Made in NJ Film ‘Oppenheimer’ Dominates Oscar Nominations, Building Upon the Film Industry’s Momentum in the Garden State

NJ productions recently showcased at Golden Globes, Emmy’s & Sundance Film Festival

TRENTON, N.J. (January 25, 2024) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today hailed the Oscar nominations showered on Oppenheimer and several other films with ties to New Jersey, as a testament to the momentum of the state’s film industry. Oppenheimer, the smash hit that broke box office records and received over a dozen Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, filmed portions of the movie in New Jersey. Receiving the most nominations of any film in the 2024 award cycle, Oppenheimer joins a long line of notable motion pictures filmed in New Jersey. A number of other productions filmed in New Jersey won major accolades earlier this month.

The Oscar awards are the latest major venue to feature productions filmed in the Garden State. Several movies and television shows also won Golden Globe and Emmy awards, and others were featured at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

“New Jersey’s film industry continues to grow momentum as more and more major productions choose our state to film,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “From the Oscars, Emmy’s, and Golden Globes to the Sundance Film Festival, productions filmed in New Jersey are making headlines. Under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership, the Garden State is poised to build upon this momentum, and we are ready to welcome new productions, which will create jobs and support small businesses.”

Oppenheimer, which is an NJEDA Film and Digital Tax Credit project, led the pack with 13 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. The hit-movie also received five Golden Globe awards, including for Best Motion Picture. Several of the movie’s scenes were filmed at Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated for 10 Oscar nominations. Actor Peter Yorn, a member of the film’s cast grew up in Montville. Yorn’s brother, Rick Yorn, was the film’s executive producer. Thelma Schoonmaker, a Ridgewood native, was also nominated for film editing.

Ramy Youssef, originally from Rutherford, starred in Poor Things, which received 11 nominations. The Holdovers, received five nominations, and stars Dominic Sessa, an Atlantic County native who grew up in Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township.

HBO hit-television drama Succession received an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards. Extensive filming for the fourth and final season of the show took place at CNBC Studios and the NBCUniversal Technology Center in Englewood Cliffs and Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival is featuring seven productions that were filmed in New Jersey. Filming for the productions took place in locations across the state including in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, and Union Counties. This year’s event marks Sundance’s 40^th anniversary.

Oppenheimer and nearly 150 productions to-date have recently been attracted to New Jersey by the state’s Film Tax Credit Program, which offers eligible production companies up to 35% transferrable tax credit on qualified film production expenses, plus an additional 2% or 4% diversity bonus for qualified productions. Since the revival of the tax credit program, production has been booming in the Garden State, unlocking opportunities for thousands of businesses, residents, and filming locations across New Jersey.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn