The upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic, ‘Deliver Me from Nowhere,’ starring Jeremy Allen White, injected a massive $41.8 million into the New Jersey economy during just 31 days of filming, showcasing the substantial business impact of the state’s rejuvenated film industry.
The entire production was filmed in New Jersey, utilizing the state’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program to spur local spending and job creation.
“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,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. “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.”
The film, which opens this Friday, saw an average daily spend of $1.3 million during its month of production. The spending directly supported local businesses across a wide range of sectors:
- Lodging: $552,000
- Catering: $429,000
- Wardrobe: $2.2 million
- Tolls: $79,000
- Extras: $1.7 million
The production also hired 500 crew members in the state, contributing to a record year for New Jersey’s film industry. In 2024, in-state production spending from filmmaking hit a new high of $833 million, surpassing the previous record of $701 million in 2022. Last year, 556 productions filmed in New Jersey, hiring over 30,000 crew members.
Deliver Me from Nowhere filmed in 16 towns, including iconic locations like Asbury Park, Freehold, and the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, and supporting local commerce in numerous municipalities.
Beyond depicting New Jersey itself, the state’s diverse locations proved versatile enough to substitute for other parts of the country:
- Newark locations like Central Restaurant and Washington Street doubled as New York City.
- Hunan Taste in Denville and Nutria Alley in Newark stood in for Los Angeles’ Chinatown.
- An office building in Roseland was used to portray Memphis near Graceland.
- A farm in Harding was transformed into the Archer County Fair in Texas.
According to Jon Crowley, Executive Director of the NJMPTVC, the film highlights the state’s “varied locations and deep talent pool and is a testament to why productions keep choosing the Garden State.”
The continued success of the film tax credit program is also attracting major studios, including Netflix, 1888, and Lions Gate, to build permanent studio facilities in New Jersey, signaling long-term job creation and economic growth for the state’s burgeoning film sector.
