Forrest Gump & 10 Other Films That Were Shot In Savannah, Georgia

Outside of California and New York, Georgia has become a major player in the world of movies and TV. The city of Atlanta specifically has been dubbed the “Hollywood of the South” a.k.a. “ATLwood.” But with Atlanta’s dense population and lack of coastline, the state of Georgia has promoted the coastal city of Savannah to producers and movie location scouts.

The town is known for many historical events and people but in 1994 it became famous for the bench in Forrest Gump where Tom Hanks’ character talks about his life. Since then, almost 800 titles have been shot in Savannah as well as the neighboring Tybee Island formerly known as Savannah Beach. In addition to Forrest Gump, local productions range from war-dramas like Glory (1989) to superhero blockbusters like Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and more.

11 Forrest Gump (1994)

Probably the most iconic Savannah location in movie history is the bus stop bench in Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks’ character sits on the bench for most of the film, telling his story to the various strangers who sit next to him.

The bench was located at Chippewa Square and since has been moved to the Savannah History Museum. Additionally, there were four other benches created for the film, one of which sits in the Smithsonian, two with Paramount Pictures, and one was gifted to a security guard who was on patrol during filming. While the squares in Savannah traditionally have traffic flow counterclockwise, the film changed the direction to ensure the bus doors opened into the square.

10 Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (1997)

Clint Eastwood’s film adaptation Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is based on a real-life story that focuses on the murder of Jim Williams and the trial that followed. Not only was it shot in Savannah but many of the characters themselves were largely based on real Savannah residents.

Additionally, the cast featured several notable actors including John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, and musician Emma Kelly who played herself and was part of the true events that inspired both the book and movie.

9 Baywatch (2017)

The 2017 remake of the popular television series Baywatch starring Dwayne, “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron took place on the beaches of Florida but most of the movie was actually shot on Tybee Island outside of Savannah. The tropical-looking beaches have made it a perfect location for several films and lucky residents were even cast as extras.

8 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (2015)

Another beach movie to take advantage of the coastal Georgia town is The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water that sees SpongeBob and his friends come onto dry land as 3-D versions of themselves.

One of Tybee Island’s famous restaurants even made it into the movie; Fannie’s on the Beach is known for their pink aesthetic and a sign that reads, “Eat at Fannie’s.”

7 Ant-Man & The Wasp (2018)

While several films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been filmed in Georgia including Black Panther (2018), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avenger’s Endgame (2019). Ant-Man & the Wasp the sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man took advantage of the coastal town of Savannah for scenes set in Argentina. On October 3, 2017, a casting call went out for local residents to be extras in this flashback sequence set in 1987.

6 The Last Song (2010)

The Last Song was the sixth Nicholas Spark novel to be adapted into a film. Not only was it set in Tybee Island but it was filmed there as well with stars Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. Production took advantage of filming on location by incorporating landmarks such as the Tybee Island Light Station and the Savannah Historic District. The movie even hired a local band, The Savannah Stompers Jazz Band, to perform at the wedding scene in the movie.

5 Ford V Ferrari (2019)

The movie Ford v Ferrari tells the incredible story of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles who built the Ford GT40 and beat the Ferrari racing team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. The race takes place at the Circuit de la Sarthe but was actually shot on Hutchinson Island right outside of Savannah, GA.

4 The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

The Peanut Butter Falcon starring Shia LaBeouf was a hit that became the highest-grossing independent film of 2019; it also received positive reviews from critics. Not only does the film take place in North Carolina and Georgia but much of the film was shot in the coastal town of Savannah.

Directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz have been outspoken for their love of Savannah including the people, some of which were even cast as characters in the film to help give it a more authentic feel.

3 Lady And The Tramp (2019)

The live-action remake of the 1955 film Lady and the Tramp was one of the first to premiere on the Disney+ streaming service. While the film also used CGI dogs, the background and scenes with real people were filmed in Savannah, Georgia. The film stars Tessa Thompson as Lady and Justin Theroux as Tramp.

2 Glory (1989)

This 1989 film followed the Union’s first all-Black regiment in the American Civil War. The film starred Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington, the latter of whom won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. While the film’s main battle took place in South Carolina, the movie shot these scenes at the Girl Scout Camp on Rose Dhu Island near Savannah, Georgia.

1 Magic Mike XXL (2015)

Magic Mike XXL is the sequel to 2012’s Magic Mike which was loosely based on Channing Tatum’s experience in the world of male stripping. The movie takes place three years later with the Kings of Tampa heading to Myrtle Beach for one final performance. The crew ends up at a Savannah strip club owned by Jada Pinkett Smith’s Rome which used the façade of local restaurant Elizabeth on 37th for the exterior shot.

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