New Jersey has long been a favored shoot location for filmmakers and TV productions, offering bustling cities, quiet suburbs, and scenic shorelines that often provide a more accessible alternative to New York. Across the state, numerous towns and neighborhoods have hosted well-known films and shows, utilizing everything from urban skylines to coastal boardwalks and expansive parklands.
This article highlights several New Jersey filming spots that the public can visit. It notes the productions that used these areas and includes a few other attractions to explore while visiting these cinematic locales.
Newark: A Gritty Urban Backdrop
Newark has graced both the big and small screens for decades, offering a gritty urban backdrop that filmmakers seek for a range of genres. Military Park, Newark Penn Station, and several downtown streets in the central district have been used in crime dramas, thrillers, and independent films that rely on the city’s dense setting.
The city features prominently in The Sopranos, with scenes filmed around Ironbound and downtown that reflect Newark’s mix of industrial and residential areas. More recently, Joker utilized the downtown core for its required tone, with Market Street seeing extensive use and the now-closed Paramount Theatre making a brief appearance.
Visitors can pair a walk through these filming areas with several major attractions. The Newark Museum of Art holds collections that span global fine arts and local exhibits, while Branch Brook Park draws attention each spring with its large collection of cherry blossom trees. Nearby, Prudential Center hosts major concerts and New Jersey Devils hockey in the heart of the city.
Bayonne: Industrial Charm Meets Cinematic Appeal
Much like Newark, Bayonne has earned its place on screen thanks to its industrial waterfront and close-knit neighborhoods. This city of around 75,000 residents boasts a working-class character, port facilities, and unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, making it ideal for productions seeking cityscapes without the complications of larger nearby locations like New York City and Newark.
Bayonne made a memorable appearance in Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, where key scenes were shot along its streets as chaos unfolded during the alien invasion. Films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the recent Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere also used the city extensively.
Exploring Bayonne’s filming areas offers visitors a glimpse of its maritime setting. The Bayonne Bridge provides views of New York Harbor and remains a regional landmark. Bayonne Golf Club features a links-style course set against the skyline, while Stephen R. Gregg Park lines Newark Bay with trails and several waterfront lookout points.
Asbury Park: A Blend of Boardwalk and History
Asbury Park blends its boardwalk, murals, and historic venues into a setting that has been useful for filmmakers over the years. The city appears in various films and television projects, though it is best known as a primary filming location for segments in The Wrestler, including the scene in which Mickey Rourke’s character tries to make amends with his daughter at their favorite theme park. Sections of Deliver Me from Nowhere were also shot here, along with Dogma and Baby, It’s You.
Visitors can spend time along the Asbury Park Boardwalk, which contains shops, arcades, and eateries. The Stone Pony remains a well-known live music venue with ties to Bruce Springsteen. In summer, the nearby beaches provide a classic Jersey Shore setting, while the Silverball Retro Arcade adds another point of interest with its museum and extensive pinball collection.
Jersey City: The Stand-In for New York
Like many New Jersey metros, Jersey City often stands in for New York in film and television. Its busy streets have hosted The Sopranos and Law & Order, along with A Complete Unknown. The waterfront, with the Statue of Liberty nearby, appears in many establishing shots for titles such as Spider-Man and X-Men. Other productions, including Coneheads, The Godfather, Sid and Nancy, and Men in Black, have also used the area to varying degrees.
Jersey City contains several places that visitors can include while tracing these filming spots. Liberty State Park offers wide views of the harbor and is home to the Liberty Science Center, which combines family-focused exhibits with educational programming throughout the year. Ferries also depart from this area toward Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and New York City. Exchange Place features a waterfront walkway with views of Manhattan across the river and is a steady destination for an evening walk.
Atco: A Quiet Community with Cinematic Versatility
Atco, a quiet community in southern New Jersey near the Pine Barrens, serves as both a base for crews and a filming location. Its streets and residential areas provide productions with a versatile space for scenes that require an understated, everyday American setting, offering easier navigation than nearby Philadelphia or New York.
Atco appears in shows such as The Walking Dead: Dead City and Severance, as well as in films like Eddie and the Cruisers. The Pine Barrens often become the focal point, with the Fallout TV series using the Wade Salvage yard on the outskirts of Atco. Season 3 of The Sopranos includes the episode “Pine Barrens,” set largely in this woodland.
Outdoor activities around town include Atco Lake Park, which contains walking trails, fishing spots, and picnic areas. Wharton State Forest within the barrens supports hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. The state park also includes historic sites, such as the Atsion Mansion.
How New Jersey’s Towns Appear on Screen
The towns and cities in New Jersey, large and small, demonstrate how the state has supported major film productions while reflecting its varied culture, history, and landscapes. Urban districts, shore communities, and inland forests each contribute settings that appear on screen in different ways. These filming locations give visitors a chance to connect the scenes they recognize with the places themselves. The sites noted above remain open to the public and continue to reflect the mix of environments that draws filmmakers to New Jersey.
