New Jersey is widely considered the birthplace of film, and, now, the Garden State ushering a new golden age for movies and TV production. Here’s how things started, and here’s where they are going.
1888: Kinetoscope Gets Off the Ground
Thomas Edison files patent paperwork for a device that will, over the next few years, evolve into the kinetoscope, an early motion picture machine that lets films be viewed by one person through a peephole.
1893: Thomas Edison Builds First Studio
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Thomas Edison opens the Black Maria, the world’s first movie studio, in West Orange. One of the earliest films is the seminal Fred Ott’s Sneeze starring Edison employee Fred Ott.
1909-1918: Fort Lee Becomes Film Capital of the U.S.
The Bergen County town becomes America’s first film hub, preceding Hollywood’s rise. Fort Lee’s close proximity to New York City and its diverse range of filming locations attract movie productions and big-name studios like Fox and Goldwyn.
1914: Cliffhanger Enters the Movie Lexicon
The film term cliffhanger originates from the silent serial The Perils of Pauline, starring the actress Pearl White, who literally hangs over the cliffs of the Palisades of Fort Lee and leaves audiences on the edge of their seats with anticipation as they wonder what will happen next on screen.
1929: Golden Age of Movie Palaces In Full Swing
The lavish Loew’s Jersey Theatre opens to fanfare in Jersey City. It’s still kicking today and is undergoing renovations.
1933: NJ Becomes Home to World’s First Drive-In
The Camden Drive-In, located in Pennsauken, becomes the first first drive-in cinema in the United States, starting a trend that would sweep the country. Sadly, the Camden Drive-In would close in 1935; now, the Delsea in Vineland remains New Jersey’s last standing drive-in theater.
1975: Jaws Takes a Bite Out of the Movie Biz
Steven Spielberg’s film opens on June 20, becoming the first modern blockbuster and, later, a cult classic. Jersey author Peter Benchley, who wrote the book the movie is based on, was inspired by real Jersey Shore shark attacks in the 1920s. Spielberg also spent part of his childhood in Jersey. (He also filmed his movie Disclosure Day, out this June, in New Jersey.)
1976: Motion Picture and Television Commission Forms
The state’s commission is established by Governor Brendan Byrne. It’s still in operation and thriving.
1980: Friday the 13th Frightens Moviegoers
Photo: Photofest/Paramount Pictures
The famed slasher film’s Camp Crystal Lake is really Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick.
1994: Clerks Shows Small-Town New Jersey Life
Highlands native Kevin Smith maxes out his credit cards and makes the now iconic movie for less than $30,000, premiering it on October 19, 1994. The film, shot at a Quick Stop in Leonardo, becomes a cult classic. Smith would make two sequels and remains a force in the New Jersey arts scene.
1999-2007: The Sopranos Changes Everything
When the series debuts on HBO, nobody predicts that a little show about a Jersey mobster/family man will become one of the most iconic pieces of TV ever. When it ends its six-season run on June 10, 2007, the series finale sparks an intense debate that has never died.
2009: Jersey Shore Brings Gym, Tan, Lots of Tourists
Love it or loathe it, Jersey Shore becomes a phenomenon when a group of 20-something party animals invade our TVs—and beaches—via MTV. Seaside Heights, where the cast lived, quickly gains national name recognition and becomes a tourist spot. Spinoffs are still airing today.
2010: Boardwalk Empire Shows Old-School Atlantic City
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
The HBO series is centered on the highs and lows of the Prohibition era in Atlantic City.
2018: Governor Murphy Reinstates Generous Tax Credits
Movies and TV shows get incentivized to shoot in Jersey, causing productions to skyrocket.
2022: Severance Chooses BellWorks for Lumon HQ
Photo: Courtesy of Apple TV+/Atsushi Nishijima
Much of the Apple TV+ series’ mysteriousness is owed to the sprawling, unique landmark.
2025: Netflix Breaks Ground on Massive Studio
Netflix invests $1 billion to transform the 292-acre Fort Monmouth into its facility.
2026: The Future Is Bright for NJ’s Film Industry
Three huge film studios—Netflix at Fort Monmouth, 1888 in Bayonne (anchored by Paramount) and Lionsgate Studios in Newark—are all in development, signifying the industry’s dedicated to filming here. Add that to a steady rise in A-list productions, and Jersey is more than ready for its close-up.
New Jersey’s diverse towns are excellent shoot-ready chameleons that easily mimic cityscapes, suburbs and other locales.
When actors and crews descend on the Garden State, local shops and restaurants get a financial boost—and a brush with fame.
Craving respite from the cold? These dining spots offer fireplaces, comfy seating, hearty dishes and warm welcomes.
The Garden State’s dining scene has it all—from incredible Italian food to amazing Asian fare, French cuisine and more.
