Four Real-Life Towns for Film Fans to Visit
From Savannah’s cinematic squares to the cutting-edge studios of Trilith in Fayetteville, Georgia’s film locations invite travelers into the scenes of iconic movies and beloved TV shows. Explore captivating coastal towns, bustling college campuses, and vibrant creative hubs – all while retracing the footsteps of stars and discovering the stories behind the camera.
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Savannah & Tybee Island
With its attractive riverfront, picturesque parks, and historical architecture, Savannah is one of Georgia’s most popular filming locations. The coastal city provides backdrops for recent movies as well as classic blockbusters.
See the dignified statuary and moss-draped oaks of Bonaventure Cemetery, the setting for late-night drinks and other scenes from “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” starring John Cusack and Jude Law. The crime drama was also filmed at the elegant Mercer Williams House Museum, with its soaring ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and period furnishings, as was the war film “Glory” with Morgan Freeman. While you’re at it, don’t miss the original “Forrest Gump” bench, where Tom Hanks’ character waited for the bus to see Jenny. The famous “life is like a box of chocolates” scene was filmed in the oak-shaded Chippewa Square, and the bench was moved to the Savannah History Museum – alongside other memorabilia from the movie – to preserve it.
While in Savannah, check out Plant Riverside District, a 1912 power plant-turned-entertainment district, for art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. You can even stay right on the water at the cozy River Street Inn, trendy Thompson Savannah, or – across the Savannah River – the family-friendly Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the location of a few scenes from “The Do-Over” with Adam Sandler.
Grab bananas Foster French toast, biscuits and gravy, or shakshouka for brunch at The Collins Quarter, a filming site for the live-action “Lady and the Tramp,” voiced by Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux. There’s also a location in Forsyth Park, home to a Parisian-style fountain framed by moss draping from the oaks, that is one of Savannah’s most photographed locations. Or, dine at The Grey, a converted Greyhound bus terminal serving local favorites like oysters, pimento cheese, and the catch of the day.
Then, visit Savannah’s beach and stroll the popular Tybee Island Pier, where parts of “Fly Me to the Moon,” featuring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, and “The Last Song,” starring Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, were filmed. It’s a prime location for fishing, listening to live music under the pavilion, or feeling the sea breeze as you watch the sunset change colors. Before heading back to the mainland, stop by the Tybee Island location of Zunzibar for live music and beachy cocktails like the frozen Mango Tango with tequila and a Tajín rim.
Take a piece of Georgia home with you
Visit the flagship Savannah Bee Company store on Broughton Street for honey with add-ins from lavender to bourbon as well as body care like honey-almond beeswax hand cream. Then, hit River Street Sweets’ original location on the cobblestones of River Street for pralines, fudge, and more.
Juliette
About an hour south of Atlanta sits Juliette – but if you’ve seen “Fried Green Tomatoes” starring Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch, you may recognize it as Whistle Stop. Hand-lettered signs outside wooden storefronts welcome visitors to this once-bustling railroad town that today is more of a quiet hamlet with storybook charm.
Stop into The Whistle Stop Cafe, where fried green tomatoes – crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside – are the top seller; another favorite is the Bennett’s BBQ sandwich (“secret’s in the sauce!”). While on McCrackin Street, the town’s shop-lined main drag, pick up local honey from The Honeycomb and peruse Verna Cora’s, so chock full of antiques that they spill onto the covered front porch. Tip: superfans should time their visit for the town’s annual Green Tomato Festival, held the fourth weekend of October – especially in 2026, which marks the film’s 35th anniversary.
After exploring the town, head to the Juliette Dam. Water rushes through the gates when the dam is open, splashing against the riverbed and hissing when it hits the surface. Ruth, Buddy, and Idgie walk along the dam in a scene from “Fried Green Tomatoes,” and today the location is popular with photographers – especially if they can get its cascading white waters and nearby grist mill in the shot. Then, retreat to Dames Ferry Campground to rent an aquacycle from the park; fish for crappie, bass, and perch; or set up a picnic or camp alongside Lake Juliette, which reflects the trees along its shore and the sky above. Not far from the lake is Georgia Power Plant Scherer, which stood in for NASA’s Cape Canaveral launch site in “First Man” about the life of Neil Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling.
Other options for staying near Juliette include elevated cabins, complete with a private front porch, set along the lazy Ocmulgee River at the nearby Towaliga River Retreat and national brand hotels in neighboring Forsyth.
