Movies and TV Shows Filmed in Jersey City: The Definitive 2025/26 Guide

Jersey City has become one of the most in-demand filming locations on the East Coast, and that momentum continues to build as we move into 2026. If you have seen camera trucks staging near Grove Street, noticed actors rehearsing in Hamilton Park, or watched production teams block off parts of the waterfront, you are witnessing a shift that has reshaped New Jersey’s role in film and television.

Thanks to its skyline views, historic neighborhoods, diverse architecture, and film-friendly permitting, Jersey City has evolved into a major production hub. Today, it attracts everything from big-budget movies to network television and prestige streaming series.

This guide provides the most comprehensive overview of the films and shows shot in Jersey City, with authoritative links and updated context relevant for 2025/26.

Jersey City has also been home to many celebrities, including actors, musician and sports icons.

If you’re interested in learning more about Jersey City neighborhoods, housing options, or lifestyle that makes Jersey City so appealing to live, our team can help you explore the Jersey City real estate market with confidence.

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view of Liberty state park with views of manhattan in the background

Liberty State Park, Jersey City


Why Productions Choose Jersey City in 2025/26

New Jersey’s rise as one of the nation’s leading production centers is tied directly to the state’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, administered by the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission.

Jersey City also makes permitting straightforward through the Office of Cultural Affairs, which outlines application requirements and guidelines for productions.

The state maintains an official registry of filming locations and municipal resources, making it easier for producers to scout and coordinate.

These factors, combined with proximity to Manhattan and a wide variety of filming environments, have positioned Jersey City for continued growth. Coverage from The New York Times has highlighted New Jersey’s broader film boom and its increasing competitiveness with New York and Georgia:

Producers also value the city’s ability to double for nearly any major US metropolis, as well as several historical eras. This flexibility is a key reason Jersey City continues to attract productions into 2026.

assortment of movie posters

Major Films Shot in Jersey City


Joker (2019)

Filmed in Journal Square and surrounding blocks, including the subway riot scenes at the PATH station. Verified locations can be found via IMDb.


Men in Black (1997)

Liberty State Park was used for multiple scenes requiring open space and skyline views. Park information is available through Visit New Jersey


Annie (2014)

Scenes with Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis were filmed along the waterfront and in Liberty State Park.


A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Paulus Hook brownstones appear in several residential scenes.


Coneheads (1993)

Exchange Place is featured early in the film as part of a Manhattan-facing landing sequence.

Army of the Dead (2021)

Industrial areas near Route 440 were used to create portions of the film’s post-apocalyptic landscape.

Choke (2008)

Downtown Jersey City provided medical interiors and street backdrops.


Nasty Baby (2015)

Hamilton Park served as a principal filming location for residential exteriors.


Rising Sun (1993)

Liberty State Park appears once again in nighttime sequences.

The Godfather (1972)

Early regional establishing shots include views of the Jersey City waterfront.

exterior storefronts along Montgomery Street Jersey City

Montgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ


Television Shows Filmed in Jersey City

The Sopranos (HBO)

Filmed in Liberty State Park and industrial corridors along the Hudson. Locations documented on IMDb.


Law and Order: SVU

Hamilton Park, Exchange Place, and the downtown core are frequently used to double for Manhattan.


Law and Order

The original series has used Jersey City as a stand-in for New York for decades.


Law and Order: Organized Crime

Waterfront locations, including Liberty State Park, appear in several episodes.


Blue Bloods

Marinas, Harborside, and the waterfront are used for NYPD harbor scenes.


The Equalizer

Regular filming occurs in Bergen-Lafayette, McGinley Square, and downtown.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga

Upper Jersey City neighborhoods were used to recreate 1990s Staten Island and Brooklyn.


Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector

The Newport waterfront and high-rise interiors appear throughout the series.

Billions

Exchange Place and Hudson Street appear in multiple financial-district scenes.

The Deuce

Hamilton Park’s historic district served as a stand-in for 1970s Manhattan.

Gotham

Industrial areas near Route 440 provided Gotham’s atmospheric exteriors.

Quantico

Liberty State Park was used for chase sequences and skyline shots.



Streaming Productions and Independent Films

Inventing Anna (Netflix)

Corporate interiors and modern downtown high-rises provided several interior settings.

Someone Great (Netflix)

Skyline footage was filmed at Exchange Place.

Modern Love (Amazon)

Hamilton Park is featured prominently in one of the series’ anthology stories.

The Wannabe

Shot in part in local bars and brownstone-lined streets.

City on a Hill

Filmed in downtown and waterfront areas doubling for Boston.

The Wolves of Chinatown (2024)

Journal Square hosted several production days during filming.


Filming Hotspots in Jersey City for 2025/26

These locations continue to appear across productions:

  • Liberty State Park

  • Exchange Place and Harborside

  • Hamilton Park and Harsimus Cove

  • Grove Street PATH and Newark Avenue

  • Paulus Hook

  • Newport waterfront

  • The Heights and McGinley Square

  • Warehouse districts along Route 440

  • Journal Square PATH Station

Filmmakers and location scouts also reference Film Jersey City, a city-supported resource library for productions.

jersey city pier at night with view of manahattan

Pier in Jersey City, NJ


Why Jersey City Will See More Productions in 2026

The combination of New Jersey’s tax credits, increased studio infrastructure statewide, and continual demand from streaming platforms suggest that Jersey City will see even more filming volume in 2026. The city’s architectural diversity also allows directors to recreate different eras, environments, and socioeconomic textures without leaving the municipal boundaries.

With planned studio expansions in neighboring communities and ongoing development of downtown, Journal Square, and the waterfront, Jersey City’s production capacity will only increase in the coming year.


How Film Production Impacts Jersey City Real Estate

Filming brings economic activity, national visibility, and renewed interest in neighborhoods such as Paulus Hook, Downtown, Journal Square, and The Heights. Homes that appear on screen, even briefly, often spark viewer curiosity and drive real estate search activity. The continued presence of film crews underscores Jersey City’s appeal to home buyers seeking culture, convenience, and architectural character.

If you are exploring Jersey City neighborhoods or considering a move, our team can help you evaluate communities, understand housing market trends, and identify condo, single family or multi-family properties for sale or rent that match your goals.

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FAQ for 2025/26

What movies were filmed in Jersey City?

Major films shot in Jersey City include Joker, Men in Black, Annie, A Beautiful Mind, Army of the Dead, and Coneheads. Many scenes were filmed in Liberty State Park, Exchange Place, Journal Square, and Hamilton Park.


What TV shows film in Jersey City?

Popular TV series that film in Jersey City include Law and Order: SVU, The Sopranos, The Equalizer, Blue Bloods, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and Gotham.


Why do so many productions film in Jersey City in 2025/26?

Jersey City offers diverse architecture, waterfront views, state tax incentives, accessible permitting, and proximity to Manhattan, making it a flexible stand-in for numerous eras and cities.

Where are the most common filming locations in Jersey City?

Liberty State Park, Exchange Place, Hamilton Park, Downtown Jersey City, Bergen-Lafayette, PATH stations, and industrial districts along Route 440.


How many movies and shows have filmed in Jersey City?

More than 150 productions have used Jersey City, with more expected in 2026 due to increasing demand for East Coast filming locations.