Popular New England Film Locations

There is a special sort of satisfaction that comes from visiting the locations of your favorite films. But even more gratifying is seeing a place you know and love appear alongside legends like Leonardo DiCaprio or Tom Hanks. New England may be a far reach from the bright lights of Hollywood, but every once in a while, we do make an award-winning appearance.

Oftentimes, filmmakers will come and go silently without actors — or even directors — ever setting foot in New England. They’ll gather aerial footage of our picturesque towns and make a swift return to the California coast. Occasionally, though, New England lures in a big studio, charms a director, and earns a little extra screen time. They may have sandy beaches and endless sunshine in California, but New England has a seasonal magic you can’t find anywhere else.

Here is our list of the “must-see” New England film locations.

MAINE FILM LOCATIONS

Maine, home to the legendary Stephen King, has often been the backdrop of horror films. Lake Placid (1999), The Mist (2007), The Uninvited (2009), DarkShadows (2012), and It (1990, 2017) all take place in quintessential small towns of Maine, and with few exceptions, Maine is used for the stuff of nightmares. Despite the dark themes, the filmmakers have managed to pick some incredible sights.

Otter Cliff, Acadia National Park

Shutter Island (2010)

Martin Scorsese used Otter Cliff in Acadia National Park to film the cliff scenes in ShutterIsland, which was set off the coast of Massachusetts.

Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde

Forrest Gump (1994)

Although it’s not on screen for long, the Marshall Point Lighthouse makes an appearance in Forrest Gump as Forrest jogs to the end of the dock on his trek across America.

Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor

Pet Sematary (1989)

In Pet Semetary, author Stephen King has a cameo as a minister presiding over a funeral in Mount Hope Cemetery.

SEE MORE: The Most Beautiful Cemeteries in New England

MASSACHUSETTS FILM LOCATIONS

Massachusetts is booming with film activity — it’s no wonder the Boston/Cambridge area is sometimes referred to as “Hollywood East.” A lengthy list of films have used this state as a location. Just to give you an idea: Flowers in the Attic (1987), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1996), The Fighter (2010), Ted (2012), Captain Phillips (2013), The Heat (2013), The Judge (2014), Black Mass (2015), Spotlight (2015), Ghostbusters (2016) — and that’s just scratching the surface. Making a final selection was tough, but these film locations won’t disappoint.

The Ropes Mansion, Salem

Hocus Pocus (1993)

The classic Halloween film Hocus Pocus was filmed all over Salem, Massachusetts. The Ropes Mansion, operated by the Peabody Essex Museum, is one of those many places. You can even attend a walking tour that will point out other film locations, as well as Salem’s historic and haunted past.

SEE MORE: Top Salem Attractions | Witches, Wharves & Wandering

Boston Public Garden

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting was filmed in several locations around Boston. In the film, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) and Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) share a scene in the Boston Public Garden. This area served as a memorial after Williams’ passing in 2014.

SEE MORE: Best Public Gardens in New England

Jaws Bridge, Martha’s Vineyard

Jaws (1975)

With the filming of Jaws on Martha’s Vineyard in 1975, Steven Spielberg made “Jaws Bridge” famous. Today, swimmers use the bridge as a makeshift diving board to jump into the cool (and shark-free) waters below.

SEE MORE: Jaws: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard

CONNECTICUT FILM LOCATIONS

Connecticut, with its proximity to New York City, is second only to Massachusetts when it comes to film activity. Many well-known films have hit its streets, among them: Mr. Deeds (2002), Jacknife (1989), The Stepford Wives (1975), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).

Danbury Railway Museum

Strangers on a Train (1951)

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 film Strangers on a Train was partially filmed at the Danbury Railway Station. The station has since been turned into a museum. If you look closely at this still from the film, you can see a sign for the “Danbury Diner,” which is still there to this day! The family-owned restaurant is now called “The New Holiday Diner.”

Kent, CT (Litchfield County & Fairfield County)

My Soul to Take (2010)

Wes Craven chose Kent, Connecticut, and surrounding areas for filming his 2010 horror flick, My Soul to Take. An area north of Bull’s Bridge on Schaghticoke Road was used for an ambulance crash and ritualistic scenes. Several other towns in Connecticut were used for filming, including Danbury, New Milford, Fairfield, Norwalk (Cranbury Park area), and Tolland (Tolland High School).

Mystic Pizza, Mystic

Mystic Pizza (1988)

Okay, I may have cheated a little here. Mystic Pizza wasn’t filmed in Mystic Pizza. Rather, the restaurant was the inspiration for the movie. The filming did, for the most part, take place in Mystic, CT. The scenes inside the restaurant had to be filmed on a set because the real location was too small.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM LOCATIONS

Films set in New Hampshire are an eclectic mix — and most involve Adam Sandler. But films that actually use New Hampshire as a location? Well, there aren’t too many. However, if you live here, you won’t fail to hear about the state’s several claims to fame.

Main Street, Keene

Jumanji (1995)

There’s an infamous scene in Jumanji in which jungle animals stampede through the fictional town of Brantford. That moment was filmed in Keene, New Hampshire, and if you watch closely, you may recognize some of the shops and landmarks. Also in Keene, you’ll find a mural advertising the Parrish Shoes company from the film. It was taken down after filming and then repainted later on. After Robin Williams passed, it served as a memorial.

SEE MORE: Downtown Keene, New Hampshire

Mirror Lake, Jackson

The Good Son (1993)

There’s a scene in The Good Son in which Henry (played by Macaulay Culkin) takes his sister ice skating and attempts to kill her. This was filmed in Jackson, New Hampshire, on Mirror Lake. Another scene was filmed in Newington, New Hampshire.

Squam Lake, Holderness

On Golden Pond (1981)

On Golden Pond takes place in Maine, but the movie was largely filmed on New Hampshire’s Squam Lake.

RHODE ISLAND FILM LOCATIONS

Like Maine, Rhode Island’s stunning coast is primarily what attracts filmmakers to the area. The state’s seaside towns and nostalgic views have a charm you can’t quite capture anywhere else.

Rosecliff Mansion, Newport

Great Gatsby (1974), True Lies (1994), Amistad (1997), 27 Dresses (2008)

The Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, is used in several films. If you happen to take the tour, you’ll have no trouble seeing why.

SEE MORE: Newport Mansions | Experiencing the Gilded Age

Aldrich Mansion, Warwick

Meet Joe Black (1998)

One of the locations for the film Meet Joe Black, starring Brad Pitt, was the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Jamestown, Newport, & Prudence Island

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Wes Anderson was all over Rhode Island filming Moonrise Kingdom, so it’s difficult to pin down just one place. However, if you watch the film, you may recognize a few locations, like Fort Wetherill State Park, Castle Hill Lighthouse, and Judith Point Light.

VERMONT FILM LOCATIONS

Vermont generally appears on film as the perfect winter wonderland. However, as New Englanders know, winter is not always quite so picturesque and the weather rarely cooperates with our wishes. Therefore, scenes like this often get shot on a lot in Hollywood. There hasn’t been much film bustle in Vermont in recent years, but it has been home to a few classics.

White River Junction, Hartford

Way Down East (1920)

During a heart racing scene, Lillian Gish floats down the river on an ice floe. No special effects were used.

Scott Farm, Dummerston

The Cider House Rules (1999)

Scott Farm is one of several locations used for The Cider House Rules, which was also filmed in Bellows Falls.

Craftsbury Common, Craftsbury

The Trouble With Harry (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock used Craftsbury, Vermont, as the backdrop for his film The Trouble With Harry.