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| Where Was Paper Tiger Filmed? All New York and New Jersey Filming Locations Revealed. |
The 2026 crime thriller Paper Tiger brings the streets of 1980s New York back to life, but not every scene was filmed in the city itself. Directed by James Gray and starring Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson, the film used a combination of real New York neighbourhoods and carefully selected New Jersey locations to recreate its distinctive period setting. From the familiar streets of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn to the residential avenues of Teaneck and Denville Township, the production travelled across several individual locations to capture the atmosphere of the story.
Filming began in June 2025 and continued across the summer, with New York and New Jersey providing the backdrop for the production. If you've watched the film and wondered whether those streets actually exist, there's good news: several of the places can be visited today. Here is a closer look at the filming locations of Paper Tiger, including the specific streets and areas that helped bring the movie to life.
Brighton Beach Avenue, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York
Brighton Beach Avenue is one of the most recognisable locations associated with Paper Tiger. Situated in southern Brooklyn, this lively commercial street is known for its Russian-speaking community, independent shops, traditional food businesses and distinctive neighbourhood atmosphere. Adam Driver and Miles Teller were spotted filming around Brighton Beach Avenue, close to Brighton 5th Street, in June 2025.
The location makes particular sense for James Gray, whose 1994 film Little Odessa also explored the Russian-American community in Brighton Beach. Returning to this part of Brooklyn for Paper Tiger gives the director an opportunity to revisit an environment that has clearly influenced his filmmaking career. The elevated subway tracks, busy pavements and traditional shopfronts also provide an atmospheric setting for a crime thriller set in 1986. Visitors can explore the avenue, browse its independent businesses and experience the neighbourhood's character. Just don't expect everyone to be dressed like they're waiting for a scene with Adam Driver.
Brighton 5th Street, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York
Another specific location associated with the production is Brighton 5th Street, close to Brighton Beach Avenue. The surrounding streets offer a more residential perspective on the neighbourhood, with apartment buildings, local businesses and everyday street activity contributing to Brighton Beach's unmistakable identity.
Its position close to the main commercial avenue made the area a useful setting for the production's street-level scenes. The surrounding architecture also helps establish the film's historical atmosphere without relying entirely on elaborate digital alterations. For visitors, Brighton 5th Street offers an opportunity to explore the quieter side of the neighbourhood while remaining within walking distance of the beach and the area's main shopping district.
Forest Hills, Queens, New York
Queens plays an important role in the geographical identity of Paper Tiger, with the borough providing the residential surroundings for the story. Forest Hills is one of the neighbourhoods associated with the production's New York setting. Known for its leafy residential streets, traditional brick properties and carefully maintained architecture, the area offers a very different atmosphere from the busy commercial districts of Brooklyn.
The neighbourhood is particularly suitable for a story about a family trying to establish financial security while becoming increasingly entangled in circumstances beyond their control. Its residential character provides a contrast to the darker industrial and criminal environments elsewhere in the film.
Forest Hills is also an interesting destination for film enthusiasts who enjoy exploring New York beyond the usual Manhattan attractions. Visitors can walk through Forest Hills Gardens, admire its distinctive architecture and discover Austin Street, a popular shopping and dining destination. The neighbourhood has enough character to deserve a visit even without a camera crew following you around.
Rego Park, Queens, New York
Rego Park offers another useful geographical reference point for understanding the film's Queens setting. This residential and commercial neighbourhood is known for its apartment buildings, shopping areas and established streets, making it an interesting part of the wider New York environment associated with Paper Tiger.
Its architectural variety provides a different visual character from the more traditional residential streets of Forest Hills. Queens has long offered filmmakers a practical alternative to Manhattan, particularly when a production needs recognisable New York surroundings without dealing with the complications of filming in the busiest parts of the city.
Visitors exploring this part of Queens can also spend time around the Rego Center shopping complex and the neighbourhood's commercial streets. It is a convenient way to experience the everyday side of the borough rather than limiting a New York trip to the locations that appear on every postcard.
Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn, New York
The Gowanus Canal is particularly important to the world of Paper Tiger because of its connection to the story's engineering and development project. The industrial waterway forms part of the narrative's wider setting, bringing together environmental concerns, financial interests and the criminal underworld.
However, there is an important distinction between a location featured in a film's story and an actual filming site. The canal is central to the film's narrative, but its surrounding industrial areas should not automatically be treated as confirmed production locations.
The Gowanus Canal itself remains an interesting destination for visitors interested in Brooklyn's industrial history. The surrounding neighbourhood features old warehouses, converted industrial buildings, bridges and newer developments. Union Street and Carroll Street also provide useful access points for exploring the area's historic industrial landscape. It is a fascinating contrast to the more residential parts of the film's setting.
Griggs Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey
Griggs Avenue in Teaneck was one of the specifically identified streets used during the New Jersey production. According to local announcements, filming took place here on 8 July 2025, with the production using the residential surroundings for scenes involving the film's characters.
Teaneck, located in Bergen County, offers the sort of established suburban environment that can convincingly represent an earlier version of the New York metropolitan area. Its residential streets, mature trees and traditional properties provide a natural backdrop for a story about family life and the pressures of maintaining a comfortable home.
The production's decision to film on an actual residential street also helped give the movie a more grounded appearance. Rather than creating every suburban scene inside a studio, the filmmakers could work with an authentic neighbourhood environment. Visitors can explore the wider Teaneck area, although residents' privacy should always come first when visiting residential filming locations.
Beatrice Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey
Beatrice Avenue was another specifically identified Teaneck filming street. The production reportedly used the avenue during the morning and evening of 8 July 2025, making it one of the more precisely documented locations connected to Paper Tiger.
The residential surroundings are well suited to the film's domestic atmosphere. Unlike the busy streets of Brighton Beach, Beatrice Avenue offers a quieter suburban environment, with houses and tree-lined roads that help establish the contrast between ordinary family life and the increasingly complicated circumstances surrounding the main characters.
For anyone interested in visiting the area, the wider Teaneck neighbourhood provides a pleasant look at suburban New Jersey. It is also an opportunity to appreciate how filmmakers can transform an ordinary residential street into a convincing period setting through production design, carefully selected camera angles and the removal of modern visual distractions.
Belle Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey
Belle Avenue completes the trio of specifically identified Teaneck streets used during the production's July 2025 filming schedule. The avenue formed part of the residential filming area, helping the filmmakers establish the suburban environment surrounding the Pearl family.
One of the interesting things about Paper Tiger is how its setting depends on the contrast between familiar domestic surroundings and the more complicated world outside them. A residential street such as Belle Avenue helps communicate that difference without requiring an elaborate set.
Teaneck is also an accessible destination for people exploring Bergen County. Visitors can discover its local parks, independent businesses and residential districts while getting a sense of the suburban landscape that helped shape the film's visual identity. It might not look particularly dramatic on an ordinary afternoon, but that is rather the point.
Denville Township, Morris County, New Jersey
Denville Township holds a particularly important place in the production history of Paper Tiger because filming began here in early June 2025. The town was among the first New Jersey locations used by the production, with Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson spotted working on the film during its opening days.
Located in Morris County, Denville is known for its residential neighbourhoods, local shopping areas and attractive surroundings. Its traditional suburban character made it a suitable choice for establishing the domestic world of the Pearl family.
The township also offers plenty for visitors beyond its connection to the film. Downtown Denville, particularly the area around Broadway, features independent shops, restaurants and cafés. Nearby Rudy's Pond and the surrounding recreational areas provide another reason to spend some time exploring the town.
For Paper Tiger fans, Denville is arguably one of the most interesting stops on the filming-location trail because it marks the beginning of the production's New Jersey shoot. It is also a reminder that a major Hollywood production can turn an otherwise ordinary town into a temporary film set.
Bergenfield, Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergenfield was also included among the New Jersey communities associated with the Paper Tiger production. Situated in Bergen County, the borough has a largely residential character, with established neighbourhoods, local businesses and streets that fit naturally into the wider suburban environment of the film.
Its location within the New York metropolitan area makes it a practical production destination, particularly for a film that needs to recreate the atmosphere of 1980s New York without shooting every scene inside the five boroughs.
Bergenfield also has its own attractions for visitors. The commercial area around Washington Avenue offers local dining and shopping opportunities, while the surrounding residential streets provide a look at the borough's everyday character.
Although it might not have the international recognition of Brighton Beach, Bergenfield contributes to the wider geographical picture of Paper Tiger. It is another example of how New Jersey communities can provide convincing alternatives to New York locations.
Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
Bayonne adds another dimension to the film's wider New Jersey production footprint. Located in Hudson County, the city has a long industrial and maritime history, with waterfront infrastructure, shipping facilities and established urban neighbourhoods.
These characteristics make Bayonne a natural geographical match for a crime drama exploring the relationship between business interests, financial opportunities and organised crime. Its industrial identity also fits the broader atmosphere of Paper Tiger, particularly when considering the film's interest in development projects and the changing urban landscape of the 1980s.
One of the most interesting places to explore in the city is Bayonne Bridge, an impressive engineering structure connecting Bayonne with Staten Island. The surrounding waterfront also offers a glimpse into the city's maritime heritage.
The city's industrial surroundings provide a useful contrast to the suburban locations used elsewhere in the production. For visitors interested in urban architecture and waterfront history, Bayonne is worth adding to a New Jersey itinerary.
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Newark is another New Jersey city associated with the film's production. As one of the state's largest urban centres, Newark offers a mixture of historic commercial architecture, established residential districts and industrial infrastructure.
The city's varied streetscape makes it particularly useful for productions looking to recreate different parts of the wider New York metropolitan area. Its older buildings and urban character also complement the film's late-1980s setting.
Visitors exploring Newark can discover Military Park, a historic public space in the downtown district, as well as the surrounding commercial streets and architectural landmarks. The Newark Museum of Art is another worthwhile destination for anyone interested in spending more time in the city.
Newark's role in the wider production geography demonstrates why filmmakers frequently look beyond New York itself. Sometimes, the right visual setting is just across the state border, and there is little reason to make life more complicated than necessary.
Paper Tiger Filming Locations: A Closer Look at the Production
Paper Tiger is a 2026 American crime drama and psychological thriller written and directed by James Gray. The film follows two brothers whose pursuit of financial success leads them into a dangerous situation involving the Russian criminal underworld.
Adam Driver plays Gary Pearl, while Miles Teller portrays his younger brother, Irwin Pearl. Scarlett Johansson appears as Linda Pearl, completing the central family dynamic. The supporting cast includes Dimiter D. Marinov, Roman Engel and Cindy Katz.
The film was photographed on 35mm film, with cinematographer Joaquín Baca-Asay overseeing its visual approach. This traditional format helps give the production an atmospheric appearance that suits its 1986 setting. Production companies involved include RT Features, Keep Your Head Productions, Vice Pictures, Lotus and Leone Film Group, with NEON handling its North American distribution.
Rather than relying entirely on studio environments, the production made extensive use of New Jersey and New York locations to establish the film's geographical identity. The result is a visual combination of residential streets, commercial districts and industrial surroundings that reflects the contrasting worlds occupied by the characters.
Opinion: Why Paper Tiger's Filming Locations Are Worth Exploring
What makes Paper Tiger's filming locations particularly interesting is how ordinary many of these places look outside the film. Brighton Beach has its busy shops and familiar neighbourhood atmosphere, Denville has its relaxed suburban character, while Teaneck offers residential streets that could easily be overlooked during a typical New Jersey road trip. Yet these are precisely the kinds of places that help make a period crime drama feel believable.
I also like the geographical variety, because the production doesn't depend on one recognisable New York backdrop to establish its identity. Each location contributes something different to the overall atmosphere. For film fans, visiting these places could be an enjoyable way to explore parts of New York and New Jersey that rarely receive the same attention as major tourist attractions. Just remember that filming locations are real communities, not permanent movie sets. Respect the residents, enjoy the surroundings and resist the temptation to recreate every dramatic scene on someone's front lawn.
Would You Visit These Paper Tiger Filming Locations?
From Brighton Beach Avenue and the residential streets of Queens to Denville Township and the avenues of Teaneck, Paper Tiger offers plenty of interesting places for film enthusiasts to explore. Some locations are closely connected to the production itself, while others help explain the geographical and industrial atmosphere behind James Gray's story.
It is also worth remembering that not every production address is made public. Filmmakers sometimes keep particular locations private during filming to protect residents, maintain production schedules and prevent unwanted interruptions. As further location details become available, this article can be updated with additional information.
So, which destination would make your Paper Tiger travel list? Would you rather explore Brighton Beach and its connection to James Gray's earlier work, or visit Denville and Teaneck to discover the New Jersey streets used during production? Let us know which location interests you most, and stay tuned to Tonboriday.com for further filming-location discoveries.