Amazing what you can learn while killing time on the Internet. For example, just poking around today I found a bunch of movies that were shot in Tennessee that I would never have guessed before. Who knew.

The funny thing is none of these movies is really “about” Tennessee, but significant parts were shot here. There’s a complete Wikipedia page devoted to this admittedly stupid subject.

5. Days of Thunder

The NASCAR movie that Tom Cruise did back in 1990? Yep. Partially shot in Tennessee. The Bristol part, which makes sense if you’re a racing fan.

4. The Green Mile

The Tom Hanks movie pretends the penitentiary is in Louisiana. Nope. It’s the old Tennessee State Penitentiary.

3. The Evil Dead

The Bruce Campbell classic was shot at a remote cabin in…(you guessed it)…Tennessee!

2. Starman

You would think that the Jeff Bridges movie about a Starman would be filmed in space. Nope. It’s good ole Tennessee again!

1, King Kong Lives

A movie about a gigantic ape? Yes, that was filmed in two Tennessee locations. The flick that helped launch Linda Hamilton’s career in 1986 was shot around Pigeon Forge and also Fall Creek Falls State Park.