Great Movie Scenes Filmed In New Jersey

Thomas Edison built the world’s first film studio, the Black Maria, in West Orange. The American film industry as a whole was born in New Jersey, as studios like Universal, Solax, and Fox opened their doors in Fort Lee. 

With new state tax credits for film productions, New Jerseyans have seen many more movies made in their backyards in recent years. As the cinema industry returns to its roots in the Garden State, it’s important to remember the iconic films shot here.

Date at the Park – “On the Waterfront” (1954)

The entirety of “On the Waterfront” was filmed in New Jersey, making it one of the most famous movies shot in the state. Arguably, the most famous scene from this film is when Terry and Edie walk through the park together. As Edie prepares to leave and drops her glove, actor Marlon Brando improvises the bit in which he picks it up and plays with it to make her stay. This scene was shot in the exterior of Our Lady of Grace Church in Hoboken, with the filmmakers reportedly splicing in footage of the characters at Stevens Park to make it seem like they’re near the river.

“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” – “The Godfather” (1972)

One of the most iconic lines from one of cinema’s most quoted films was uttered in what is now Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The line was uttered in the scene in which Peter Clemenza and Rocco Lampone shoot Paulie in the countryside, with the Statue of Liberty standing tall in the distance, creating a perfect contrast between the idealized vision of American society and the dark reality conveyed in Paulie’s murder. NJ.com reported that it was all filmed on an unmarked road years before the area was turned into Liberty State Park.

Zoltar Speaks – “Big” (1988)

The most pivotal scene in the Tom Hanks film “Big” is when the young Josh makes his wish to the mechanical Zoltar, setting in motion the events of the film. According to Movie-Locations, This iconic moment was shot at Palisades Interstate Park, specifically at the Ross Dock Picnic Area near Henry Hudson Drive in Fort Lee. Viewers can even see the George Washington Bridge shining in the distance during this scene.

Henry Gets Busted – “Goodfellas” (1990)

While director Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” takes place in New York City, Henry and Karen’s house in the film is actually located at 1080 Inwood Terrace in Fort Lee. One significant scene involving this New Jersey house is the climactic sequence in which Henry Hill, all coked-up and paranoid, spends a day driving and doing errands, all while watching the skies for police helicopters. Not only is Henry seen leaving the house in Fort Lee, but he is also arrested there at the end of the day.

Enter North Shore High School – “Mean Girls” (2004)

In the early 2000s, writer Tina Fey unleashed the teen comedy classic, “Mean Girls.” While much of the movie was shot in Canada, the interior scenes set in North Shore High School were actually filmed inside Montclair High School. Though the Mean Girls musical remake released 20 years later, was also filmed in New Jersey, this movie was shot in a different school in Middletown Township in Monmouth County.

The Opening Scene – “Joker” (2019)

While a large portion of “Joker” was filmed in New York City, the production team also shot key scenes in Jersey City and Newark. The most notable scene among them is when Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, performs at a store sale dressed as a clown before his sign is stolen by a group of teenagers, and he chases them into an alley. Brick City residents will recognize the theater Arthur was dancing in front of as the Newark Paramount Theatre on Market Street. It’s no surprise that Joker was filmed in New Jersey, as Gotham City has often been depicted as a Garden State metropolis.

“America” – “West Side Story” (2021)

Acclaimed director and former New Jersey resident Steven Spielberg turned cities like Paterson and Newark into the mean streets of Manhattan for his cinematic adaptation of “West Side Story.” One of the film’s most striking sequences is its rendition of the musical number “America,” which centers around stars Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez. Since “America” is one of the popular songs in the musical, Spielberg went all out in bringing it to the big screen as he filmed it in Paterson. Featuring a vast scope, outstanding choreography, glorious camerawork, and colorful costumes, this scene was a sight to behold, and it all went down on the streets of Silk City.

Oppenheimer Meets With Einstein – “Oppenheimer” (2023)

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Nominated for 13 Oscars and winning seven, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, “Oppenheimer” became a cinematic phenomenon when it premiered in 2023. According to NJ.com, director Christopher Nolan and his production team spent four days filming in New Jersey at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where J. Robert Oppenheimer had worked in real life. Amongst the footage shot, there is the scene in which Oppenheimer meets with Albert Einstein, with the former expressing his fears of nuclear armageddon in the film’s haunting finale.