New Jersey just cemented its status as a major player in the entertainment industry.
Paramount is building what officials are calling one of the largest film and television production facilities in North America, and it’s happening in Bayonne.
The groundbreaking ceremony held Tuesday marks another massive win for the Garden State, which has aggressively courted Hollywood with generous tax incentives.
Welcome to “Hollywood East.”
A Massive Entertainment Hub Takes Shape
The new production campus, dubbed 1888 Studios, will sprawl across a 60-acre site that once housed oil refineries. Art deco-inspired designs showcase what will become a state-of-the-art facility featuring 23 sound stages.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy made bold claims about the project’s scale during the ceremony.
This is going to be one of the largest film and television studios in North America ever.
The name 1888 Studios pays homage to Thomas Edison, who patented the first moving images camera in New Jersey that very year. It’s a nod to the state’s deep roots in film history—roots that officials are now leveraging to attract modern entertainment giants.
Why Entertainment Companies Are Flocking to New Jersey
Paramount isn’t alone in choosing New Jersey as its production home. Netflix opened facilities in Monmouth County, while Lionsgate established operations in Newark’s south ward.
The secret weapon? Aggressive tax incentives that make filming in New Jersey extremely attractive financially.
New Jersey offers 35-40% tax rebates on expenses and hiring—among the most competitive incentives in the country. Combined with the site’s proximity to New York City (it falls within the crucial 25-mile union radius of Columbus Circle), the location becomes irresistible for major productions.
Governor Murphy defended the investment with confident economic projections.
We think we get back about $7 in economic activity for every dollar that the state spends on an incentive program.
Paramount has reportedly committed to a 10-year lease at the Bayonne location, signaling long-term confidence in New Jersey’s entertainment infrastructure.
From Oil Refineries to Sound Stages
The transformation of this industrial waterfront site required significant environmental work. Remediation efforts cleaned up contamination from decades of refinery operations.
The entire 60-acre lot now sits 18 feet higher than originally planned, thanks to massive amounts of clean soil added during remediation. That environmental restoration opened the door for construction of the production campus.
Despite groundbreaking happening now, films are already shooting on site. Full completion of the studio complex is expected within two to three years.
Local Community Reacts With Mixed Emotions
Bayonne residents are processing what this entertainment giant means for their community. Reactions range from excitement about potential opportunities to anxiety about rising costs.
Some residents worry about rent increases as the area becomes more attractive and potentially trendy. Gentrification concerns are real when major corporations move into previously industrial neighborhoods.
Business owners, however, see dollar signs and fresh clientele. Local restaurants and shops anticipate increased foot traffic from production crews, cast members, and industry professionals.
Anthony Ventrone, who works at Luciano San Vito Restaurant, expressed enthusiasm about celebrity sightings and new customers.
If we see Adam Sandler coming in, we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to bring new fresh faces to town.
Thousands of Jobs Coming to the Region
Beyond the glitz of Hollywood productions, the project promises substantial employment opportunities for New Jersey residents.
Officials project more than 4,300 jobs will be created through this development:
- At least 2,300 construction positions during the building phase
- 2,000 operational jobs once the studio grounds are fully functioning
- Additional indirect opportunities in surrounding businesses and support services
These aren’t just temporary gigs either. With Paramount’s 10-year commitment and ongoing productions from multiple entertainment companies, New Jersey’s film industry infrastructure appears built for sustainability.
New Jersey’s Rise as a Global Entertainment Player
Governor Murphy reflected on how dramatically perceptions have shifted regarding New Jersey’s role in entertainment production.
At first it was, who are you and why are you here. And now we go out there, we were just out there last month, and we are, as I say, a globally significant player in this industry.
That evolution from skepticism to respect didn’t happen overnight. Strategic investments in tax incentives, infrastructure improvements, and aggressive courting of major studios transformed New Jersey from an afterthought into a destination.
The state’s proximity to New York City provides logistical advantages that California can’t match for East Coast productions. Union requirements, talent availability, and established crew bases all favor the tri-state area.
What This Means for Future Productions
With 23 sound stages, 1888 Studios will accommodate multiple simultaneous productions. That capacity means more films and television shows can shoot in New Jersey without competing for limited space.
Expect to see “Filmed in New Jersey” credits rolling more frequently across your streaming services and movie screens. The infrastructure now exists to support large-scale, long-term production schedules.
Combined with Netflix’s Monmouth County facilities and Lionsgate’s Newark operations, New Jersey now offers production companies multiple options depending on project needs and logistics.
The entertainment industry’s center of gravity is shifting eastward, and New Jersey positioned itself perfectly to capture that momentum. What was once dismissed as merely “across the river” from New York has become a destination in its own right—one that might just rival traditional Hollywood in the coming decades.