Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions is back with another Netflix original, and this one hits close to home – literally. Roommates follows Devon and Celeste, two college freshmen whose ride-or-die friendship slowly unravels into full-blown war. It’s chaotic, relatable, and set almost entirely around a university campus. But which university, and where?
The film is set at the fictional Walton University, where Devon is studying architecture and Celeste is weighing up Fashion Merchandising against Communications – whichever turns out to be easier, naturally. Starring Sadie Sandler and Chloe East as the central pair, with cameos from Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Storm Reid, and Carol Kane among others, Roommates filmed across several real-world locations in the US and even made a stop in Europe.
Roommates (2026) movie Filming Locations
Here’s a breakdown of everywhere Roommates was filmed.
Hudson County, New Jersey
New Jersey served as the primary filming base for Roommates, and Hudson County did most of the heavy lifting. The production used Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken to stand in for the fictional Walton University, giving the campus scenes a grounded, authentic collegiate feel.
Hoboken itself also provided a handful of additional backdrops, including the historically designated corner of 9th and Hudson Street, lending the film some of the borough’s signature brick-and-brownstone character.
Madison and Montclair, New Jersey
Beyond Hoboken, the production spread across several other New Jersey locations to build out the film’s academic world. Drew University on Madison Avenue and Montclair State University both appear in the film, contributing to the visual language of Walton University across different scenes. Montclair High School was also used, doubling as the movie’s fictional Aldrin High School for flashback or contextual sequences.
Long Branch, New Jersey
The cast and crew were spotted filming at Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, which provided a more polished, upscale setting away from the campus storyline. It’s the kind of location that works well for scenes requiring a contrast to the dorm-room chaos at the center of the plot.
Residential New Jersey – Plymouth Street, Bloomfield, Livingston, and Millburn
Not every scene in Roommates takes place on a campus. The production also filmed at a real house on Plymouth Street, grounding the domestic side of the story in an authentic suburban setting. Additional residential areas used during filming include Bloomfield, Livingston, and Millburn — all lending a familiar, lived-in quality to the film’s off-campus sequences.
Los Angeles, California
Roommates makes time for some LA scenery, with several of the city’s most iconic landmarks making brief appearances. Viewers may clock the Griffith Observatory (A Picture of Her, I Love that for you ), Venice Beach, the Hollywood Sign, and Los Angeles City Hall in the film’s quicker exterior shots. These landmarks do a lot of work in a short amount of screen time, efficiently signalling a location shift without lingering.
New York City, New York
Parts of Roommates were also filmed in New York City. The noise, density, and energy of the streets make it a natural fit for a film about the overwhelming nature of freshman year. NYC has long been a go-to for productions that need a backdrop to match a certain frenetic mood – it shares company with films like The Devil Wears Prada and Only Murders in the Building in that regard.
Barcelona, Spain
The production ventured furthest from its New Jersey home base when it headed to Barcelona. Several of the city’s most recognizable landmarks appear in exterior shots, including the Arc de Triomf, the Venetian Towers, and the Sagrada Família. It’s a visually striking detour that stands out from the rest of the film’s predominantly American settings.
| Landmark | Location |
|---|---|
| Arc de Triomf | Barcelona, Spain |
| Venetian Towers | Barcelona, Spain |
| Sagrada Família | Barcelona, Spain |
Roommates is now streaming on Netflix US.
