8 stories of film and TV locations in North Carolina
Many of the articles highlight well-known movies and television shows filmed in North Carolina. They focus on how filmmakers use real towns, coastlines and landmarks throughout the state. The articles consistently explore the impact that these sets and stories have had on local communities, tourism, and the film industry.
"The Summer I Turned Pretty" used locations in Wilmington and Chapel Hill to create the fictional Cousins Beach, blending college town settings with classic beach drama. The Netflix series "The Waterfront" filmed in Wilmington and Southport, drawing on the creator’s personal ties to local fishing life. "Bull Durham" features recognizable spots in Durham and Raleigh, where fans still visit sites like Durham Athletic Park and Mitch’s Tavern. David Lynch’s "Blue Velvet" involved filming in Lumberton and Wilmington, bringing national attention—and controversy—to those small towns. The show "Outer Banks" continued the tradition of shooting along the North Carolina coast, helping to revive the state’s film industry and employ local crews. These examples demonstrate North Carolina’s role as both setting and character in several iconic film and TV projects.
NO. 1: NEW MOVIES AND TV SHOWS WERE FILMED IN NC IN 2024. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN WATCH THEM
Here’s what to know about the newest movies and television series filmed across North Carolina this year. | Published August 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 2: ‘BULL DURHAM’ ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MOVIES SHOT IN NC. TOUR THE PLACES IT WAS FILMED
Ron Shelton’s 1988 classic is playing as a musical theater show, reviving interest in the original film shot around the Triangle. | Published September 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Josh Shaffer
NO. 3: ‘OUTER BANKS’ DIRECTOR TOUTS NC FILM INDUSTRY’S REVIVAL AS NEW SERIES FILMS IN WILMINGTON
North Carolina native Jonas Pate capitalizes on the state’s tight-knit filming community as he films “The Runarounds.” | Published November 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Gschwind
NO. 4: FAREWELL DAVID LYNCH, WHO MADE ‘BLUE VELVET’ IN GRITTY NC, RUFFLING DELICATE FEATHERS
The famously weird filmmaker set his 1986 movie in Lumberton, with many modifications, and filmed in Wilmington during its film infancy. | Published January 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Shaffer
NO. 5: ‘THE WATERFRONT,’ A NEW DRAMA FILMED & SET IN NC, DEBUTS SOON ON NETFLIX
The new show follows a North Carolina family’s fishing empire. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 6: ‘THE WATERFRONT’ STAR SHARES BEHIND-THE-SCENES SECRETS OF NC DRAMA ON NETFLIX
From the cast’s favorite spots to story line theories for a second season, here’s what one of “The Waterfront” stars had to say about the show. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 7: ‘THE WATERFRONT’ CREATOR REVEALS TRUE STORY BEHIND NC DRAMA SERIES ON NETFLIX
Here’s how accurate the drama filmed in and around Wilmington is. | Published June 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 8: HERE’S A LIST OF NC FILMING LOCATIONS FEATURED IN ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’
From Chapel Hill to the Carolina coast, here’s a breakdown of some spots you might recognize in Season 3. | Published July 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.