6 Georgia Towns Where Famous Movies Were Filmed

While Georgia doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you think of film locations for Hollywood blockbusters, the Peach State has served as a backdrop for a surprising number of successful movies and TV shows. In fact, so many have been made here that Georgia has even been dubbed the "Hollywood of the South." High praise indeed.

So successful has the state been in promoting itself as a film shoot destination that you may be surprised to learn it’s now considered one of the top production destinations in the U.S., ranking right up there with California and New York. From their stunning old antebellum-era mansions to their state-of-the-art studio facilities, these six Georgia towns have hosted some of cinema's most memorable moments.

Savannah

Savannah's tree-lined squares and historic architecture have made it a filmmaker's dream. This beautiful city made the spotlight as the backdrop for the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump, shot in 1994 and starring Tom Hanks. Remember the film's iconic bench scenes? Well, they were filmed on the north side of Chippewa Square, where Forrest waits for a bus while sharing his life story with an unsuspecting fellow passenger and picking through a box of chocolates. Although the bench used in filming is now housed in the Savannah History Museum, the location remains one of the city’s most famous selfie spots.

Other highlights you’ll recognise here include the James Oglethorpe Monument, created by the designers of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the nearby Savannah Theatre, dating to 1818 and one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States. The popular Forrest Gump Film Tour will take you to these and other Gump-related spots, as well as some that feature in other Hollywood hits like Clint Eastwood's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil from 1997. Other movies with scenes filmed in Savannah include Glory (1989), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), and Cape Fear (1991).

Atlanta

While Georgia’s capital lacks Savannah’s stunning backdrops, it does serve as a major film and television-making hub. Trilith Studios, located in Fayetteville just south of the city, is an impressive facility spanning 700 acres and featuring 32 soundstages, making it the largest production facility in Georgia. Notable productions filmed here include Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Black Panther (2018), and two Avengers movies.

You can experience a little of the action for yourself by joining a Trilith Foundation Studio Tour Experience. These 90-minute guided trolley tours of this massive facility provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how blockbuster films are brought to life. There’s also a fun walkthrough display of sets, props, and filmmaking resources, as well as the adjacent Town at Trilith, with its restaurants, shops, and residential areas. Once you've had your fill of make-believe, Atlanta beckons with countless attractions for every taste. From the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Atlanta History Center to Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium, there is no shortage of things to see and do in the state capital.

Clayton

f you’ve ever wondered where and when Georgia’s film industry really got going, rewind to 1972 and the film Deliverance. The Chattooga River and surrounding Rabun County, as well as the town of Clayton, provided the dramatic setting for this epic thriller, with a 10-mile stretch of the river south of Earl's Ford Road used for the memorable canoe scenes. In exchange, the film put Georgia's wilderness on the map.

Following the film's release, tourism became the largest source of revenue in Rabun County, with rafting in particular booming into a $20 million industry. The film also served as a catalyst for the designation of the Chattooga River as a part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the first east of the Mississippi. Pay a visit today, and you can experience the same waters that challenged Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds on screen through guided rafting tours. Companies like Southeastern Expeditions and Nantahala Outdoor Center, both founded by the film’s stunt doubles, offer exciting guided river adventures. You can also get a taste of this spectacular scenery (without getting wet!) at Tallulah Gorge State Park with its hiking trails and overlooks of the 1,000-foot canyon used in some of the movie’s best scenes.

Senoia

Just 45 miles south of Atlanta, Senoia has transformed into a place of pilgrimage for fans of the hit TV show The Walking Dead. The town's main street and surrounding areas have featured extensively throughout the show's incredible 11-season run, making it one of the most recognized filming locations in Georgia. Take a walking tour in Haralson, 5 miles south of town, then pop into Nic & Norman's, a popular eatery owned by director and producer Greg Nicotero and actor Norman Reedus. Don't leave town without stopping by the Woodbury Shoppe, the official Walking Dead store, also owned by folks connected to the series.

Nearby Peachtree City, a neighboring town featured prominently in the series, is also worth a visit. The signature vehicle of Peachtree City is a golf cart, with a network of over 100 miles of paths connecting shops, restaurants, and residential areas. Rentals are available, and you can download an app for easy navigation.

Covington

If you grew up in the 80s, you’ll definitely remember the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. One of the most popular shows on television when it debuted in 1979, much of it was filmed in and around Covington, a scenic town that has served as the backdrop for over 160 film and television productions. Fans of the show will recognise its impressive courthouse square, which served as the Hazzard County Courthouse, where the infamous Boss Hogg had his office.

Today, the same historic downtown is the backdrop for the fictional town of Serenity, South Carolina, in Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. The square's public park, war monuments, and courthouse will delight history buffs as much as fans of the show. Mystic Grill, originally opened for The Vampire Diaries, now functions as a real restaurant serving Southern cuisine (you have to try their incredible shrimp and grits) while doubling as Sullivan's restaurant in Sweet Magnolias.

Juliette

Few films have managed to capture that unique Southern charm like Fried Green Tomatoes. Filmed in Juliette back in 1991, the town gained fame for its Whistle Stop Café, an iconic place to eat that remains open to this day. Does it serve the classic dish the film was named after? You bet. Constructed in 1927 as a general merchandise store, it served a variety of purposes before being chosen for the movie, only becoming an actual café after the film wrapped.

The entire town has, in fact, preserved its movie-set appearance, with the train depot, the false-front bank building constructed for the movie, and even some of the movie’s faux grave stones marking where fictional characters were buried. Take a stroll along the Ocmulgee River or even cast a line at Juliette Park, or head to the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, where miles of nature trails await.

From Silver Screen to Culture Scene

Whether you’re a diehard film fan or merely a curious traveler, Georgia's best film locations provide plenty of excuses to get out and explore the Peach State. From Savannah's lush historic squares to the cutting-edge film facilities at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, these six towns clearly demonstrate why Georgia has been labeled Hollywood South. So dust off those DVDs and get out and explore these six Georgia towns where famous movies were filmed.