As a lifelong Atlanta resident, it’s been fascinating to see my city (and state) become fertile ground for Hollywood filming. A place previously lampooned as home to only an airport, Turner Field, and the Coca-Cola museum, Atlanta has made strides in establishing itself as a city with its own distinct culture. Impressively, it now straddles that line where it can play itself or stand in for Greenwich Village, if Iron Man and Doctor Strange needed to fight some of Thanos’ henchmen.
Given Georgia’s boom in filming (earning the state the nickname Y’allywood), there’s no shortage of excellent movies and TV shows taking advantage of the setting—as well as the generous tax incentives. If you want to get a closer look, check out these TV shows and movies.
“Atlanta” (2016–2022)
A native of Stone Mountain, Georgia, series star and showrunner Donald Glover brought Atlanta to life not by playing into preestablished conceptions about the city, but instead delving into its stranger aspects. Glover plays Earn Marks, a music manager for his cousin Alfred, aka Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry). Although the show eventually set its sights beyond the city limits (Season 3 takes places in Europe), the vibes and culture of the city carry into the characters and Glover’s unique vision.
“The Walking Dead” (2010–2022)
While a large part of AMC’s hit zombie horror series was filmed in rural Georgia, the show kicked off with protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) navigating a zombie-infested Atlanta, with the Season 1 climax taking place at the city’s Centers for Disease Control. The Georgia film tax credit passed in 2005, so this adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s graphic novels was one of the first major productions to not only take advantage of the city, but also to value its identity for how it could serve the story’s narrative.
“Will Trent” (2023–present)
Landing a police procedural makes you feel like your city has really made it. In this ABC series, Ramón Rodríguez plays the title character, a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation who uses his powers of observation to solve crimes. While “Will Trent” has a long way to go to reach the episode counts of a “Law & Order” or “CSI,” it’s still neat to see him investigating crimes in Atlanta—and it’s a welcome break for viewers seeking a change of pace in their detective dramas.
“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (2006–present)
No list of Atlanta productions would be complete without something from the city’s patron saint of filmmaking, Tyler Perry. Perry’s success and contributions to Georgia’s film industry deserve an article all their own. Suffice to say, his sitcom about a family living in Atlanta is a TV landmark; with more than 250 and counting, it surpasses “The Jeffersons,” “Family Matters,” and “The Cosby Show” for airing the most episodes of a TV show with a predominantly Black cast.
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (2008–present)
The third installment of the “Real Housewives” franchise is one of its most popular and durable. Aside from the drama that comes with being a reality TV staple, the show also provides a good look at some of the city’s more fashionable and upscale enclaves. While many Atlantans may not interact with these wealthy confines on a daily basis, these glamorous places have offered a glimpse into a different side of the city for nearly two decades.
Other TV shows filmed in Atlanta:
- “Halt and Catch Fire” (2014–2017)
- “Ozark” (2017–2022)
- “Stranger Things” (2016–present)
- “Black Lightning” (2018–2021)
- “The Resident” (2018–2023)
How to Become an Actor in Atlanta “Baby Driver” (2017, directed by Edgar Wright)
Edgar Wright should never have to buy a drink when he visits Atlanta. The British filmmaker originally envisioned his musically driven crime film for Los Angeles. But when production set up in Atlanta instead, he didn’t erase the city’s setting or try to have it stand in for L.A.; he used Atlanta itself, pushing his wheelman protagonist Baby (Ansel Elgort) through its recognizable streets. As a native Atlantan, you can’t help but get a giddy thrill as you watch Baby run for his life through Peachtree Center to the tune of “Focus” by Hocus Pocus.
“ATL” (2006, directed by Chris Robinson)
Atlanta is known for its hip-hop scene, and this coming-of-age film features a terrific collection of its musical talent. T.I. is in the lead role alongside Big Boi, Killer Mike, Monica, Bone Crusher, and others. The story is loosely based on the experiences of producers and songwriters Dallas Austin and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, and it feels like a love letter to the city, radiating out from its home base of the Cascade skating rink.
“Game Night” (2018, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein)
While “Game Night” doesn’t specify it’s in Atlanta, natives will instantly recognize the city in this delightful comedy. The story starts with a group of friends playing their typical game night, which then spirals out of control into real danger and intrigue. The premise of crossing suburbanites with underworld crime works wonders, as the cast clearly has a blast with the outlandish stakes. However, the film belongs to Jesse Plemons’ weirdly intense police officer who is no longer invited to play at game night.
“Gone With the Wind” (1939, directed by Victor Fleming)
There is a lot to unpack in Victor Fleming’s adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s epic romance. However, watching the movie now provides a better understanding of how people in Hollywood understood Atlanta, the South, and the Confederacy in 1939. That’s not to condone those observations, but rather to illustrate the context of how views of the city and larger American history have changed in the decades since the film’s release.
“Smokey and the Bandit” (1977, directed by Hal Needham)
The directorial debut of Burt Reynolds’ longtime stuntman Hal Needham, “Smokey and the Bandit” is fun from start to finish. Truckers The Bandit (Reynolds) and The Snowman (Jerry Reed) make their way from Texarkana to Atlanta to bootleg 400 cases of Coors in less than 28 hours. If you want to win over a native Atlantan, just share your love for this movie and start humming “East Bound and Down.”
Other movies filmed in Atlanta:
- Various Marvel Studios productions, including “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”
- Tyler Perry’s “Madea” movies
- “The Hate U Give” (2018, directed by George Tillman Jr.)
- “The Nice Guys” (2016, directed by Shane Black)
- “Scream 2” (1997, directed by Wes Craven)
