Happiness is a Warm TV

9 stories about NC-filmed television shows and movies to explore

The articles all highlight the impact of North Carolina as a filming location for movies and television shows. They explore the state's role in bringing notable stories to the screen, mention famous productions and point out both new and returning film crews working in the region.

Several recent projects used North Carolina towns and landmarks. The Netflix drama “The Waterfront” filmed in Wilmington and Southport, which doubled as the fictional town of Havenport. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” shot scenes at UNC-Chapel Hill, turning the campus into Finch College for the show’s characters. Some articles describe visiting sites from “Bull Durham,” including Durham Athletic Park and Mitch’s Tavern, where pivotal scenes occurred. The famous director David Lynch filmed “Blue Velvet” in Wilmington and Lumberton, drawing attention to these towns through the movie's unique style and setting.

The summaries show that North Carolina supports a range of productions, showcasing both the coast and inland cities as versatile backdrops for storytelling.

Christopher Briney (Conrad) and Lola Tung (Belly) in “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” The Amazon series filmed in the Wilmington area. By Dana Hawley

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

Tim Robbins (pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh), left, and Kevin Costner (catcher Crash Davis) starred in the movie “Bull Durham.”

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

Isabella Rossellini, left, plays a masochistic nightclub singer in ‘Blue Velvet,’ directed by David Lynch, right. The 1986 movie was filmed in North Carolina.

NO. 3: 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

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Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola in season 3 of “The White Lotus” on HBO. By Fabio Lovino/HBO

NO. 4: DUKE & UNC STAR IN SEASON 3 OF HBO’S ‘WHITE LOTUS.’ HERE ARE TIES AND THEORIES

The newest season is set in Thailand but NC’s biggest college rivals figured fairly prominently in the premiere. We go deep with some analysis. | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon Korie Dean

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Belly (Lola Tung), Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), Conrad (Christopher Briney), Steven (Sean Kaufman), and Taylor (Rain Spencer) in “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” By Erika Doss

NO. 5: A FIRST LOOK AT PHOTOS FROM THE NEW SEASON OF NC-FILMED ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’

It’s almost time to dive back into “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” the popular TV show filmed in North Carolina. Here’s a taste of what’s to come. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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Jake Weary, Danielle Campbell and Melissa Benoist in “The Waterfront” on Netflix By Dana Hawley

NO. 6: ‘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

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Jake Weary and Melissa Benoist in “The Waterfront” on Netflix. By Dana Hawley

NO. 7: ‘THE WATERFRONT’ IS STREAMING THIS WEEK. HOW TO WATCH, CAST & TRUE STORY IN NC

Here’s everything to know about the new drama series, inspired by a true story, filmed and set in North Carolina. | Published June 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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Brian Ashton Smith, Joshua Brady, Bryan Terry Snell, Holt McCallany and Jake Weary in “The Waterfront” on Netflix. By Dana Hawley

NO. 8: WHERE WAS NETFLIX’S ‘THE WATERFRONT’ FILMED? HERE’S A LIST OF NC LOCATIONS

Here’s a list of spots you might recognize in “The Waterfront,” the new North Carolina-filmed series on Netflix. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Belly (Lola Tung) in “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” By Erika Doss

NO. 9: 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.