A new film production titled “Samo Lives” is currently being filmed in several Hudson County locations, including Hoboken and Jersey City. On Wednesday morning, crews were seen setting up filming equipment along residential streets in Hoboken. The production drew attention from residents as film trailers and lighting trucks lined the blocks.
The movie was first announced in 2022 and has been described as a biopic of New York City artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat, born in Brooklyn in 1960, became one of the most influential painters of his time before he died in 1988.
According to social media reports and local sources, “Samo Lives” has been filmed at multiple sites. Crews were seen in Jersey City Heights in September 2025 and later in Hoboken on Garden Street on October 15th, 2025. Another shoot took place on October 14th at Dino + Harry’s, a well-known restaurant in Hoboken.
- “Samo Lives” is a biopic about Jean-Michel Basquiat, directed by Julius Onah and starring Kelvin Harrison Jr.
- Filming has taken place in Hoboken and Jersey City, including Garden Street, Dino + Harry’s, and Jersey City Heights.
- The film explores Basquiat’s rise to fame, his 1983 Whitney Biennial debut, and his death in 1988 at age 27.
The Film’s Cast and Crew
Kelvin Harrison Jr. takes on the role of Jean-Michel Basquiat in Samo Lives. The acclaimed actor is best known for his performances in “Cyrano“, where he starred alongside Peter Dinklage, and the A24 drama “Waves”, in which he shared the screen with Euphoria’s Alexa Demie.
The movie is directed and written by Julius Onah, a Nigerian-American filmmaker and writer. Onah previously worked with Harrison on the 2019 drama film “Luce,” which co-starred Naomi Watts and Octavia Spencer. The film earned a 2020 Film Independent Spirit Award nomination, a 2019 Sundance Grand Jury Prize nomination, and a 2020 Chlotrudis Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. “Luce” also won the 2019 New York Film Critics Online Breakthrough Performance Award and the 2019 San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Life and Career
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Haitian father and Puerto Rican mother. His work first gained attention through graffiti art he created with a friend under the tag “SAMO,” short for “same old.” His graffiti appeared on buildings in lower Manhattan during the late 1970s.
By 1983, Basquiat became the youngest artist to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial, one of the most prestigious art events in the United States. His paintings often addressed race, class, and identity through expressive, abstract forms.
Despite the success, Basquiat struggled with fame and substance abuse. He died in 1988 at age 27, reportedly from an accidental heroin overdose. After his death, his influence continued to grow to the point that his paintings sold for millions of dollars at international auctions. Sotheby’s has auctioned several of his works, including record-breaking sales.
Basquiat’s art has been displayed in galleries worldwide, including exhibitions at the Hudson School art studio in Hoboken. His legacy continues to inspire artists, musicians, and filmmakers across generations.
Local Filming Brings Hollywood to Hudson County
Hudson County has become a busy filming area for both independent and major film productions. “Samo Lives” joins a growing list of projects that have used Hoboken and Jersey City as filming locations in 2025.
The film was listed in a local report titled “What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List for 2025,” which tracks movies and TV shows currently in production across the area. The list included “Samo Lives” as one of the featured films, with details about its cast and recent filming activity.
The report also states that Hoboken and Jersey City continue to attract film crews due to their proximity to New York City, diverse architecture, and recognizable cityscapes. In recent years, the cities have become popular for productions that need authentic urban settings without the high costs of filming in Manhattan.
Residents who spotted the “Samo Lives” crews on Garden Street and near Dino + Harry’s were able to see firsthand how Hudson County is being used to recreate parts of 1980s New York.
The Film’s Purpose and Current Status
“Samo Lives” aims to tell the complete story of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life — from his early graffiti art in New York City to his rise as a world-famous painter and his untimely death. The film’s title comes from Basquiat’s graffiti tag, “SAMO,” which represented his early creative identity.
While the exact release date of “Samo Lives” has not been announced, the film has generated strong interest since its announcement in 2022.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Harrison Jr. continues to expand his career, as it was recently announced that he will also appear in the next “Hunger Games” film.
