New Jersey’s Film Spending Breaks its Record in 2024

More than 550 productions filmed in New Jersey, spending $833M

The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), which is part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), announced today that overall in-state production spending from filmmaking hit $833 million in 2024, surpassing the previous record of $701 million in 2022. 556 productions filmed in New Jersey last year, hiring a total of more than 30,000 crew members, nearly doubling the number of crew hires from 2023.

The film industry has surged since Governor Phil Murphy reinstated the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program in 2018. The program, which has been extended to 2049, offers tax credits to film and digital media productions of up to 40 percent for expenses incurred. New Jersey’s competitive tax incentive program supported an increase of 41 percent in total qualified spend from 2023 to 2024, while film spending in other North American production hubs decreased or remained stagnant.

“New Jersey has solidified its place as a formidable leader in the national and international film industries,” said Governor Murphy. “Our tax incentive program has been impactful in bringing new movies, television shows, and major studios to the state, which has resulted in good-paying jobs and revitalized communities. The film industry is here to stay and the future of entertainment now runs through the Garden State.”

“2024 was another banner year for New Jersey’s film industry, welcoming hundreds of productions and hiring thousands of crew members, generating meaningful economic activity across the state,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Governor Murphy’s vision to bring the film industry back to New Jersey has been achieved and we are on the radar of content creators everywhere. As we continue attracting productions and studios, it will lead to new job opportunities for residents and greater business for mom and pop shops.”

New Jersey was the backdrop for major productions in 2024, including Oscar-nominated ‘A Complete Unknown’ starring Timothée Chalamet and ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ starring Adam Sandler, the latter of which spent a record-breaking $152 million during its 64 days of filming in the state.

Other Made in NJ productions that filmed in 2024 include ‘The Housemaid’ starring Sydney Sweeney and Amada Seyfried, ‘The Beast in Me’ starring Claire Danes, ‘A House of Dynamite’ directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and ‘Deliver Me from Nowhere’, the Bruce Springsteen biopic.

“From beaches and farms to busy city centers and quiet suburban streets, New Jersey offers the perfect location for any production,” said NJMPTVC Executive Director Jon Crowley. “Our diverse locations and talent pool make New Jersey a top-tier destination for producers and directors. 2024 proved that New Jersey, the birthplace of film, is the industry’s future.”

In addition to individual productions filming in the state, studios are choosing New Jersey to expand their presence. After Netflix was designated as a Studio Partner and approved for Aspire awards by the NJEDA in 2024, the leading entertainment services company broke ground on its state-of-the-art production facility in Fort Monmouth earlier this year. 1888 Studios in Bayonne was designated as Film-Lease Partner Facility and approved for Aspire awards in 2024.

Last year, the NJEDA approved $9.5 million in funding for five projects under the Film and Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program, aimed to support the development of production studios.

The NJMPTVC helps attract production work and supports filmmakers with all of their needs, including financial incentives, permits, regulations, production services, site selection and clearance. The Commission’s Film Ready New Jersey Program prepares communities to accommodate movie and television producers and effectively market themselves as film destinations, bolstering the state’s standing as a national leader in film and television production. There are now 43 designated Film Ready Communities across the state.

Read the full press release here.