Last year, the state of New Jersey gave Netflix $387 million in tax breaks to build film studios at Fort Monmouth.
Carly Baldwin, Patch Staff
|Updated Wed, May 14, 2025 at 9:12 am ET
EATONTOWN, NJ — Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos was in Eatontown Tuesday for the ceremonial construction start of Netflix's new East Coast film studio headquarters at Fort Monmouth.
Netflix plans to turn the former U.S. Army base into its "premier East Coast production hub."
Netflix plans to build a total of 12 soundstages at Fort Monmouth, and may develop all 292 acres of the site, which has sat empty since the Army closed the base in 2011. Demolition of some of the existing Fort Monmouth buildings is expected to take around 13 months, and the first studio is projected to open in 2028, Netflix said Tuesday.
In total, Netflix is prepared to invest $1 billion into this corner of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
“We estimate that these studios will create thousands of jobs for New Jersey residents, billions of dollars in economic output, and many other cultural benefits to the region and state," Sarandos said Tuesday. "Over the past four years, Netflix has contributed $125 billion to the U.S. economy and hired more than 140,000 cast and crew members."
Find out what's happening in Little Silver-Oceanportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
State Sen. Vin Gopal, this area's representative to Trenton, said all local small businesses in the area will benefit from Netflix being here.
"From local coffee spots and diners to florists, hardware stores, and small businesses of every kind, this means new jobs, more visitors, and fresh opportunities right here at home," he said.
Sarandos previously said he estimates opening Netflix at Fort Monmouth will create 1,500 permanent jobs in the movie industry.
In December of last year, the state of New Jersey — specifically the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) — gave Netflix $387 million in tax breaks to build the film studios at Fort Monmouth. Gov. Phil Murphy used the tax breaks to lure Netflix to open in New Jersey, reasoning that Netflix will create thousands of jobs in the film industry, ranging from set construction, screenwriting, acting, filming and animation, marketing, wardrobe, hair/make-up and more.
But that's not the only tax break Netflix received from New Jersey: If Netflix occupies their Fort Monmouth production facility for at least 10 years, it is eligible for a 40-percent base tax credit on all production expenses on movies/TV shows filmed in New Jersey.
Murphy said Tuesday at the event:
“The Netflix studio at Fort Monmouth further solidifies New Jersey’s reputation as a global leader in film and television production, attracting some of the world’s top filmmakers and creators to the state. We are grateful to Netflix for choosing New Jersey as its new home on the East Coast and for committing to an investment that will fuel economic growth, generate thousands of new jobs, and bring more patrons to our local businesses.”
Late last year, the Planning Boards in Oceanport and Eatontown gave their initial approval for Netflix to begin building movie studio lots. However, several members of the Oceanport Planning Board raised these concerns about Netflix doing around-the-clock filming. Board members said they were worried about outdoor filming, bright lights shining into peoples' homes at night, plus loud noise and traffic.
Discussion between Board members and Netflix representatives got heated at times during that Nov. 2024 meeting. A Netflix representative did say they plan to do some outdoor filming, but most filming will be done inside their soundstages, which are soundproof.
In attendance Tuesday were: Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico Jr., Oceanport Mayor Thomas Tvrdik, New Jersey Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr., Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul, Senator Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr., Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Executive Director Kara Kopach, New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Growth Eric Brophy, Netflix Vice President of Production Facilities Management and Operations at Netflix Anne Kelly, UA Local 9 Plumbers and Pipefitters Business Manager Mike Tranberg, IBEW Local 400 Business Manager Robert Shimko, Monmouth University President Patrick Leahy, Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terese Rölke and Eatontown Councilmembers Meir Araman, Carl Lawson, Virginia East, Danielle Jones, Maria Escalante and Candace Faust.
Prior on Netflix at Fort Monmouth:
Netflix Officially Gets $387 Million In Tax Breaks To Open In NJ (January 2025)
Brookdale Now Offers College Courses In Film Production And Wardrobe (Dec. 2024)
Noise, Overnight Filming From Netflix Worries Oceanport Planning Board (Nov. 2024)