Published 2026-05-10 · A Port City Lowdown guide
Wilmington didn't become "Hollywood East" by accident. Since the mid-1980s, more than 400 film and television productions have shot here — a run that transformed the city's economy, put it on the pop culture map, and left behind a trail of recognizable locations that locals walk past every day without a second thought. If you grew up watching Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, or basically any Nicholas Sparks movie, you've been looking at Wilmington for years. You just didn't know it.
How Wilmington Became Hollywood East
The story starts with Dino De Laurentiis, the legendary Italian film producer who built a full-scale studio complex on 32 acres off N. 23rd Street in 1984. De Laurentiis chose Wilmington for the same reasons that keep productions coming back: mild weather, diverse locations (beaches, historic downtown, swamps, rural farmland — all within 30 minutes), a growing crew base, and North Carolina's film-friendly tax incentives.
The studio changed hands several times over the decades — becoming Carolco Studios, then EUE/Screen Gems Studios — but the pipeline never really stopped. At its peak in the 2000s, Wilmington had multiple major TV series filming simultaneously, and you couldn't walk through downtown without spotting location markers and crew trucks. The tax incentive changes in 2014 slowed things down significantly, pushing some productions to Georgia and other states, but the studio complex remains active and film culture is woven deep into the city's identity.
EUE/Screen Gems Studios
The studio complex on N. 23rd Street is the anchor of Wilmington's film industry. It houses multiple soundstages, production offices, and support facilities on a sprawling campus. This is where the interiors for Iron Man 3, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of other productions were built and shot.
Can you visit? The studio itself is a working production facility and not open for public tours on a regular basis. However, they occasionally offer special tour events — check their website or social media for announcements. The exterior is visible from the road but there's not much to see from outside the gates. Your best bet for a behind-the-scenes experience is one of the local guided film tours (more on those below).
Iconic Filming Locations You Can Visit
The best part of Wilmington's film history is that most of the exterior locations are public spaces you can walk right up to. Here are the ones worth seeking out.
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)
The show that launched a thousand teen dramas filmed extensively in and around Wilmington for all six seasons.
- Dawson's house — The exterior is a private residence on Creek Road (yes, really) in the Greenville Loop Road area. You can see it from the road but please respect the homeowners' privacy and stay on public property.
- The Creek — Hewletts Creek near Wrightsville Beach served as the backdrop for those iconic rowing scenes. You can kayak it yourself — it's a beautiful paddle.
- Downtown Capeside — Much of the fictional town of Capeside was filmed on the streets of downtown Wilmington and in the historic district of nearby Southport. The Ice House scenes used locations along the riverfront.
- UNCW campus — The University of North Carolina Wilmington stood in for the fictional college in later seasons. The campus is open to visitors.
One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
One Tree Hill ran for nine seasons, all filmed in Wilmington. The show used so many local locations that superfans could spend an entire day tracking them down.
- The River Court — The iconic basketball court is at the end of Terminal Drive, along the Cape Fear River near the USS North Carolina. This is the most visited OTH location and it's fully public — people still shoot hoops there. Bring a basketball.
- Karen's Cafe / Clothes Over Bros — The storefront used for these fictional businesses is on Front Street downtown, in the block between Dock and Orange. The actual business occupying the space changes, but the exterior is instantly recognizable.
- Tric (the nightclub) — Exteriors were filmed using the old Firebelly Lounge space near the riverfront. The interior was a studio set.
- Tree Hill High School — The exterior shots used Laney High School on College Road. It's a real working school, so be respectful if you visit (stick to the exterior and don't go during school hours).
Iron Man 3 (2013)
The biggest Marvel movie to film in Wilmington used the city as a stand-in for various locations, with major interior work at Screen Gems Studios.
- Kure Beach Pier — The pier and surrounding beach area appeared in the film. Kure Beach pier is public and a great visit on its own, especially if you combine it with the Fort Fisher Aquarium nearby.
- Downtown Wilmington streets — Several downtown blocks were used for exterior shots, dressed up to look like different cities.
- Rose Hill (nearby town) — The small town of Rose Hill, about an hour north, was used for the "Rose Hill" scenes in the movie — and yes, that's really the town's name. They leaned into it.
Other Notable Productions
- A Walk to Remember (2002) — Filmed around Wilmington and Southport. The church scenes used a historic church in Southport, and several downtown Wilmington locations appear throughout.
- Blue Velvet (1986) — David Lynch's unsettling masterpiece was one of the early major films shot at the De Laurentiis studio. Various Wilmington neighborhoods appear in the film.
- Weekend at Bernie's (1989) — The beach house scenes were filmed on Figure Eight Island, a private barrier island north of Wrightsville Beach. You can't access Figure Eight without a resident pass, but you can see the island from the bridge.
- The Conjuring (2013) — Filmed around the Wilmington area, using local homes and properties for the period-set horror film.
- Eastbound & Down (2009-2013) — The HBO comedy filmed extensively in Wilmington, using local neighborhoods, ball fields, and the Screen Gems studios.
- Under the Dome (2013-2015) — The Stephen King adaptation filmed in the Burgaw area, about 30 minutes north of Wilmington.
Film Location Tours
If you want someone to drive you around and tell you the stories behind the locations, several local companies run guided tours.
- Hollywood Location Walk — A walking tour of downtown filming locations, usually covering Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, Iron Man 3, and more. Runs seasonally and lasts about 90 minutes.
- Self-guided driving tour — The Wilmington and Beaches CVB publishes a film location map you can download and follow at your own pace. It covers sites from downtown to the beaches.
For the best experience, combine a downtown walking tour with a drive to the River Court and then head south to Kure Beach and Fort Fisher. That loop covers the most ground and the most recognizable spots.
The Current State of Film in Wilmington
Wilmington's film industry took a hit when North Carolina restructured its film incentive program in 2014, shifting from a transferable tax credit to a smaller grant-based system. A lot of productions moved to Georgia, which offered more aggressive incentives. The city lost the steady drumbeat of multiple major series filming simultaneously.
That said, the industry hasn't disappeared. EUE/Screen Gems Studios still operates, productions still come through (though fewer and smaller), and the crew base that built up over three decades still lives here. The city has leaned into its film heritage with location markers, the annual Cucalorus Film Festival (one of the best independent film festivals in the Southeast), and the ongoing presence of UNCW's film studies program, which trains the next generation of filmmakers.
For film buffs, Wilmington is a city where the history is visible everywhere — not behind velvet ropes, but on the streets and waterfronts and basketball courts where people live their actual lives. That's what makes it special. The locations aren't tourist attractions; they're just Wilmington. Check out our guide to Wilmington's indie film and cinema scene for where to catch screenings and festivals, and visit the weekly events page for any film-related happenings this week.