New Jersey, despite its relative small size and often-slandered reputation, has served as the setting for numerous major films and television shows. In fact, New Jersey has been home to motion pictures since the art’s inception, with 1903’s “The Great Train Robbery” widely accepted as the first feature film produced in the Garden State.
Simply put, before Hollywood, there was New Jersey.
Although the state is no longer the central hub of the movie-making industry, it still has an influential role in modern cinema. Because of the state’s close relationship with New York City, as well as the incredibly diverse population that resides within it, New Jersey is often a perfect location to set and film a movie. This is demonstrated but the wide variety of films being created there, with no one genre dominating the state entirely.
In no particular order, here are my top five films set in the great state of New Jersey.
Honorable Mentions: “Chasing Amy,” “Cinderella Man,” “Friday The 13,” “The Hurricane,” “Atlantic City,” “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle,” “American Hustle”
“A Beautiful Mind”
“A Beautiful Mind,” starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ron Howard, is a biographical film about the life and struggles of mathematician John Nash. Much of the film takes place around Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey. This film has several beautiful scenes set throughout the university, one of the most prestigious and influential universities in the country. The film went on to win four Academy Awards, for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress.
“The Wedding Singer”
“The Wedding Singer,” starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and directed by Frank Coraci, is a romantic comedy film centered on a wedding singer in the 80’s and the waitress he eventually falls in love with. Robbie Hart, the wedding singer played by Adam Sandler, is from Ridgefield, New Jersey, where much of the film takes place. Hart often comments about how the area is “the perfect place to raise a family,” and the New Jersey town is often talked about throughout the movie. The film, now a cult classic, represents one of the few great movies starring Adam Sandler and helped pave the actor’s path toward superstardom.
“American Gangster”
“American Gangster,” starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, is a biographical crime film based on criminal Frank Lucas (Washington) and the detective who detains him, Richie Roberts (Crowe). Although the film takes place around the globe, from California to Southeast Asia, many of the movie’s most important moments occur with Newark, New Jersey detective Richie Roberts. Roberts investigates drug trafficking around the Essex County area, located in northeast New Jersey. The film earned two Academy Award nominations, for Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress, and was critically praised.
“The Wrestler”
“The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke, Evan Rachel Wood, and Marisa Tomei and directed by Darren Aronofsky, is a drama film detailing a washed up professional wrestler (Rourke) struggling with his health and relationship with his estranged daughter (Wood). Randy “The Ram” Robinson was once a celebrity in the 80’s, but now wrestles in small independent promotions in New Jersey on the weekends. Filming took place throughout New Jersey in Elizabeth, Rahway, Roselle Park, Linden, and Bayonne, as well as a particularly important few scenes at Asbury Park’s boardwalk. The film was critically acclaimed and boosted Rourke back into the spotlight. “The Wrestler” also was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
“Clerks”
“Clerks,” starring Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson and directed by Kevin Smith, details a day in the lives of convenience store clerk, Dante, and video store clerk, Randall. Filmed and set at the Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey, “Clerks” has become synonymous with New Jersey independent filmmaking. Other filming locations include Atlantic Highlands, Mount Holly, Middletown, and Red Bank. The film was a surprise success after being picked up by Miramax, and grossed more than three million dollars on it’s less than 30 thousand dollar production budget. It also introduced us to Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse, which includes other New Jersey films "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," "Mallrats," as well as the characters Jay and Silent Bob. “Clerks” is a perfect representation of the area in which it is filmed, from the foul language and pop culture references to the directionless musings of the main characters. The film was very well received critically, and today is often the first movie thought of when asked about New Jersey cinema.
