Beyond Hollywood: 6 Unexpected Places Where Movies Are Being Made - Livability.com (2024)

Lights, Camera, Action! These under-the-radar spots are producing some of the best in film across the country.

By Kayla Walden on June 25, 2024

Is there anything better than curling up with a bowl of popcorn, a glass of wine and a great movie? Probably not. And with more than 500 produced in Tinseltown each year, you’re spoiled for choice when Friday night rolls around. But you might be surprised to learn that many of your favorite movies and television shows weren’t filmed in sunny California. While Tinseltown offers seemingly endless viewing options, a surprising number of productions spring to life in lesser-known locations. Here are six of our favorite places where movies are being made outside of Los Angeles.

1. Maury County, Tennessee

Columbia lies in the heart of Maury County, Tennessee, and boasts a growing list of accolades, including being home to one of the most charming historic downtowns and proudly declaring itself the “mule capital of the world.” You may even hear about its historical association with former U.S. President James K. Polk while you’re kicking back at one of its many local breweries or music venues. But the entertainment opportunities don’t stop there.

While the list of things to do and interesting facts are, indeed, quite long, Columbia also happens to be a popular film location for movies like comedy-drama “Daltry Calhoun” (2005), “The Hannah Montana Movie” (2009) and the popular Tom Hanks film based on a Stephen King novel with the same name, “The Green Mile” (1999). In recent years, several Lifetime holiday movies have also been filmed in this quaint southern spot.

Maury County is quickly emerging as an unexpected hub for film production. The area’s diverse landscapes, abundance of historic sites and close proximity to Nashville have attracted all sorts of projects, from smaller independent films to major television productions. Spring Hill is home to World Wide Stages, a 38-acre complex home to state-of-the-art film, television and music production facilities. In nearby Franklin, the Tennessee International Indie Film Festival showcases the work of both local and international filmmakers and celebrates the region’s long-running history in television production. The growing infrastructure, support from the local government and a talented workforce help position the Maury County area as an up-and-coming destination for the film industry.

2. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Known for its rich culture, delicious food and sweeping landscapes that bring in tourists for everything from the annual International Balloon Fiesta to the Great American Duck Race, is it any surprise that Albuquerque also happens to be a hotspot for Hollywood cinema? The most popular connection here is with the hit TV series “Breaking Bad,” which ran from 2008 to 2013 and garnered some seriously dedicated fans. If you cheered along with the show’s 16 Emmy Award wins and found yourself in deep conversations about morality with fellow BB enthusiasts, prepare your heart. You can actually take a dedicated “Breaking Bad” tour in Albuquerque, visiting places like Walter White’s car wash and Saul Goodman’s law office.

In 2019, Netflix established studio operations in Albuquerque and is now investing $1 billion to make its ABQ Studios one of North America’s most prominent high-tech and sustainable film production facilities. NBCUniversal opened a state-of-the-art film and television studio in Albuquerque and expects to spend $500 million in the state over the next 10 years. Additionally, New Mexico has nearly two dozen production facilities across the state, and from 2021 to 2022, the film industry spent more than $855 million in the Land of Enchantment. Other popular features and television shows filmed in Albuquerque include “Outer Range” (2022), “Stranger Things” (2016), and “No Country for Old Men” (2007).

3. Atlanta, Georgia

Visiting the historic Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, sipping one of the literally hundreds of varieties of soda at the World of Coca-Cola and laying eyes on the shockingly giant whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium are all high up on the list of things to do in Atlanta. But you should also make time to learn a little more about the city’s connection with the film industry.

In recent years, Atlanta has emerged as a powerhouse in the film industry and has even earned the nickname “Hollywood of the South,” thanks to the generous tax incentives, diverse filming locations and the ever-growing infrastructure of local studios and skilled crews. This has all helped attract major production companies and independent filmmakers to the city, and the influx of film production has contributed to the state’s economic growth and boosted tourism. Georgia’s Camera Ready Communities program helps connect producers with county liaisons who provide resources like film studios, lodging, assistance with local permits and more.

