New Jersey’s film industry is booming, reaching new heights in 2024 with a record-breaking $833 million in production spending. The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission reported that number in its annual update, confirming that the Garden State continues to be one of the nation’s most active filming locations. From John Cena popping in and out of cafes in Montclair to Jeremy Allen White taking selfies with fans in Asbury, the buzz is only growing.
The figure surpasses the previous record of $701 million set in 2022. A total of 556 productions filmed across the state last year, hiring more than 30,000 crew members—nearly double the total from 2023.
New Jersey hosted several high-profile productions in 2024, including the Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet, and Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler. The latter spent an impressive $152 million during its 64 days of filming, setting a new record for in-state production spending.
Other notable projects shot in New Jersey include The Housemaid featuring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and Deliver Me from Nowhere, the Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White.
The state’s film resurgence began after Gov. Phil Murphy reinstated the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program in 2018. The initiative, now extended through 2049, offers up to 40 percent in tax credits for qualifying expenses. Officials said the incentive helped drive a 41 percent increase in total qualified spending from 2023 to 2024.
Major studios are also planting roots in the state. Netflix broke ground this year on a large-scale production complex in Fort Monmouth after being approved for Aspire awards through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Meanwhile, 1888 Studios in Bayonne was named a Film-Lease Partner Facility, signaling continued investment in the region’s growing entertainment infrastructure.
In August, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission received its first Outstanding Film Commission Award at the 12th Annual Location Managers Guild International Awards in Santa Monica. The NJEDA also approved $9.5 million to fund five projects under its Film and Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program, which aims to expand production capacity statewide.
With easy access to New York City and Philadelphia, a broad mix of urban and rural landscapes, and competitive incentives, New Jersey’s star as a filmmaking destination shows no signs of fading.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.