production Office and Accounting, Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe, Script Writing, and Scene Design.

“There is a solid need for the development of a capable film workforce to feed the talent pool in New Jersey,” notes Diane Raver, executive director of the New Jersey Film Academy and founder of the Garden State Film Festival. “The demand for workers in the film production arena in the state has taken off like a tsunami, as has the number of students attending the academy in only a year since the program launched in early 2025.”

Major Studio Projects

Three major studios are set to transform New Jersey.

Netflix Studios at Fort Monmouth is transforming the former U.S. Army installation into a premier East Coast production hub with 12 cutting-edge soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet. The studio is projected to open in 2028.

1888 Studios (Paramount), named after the year Thomas Edison patented the motion picture camera, is envisioned as a 1.6-million-square-foot campus containing 23 sound stages and employing as many as 4,300 people in Bayonne.

Lionsgate Newark Studios, located in Newark’s South Ward, will be the first purpose-built, full-service film and television production complex in New Jersey, featuring 350,000 square feet with five soundstages ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet, plus additional space for on-site production support services such as catering, offices, and prop handling.

These three major studios represent over $2.3 billion in investment and are expected to create thousands of permanent jobs, establishing New Jersey as a legitimate East Coast production hub rivaling traditional filming locations.

Taking Care of Business

“Also important to note are the public-private partnerships between film production studios and local communities,” comments Nick Day, CEO, of Edge Auto Inc. and president of the Screen Alliance of New Jersey (SANJ). “Local communities have been very supportive in working together with producers, which is a win-win for both. Municipalities provide support with permits, police, fire, and safety, and in return the local community – particularly retailers and businesses – reap the benefits of additional revenue as thousands of film crew members patronize their businesses.”

Municipalities interested in attracting film and TV production can take advantage of the NJMPTVC’s Film Ready New Jersey program. Designed to prepare towns to host motion picture and television productions by sharing useful information with local leaders on filming operations needed to support productions, Film Ready builds statewide consistency through predictable permitting and processing fees, creating a uniform production experience. Certified Film Ready Communities receive an elevated platform to market themselves as filming destinations and connect productions with trained municipal liaisons who provide local guidance, resource information, and location support.

The Film Ready Workshop is often the first step toward this certification. Municipal representatives receive training from industry professionals, local mayors, and NJMPTVC commissioners and staff on the economic benefits of filming, permitting and ordinances, opportunities for small businesses, and the state’s expanding production infrastructure. Participants leave with a practical toolkit and a clear roadmap for certification. Visit www.nj.gov/njfilm/filmready-nj.shtml for more information.

Major Productions

Many recent major films have been produced in New Jersey including “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet. This critically acclaimed film about Bob Dylan’s early career was filmed throughout New Jersey, with scenes set in New York City actually shot in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Cape May.

The movie “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, was filmed in Montclair, Bayonne, and Asbury Park, including at The Stone Pony, where the young Springsteen launched his music career.

Conclusion

“With major studio investments, robust tax incentives, diverse filming locations, and a growing workforce pipeline, New Jersey is well-positioned to reclaim its place as “Hollywood East” – coming full circle from Thomas Edison’s pioneering days more than a century ago,” Day concludes.

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