Directed and written by Edward Drake, GUNS UP is a gritty, fast-paced mob thriller centered on a loyal henchman on the brink of escape. Kevin James stars as Ray Hayes, a former cop and devoted father who gets caught in a deadly web after his final assignment with “The Family” spirals out of control. Alongside Christina Ricci as Alice Hayes, Luis Guzmán as Ignatius Locke, Joey Diaz as Charlie Brooks, Melissa Leo as Michael Temple, and Timothy V. Murphy as Lonny Castigan, the film captures the intensity of one desperate night through the heart of New Jersey.
WHEN AND WHERE WAS GUNS UP FILMED?
GUNS UP began principal photography in early 2025 and wrapped production by April of the same year. The entire shoot took place in New Jersey, favoring real urban backdrops over soundstage sets. Bayonne and Kearny—two working-class cities with cinematic histories—served as the film’s primary locations.
BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, USA
The heart of the filming took place in Bayonne, a city already familiar to film crews due to previous productions like War of the Worlds, A Beautiful Mind, and the upcoming Nonnas (2025).
BROADWAY BISTRO DINER – 226–232 Broadway, Bayonne
A standout location is the now-closed Broadway Bistro Diner, used as the workplace and dream destination of Ray Hayes (Kevin James), who hopes to open his own diner. Though shuttered as of June 2025, the diner’s nostalgic feel and authentic interior made it the perfect setting for Hayes’ personal struggle.
HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY – 239 Avenue A, Bayonne
Another important set was Holy Family Academy, which served as the fictional school of Ray Hayes’ children. Once a real all-girls Catholic school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the building closed in 2013 but retains its structure and character. The academy opened in 1954 and remained a key institution in Bayonne until its closure.
The building added emotional authenticity to the film’s scenes depicting family life and parental urgency, amplifying the character stakes in Ray’s mission to protect his children.
KEARNY, NEW JERSEY, USA
Another significant filming site was 95 Kearny Ave, Kearny, used for multiple street-level action sequences and mob-related interiors. Kearny’s industrial and residential look gives GUNS UP a grounded, believable atmosphere.
Kearny has seen productions like The Sopranos, Coyote Ugly, and the indie feature Ponyboi, making it a go-to destination for urban crime stories. The production used actual businesses and storefronts, favoring realism to match the chaotic energy of the movie’s one-night timeline.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES DETAILS FROM SET
On set, the cast brought as much energy behind the camera as in front of it. Kevin James and Luis Guzmán famously bonded over a shared love of guinea pigs—James even adopted the film’s guinea pig and affectionately named it Gooey Luzman after Guzmán.
In another quirky moment, Guzmán and sound engineer Thomas Patrick Holden IV shared stories about their time working at a restaurant called Stingy Wing, where they both manned the “hot beds” (though during different years).
Renowned ornithologist Marla Derrick reportedly worked uncredited on the film, assisting with bird-related scenes and symbolism.
One of the film’s most bizarre trivia pieces involves a character named Big Timmy, a former dentist turned tooth collector—an homage to a real dentist from Kevin James’ childhood who allegedly kept his patients’ baby teeth.
As for props, the guns shown in the movie were made from recycled sandhill crane eggshells, a nod to James’ Montana-based bird farm, “King of Cranes.” Reportedly, he chugged an entire can of Mountain Dew Code Red in three seconds on set, and the drink itself plays a comedic role in the film.
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