Essex County has been been the backdrop for many big-picture films over the years — from The Sopranos and The Joker to Spiderman and Mean Girls. In recent years and with the approval of a new West Orange film studio, our area has become even more of a filming hotspot for various movies and TV shows. Just in the past few months, we've seen Jeremy Allen White in Montclair for the upcoming Bruce Springsteen Biopic, Adam Sandler filming all around Essex County for Happy Gilmore 2, and more. To keep up with the latest filming news, The Montclair Girl has decided to compile an ongoing list of what's filming locally. We’ll be updating this article whenever necessary. As of April 11th, 2025, keep reading for a list of all the movies and TV shows currently filming in Montclair and Essex County, New Jersey.

May 2025

The Whisper Man

Starring: Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, and Michelle Monaghan

Last Seen: Filming May 19th-27th

A Netflix crime thriller called The Whisper Man will film at a historic building located at 60 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair this May. Per Montclair Local, a notice was sent to residents last week about the filming, which will take place from May 19th-27th at various times. A prep crew will be on-site from April 28th-May 16th, as well as a wrap crew after filming is done from May 28th-June 6th. This post will be updated with any further information once filming starts. 

The crew is billed to film all over New Jersey, and has made previous in North Plainfield, Union County, Westfield, and Hoboken in April. In March, Grant Wilfley Casting was actively looking to cast New Jersey locals as extras in the movie, with openings for people of “all genders and ethnicities,” according to NJ.com.

Per IndieWire, The Whisper Man follows “a widowed crime writer (Adam Scott) who works with his estranged father, a retired police detective (Robert De Niro), to find his abducted 8-year-old son. The duo soon realizes that the case has a connection with a decades-old murder committed by a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.” The film is based on Alex North’s New York Times bestselling novel.”

The Alan Nelson Project

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Tatyana Ali

Last Seen: May 17th, 2025

The Alan Nelson Project is a Japanese Indie film starring Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine, Pirates of the Caribbean) and Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, the film follows Vietnam War Veteran Alan Nelson and his relationship with his therapist as he navigates PTSD after war. The crew told The Montclair Girl that the film will be shooting for four days in Montclair at Edgemont Park, Deron School, and the Unitarian Church, as well as in Rutherford.

April 2025

Office Romance

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Bett Goldstein

Last Seen: Montclair, April 2025

Earlier this week, Jennifer Lopez was spotted filming in Hoboken alongside co-star Bett Goldstein, and now, her newest romcom is making its way to Montclair. Per Montclair Local, filming for Office Romance is taking place at a Gates Avenue home in Montclair. J Lo herself has not been seen yet as of this writing.

Office Romance is an upcoming romantic comedy film co-written by Tedd Lasso team Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly (Goldstein starred in the show, Kelly was one of three co-creators). Brett Goldstein is set to co-star in the film alongside Jennifer Lopez. Per Deadline, “there was a hot bidding war for the feature, which Netflix won.” Producers on the film include “Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company; Goldstein and Kelly; as well as Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Films. Nuyorican’s Courtney Baxter is executive producer,” according to Deadline. Ol Parker is directing the movie.

Read More: Movies + TV Shows Filmed in Essex County

December 2024

Song Sung Blue

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson

Last Seen: Montclair, December 3rd, 2024

On Tuesday, December 3rd, an eagle-eyed reader tipped The Montclair Girl that a large film set had taken over Tierney’s Tavern on Valley Road. Per NorthJersey.com, the local spot was playing host to Song Sung Blue, an upcoming musical adaptation of a 2008 documentary about a Milwaukee couple’s Neil Diamond cover band. On Monday, December 2nd, Tierney’s Tavern took to Facebook to inform residents of its temporary closure during that week, reopening on Friday, December 6th.

According to Deadline, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson are billed to lead the film, portraying the “down on their luck musicians” who make up the cover band, ‘Lightning + Thunder.’ Hugh and Kate are joined by Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos, White Lotus), Fisher Stevens (Succession), and Jim Belushi (Red Heat, Curly Sue). Per Variety, Song Sung Blue is based on Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary of the same name and “follows the true story of Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, down-on-their-luck musicians who became local icons by performing as ‘Lightning + Thunder.’ The film also borrows its name from the 1972 Diamond song.”

November 2024

Happy Gilmore

Starring: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Margaret Qualley, Christopher McDonald

Last Seen: Montclair, Verona, Newark, Irvington, September-November 2024

Happy Gilmore 2 was spotted filming all around Northern New Jersey in the last few months of 2024, and Adam Sandler (who plays Happy Gilmore in the films), was also been seen checking out local Essex County + Morris County spots. At the end of September, Adam Sandler and the Happy Gilmore 2 crew were filming in Verona. Per Patch West Orange, Adam visited Faubourg in Montclair, Goldberg’s World Famous Deli + Bagels in Millburn, and the Montclair Golf Club. The film was also shooting at Irvington Park, on Welland Street in Irvington, and at Dayton Street School in Newark in September + October. There were also multiple casting calls for the film seeking New Jersey locals.

Happy Gilmore 2 is a sequel to the 1996 film Happy Gilmore — which follows Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) as a failed ice hockey player turned golf pro who ends up winning the Pro Tour. Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald will reprise their roles as Virginia Venit (Happy’s love interest) and Shooter McGavin, respectively, and per IMDb, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and musician Bad Bunny will also act in the film.

October 2024

Deliver Me From Nowhere

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, David Krumholtz, Gaby Hoffmann

Last Seen: Montclair, October 29th, 2024

Pretty much every New Jersey local has heard about the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, Deliver Me From Nowhere, filming all around the Garden State — from Hoboken to Asbury Park. On Saturday, October 26th, Montclair Public Library posted on its Facebook page saying that its Bellevue Avenue Branch is an official location for the film. Per Montclair Local, a ramp labeled “rigging crew” was placed over the front stairs of the Bellevue Avenue Branch, and a sign on the front door stated “off limits” as film crews worked on a production. NJ.com reported that Jeremy Allen White was seen filming at the Bellevue Avenue Branch on Monday, October 28th.

The film, written and directed by Scott Cooper, is an adaptation of Warren Zanes’ book of the same name — Deliver Me From Nowhere — which is all about the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska. The movie will show The Boss’ pivotal years in the early to mid-80s as he reached worldwide fame as well as his childhood days growing up at the Jersey Shore in the 1950s.

May 2024

The Room Next Door

Last Seen: Montclair, May 2024 

On Friday, January 10th, director Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language movie made its New Jersey debut at The Claridge in Montclair (it debuted in New York on December 20th).  The Montclair premiere is ceremonious: in May 2024, the Tilda Swinton + Julianne Moore movie spent four days filming in town, per NJ.com. Among those locations are Montclair Book Center and Montclair State University, both of which appear in the movie's final cut. 

Per IMDB, The Room Next Door follows Ingrid + Martha who "were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation." 

See More: What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List of Movies + TV Shows

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