Even though Big Mistakes moves through different kinds of settings, the series was filmed mainly in New Jersey, with some later material shot in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Miami-set part of the season. Netflix says the production used more than 40 locations across New Jersey during a 46-day shoot, which helps explain why the show can feel both grounded and visually varied at the same time.
So while the series may look larger than one region, its real production footprint is actually quite grounded.
Why New Jersey matters so much to the show
According to Netflix, New Jersey was not just a convenient filming base. It also served as the main backdrop for the show’s family-and-crime world. That makes sense for a series like Big Mistakes, because New Jersey can shift easily between suburban, small-town, roadside, and urban-feeling locations without making the world feel disconnected. Netflix says production filmed in places including Caldwell, Cranford, Franklin Lakes, Irvington, Jersey City, Union, Warren, and Weehawken.
That variety helps explain why the series can move between family tension, local awkwardness, and wider criminal pressure while still feeling like one connected world.
Which real New Jersey places were used?
Netflix’s production feature names a number of specific spots, including Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown, Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn, and the Crystal Inn in Eatontown. Those examples give a good sense of the show’s range, because they point to a mix of historic, religious, roadside, and everyday New Jersey environments rather than one glamorous central location.
That also fits the tone of the series. Big Mistakes works best when its world feels lived-in and a little messy, not overly polished.
Was any of the show filmed outside New Jersey?
Yes. Some of the series was also filmed in Puerto Rico.
Netflix Tudum says the Miami-set cartel storyline in episode 7 was filmed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which stood in for Miami. Tudum specifically mentions waterfront, luxury-estate, and yacht-life visuals tied to that section of the season.
That is a useful detail because it explains why parts of the show may suddenly feel more open, sunlit, or upscale than the core New Jersey locations.
Why Puerto Rico was a smart stand-in
Using Puerto Rico as a Miami double is something Netflix has done before on other productions too, because San Juan can deliver a warm coastal look with a strong urban feel. In Big Mistakes, that choice seems especially practical because it lets the series widen its visual world without losing momentum or needing a fully separate production base. The result is that the show can briefly feel bigger and more outward-facing while still fitting inside the same season rhythm.
For viewers, it simply means the location shift feels intentional rather than random.
Was the cattle auction filmed at a real place?
There is a strong indication that at least one of the show’s rural-looking sequences used a real New Jersey livestock setting. A local New Jersey post says scenes for episode 5 were filmed at the Hackettstown Livestock Auction on West Stiger Street in Hackettstown. Because that is not an official Netflix source, it is best treated as a likely local filming report rather than the main source of record.
Still, it matches Netflix’s broader statement that the show shot across many different New Jersey towns and businesses.
Does the filming style match the story?
Very much so.
A big reason these locations work is that Big Mistakes is not trying to look like a sleek prestige-crime show. It needs places that can feel domestic one moment, awkward the next, and tense after that. New Jersey gives the show that everyday realism, while Puerto Rico lets it briefly stretch into something more visually expansive. That balance suits a series built around family chaos and criminal pressure rather than one perfect, highly controlled environment.
It also pairs naturally with the broader Big Mistakes release and premiere guide, since the show’s world becomes easier to picture once you know where it was actually shot.
Final answer
In the end, the filming locations matter because they support what Big Mistakes is trying to be. New Jersey gives the series a believable home base for its family tension and everyday unease, while Puerto Rico allows parts of the story to feel wider and more exposed when the season needs that shift. That balance helps the world of the show feel varied without feeling disconnected.