New Jersey’s film boom fuels ‘Hollywood of East Coast’ ambitions
Writer: Mariana Hernández
March 2025 — New Jersey is expanding its footprint across various industries, including one that plays a daily role in our lives — film and television. The Garden State is seeing a resurgence in filmmaking, positioning the sector as a key driver of economic growth and infrastructure development.
“We are quite active in the film industry, and New Jersey is poised to become the Hollywood of the East Coast,” Michael Affuso, president and CEO of the New Jersey Bankers Association, told Invest:.
New Jersey has been part of the film industry history even before Hollywood. The kinetoscope was the first movie viewer and movie camera, invented at Thomas Edison’s West Orange laboratory in 1888. Up until World War I, New Jersey thrived from film creation and production. Since then, New Jersey had only been featured in a small number of films and television series, and almost all productions remained in Hollywood.
“A major part of our strategy involves “re-introducing” New Jersey to international audiences, primarily through economic missions abroad with the governor and delegations of business and higher education leaders,” said Wesley Mathews, president and CEO of Choose New Jersey in an interview with Invest:.
The industry is shining upon New Jersey again, as the state has re-emerged in the film and television sector, not only being featured, but as a global leader in production. Governor Phil Murphy’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, a continuity of incentives the state established in 2005 to boost this sector of the economy, has played a big role in the resurgence. It initially provided $75 million annually with 30% tax credit, in addition to a 40% subsidy for studio developments. The result was over 8,500 jobs created and a spending of over $650 million by 2022, which led to incentive increasing to $100 million in 2024.
According to Governor Murphy’s budget address last month, the film industry generated over $700 million in economic activity for the state in 2023. Entering into 2025, New Jersey has positioned itself as a top, global destination for filmmaking and TV production.The program will add $100 million more in tax credits for the state’s long-term film-lease partners who acquire New Jersey production facilities. In addition, an annual investment of $50 million for high-quality production expenses has been pledged over the next 5 to 10 years.
Gov. Murphy also signed legislation to increase annual tax credit allocation into the film industry. That increase includes $300 million for general applicants and $250 million for New Jersey studio partners and film-lease production companies. The state will also include higher credit percentages to those productions that have approved diversity plans.
The results of these incentives can already be seen, as New Jersey’s list of productions has increased in recent years with relevant works such as Joker, West Side Story, Severance, Oppenheimer, It Ends With Us, and A Complete Unknown, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Productions are also in progress at Winger Productions and 20th Television, located in Jersey City and North Jersey, respectively.
This growth is the base point surrounding major infrastructure developments in the state to support the film industry. A military facility in Monmouth County is currently planned to be transformed into a hub for motion pictures. This $903 million production facility will be developed by Netflix in a 289-acre site. It will include 12 soundstages totaling 500,000 square feet, along with production and office buildings, a cafeteria, retail shops and studio trailer parks. It is expected to boost the local economy and create up to 3,500 jobs during construction and 1,400 jobs for studio operations once the site is completed.
According to Mathews, Netflix is not the only studio with plans to invest in the Garden State. “In film production, New Jersey is partnering with Netflix and Lionsgate to build world-class studios,” he said. “Netflix is transforming the former Fort Monmouth Army base into its East Coast hub, Lionsgate is constructing a multi-stage studio in Newark, and Bayonne will soon host 1888 Studios, one of North America’s largest projects. These developments highlight the state’s commitment to revitalizing its economy through innovation.”
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