This is pretty interesting! I had no idea that these movies were filmed in Tennessee!
Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, and Chadwick Boseman have all shot movies in Tennessee? There is even one just in time for Halloween!
The Last Castle – This movie was also shot at the old Tennessee State Prison. Part of the movie was also shot at a warehouse down the street from the prison. Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Burton, and Robin Wright all appeared in the movie.
The Green Mile –It stars Tom Hanks, Bonnie Hunt, and Sam Rockwell. The prison in the movie is the Tennessee State Prison at Cockrill Bend. Other parts of the movie were filmed in College Grove, Lewisburg, and near the Caney Fork River.
(This one just in time for Halloween)
3. The Evil Dead – Unlike some other movies here, this location was unpleasant for cast and crew. The film was shot in a remote part of Morristown, Tennessee. However, I guess it was worth it since it cost a little more than $900,000 to make the movie, which netted almost $30 million at the box office.
4. Country Strong – The movie was mostly shot in downtown Franklin and various parts of Nashville. It starred Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw and Leighton Meester. The movie is about an emotional country singer who tries to restart her career.
5. Walk the Line – The Johnny Cash biopic was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture and best actor and best actress. It was almost entirely filmed in Memphis at the Scottish Rite Temple, the Mud Island Amphitheater, the Memphis Fairgrounds, and The Orpheum.
6. Hustle & Flow – The film was written and shot in Memphis and tells the story of a pimp who wants to become a famous rapper. Terrance Howard was nominated for Best Actor, and the film also stars Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson and DJ Qualls.
7. Coal Miner’s Daughter – The movie is, of course, the story of Loretta Lynn, who wrote the song the movie is based on. Sissy Spacek plays Lynn, and Tommy Lee Jones and Levon Helm also star. Spacek won Best Actress for her portrayal. While most of the movie was shot in Kentucky, all of the concert shots were filmed at the Ryman Auditorium.
8. Days of Thunder – The movie stars Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Nicole Kidman, John C. Reilly, and several NASCAR drivers. Part of the movie was filmed at Bristol Motor Speedway.
9. October Sky – The film starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern. It’s based on the true story of Homer Hickam, Jr. The film was shot in East Tennessee in Morgan and Roane Counties.
10. The Firm– The Academy Award-nominated story of a young lawyer (Tom Cruise) uncovering the dark side of the prestigious law firm he joins was primarily shot in Memphis.
11. The Client -A year after The Firm, Memphis played host to another legal thriller based on a John Grisham novel. This time Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones (second appearance on the list) take center stage in a tale that centers around the mafia.
12. The People vs. Larry Flynt-Memphis was used in another 90’s legal film, though a bit different than The Firm or The Client. Woody Harrelson landed an Oscar nomination for his performance as Larry Flynt in the film that followed the controversial pornography publisher’s fight for free speech.
12. Ernest Goes to Jail -The entire film was shot in Music City. Most of the movie took place at the Tennessee State Prison, but scenes were shot in other parts of Nashville, including the Bank of America on the 1600 block of Church Street.
That wasn’t the only time Jim Varney’s cult classic character appeared in Tennessee to shoot a movie. Varney would come to the Volunteer State for four straight films from 1987 – 1991.
13. Ernest Goes to Camp –A few years before going to jail, Ernest found himself saving Kamp Kikike from an evil mining company. The film was shot in Nashville, as well as Burns and Fairview, Tennessee.
14. Ernest Saves Christmas –Ernest already saved a camp so why not try and save the holidays as well? Ernest Saves Christmas ended up being the highest-grossing Ernest movie. Unlike Camp, Jail, and Scared Stupid, though, it wasn’t completely shot in Tennessee. Parts of it were filmed in Orlando, Florida.
14. Ernest Scared Stupid -The family comedy series would leave Tennessee after that, primarily shooting in Canada going forward. But plenty of films, not starring Ernest, have also shot in Nashville.
Maybe you’ve seen some of these movies!
