The 10 Best Movies And TV Shows Filmed In Atlanta

Some of today's most popular films and TV shows like "Stranger Things" and "The Hunger Games" appear to take place in eerie alternative dimensions, post-apocalyptic worlds and other far-off locales. But it just so happens that Atlanta serves as the backdrop for many of these fan-favorites.

Believe it or not, 455 film and television projects have called Georgia home in this past year alone. However, even before Atlanta became a popular filming destination, classics like "The Blind Side" and "Driving Miss Daisy" had been filmed in the city.

For your entertainment (and hometown bragging rights), we've compiled a list of some of the best movies and TV shows filmed in and around Atlanta. So buckle up, because Patch is taking you for a ride around the hottest filming locations in the "Hollywood of the South."

Stranger Things (2016)

Welcome to 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana, where upside-down universes and supernatural 12-year-olds are everyday occurrences. But keep in mind, the spooky, Midwestern town at the center of "Stranger Things" is actually modern-day Atlanta. With filming locations like the former Georgia Mental Health Institute (which serves as the show's notorious Hawkins Laboratory), many of the show's settings prove to be just as eerie as the plot itself.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013) and "Mockingjay Part I" (2014)

The odds were definitely in Atlanta's favor when it came to picking filming locations for "The Hunger Games" sequels. The city's picturesque Swan House stands as President Snow's mansion, while the Goat Farm Arts Center serves as District 12, home to heroine Katniss Everdeen. If you want to feel like a real "tribute," check into Atlanta's futuristic Marriott Marquis Hotel, where Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutchinson's characters prepared for the fatal games.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), And Other Marvel Movies

It makes sense that Chris Pratt's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" was filmed in Atlanta. After all, Pinewood Atlanta Studios is the place where most Marvel comic books are transformed into action films. Some other Marvel masterpieces shot in the city include "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017), "Ant-Man" (2015) and "Captain America: Civil War" (2016).

"The Walking Dead" (2010)

If you're looking to do some zombie hunting, Atlanta is the place for you. We say this because AMC's hit series "The Walking Dead" is filmed in dozens of locations around the city. You know that iconic scene from the pilot episode where Jeff Grimes rides horseback into a post-apocalyptic Atlanta? It was shot from the Jackson Street Bridge to show a glimpse of the city's stunning skyline.

The Internship (2013)

When Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters in "The Internship" land gigs at Google, the laid-off salesmen go head-to-head with younger, more tech-savvy interns. But you'll be surprised to learn that Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley were actually recreated on Atlanta's Georgia Tech campus for the film, complete with a rocket hanging from the ceiling and Google's very own self-driving cars.

Atlanta (2016)

What better place to film FX's hit series "Atlanta" than in Atlanta itself? The award-winning show portrays two cousins trying to make a name for themselves in Atlanta's music industry. It features authentic Atlanta locations like Zesto Drive-In, J.R. Crickets and Carmeli's Pizza — and we can't forget The Cobb Civic Center, where "Justin Bieber" shows up for a charity basketball game in Season 1.

Baby Driver (2017)

Atlantans are proud to admit that their city got all the credit for this action-packed, music-centered flick. The film, based on a teenage driver trying to escape his criminal past, features a car chase on Buford Highway, stunts near the Jackson Street Bridge and cameos of local businesses like Bacchanalia (aka "the finest wining and dining of all the wining and dining”).

Selma (2014)

Many of the scenes from the film "Selma" were actually filmed in Selma, Alabama, making the portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic march for civil rights feel authentic and historically accurate. Still, you might recognize a few Atlanta landmarks that played supporting roles in Ava DuVernay's Academy Award-winning film, including Atlanta's own Georgia Tech campus, Marietta Square and the Marietta-Cobb Museum of Art.

The Blind Side (2009)

"The Blind Side" tells the true story of the Tuohy family, who takes in a homeless teenager who turns out to be an extremely talented football player. The wealthy family's gorgeous Memphis residence in the film is a real house, but it's in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, not in Memphis. Some additional scenes in the film take place at Atlanta International School.

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Originally an Atlanta-based play, the big-screen adaptation of "Driving Miss Daisy" racked up quite the number of Academy Awards (four to be exact). The tale of a developing friendship between wealthy Miss Daisy and her chauffeur Hoke is an exploration of race and civil rights. Filmed in and around Atlanta, the film features locations like Druid Hills, Lullwater Road, Agnes Scott College and The Temple.

Main Image: Courtesy of Lionsgate