NJ Hits It Big With 'Happy Gilmore 2,' Continues Growth As 'Hollywood East'

While the Garden State got its flowers last week with the release of "Happy Gilmore 2," that is just the latest installment of what looks to be a fast-moving future for the new "Hollywood East."

"A Complete Unknown," the successful Bob Dylan biopic released in December of 2024 and filmed all around New Jersey, feels uber appropriate to share a namesake with the sentiments around the recent surge in filmmaking along the East Coast. Much of that magic is happening right here in New Jersey.

After its first weekend, "Happy Gilmore 2" is number 1 in over 60 countries on Netflix, according to ShowBIZ411. In just that movie alone, filming was done around Bedminster, Belleville, Bloomfield, Clifton, Closter, Demarest, Florham Park, Hackensack, Irvington, Kearny, Middletown, Newark, North Arlington, Readington, Secaucus, South Orange, Verona, Washington Township (Morris), Wayne, and West Orange.

Actor Adam Sandler is already back in the Garden State this summer working on another project, "Roommates," starring his daughter Sadie. Crews have been spotted in Hoboken, and other locations around North Jersey.

MORE FROM PATCH: 'Happy Gilmore 2,' Filmed In Morris County, Now Streaming

Even after adding filming done for the highly-anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic, "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, to the mix, the biggest addition in the history of filmmaking in the state still may be yet to come.

In May, Netflix, a worldwide leader in streaming content consumption, broke ground at the site of Fort Monmouth for an $848 million new film and TV production complex with 12 soundstages. The long-abandoned U.S. Army base turning into a beacon of 292 acres that also includes a backlot, state-of-the-art postproduction facilities and more office space can point to one major factor at the hands of its construction: Uncle Sam.

Tax Credits

Netflix had multiple projects already filming in New Jersey at the time when they broke ground in May, and due to very inviting tax credit program, this looks to be just the beginning.

The state gives up to a 35 percent credit of qualified film production expenses, and up to 40 percent for digital media postproduction work. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, a New Jersey native, acknowledges that this was a major reason why New Jersey was chosen for such a large undertaking.

Netflix Launches Fort Monmouth Film Studios Website

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has been vocal about his support for such a program even before he signed a bill (S4618/A5287) in June, strengthening and enhancing different parts of this initiative. Talking to the Hollywood Reporter in May, Murphy said this plan is an "explicit statement that this is not about us...this is about generations to come."

To be eligible for a credit, qualifying production expenses must be more than $1 million in New Jersey spending, and 60 percent of the total production cost (not including postproduction) must be used towards services and goods through vendors who are authorized to do business in New Jersey.

As of Q1 in 2025, New Jersey is the sixth-largest in terms of a trailing 12-month period for production spending done across the United States. This includes both TV and film projects. While growing, New Jersey's $536 million continues to grow, California still sits atop with $6.34 billion.

This ranking looks a little more enticing to studios when you consider the amount of state dollars New Jersey is willing to put out in a fiscal year towards credits, ranking fourth with $430,000,000 according to the Hollywood Reporter. There is also no annual limit on individual projects, as detailed by the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

Tim Sullivan, the CEO of New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), laid out the impacts a multi-year plan for production can have on the future for New Jersey in the production landscape, pointing out “If you have a good film tax credit program, you should have production coming through town regularly. Three three-to-four-month assignments is a year’s worth of work for a hair and makeup person, or a cater or whatever. What we’re really trying to do is encourage brick-and-mortar construction for longterm job creation.”

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Variety of Locations

There is also an additional five percent tax credit available for New Jersey production costs incurred with a 30-mile radius of New York City's Columbus Circle. While the Big Apple still has a very strong foot in the global production landscape, those like Diane Raver, the executive director of the New Jersey Film Academy, call the state "the most diverse and easy place to shoot" after being involved in productions "all over the world" including 20 years in New York City. While the urban and beach locations are certainly in abundance, it doesn't stop there. Classics like the Sopranos filming in the Pine Barrens, and Friday The 13th at a diner and a lake in the northern part of the state speak to the diverse backdrops the state has brought to the world for years.

Perhaps Sullivan says it best as to why the aesthetics in New Jersey are so special, pointing out that "Unless you're filming a moon landing on the Sahara, you could pretty much do it in New Jersey."

MORE FROM PATCH:

1. Lawrenceville Siblings Become Movie Stars In Adam Sandler's ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

2. 'Happy Gilmore' Comes To Irvington; Adam Sandler Meets With Local Kids