New Jersey & Atlantic City – Could Have Been ‘Hollywood’ For Movies

New Jersey was going to be the original Hollywood for the movie industry.

Yes, The Garden State is the rightful birthplace of the American motion picture industry.

I first learned about this while reading about the life and times of Walt Disney. I tripped right over this fascinating New Jersey storyline.

New Jersey is the official birthplace of the American film industry. It all started in 1907, with the first film studio being built in 1909 in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Fort Lee actually became the first American film town. The entire population of Fort Lee worked in the motion picture business.

This makes Fort Lee the rightful birthplace of American cinema.

New Jersey’s Inventor Thomas Edison had previously created America's first movie studio, which he named "Black Maria," which he built near West Orange, New Jersey.

With the help of his assistant, William Dickson, they created the kinetoscope, the early version of the film projector.

A respectable number of these movies made in Atlantic City. The list is extensive and this will serve as a great resource as to just how many movies were made in The Garden State.

This is a list of movies set or partially set in the U.S. state of New Jersey:

• 13th Child (2002) - story is based on The Jersey Devil by James F. McCloy and Ray Miller Jr.; film was shot in New Jersey at Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village, and Hammonton in the Pine Barrens
• According to Greta (2009) - Ocean Grove, NJ - Asbury Park, NJ - Brick Township, NJ - Neptune, NJ - Point Pleasant, NJ
• Across the Universe (2007) - Princeton University Campus
• The Addams Family (2019)
• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
• Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
• American Gangster (2007)
• American Hustle (2013)
• The Amityville Horror (1979) - partially filmed in Toms River
• Analyze That (2002)
• Analyze This (1999) - partially filmed in Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair
• Annie (1982)
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007)
• Artie Lange's Beer League (2006)
• Atlantic City (1944)
• Atlantic City (1980)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Baby It's You (1983)
• Bad Company (2002)
• Ball of Fire (1941): mostly set in NYC, the inn where the main characters stay is in Kingston, New Jersey; their expected wedding venue is in Rancocas.
• Bathing Beauty (1944)
• Batman (1943) - The fictitious Gotham City is located in New Jersey.
• Batman (1966)
• Batman (1989)
• The Batman (2022)
• Batman and Robin (1949)
• Batman and Robin (1997)
• Batman Begins (2005)
• Batman Forever (1995)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
• Be Kind Rewind (2008)
• Beaches (1988)
• A Beautiful Mind (2001)
• Before I Self Destruct (2009)
• Being John Malkovich (1999) - "You see the world through John Malkovich's eyes. Then after about 15 minutes, you're spit out into a ditch on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike!"
• Big (1988) - parts were filmed in Cliffside Park
• Big Top Scooby-Doo! (2012)
• Birdy (1984)
• Blinded by the Light (2019) - scenes set/filmed in Freehold and Asbury Park
• Bogus (1996)
• The Bounty Hunter (2010) - filmed partially in Atlantic City
• Brainscan (1994)
• Brewster's Millions (1985)
• Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
• Bruised (2020)
• The Burglar (1957)
• Burn After Reading (2008) - partially filmed in Paramus (gym scenes - Route 17)
• The Card Counter (2021)
• The Cartel (2010)
• Caught (1996) - Jersey City
• Chasing Amy (1997)
• Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)
• Cinderella Man (2005)
• City by the Sea (2002) - Asbury Park
• City of Hope (1991) - takes place in fictitious Hudson City, New Jersey
• Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986)
• Clean and Sober (1988) - stars Michael Keatonand Kathy Baker; directed by Ron Howard; partially filmed in Gloucester City
• Clerks (1994)
• Clerks II (2006)
• The Cohens and the Kellys in Atlantic City(1929)
• The Color of Money (1986)
• Coneheads (1993)
• Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen(2004)
• Convention City (1933)
• Convention Girl (1935)
• The Cookout (2004)
• Cop Land (1997)
• Cosmopolitan (2003)
• Coyote Ugly (2000) - was given the name 'Jersey' because she was originally from South Amboy
• The Crew (2000)
• Da Hip Hop Witch (2000)
• Dan in Real Life (2007)
• The Dark Knight (2008)
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - Newark
• Dark Ride (2006) - took place in Asbury Park
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
• Delivering Milo (2001)
• Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
• Dogma (1999)
• Donnie Brasco (1997) Clifton
• Down the Shore (2011)
• Duane Hopwood (2005)
• Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)
• Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989)
• Elizabethtown
• Empire Records (1995)
• Escape From New York (1981) - opening scene is supposed to be Bayonne
• Fallen (1998) - Mullica Twp.
• The Family Man (2000)
• The Family Stone (2005) - Madison
• Fatal Desire (2006)
• Feel the Beat (2020)
• The Fighter (2010)
• Firstborn (1984)
• Flight 93 (2006)
• Forget About It (2006) - primarily filmed in Hoboken
• Frame of Mind (2009) - Carlstadt
• Frankenhooker (1990)
• Freedomland (2006)
• The Freshman (1990) - ending of movie is supposed to take place in Cherry Hill
• Friday the 13th (1980) - set in fictional Crystal Lake Camp, NJ; filmed in Blairstown, at No-Be-Bo-Sco camp
