Long before the cameras started rolling, we already knew just how special Holden Beach and the surrounding communities were—and still are. There’s a reason why the North Carolina Coast is dubbed the “Hollywood of the East.” Streets lined with quaint beach cottages and homes, live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and neighbors helping neighbors whenever the time calls for it.
For decades, filmmakers have come to this part of the coast to bring the beauty of our coastal towns to the big screen. If you’re a movie or TV show fanatic, make sure to check out these filming locations near our Holden Beach vacation rentals:
Movies & TV Shows Filmed Near Holden Beach
8 Slices (2019)
Location: Holden Beach & Varnamtown
8 Slices is an independent film written and directed by Nick Westfall and was filmed right in Holden Beach and nearby Varnamtown. The film is about friends who band together to save the local pizza parlor. You may spot Holden Beach favorites like the local Patronies Pizza (the movie’s inspiration) and, of course, the Holden Beach Bridge.
Breakwater (2023)
Location: Holden Beach & Varnamtown
Breakwater follows the journey of an ex-con who tracks down an estranged daughter of a prison mentor, unknowingly bringing a dangerous figure back into her life. Several coastal and small-town shots were filmed in Holden Beach and nearby Varnamtown, with Wilmington and the Outer Banks also featured.
Safe Haven (2013)
Location: Southport & Wilmington
Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven makes Southport the central character. Katie Feldman (Julianna Hough) moves to Southport to make a new life for herself. Working as a waitress, she meets Alex (Josh Duhamel), who is a widower. Sparks fly between them, but soon, Katie’s dark past comes to haunt her. The movie was mainly filmed in Southport, but a few scenes were filmed in Wilmington. You’ll recognize American Fish Co. (Ivan’s Fish Shack) and Fishy Fishy Cafe (Safe Haven General Store).
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Location: Wilmington & Southport
A Walk to Remember, starring Mandy Moore (Jamie Sullivan) and Shane West (Landon Carter), is a coming-of-age film taking place on the North Carolina coast. In the town of Beaufort, two teens find love in the most unlikely place. The Nicholas Sparks movie was filmed primarily in Wilmington, with many locations borrowed from Dawson’s Creek. Visit Jamie Sullivan’s house at 1716 Chestnut Street in Wilmington or the church where they were married, Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport.
One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
Location: Wilmington
Arguably the most popular TV show filmed in Wilmington was One Tree Hill. Each year, the city hosts an annual One Tree Hill Convention where cast members host meet-and-greets, a celebrity basketball game, and other immersive fan experiences. The American teen drama series follows two half-brothers through high school and into adulthood. The series ran for 9 seasons from September 2003 to April 2012. The show was filmed in Wilmington, including Cape Fear Community College (the high school), Wilmington Riverwalk (Naley Bench), Blue Post (a nightlife hot spot), and many more.
Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
Location: Southport & Wilmington
Before there was Tree Hill, there was Capeside. The TV series transformed our local waterways into a moody coastal town in Massachusetts and follows the lives of four teenagers, Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), and Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams). While primarily filmed in Wilmington, Southport's waterfront played a regular role.
Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
Location: Southport & Bald Head Island
This 1989 classic is a dark comedy about two young insurance employees who are rewarded for their work with a stay at their boss’s ritzy vacation home. Instead, they find his dead body and try to pretend he is still alive, which leads to a hitman tracking them down to finish the job. The movie is set in the Hamptons, but the mansion was actually built on Bald Head Island (about an hour from Holden Beach). The town scenes and marina backdrops were filmed in neighboring downtown Southport.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Location: Southport & Oak Island
Romantic storylines and cozy dramas aren’t the only things our charming coast can serve up. Marvel brought the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Southport in 2012 to film Iron Man 3, bringing action-packed fun to the coast. Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world has been torn apart by an enemy called the Mandarin, and he must now avenge his losses and protect the people he loves. The set mainly took place in Wilmington, including the Cape Fear Club and the Port of Wilmington. One of the most notable scenes is the dramatic mid-air rescue scene, where several passengers are dropped from Air Force One into the ocean. This scene took place right over the waters off of Oak Island and Southport!
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-2025)
Location: Southport & Wilmington
Amazon Prime's adaptation of Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty novels brings the fictional Cousins Beach to life right on the North Carolina coast! Much of the filming took place in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, and Southport. The “Entering Cousins Beach” sign is actually in Southport, and Brown University is the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The TV series ran for 3 seasons and is now being filmed for the movie.
Other Notable Films/TV Shows Filmed in the Area
- We’re the Millers
- Tammy
- Outer Banks
- I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Crimes of the Heart
- The Waterfront
- The Longest Ride
- Halloween Kills
- Echoes
- Sleepy Hollow
Book Your Cinematic Coastal Getaway Today!
Whether you're looking to recreate the romance of a Nicholas Sparks novel, walk the sunny paths of Cousins Beach, or relax on the quiet sands of Holden Beach away from the cameras, our Holden Beach vacation rentals place you right in the center of the action. Explore our properties today and start planning your star-studded beach vacation!
