SMC’s remote worker who lives in south Jersey came in to the office yesterday. After work, she gave me a ride home and asked I seen the episode of Severance and American Horror Stories that were filmed in Jersey. As it turns out, I don’t watch much TV. I actually just recently subbed to Netflix because I was under the impression that one of my favorite movie series is coming back “Knives Out” part 3, only to find out it won’t release until December. I was duped. I only sub for usually one month at a time then quickly cancel my membership to these streaming services because I know it’ll be a waste of money. (Hulu for King of the Hill reboot, Netflix for Knives Out, Paramount for Mission Impossible franchise)
I can’t help to noticed though the increased amount of film production that is happening in New Jersey. This one with Cameron Diaz in Perth Amboy, then all of these in northern jersey. I’m surprised I didn’t know about the mega Netflix buildout before yesterday, then I realized… we turned on our SMC data tracker in August and the news made headlines 9 months ago when I was catching edema in Kansas, in my cargo van OTR business.
Netflix is dropping dropped $900 million into Monmouth County, New Jersey. Not a PR stunt — a full-scale production complex. Twelve sound stages, permanent jobs, real land, real build.
📍 Location: Former Fort Monmouth base (Eatontown + Oceanport)
🏗️ Scope: 300-acre studio campus — sound stages, backlots, production offices
👷♂️ Jobs: 3,500 construction roles + 1,400 full-time production employees
💵 Incentives: $387 million in New Jersey state tax credits
The state is betting big on film. And it’s not just Netflix:
Lionsgate and NBCUniversal expanding footprint
State re-upped its Film & Digital Media Tax Credit in 2023
“Film-Ready Communities” program accelerates zoning + approvals in partner towns
🎯 Local Impact:
Eatontown, Oceanport: Early uptick in housing demand, real estate activity, local business formation
Red Bank, Long Branch: Hospitality, catering, logistics — secondary job clusters forming fast
Asbury Park: Pulling hybrid talent (creative + tech) into an affordable coastal zone
🏠 Housing Note:
Median home values in Monmouth County up 7.2% YoY
Local developers buying up adjacent parcels for short-term rentals + crew housing
Permits for mixed-use and light industrial tracking upward since Netflix announcement
🎥 Production Geography Shift:
Hollywood’s not leaving LA. But producers want reliability — tax clarity, buildable land, logistical hubs
Jersey offers Northeast proximity without Manhattan overhead
New build studios = long-term commitments, not shoot-and-go
📊 What This Means:
This build is a capex anchor — and local towns will re-rate around it
Counties that make permitting and utility work frictionless will win the next studio
The creative economy is no longer just software or screens — it’s physical
Make your next move count.
Stacy
Founder, CEO - Smart Movers Club
P.S. Every member’s at a different stage. Book a quick call and I’ll help you figure out which path makes the most sense for you.
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