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The basics:

• ‘Blue Moon’ earns two Oscar nods for NJ natives Ethan Hawke, Robert Kaplow
• ‘Marty Supreme,’ ‘Song Sung Blue’ earn combined 10 Oscar nominations
• NJ filming generated $41.5M in local spending and 1,630-plus jobs
• Locations included Chesterfield, East Rutherford, Paterson, Montclair, Matawan

The 2026 Oscar nominations provide further evidence of New Jersey’s growing role in film and television production.

Among the nominees released Jan. 22, is “Blue Moon.” The Sony Pictures Classics film received two Oscar nominations tied directly to New Jersey natives: Ethan Hawke, with West Windsor roots, for Best Actor; and Robert Kaplow, a former Westfield and current Metuchen resident, for Best Original Screenplay. Sony Pictures Classic produced the film, co-founded by Monmouth County native and resident Tom Bernard, who also serves as president.

“We are extremely proud that ‘Blue Moon’ received two Oscar nominations,” Bernard told NJBIZ. The film stars Hawke as legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart, set during the opening of ‘Oklahoma!’ — the musical written by his former creative partner. “It’s certainly a touching film; both Jersey natives Ethan Hawke and Robert Kaplow were outstanding and each deserve to take home an Oscar this year.”

These latest nominations come on the heels of last year’s Oscar success for “I’m Still Here,” also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. That Best Picture-nominated film went on to win Best International Feature. It marked the first such win for a Brazilian-produced film, as well as added to the company’s long track record of Academy Award recognition.

Other ‘blues’

New Jersey’s Oscar presence extends beyond “Blue Moon.” Two films that shot extensively in the state also earned a combined 10 Oscar nominations.

“Song Sung Blue” is a biographical musical drama starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson about two real-life musicians who performed as a Neil Diamond tribute band in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, “Marty Supreme” offers a sports drama starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow chronicling table tennis player Marty Mauser (loosely based on Marty Reisman) on his journey to become world champion.

“Marty Supreme” received nods for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design and Best Casting. “Song Sung Blue” earned a Best Actress nomination for Hudson.

Watch the Oscar nomination announcements here:

The Oscar nominations follow a strong New Jersey showing at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards earlier this year. Chalamet won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for “Marty Supreme,” one of five Golden Globe-nominated productions that spent nearly $172 million statewide and hired an estimated 7,500 workers, reinforcing New Jersey’s rise as a major production hub.

According to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, “Song Sung Blue” generated more than $29.5 million in qualified in-state spending and hired 630 workers; “Marty Supreme” spent more than $12 million and employed 1,000 people.

Filming locations for “Marty Supreme” include Chesterfield (farm house and cornfields), East Rutherford (Meadowlands Arena), Elizabeth (Ritz Theater and surrounding streets) and Paterson (Market Street).

“Song Sung Blue” filmed at a slew of locations, including Irvington (Ukrainian Community Center), Montclair (Charm Thai Cuisine and Tierney’s Tavern), Keansburg (Amusement Park, Paterson (Scillieri-Arnold Funeral Home), Wayne (St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center and Wayne Elks Lodge), Garwood (Blue Ridge Shopping Plaza and Crossroads), Matawan (Stillwell Auto Garage), Denville (Denville Dog & Grill) and many more.