The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), which operates as part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), reported that ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ amassed a total qualified spend of $152.5 million. The long-awaited Adam Sandler sequel spent 64 days filming in NJ and made use of NJEDA’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program.
The Sandler project is one of many Netflix productions that have filmed in the state. Other recent projects include ‘The Irishman’, ‘Office Romance’, ‘The Nonnas’, ‘72 Hours’ and ‘The Whisper Man’. Netflix broke ground on a massive, state-of-the-art facility at Fort Monmouth and the $1 billion investment will create many construction-related jobs as well as a significant number of permanent production positions.
“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has become a Happy Place for filmmakers, with our above par tax credits, all-star local talent, and diverse locations,” noted NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “As productions continue selecting New Jersey, the film industry will boost our economy by helping generate good-paying jobs and support small businesses throughout the state.”
Governor Murphy reinstated New Jersey’s film tax credit program in 2018. ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ generated the highest qualified spend of any production in the state with an average daily spend of $2.3 million. The production crew doled out $1.2 million on lodging and $6.4 million on extras for the film.
L to R: Kathleen Coviello, NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer; Janice Kovach, Mayor of Clinton and NJMPTVC Commissioner; Crowley; Sandler; First Lady Murphy; Eric Brophy, Office of the Governor, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Growth; Stephanie Lagos, Office of the Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chief of Staff to the First Lady; and David Smith, NJMPTVC Vice-Chairman
“Happy Gilmore 2 showcases New Jersey’s exceptional versatility in doubling as a variety of locations,” added Jon M. Crowley, Executive Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC). “From golf courses and universities, to airports, beaches, and quintessential suburban neighborhoods, New Jersey has everything a production company desires. We look forward to welcoming more and more productions to the Garden State.”
The production covered 31 municipalities and 9 counties across New Jersey. The Gilmore home exterior was a house in Irvington and the interiors were shot at a house in Belleville. The golf action was filmed at several courses, including Beacon Hill Country Club in Atlantic Highlands, Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, Fiddler’s Elbow in Bedminster, Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, Closter Golf Center, Alpine County Club in Demarest, Farmview Golf Center in Hackettstown, Rockleigh Golf Course, and Essex Golf Center in Roseland. Shooting also took place at Newark Airport, Fairleigh Dickinson, Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, and the former Essex County Isolation Hospital in Belleville.
Happy Madison, Adam Sandler’s production company, has already returned to New Jersey for a new project. Teen musical ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ recently filmed in Ridgewood, Cranford, and Livingston.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ premiered on Netflix in late July.
