The streaming giant, Netflix, has expressed their interest in buying Fort Monmouth’s Mega Parcel in New Jersey. This could once again position NJ as a hub for the film industry. Before the art of movie-making moved to California, the center for filming was in Fort Lee. Now that Netflix’s attention is back on the Garden State, it may be time to take a look through some Netflix movies and TV shows that were filmed (and are currently being filmed) in New Jersey.
1. The Perfect Find
This Netflix original was filmed in Hudson County and Essex County and will star actress Gabrielle Union. Union will portray a 40-year-old woman ready to risk it all for a lusty secret relationship. However, will this relationship end up destroying her career, bank account, and more? Currently, the film is in post-production with no set date for release yet. However, based on the shooting schedule, we can speculate that the film will be set to drop on Netflix during the first half of 2022.
2. The Irishman
Released in the fall of 2019, the star-studded New Jersey Netflix movie was filmed all around New Jersey and New York. The Oscar-nominated film stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. It follows a truck driver in the 1950s who quickly becomes involved with a Pennsylvania crime family. As he moves up the ranks, to become a hitman, the truck driver soon begins working for Jimmy Hoffa, an American labor union leader with ties to organized crime. This is one of those New Jersey Netflix movies that is a must watch.
3. Army of the Dead
“Army of the Dead” was released on Netflix on May 21, 2021. It was able to rake in 75 million viewers. Filming took place in Atlantic City, specifically at the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel and the Showboat Atlantic City. While both locations have been closed, since 2014, they were primarily used for interior scenes and on-location filming. This New Jersey Netflix movie follows a group of mercenaries planning to rob a Las Vegas casino during a zombie apocalypse.
4. Bruised
Halle Berry starred and made her directorial debut in the movie “Bruised.” In the film, Berry portrays a disgraced MMA fighter. Her character, Jackie Justice, feels that she has failed at professional fighting, the one thing she is truly good at. Her life changed for good when her estranged six-year-old son showed up. Jackie Justice had walked out on him years ago. However, she soon has to face the demons she thought she left buried in the past. The movie made its debut at the Toronto International Film festival on Sept. 12, 2020. Later in Nov. 2021, the film was released exclusively to a few theaters and Netflix. “Bruised” was largely filmed at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and Elite Heat Boxing Gym in Newark.
5. The Watcher
Every state has its collection of urban legends. However, this stalking tale that takes place in Westfield captured the attention of Ryan Murphy, who plans to make it a limited series for Netflix. The story of “The Watcher” became viral in 2018. During that time, homeowners Derek and Maria Broaddus claimed that someone was stalking them and sending them terrifying letters. These letters were always signed from “The Watcher.” The letters’ author wrote that generations of his family would watch the home, dating all the way back to the 1920s. The Watcher even brought up the couple’s children in many of the threatening notes. The family fled the home and the new owners have yet to receive any letters. Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale will star as the couple in the limited series, which plans to be released in 2022.
Main image by Tumisu
