Even though California is widely known as the “Movie-Making Capital of the World”, many films have also been shot right here in our great state. There are so many more I could list, but here are a few of my favorites:
1.) 42 - Released in 2013, and starring Chadwick Boseman as MLB legend Jackie Robinson, this movie had scenes filmed in the Birmingham area at Rickwood Field.
2.) Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - Released in 2006, and starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat, this movie had filming locations all over the Birmingham area.
3.) Tom and Huck - Released in 1995, and starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Tom Sawyer and Brad Renfro as Huck Finn, this movie was mostly filmed in the small historic town of Mooresville.
4.) Sweet Home Alabama - Released in 2002, and starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey, this film is still one of Witherspoon's biggest hits and even though the majority of the movie was filmed in Georgia, the part where she can be seen driving past plantation homes when she returns to Alabama was actually filmed in Eufala.
5.) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - Released in 2006, and starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, this movie was of course partially filmed at Talladega Superspeedway. The name of the title speaks for itself!
6.) Space Camp - Released in 1986, and starring Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson and Kelly Preston, this movie was inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville and was partially filmed in Huntsville.
7.) Selma - Released in 2014, and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., Selma was of course filmed in Selma. Some of it was also filmed in Montgomery. Oh, and Oprah also produced it.
8.) Mississippi Burning - Released in 1988, the town square scenes were filmed in Lafayette. This film stars Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe as FBI agents who investigate missing civil rights activists.
10.) Failure to Launch - Released in 2006, and starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, this movie was partially filmed in the Gadsden/Leesburg areas. Remember the rock climbing scene? That was filmed at Cherokee Rock Village, near Leesburg.
11.) To Kill a Mockingbird - Released in 1962, and starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, this movie was partially filmed in Monroeville - author Harper Lee's hometown.
12.) Friday the 13th Part VII (The New Blood) - Released in 1988, and starring Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhies, this movie used Byrne's Lake (near Stockton) as one of the major filming locations.
13.) Muscle Shoals - Released in 2013, Muscle Shoals is a documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Many different filming locations were used, but the main Alabama locations include: Huntsville, Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and of course Muscle Shoals.
14.) Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Released in 1977, this UFO blockbuster was partially filmed in Mobile and stars Richard Dreyfuss. Oh, and it's also directed by Steven Spielberg.
16.) Big Fish - Released in 2003, and starring Ewan McGregor, this film was mostly filmed in Alabama - specifically in the areas of Prattville, Wetumpka, Montgomery and Tallassee. Oh, and it's of course one of Tim Burton's directorial masterpieces!
I’m sure we’ll continue to see more and more films shot here in Alabama as the years go by. Especially since the film industry keeps getting bigger and bigger! Do you have a favorite movie that was filmed in Alabama?
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