Re-enact Hollywood Scenes at These Savannah Film Locations
By Taylor Castillejo
Savannah skyline.
Savannah’s ability to mesh with different time periods and its versatility when it comes to film locations make it a prime spot for creating movie magic. And over the years many casts and crews have come to this city to create award-winning motion pictures. Explore some key settings for movies filmed in and around Savannah!
"Forrest Gump."
"Forrest Gump" made Chippewa Square famous while sitting on a bench and sharing his life story with others waiting for the bus. The bench can now be found in the Savannah History Museum, but a stop in the square is still essential.
Mercer Williams House
Known for the real-life events involving Jim Williams, which were featured in the book and movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," the house is still open for touring. Visitors who are fans enjoy seeing the house in which this iconic story actually took place.
Tybee Island Wedding Chapel.
"The Last Song," based on the Nicholas Sparks’ book and featuring Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, was partially set in this chapel, which was built for the movie. Visitors and locals alike are now able to get married here.
Six Pence Pub.
Julia Roberts’ character in the 90s movie "Something To Talk About" boosted Six Pence Pub into the spotlight, and visitors still look for it and its iconic English phone booth today located on Bull Street.
Many motion pictures, television shows, documentaries and more have used Broughton Street as a filming location. Most recently, this thoroughfare was transformed into a seaside town for the live-action scenes in "SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Sponge Out Of Water."
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Known as the ‘Sistine of the South’, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a stunning backdrop to the opening scene of Disney’s 2019 rendition of "Lady & The Tramp." Visitors can walk through the lovely Lafayette Square and take a tour of the chapel during visiting hours.
While a big portion of the 2019 action-packed movie "Gemini Man", featuring Will Smith, was filmed in the small town of Glennville, Georgia (about 60 miles west of Savannah), there are some memorable scenes that could only be portrayed in the beautiful neighborhood of Isle of Hope, located in Savannah's Moon River District. Drive through oak-lined gravel streets and watch the sunset over the marsh in this beautifully-preserved southern neighborhood.
Tybee Island
Tybee Island, Savannah’s Beach, was transformed into a major Hollywood set for the 2017 "Baywatch" film featuring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Zac Efron and Priyanka Chopra. Most notably, the Tybee Island Pier takes center stage for a majority of the comedic film. We think the slow motion running down the beach makes for a great chance to spot your favorite dining and shops along Tybee's South Beach!
Georgia State Railroad Museum
The Oscar winning 1989 film, "Glory," features many iconic Savannah movie locations. Starring Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman, this feature film showcases the Roundhouse Complex at the Georgia State Railroad Museum as well as the Mercer Williams House and Battlefield Memorial Park. As part of the Savannah History Museum, visitors can walk the grounds and learn the history of the Revolutionary War in Savannah.
When filming couldn’t be relocated to France, the producers of the 2019 film "Ford v. Ferrari" took production to Hutchinson Island, located just north of downtown Savannah over the Talmadge Bridge. The island served as a stand-in for the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France when the race track was transformed for their recount of the 1966 Grand Prix. Watch in awe as Matt Damon and Christian Bale race through this action-packed movie!
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