All location work for the Bruce Springsteen biopic “Deliver Me from Nowhere” was filmed in New Jersey, according to an announcement from the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), a part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The film, which is scheduled to be released this week, spent $41.8 million over 31 days of filming in 16 towns across the state. The production utilized the NJEDA’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program.
NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan stated, “There was only one place that made sense to film a movie about Bruce Springsteen – the place where it all began, right here in New Jersey. From the Stone Pony to the Meadowlands, Springsteen’s career crisscrossed the state, eventually becoming an international sensation. Major productions like Deliver Me from Nowhere continue to create jobs, support small businesses, and fuel our economy. New Jersey’s growing film industry is delivering real economic impact and driving creative energy across the state.”
Since Governor Murphy reinstated the state’s film tax credit program in 2018, film production in New Jersey has increased significantly. In 2024, filmmaking spending in the state reached $833 million, exceeding the previous record of $701 million in 2022. In total, 556 productions were filmed in New Jersey last year, employing more than 30,000 crew members—nearly twice as many as in 2023.
During the filming of “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” the production hired 500 crew members and averaged $1.3 million in daily spending. Expenditures included $552,000 on lodging, $429,000 on catering, $1.7 million on extras, $79,000 on tolls, and $2.2 million on wardrobe.
NJMPTVC Executive Director Jon Crowley commented, “Deliver Me from Nowhere shines a spotlight on New Jersey’s rich culture and talent, and honors Bruce Springsteen’s unmatched legacy. This film showcases our varied locations and deep talent pool and is a testament to why productions keep choosing the Garden State. New Jersey, the birthplace of film, is the industry’s future.”
Filming took place in Asbury Park, Bayonne, Chatham, Denville, East Rutherford, Freehold, Harding Township, Jersey City, Montague, Montclair, Mountain Lakes, Newark, Orange, Rahway, Rockaway, and Roseland.
New Jersey locations served as stand-ins for various places across the country. For example, Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford represented arenas in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. Restaurants and streets in Newark stood in for New York City and Los Angeles locations. Route 23 through High Point State Park doubled as the Blue Ridge Mountains, while other locations substituted for Memphis and Texas.
The state’s tax credit program has attracted numerous feature films, television shows, and digital media projects. Major studios such as Netflix, 1888, and Lions Gate have chosen to establish facilities in New Jersey, which is expected to create permanent jobs and contribute to long-term economic growth.
The NJMPTVC, a division of NJEDA, is staffed by industry professionals and provides resources for production companies to encourage film and television production in New Jersey.
More information about the commission is available at www.film.nj.gov.