It’s easy to see why the Big A is an A+ location for film and TV. For instance, popular titles like The Blind Side, The Walking Dead and Captain America: Civil War filmed some of their scenes here, and it isn’t uncommon to run into the cast from “Stranger Things” walking along the Beltline. Several key locations from The Hunger Games trilogy are in Atlanta, and visitors can take a self-guided tour around the city to check out the camera-ready spots. Today, heavy hitters like Tyler Perry have set up shop in Atlanta. In 2015, Perry moved his production company, Tyler Perry Studios, to Atlanta. He runs the studio on a 330-acre lot in the heart of Atlanta on the historic grounds of the former Fort McPherson army base.

4. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great place to live — and a great place to visit if you want to explore places like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Levine Museum of the New South and the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. But for movie enthusiasts, the cream of the crop lies in the filming locations, so it’s no surprise that the Queen City is an unexpected crown jewel of the film industry.

Charlotte appears in the credits for many features, such as “The Color Purple” (1986), “The Patriot” (2000), “Shallow Hal” (2001), “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006) and “Sully” (2016). Several television shows were also filmed here, like “Homeland” (2011) and “Banshee” (2013).

In recent years, Charlotte has experienced a resurgence in its film industry thanks to attractive tax incentives and an extensive range of filming locations across the city. The area has a growing network of production companies, experienced crew members and several state-of-the-art facilities. From major studio films to independent production companies like Susie Films — a full-service, pitch-to-post production company — Charlotte has played the backdrop for various projects that show off the city’s versatility and appeal to filmmakers. The Charlotte Regional Film Commission helps to actively promote the region and attract new productions to the area.

5. Shreveport, Louisiana

Locals and visitors alike appreciate the diversity of things to do in Shreveport, Louisiana. You can visit the more than 3,000 animals in the Shreveport Aquarium, wander the beautifully landscaped Asian Gardens that represent a whopping 15 different Asian countries, explore the local nature scene at places like Cypress Black Bayou or tour the R.W. Norton Art Gallery with its eclectic collection of books, art, décor and garden plants. The city’s unassuming artsy nature may come as a surprise, but industry insiders recognize Shreveport as a perfect place for production. Among the lengthy list of film accolades are “True Blood” (2008), “Breaking Bad”, “Straw Dogs” (2011) and “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013).

The city has a long-running history in the filmmaking industry and is affectionately known as “Hollywood South.” Though other industries in the area have faced challenges due to tax incentive changes, the film industry has remained resilient throughout the fluctuations. Shreveport offers a variety of filming locations and backdrops, from urban and city landscapes to rural bayous. Additionally, the city has hosted numerous productions, from independent projects to major studio films — like “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009). Recently, entertainer 50 Cent moved his G-Unit Studios into the former state-of-the-art facilities of Millennium Studios.

6. Wilmington, North Carolina

Shreveport may hold the title for “Hollywood South,” but Wilmington, North Carolina, has a reputation for being “Hollywood East.” In addition to this historic and charming community’s endless activities, festivals, and natural beauty, Wilmington is home to Cinespace Wilmington, formerly EUE/Screen Gem Studios, one of the most significant film and TV production facilities on the East Coast. Several famous movies and TV shows have been filmed here, like “Dawson’s Creek” (1998), “One Tree Hill” (2003) and “Iron Man 3” (2013). The popular film “A Walk to Remember” (2002) was also shot in Wilmington — and some of the sets were even borrowed from Dawson’s Creek. Fans of Stephen King may also be surprised to learn that “Under the Dome” (2013), a sci-fi series based on a novel of the same name, was actually filmed in Wilmington rather than Maine.

Wilmywood, as the city is affectionately called, has a long-standing history as a prominent film and television hub. Wilmington provides filmmakers with various filming locations, from historic downtown streets filled with Southern charm to stunning coastline and beach-front scenery. In addition to Cinespace Wilmington’s massive studio complex (we’re talking 10 stages!), the city is home to other significant production companies like Dark Horse Studios, which added an additional 40,000 square feet to its campus and two new purpose-built stages. Despite fluctuations in tax incentives, the local film industry remains resilient, attracting projects with its unique charm and supportive infrastructure.