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 January 14th, 2025, keep reading for a list of all the movies and TV shows currently filming in Montclair and Essex County, New Jersey.
December 2024
Song Sung Blue
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson
Last Seen: Montclair, December 3rd
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.”
Read More: 12 Movies + TV Shows Filmed in Essex County
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
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.
See More: What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List of Movies + TV Shows
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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.”