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| Where Was ‘Roommates’ Filmed? Inside the Real Locations Behind the Netflix Hit. (Credits: Netflix) |
Netflix’s ‘Roommates’ doesn’t just sell a messy, all-too-real uni friendship turning sideways — it quietly flexes a surprisingly stacked set of filming locations that do half the storytelling on their own. While the production kept exact spots under wraps during filming (for obvious reasons — nobody wants a crowd turning up mid-scene), enough details have surfaced to map out a filming trail that swings from suburban America to European postcard territory.
At its core, ‘Roommates’, directed by Chandler Levack, follows Devon and Celeste — two freshmen who clearly should’ve stayed casual acquaintances but instead decided to share a room and emotional chaos. The film leans heavily on campus life aesthetics, and that’s where New Jersey comes in, doing most of the heavy lifting without screaming for attention.
Hudson County emerges as the film’s quiet MVP, especially Jersey City and Hoboken, where urban student life feels just polished enough to be cinematic but still believable.
The production tapped into Stevens Institute of Technology, turning its polished campus into the backdrop for key party scenes — the kind where everything looks fun until it absolutely isn’t.
Streets like 9th and Hudson add that classic East Coast texture, all brick, symmetry, and subtle chaos. It’s the kind of place that makes a breakdown look aesthetic.
Then there’s Edison, which doesn’t try to be flashy and that’s exactly why it works. Scenes shot at a real spot like Edison Millwork and Hardware ground the story in something recognisable — a reminder that not every dramatic moment happens under neon lights or at a party.
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| Netflix |
Sometimes it’s just awkward silence in a hardware aisle, which, frankly, tracks for this film.
Shift slightly and you land in Hackettstown, where things get unexpectedly rural. The Hackettstown Livestock Auction setting adds a curveball to the film’s visual tone, proving the story isn’t boxed into one type of environment.
It’s quieter, a bit offbeat, and honestly, a subtle nod that these characters can’t escape themselves no matter the backdrop.
Back to campus energy, Madison and Montclair carry some of the film’s most recognisable academic visuals. Drew University steps in as a key location, alongside Montclair State University, both offering that polished collegiate look films love.
Meanwhile, Montclair High School gets a cinematic makeover into “Aldrin High School,” because apparently even school signage isn’t safe from rebranding.
A real house on Plymouth Street sneaks into multiple scenes too, adding a domestic contrast to all the campus tension.
Beachside Long Branch brings a different mood entirely, with scenes shot around Ocean Place Resort & Spa. It’s the classic “things are falling apart but at least the view is nice” energy.
Meanwhile, quieter residential areas like Millburn, Livingston, and Bloomfield round out the New Jersey footprint, giving the story breathing room away from campus drama.
Outside New Jersey, the production clearly wasn’t content staying local. Los Angeles steps in for that unmistakable film polish — whether or not you clock the Hollywood Sign or Griffith Observatory, the city’s visual DNA is hard to miss. It’s subtle, but it adds scale.
Then there’s New York City, because of course there is. The skyline, the pace, the noise — it’s all there to amplify the characters’ emotional chaos. NYC doesn’t just appear; it looms, making everything feel slightly more intense than it needs to be.
And just when you think the film’s done, it casually drops Barcelona into the mix. Yes, that Barcelona. Landmarks like Sagrada Família, La Rambla, and Casa Milà reportedly show up in exterior shots, giving the film a brief but noticeable shift in tone. It’s less “uni drama” and more “life is bigger than your problems” — whether the characters realise it or not is another story.
Interestingly, industry chatter also points to nearby East Coast stand-ins like parts of Newark, New Jersey, being used for additional shots. It’s not officially confirmed, but it fits the production’s pattern of blending practical locations with cinematic ones — efficient and slightly sneaky, in a good way.
Online reactions have been exactly what you’d expect. Some fans are already mapping out travel routes, turning the film into an accidental holiday guide, while others are side-eyeing the characters’ life choices instead of the scenery. A few netizens even joked that the real villain of the film isn’t either lead — it’s the decision to become roommates in the first place. Fair.
What’s clear is this: ‘Roommates’ didn’t just build a story — it built a world that feels lived-in, slightly chaotic, and uncomfortably familiar.
And if you’re already thinking about visiting these spots, you’re not alone. The real question is — would you go for the scenery, or just to see if the drama feels different in real life?