Discover the Charm of Movies Set in Small Towns
Filmmakers know small towns make great movie locations because they feel authentic. Fans who don't live in big cities like L.A. can identify with small town settings and often snap up tickets, turning movies about small-town life into blockbuster hits.
Movies set in small towns also hold down production costs for filmmakers, although some spend money to revitalize flagging downtowns. Residents benefit even more when the movies debut, tourism picks up and the local economy gets a boost.
Other small towns make great movie sets simply because studios can't rival their picturesque settings, like the coastal scenes in "Jaws," made in Edgartown, Massachusetts, or the desert landscape in Creede, Colorado, a backdrop for 2013's "The Lone Ranger."
The Jackson County Historic Courthouse, shown here, was used in 2017's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." Visit Sylva, North Carolina (pop. 2,500) to see the courthouse and other locations and props from the movie.
