Movies Shot At Keansburg Amusement Park, Asbury Park Debut At Sundance

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — It's not just a Middletown teen girl who appears as an extra in the new "Mean Girls" movie, in theaters now.

In the past year, movies were filmed all over New Jersey, and seven of them will make their debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, going on now through Jan. 28.

The movies are: "I Saw the TV Glow," "Your Monster," "Rob Peace," "Ponyboi," "Presence," "Exhibiting Forgiveness" and "A Different Man," according to the The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. They were shot on location in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic and Union counties in 2023.

The Sundance Film Festival is held in Park City, Utah and will take place January 18-28.

New Jersey is becoming the spot for Hollywood movie production, as Gov. Murphy's administration has given tax breaks and other incentives to production studios to film in New Jersey. Christopher Nolan’s "Oppenheimer," filmed partly at Princeton University, just won five Golden Globes, including the award for Best Motion Picture. HBO’s "Succession" received an Emmy for Best Drama Series and two Golden Globe Awards. Extensive filming for Season 4 of "Succession" took place at CNBC in Englewood Cliffs and in Jersey City.

The following films will appear at the Sundance Film Festival, and here's where in NJ they were filmed:

"I Saw the TV Glow"
A24’s newest horror film I Saw the TV Glow follows two teenagers (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine) who bond over their love for a scary television show that gets mysteriously canceled. The movie is directed by Jane Schoenbrun and produced by Emma Stone and Dave McCary under the Fruit Tree banner. Filming took place at Verona and Cedar Grove High Schools, The Saint in Asbury Park, Keansburg Amusement Park, Funplex in East Hanover, Pump It Up in Roselle Park, Boy Scout Camp Lewis in Rockaway Township, Corrado’s Supermarket in Wayne, and at other locations in Cedar Grove, East Rutherford, Kinnelon, Succasunna, Verona, Wayne and West Caldwell. Production spent over $7 million in New Jersey for labor, goods, and services.

"Your Monster"
Based on Caroline Lindy’s 2019 short film of the same name, this movie depicts a depressed woman (Melissa Barrera) who returns home to find the monster that lived inside her closet as a kid is still alive and well. The movie was filmed at East Orange General Hospital and at various locations in Elizabeth, Hoboken and Newark. Bombo Sports and Entertainment reported expenditures of $3 million during the course of production.

"Rob Peace"

Rob Peace, based on a true story, focuses on an inner-city kid (Jay Will) from Newark who attends Yale, only to succumb to harsh economic realities and the demons of his past. Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the movie stars Ejiofor, Jay Will and Mary J. Blige. Filming took place on various locations in Newark including the Lower Roseville section, Newark Penn Station and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School. Additional locations included the Essex County Jail, Sandy Hook, New Jersey City University in Jersey City, and a site in East Orange. The production company, Hill District Media, spent over $11 million in New Jersey and hired 290 cast and crew members and 650 extras for the filming of Rob Peace.

"Ponyboi"
Ponyboi, based on the groundbreaking short of the same name, follows an intersex sex worker (River Gallo) who must fight for survival after a drug deal gone south. The feature was executive produced by Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson, and shot at the L&P Laundromat in Palisades Park, the Chalet Motel in Ocean Township, the Bridgeview Diner in Kearny, the Kearny-Belleville Elks Lodge and the Silverball Retro Arcade in Asbury Park. Dream Queen Productions reported expenditures of $5 million while working in the state.

"Presence"
"Presence" takes place in a suburban house inhabited by an unknown force. Shot on a DSLR camera, this feature from director Steven Soderbergh was written by David Koepp. Starring Lucy Liu and Julia Fox, the movie was filmed entirely in Cranford. Over $2 million was spent in state during its production.

"Exhibiting Forgiveness"
"Exhibiting Forgiveness" follows a Black artist (André Holland) on the path to success, only to be derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. This movie was filmed in Allendale, Bayonne, East Orange, Hillside, Kearny, Montclair, Orange, Paterson, and West Orange. The production company, Homegrown Pictures, spent over $7 million in state and hired 125 cast and crew members and 200 extras.

"A Different Man"
A Different Man tells the story of Edward (Sebastian Stan) who, after undergoing facial reconstructive surgery, becomes fixated on an actor in the stage production based on his former life. Scenes were filmed in Maplewood and Montclair.

The New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission falls under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which serves as the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth. Former Barclays/Lehman Brothers investment banker Tim Sullivan is the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) CEO.

Also: Middletown Teen Is An Extra In New 'Mean Girls' Movie (Jan. 11)