Best of the Best is a comedy-drama about college Bollywood-fusion dance. Lena Khan directed it. Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam wrote it. The film stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, and Chaneil Kular. Hasan Minhaj and Janina Gavankar are also in the cast.
The story follows two childhood best friends, Maya and Anjali. They join the dance team at UCLA and go after the US championship. But the road to the title is much tougher than they expected.
The movie came out on Netflix on September 18, 2026. On screen, it is set in Los Angeles. But the film was actually shot in New Jersey.
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When and Where Was Netflix’s Best of the Best Filmed?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Best of the Best |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
| Filming Locations | New Jersey, USA |
| Filming Dates | July 28, 2025 – September 11, 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Adam Carboni |
| Release Date | September 18, 2026 (Netflix) |
Best of the Best was filmed in New Jersey. According to IMDb, filming ran from July 28, 2025 to September 11, 2025. New Jersey stood in for Los Angeles on screen.
📍 Montclair State University, Montclair
According to The Cinemaholic, the UCLA scenes were shot at Montclair State University. The campus is at 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair. UCLA banners were tied to street lights there.
The same report says the Alexander Kasser Theater can be seen behind some outdoor scenes with Maya and Anjali.
The trailer shows Susan A. Cole Hall, the school’s oldest building. It opened in 1908 and has a red-tile Mission Revival look.
📍 Jersey City, New Jersey
The Cinemaholic also reports that a big part of the film was shot in Jersey City. The city reportedly played Los Angeles on screen. Its streets and neighborhoods were used for filming.
📍 Bayonne, New Jersey
The crew filmed in Bayonne on September 10, 2025, according to Hoboken Girl. A Facebook post it cited listed the shoot area on Broadway East, between 41st Street and East 45th Street.
Parts of East 42nd Street and East 43rd Street were also part of the shoot area.
Best of the Best Behind the Scenes
To make your search for Best of the Best filming even more interesting, here’s some behind-the-scenes detail we found.
Is there a trailer available for Best of the Best?
Yes. Netflix released the official trailer on August 18, 2026. It was shared on Netflix’s official YouTube channel.
The film was released on September 18, 2026, and it streams only on Netflix. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and is rated PG-13. 186K Films and Rideback produced it.
FAQs
Where was Best of the Best filmed?
The movie was filmed in New Jersey. Reports point to Montclair, Jersey City, and Bayonne.
Was Best of the Best filmed at UCLA?
No. The story is set at UCLA, but the campus scenes were shot at Montclair State University in New Jersey, according to The Cinemaholic.
Which building in Montclair appears in the trailer?
The trailer shows Susan A. Cole Hall at Montclair State University. It is the school’s oldest building.
When did filming start and end?
Filming started on July 28, 2025 and ended on September 11, 2025.
What was filmed in Bayonne?
The crew shot in Bayonne on September 10, 2025. The area included Broadway East between 41st and East 45th Street, per Hoboken Girl.
Who is in the cast of Best of the Best?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays Maya, and Priyanka Kedia plays Anjali. Hasan Minhaj plays Professor Latif. Chaneil Kular, Ankur Rathee, Shreya Navile, Becky Alex, Lilly Singh, and Janina Gavankar are also in the cast, per Netflix Tudum.
Can I visit the Best of the Best filming locations?
The Bayonne streets are public roads, so you can walk there. For Montclair State University, check the school’s visitor rules before you go.
When and where does Best of the Best release?
Best of the Best was released on September 18, 2026. You can watch it on Netflix.
Best of the Best may be set at UCLA, but its cameras rolled in New Jersey. Montclair State University is the main spot we can point to. Jersey City and Bayonne add to the list.
If new location details come out, we’ll add them here…
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