• Friday the 13th (2009)
• Funny Money (2006)
• Garden State (2004)
• Girl Most Likely (2012)
• The Godfather: Part III (1990)
• Gone Fishin' (1997)
• Goodbye, Columbus (1969)
• Gracie (2007)
• Greetings from the Shore (2007) - based and shot in Lavallette
• Guess Who (2005)
• Gunshy (1998)
• Gypsy 83 (2004)
• Happiness (1998) - "You know, people are always putting New Jersey down. None of my friends can believe I live here. But that's because they don't get it: I'm living in a state of irony."
• Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
• Hellboy (2004)
• Homeboy (1988)
• Hudson Hawk (1991)
• The Hurricane (1999)
• Hysterical Blindness (2002) - takes place in Bayonne
• The Iceman (2012)
• Imaginary Heroes (2004)
• Imitation of Life (1934)
• I.Q. (1994)
• In & Out (1997) - Clinton, Montclair, Pompton Lakes, and other North Jersey locations
• The In-Laws (1979)
• Jaws - takes place in the small New England beach resort of Amity Island, but was based on the true story of a great white shark which terrorized the shores of New Jersey in the summer of 1916
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
• Jersey Boys (2014)
• Jersey Girl (1992) - starring Jami Gertz and Dylan McDermott
• Jersey Girl (2004) - directed by Kevin Smith, starring Ben Affleck
• Jersey Shore Shark Attack (2012)
• The Jimmy Show (2002)
• Joe the King (1999)
• Joker (2019)
• Julie & Julia (2009) - Hoboken
• Just Friends (2005)
• Just The Ticket (1999) - Roselle Park
• The Kill-Off (1990)
• The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
• Lansdown (2002)
• The Last Broadcast (1998)
• The Last Time (2007)
• Lean on Me (1989) Paterson
• The Lemon Sisters (1990)
• Lianna (1983)
• Little Black Book (2004)
• Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
• Lock Up (1989)
• Loins of Punjab Presents (2007)
• The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) - "Easy, sport. Got myself out of Beirut once, I think I can get out of New Jersey." "Yeah, well don't be so sure. Others have tried and failed. The entire population, in fact."
• Mafioso (1962) - North Bergen
• Mallrats (1995)
• The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
• Men in Black (1997)
• Morning Glory (2010)
• Mortal Thoughts (1991)
• Moving (1988)
• Música (2024)
• The Nanny Diaries - Annie is a graduate of Montclair University
• National Treasure (2004)
• New Jersey Drive (1995)
• New Jersey: The Movie (2009)
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
• North (1994)
• Not Fade Away (2012)
• Nothing But Trouble (1991)
• Now You Know (2002)
• Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Danny Ocean is released from a prison in New Jersey
• Old Dogs (2009) - partially filmed in Hoboken (Dan's apartment)
• On The Waterfront (1954) - filmed in Hoboken, set in Brooklyn
• One for the Money (2012)
• Owning Mahowny (2003)
• Palookaville (1995)
• Paper Soldiers (2002)
• Paterson (2016)
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
• The Perfect Holiday (2007) - set in Jersey Gardens Mall
• The Pick-up Artist (1987) - set in Atlantic City
• Picture Perfect (1997) - Hoboken and West Orange
• Pootie Tang (2001) - Old Bridge
• The Prowler (1981) - took place in the fictional town of Avalon Bay; filmed in Cape May
• The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
• Ragtime (1981) - Spring Lake; James Cagney's last film
• Raising Helen (2004)
• Ransom (1996) - filmed throughout Bergen County
• The Rebel Set (1959)
• Restaurant (1998)
• Red River (1998)
• Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) - East Orange (Upsala College)
• Rocket Science (2007) - set in Plainsboro
• Rounders (1998)
• Running on Empty (1988)
• Running Scared (2006)
• Satan's Playground (2005)
• School of Rock (2003)
• Second Best (2004)
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) - set in Perth Amboy
• Sherrybaby (2006)
• The Simian Line (2000)
• Snake Eyes (1998)
• Something Wild (1986)
• The Soprano State (2010)
• Spider-Man 3 (2007)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - Towards the end of the movie, Peter Parker and his classmates land in Newark, NJ.
• Stardust Memories (1980) - filmed in Asbury Park, Belmar, Deal, Hoboken, Neptune City, Ocean Grove
• The Station Agent (2003)
• Stealing Home (1988)
• Storytelling (2001)
• Street Fight (2005)
• Superman (1978)
• Swimfan (2002)
• This Thing of Ours (2003)
• The Toxic Avenger (1984) and three sequels - "the first superhero from New Jersey"
• Trade (2007)
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) - Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) attends Princeton University
• Union City (1980)
• United 93 (2006) - flight departs from Newark International Airport
• Vision Quest (1985) - actually set in Spokane, WA, but the female lead says she's from Trenton
• Voices (1979) - mostly filmed in Hoboken; Amy Irving, Michael Ontkean
• Walking to the Waterline (1998)
• War of the Worlds (2005)
• The Wedding Singer (1998)
• Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
• Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991)
• Win Win (2011)
• Winter Solstice (2004)
• Wise Guys (1986)
• The World According to Garp - scenes filmed in Denville movie theater and Madison City Hall
• World Trade Center (2006) - Clifton
• Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) - Princeton University at Princeton
• Zoolander - partially filmed in Ogdensburg

Looking at this extensive list, you can see how relevant New Jersey has been in the movie industry.

SOURCE: Wikipedia, Walt Disney, History.com, HistoryNewsNetwork.org, BBC.com, Medium.com, NJSpotlightNews.org,