<P> Filming took place in Virginia , Connecticut , New Jersey , California , and New York . The film shooting lasted an estimated 72 days . Spielberg originally intended to shoot War of the Worlds after Munich , but Tom Cruise liked David Koepp 's script so much that he suggested Spielberg postpone the former while he would do the same with Mission : Impossible III . Most of Munich 's crew was brought in to work on War of the Worlds as well . In 2004 , the production crews quickly were set up on both coasts to prepare for the start date , scouting locations up and down the Eastern Seaboard and preparing stages and sets which would be used when the company returned to Los Angeles after the winter holiday . Pre-production took place in only three months , essentially half the amount of time normally allotted for a film of similar size and scope . Spielberg notes , however , `` This was n't a cram course for War of the Worlds . This was my longest schedule in about 12 years . We took our time . '' Spielberg collaborated with crews at the beginning of pre-production with the use of previsualization , considering the tight schedule . </P>
where was the movie war of the worlds filmed
Virginia Connecticut New Jersey California New York