North Carolina’s role in movies and TV + filming locations

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

The curated articles show how North Carolina appears in many popular movies and TV shows, often serving as both inspiration and filming location. These productions highlight local culture, landscapes, and university ties.

Netflix’s "The Waterfront" uses the coastal town of Southport to stand in for the fictional Havenport. The story tracks the Buckley family as they fight to save their fishing business, drawing on the creator's own North Carolina roots. Local restaurants like Fishy Fishy Café make cameo appearances.

"The Summer I Turned Pretty" films at Wilmington beaches and UNC-Chapel Hill, turning the real campus into the fictional Finch College. The cast shot scenes on Franklin Street and outside campus buildings.

HBO’s "White Lotus" features a family who love UNC and Duke, adding local sports rivalries and references, even though the show is set in Thailand. Family conversations in the first episode highlight these North Carolina connections.

A proposed House bill suggests making "The Andy Griffith Show" the state’s official TV show, since the fictional Mayberry is modeled after Mt. Airy, North Carolina. The real town still keeps landmarks that inspired the show.

These examples show North Carolina’s ongoing role as a backdrop and inspiration for modern television and film.

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

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. 2: 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 and Korie Dean

NO. 3: A HOUSE BILL WOULD MAKE ‘ANDY GRIFFITH’ NC’S OFFICIAL TV SHOW. WELL, DON’T THAT BEAT ALL?

A draft bill in the NC House calls the Mayberry TV classic a “must-see” for its positive character values and awareness of North Carolina. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Shaffer

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

NO. 4: ‘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

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

NO. 5: WATCH THE TRAILER FOR SEASON 3 OF ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY,’ FILMED IN NC

Cousins beach is calling. Here’s a first look at the third and final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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

NO. 6: ‘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

Brady Hepner as Diller Hopkins, Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley and Topher Grace as Grady in “The Waterfront.” By Dana Hawley

NO. 7: ‘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

Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley and Topher Grace as Grady in “The Waterfront.” By Dana Hawley

NO. 8: ‘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

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.