While in Forsyth, explore Hamlin Hills Farm, home to a petting zoo, U-pick crops (juicy Georgia peaches are in season starting mid-May), and antique farm equipment like the lineup of red tractors outside the barn. Or, take in a Backlot Players community theater performance of a timeless musical or holiday classic in the historic Rose Theater.
Rome
Tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome sits at the convergence of three gently flowing rivers: the Etowah, Oostanaula, and Coosa. It’s where you can paddle peaceful waters, stroll brick-lined streets, and see why this town looks like it’s straight out of a movie.
Rome borders Berry College, the world’s largest campus, making it a hot spot for film production. Its rolling fields, misty lakes, and hushed forests serve as the backdrop for a number of notable film scenes. Stand outside the castle-like Ford Dining Hall, and you may be reminded of a shot from the sports drama “Remember the Titans” with Denzel Washington, which was also shot at nearby Swan Lake and the Old Mill.
Also on campus, tour Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum. The Greek Revival-style Oak Hill was the home of Martha Berry, the college’s founder, and where Reese Witherspoon’s character pretends to live in “Sweet Home Alabama.” Tour the home and see Martha’s photos, letters, and books, then head out to the gardens – some geometric, some seasonal and colorful, and some splashing with fountains and koi.
When in Rome, walk or bike the Kingfisher and Silver Creek trails, where outdoor scenes for “The Originals” vampire drama were filmed. Part of the city’s rails-to-trails system, these paved paths – ideal for walking and biking – connect Myrtle Hill Cemetery with Historic Downtown Rome along the Etowah River. The cemetery was the site of a “Need for Speed” funeral scene, starring Aaron Paul and Dakota Johnson. Dining options in Rome include brisket pizza or spring-pea risotto at Aventine, Blossom Hill BBQ & Burgers (its name speaks for itself!), or a meat and three at Harvest Moon Cafe – all downtown. Another popular option is Provino’s Italian, a longtime family favorite.
Drive by the Claremont House, which served as the Creel House in “Stranger Things.” The bed-and-breakfast sold to a private buyer, but you can still snap a shot of the Victorian exterior. Stay the night at a hotel like the comfortable, convenient Courtyard Rome Riverwalk or Fairfield Inn & Suites Rome.
Every November, up-and-coming filmmakers and movie fans converge on the town for the Rome International Film Festival, spotlighting independent and international films over three days of screenings, workshops, and networking events.
Trilith
The next generation in moviemaking has come to the Town at Trilith, a planned community in Fayetteville that’s a living film set: colorful cottages, brick row homes, and modern lofts side by side; a buzzing town center surrounded by shops, eateries, and tons of green space for community gatherings; and a world-class production studio.
Trilith Studios consists of soundstages and backlots best known for producing movies and TV series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including “Thunderbolts,” “Black Panther,” “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2,” and “WandaVision.” It was also the home base for filming the highly anticipated new version of “Superman.”
Learn how those movies and other blockbuster hits are made on the Studio Tour Experience, a trolley tour of the studio and town (a bike tour and art scavenger hunt are also available), then refuel at The Studio Cafe Operated by Hanna Brothers, veterans of on-set catering and craft services. The menu varies daily, and cuisines include Mediterranean and Southern staples. Other places to eat in Trilith include ENZO Steakhouse & Bar, known for its wood-fired grilled branzino, and Greystone Local Eatery, serving Southern breakfast favorites like grits and waffles. Both are within walking distance of shops like Scholar & Scribe, an independent bookstore with a welcoming yellow facade.
Explore more of the town, a walkable community with a focus on green living – meaning lots of gathering spaces like Central Park, complete with a playground for the kids to climb and swing, and The Great Lawn for movie nights and other events. End your day at Trilith Guesthouse, which carries on the community’s theme of creativity and storytelling through touches like bookshelves in the lobby and the aptly named Prologue restaurant.
Extend your trip, and spend a night where “Megalopolis” actor Adam Driver stayed – at the All-Movie Hotel in Peachtree City, about 15 minutes away. While shooting “Megalopolis” at Trilith Studios, Francis Ford Coppola fell in love with the area and designed the hideaway to suit both travelers and filmmakers, including amenities like kitchenettes with luxury touches, a 30-person theater, and editing suites.
