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The basics:

• New Jersey film studio inventory projected to triple by 2028
• Film production spending reached $833 million in 2024
• Netflix, Paramount, Lionsgate expanding studio footprint
• CBRE says new infrastructure fueling long-term industry growth

It’s no secret New Jersey has been busy reclaiming its crown as the center of film and television production. A new report puts some (techni)color on that story, and how it translates to physical impact.

According to CBRE, the Garden State studio and soundstage inventory will triple by 2028 driven by new development. That upswing coincides with a push from productions that face more competition and limited options, in nearby markets.

The new 2026 Tri-State Film & Television report shines a spotlight on what makes New Jersey attractive, the success of state incentives and the growing industry infrastructure on the ground.

The New Jersey Film & Digital Media tax credit launched in 2018 and will run to 2049. The program features a total annual cap of $430 million in credits to attract production studios with dedicated occupancy here. It has since attracted Studio Partners including Lionsgate, Netflix and Paramount.

Coming Soon
Local studio projects expected to make their debut in the coming years include:

• Great Point Studios in Newark (Lionsgate)
• 1888 Studios in Bayonne (Paramount)
• Netflix Fort Monmouth in Oceanport and Eatontown

While the forecast for production volume is uncertain amid industry consolidation and tighter budgets, CBRE highlights the Tri-State area as one of the nation’s most resilient.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter in April, film shoots dropped across the U.S. — except in New Jersey. Certainly, the more than 4,000 attendees drawn to this year’s NJ Film Expo in the Meadowlands a month later underscores that momentum.

“One of the themes of the day today is that New Jersey is really writing one of the greatest comeback stories in the industry … Now, we’re back in New Jersey, stronger, smarter, and more dynamic than ever,” Nick Day, co-CEO of Edge Auto and president of the Screen Alliance of New Jersey, told NJBIZ during the conference.

“And productions aren’t here because it’s a nice option.

“They’re coming here because it’s a strategic decision driven by world-class talent, a growing infrastructure that you see here today, diverse locations, a strong tax credit and a collaborative ecosystem – an ecosystem that is sitting right here in this room.”

Noting general subdued spending in 2025, CBRE highlighted a 21% increase in film project spending in the Tri-State.

In New Jersey, overall in-state production spending from filmmaking hit $833 million in 2024. And last year 35 productions qualified for the program, with projected spend anticipated to top $600 million.

“The region may have to compete in the future for a larger slice of a smaller pie, but a new crop of studios with dedicated content-producing occupiers, an improving inventory of leasable stages, and a deep pool of resident talent suggests that Tri-State is better positioned for recovery than some competitor markets,” according to the report.

Beyond the state’s wealth of contributions to on-screen talent, and as referenced by other industry concentrations in the state, talent gives New Jersey an edge.

According to CBRE, the Tri-State region has approximately 52,000 qualified motion picture professionals. While the report notes New Jersey currently lags, at 66% of pre-pandemic levels, it also stands to improve its position in film and TV production in the coming years as new studios come online.

If you build it

When it comes to shooting on location, the region – and particularly New Jersey – offers a diversity of settings that range from Shore towns and historic villages to urban centers and more. Indoors, as larger film and television productions seek space in the Tri-State it’s helping boost the area’s inventory of production space. CBRE noted the region has seen a 43% uptick since 2020.

While New Jersey is making gains, and with high-profile projects, New York City still anchors the local industry. The report identifies the neighborhoods along the Queens and Brooklyn border as the center of film production in the region and notes the city continues to expand its inventory, as well.

SOUNDSTAGE SCORECARD:

SOURCE: CBRE

Across the Hudson River, “New Jersey’s studio inventory is largely concentrated along the Hudson River in Jersey City but the large Hollywood-style movie studios to come will expand production to other parts of the shoreline and the state,” according to the report.

The State has now transitioned from an incentive-driven market to a full-scale production ecosystem.
—Anthony Jasenski, CBRE

“While generous incentives have successfully attracted productions, studio capacity constraints have historically limited growth. We are now seeing this dynamic rapidly shifting, especially in New Jersey,” commented Anthony Jasenski, CBRE’s Americas Film Production Studio Practice Leader. “The State has now transitioned from an incentive-driven market to a full-scale production ecosystem, with significant investments in studio infrastructure enabling sustained expansion.”