brad pitt

With so many great films, TV shows, and mentions in popular culture, it’s easy to forget that the place pictured above actually houses criminals and not actors, cameras, and boom mics. Even if you aren’t from Jersey, chances are, you’ve seen or heard of Rahway Prison before. Maybe you knew it back when it was actually called Rahway Prison, before the people of Rahway, NJ disowned it and declared that it was technically in the neighboring town of Avenel, NJ, despite it’s mailing address. Finally, as they did with Newark Airport (now the fancy Liberty International), New Jersey’s balls dropped off and renamed the building East Jersey State Prison. And in yet another silly name change it became North Jersey State Prison for possibly it’s most high profile and memorable appearance thus far – the beginning of 2001’s Oceans 11.

If ever there was a film that did not need a sequel, it was Steven Soderbegh’s Oceans 11. If you’ve seen a Vegas heist film, you’ve pretty much seen them all, but I wouldn’t switch the channel if this was on cable. While nobody can come close to the Rat Pack, Clooney and Pitt’s fantastic chemistry makes the entire series worthwhile. Bare in mind that we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the duo’s quirky partnership if Danny Ocean had not been granted his release from East Jersey State Prison. Something about this building is incredibly ominous. Even though I pass the prison frequently, on film it looks even more intimidating.