These Movies Truly Capture Atlanta

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Atlanta was recently named the third fastest growing metro area in the U.S., gaining nearly 90,000 residents between 2016 and 2017. If you’re thinking about joining all of those Atlanta newbies, or are already searching through homes in Atlanta, determined to move to the Peachtree City, you might want to watch some films that truly capture the essence of the place.

Trouble with the Curve

Atlanta and its popular three-time World Champion Braves’ baseball team are spotlighted prominently in this movie about an aging baseball scout who gets one last assignment in attempt to prove he’s still valuable to the organization. The 2012 film stars Clint Eastwood as the scout, accompanied by Amy Adams as his daughter. The story is focused around the Braves, and as any baseball fan knows, Atlantans love their team. The movie was shot right at Turner Field as well as George’s Bar & Restaurant, The Globe, Northside Cheers, the Oconee Hill Cemetery and other locations. Throughout the city and state.

The Hunger Games

Three of the four “The Hunger Games” series were shot in Atlanta, “Catching Fire” and both of the “Mockingjay” movies. The Swan House and its opulent grounds are located in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood, used as the evil President Snow’s mansion. The Goat Farm Arts Center in West Midtown is an artist community where chickens roam free. In the story, it serves as District 12, home to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.

Stranger Things

This 1980s-themed Netflix sci-fi hit used the Emory University Briarcliff campus as its mysterious “Upside Down” universe. The site is an old psychiatric hospital, upping the creepy factor. Just a short drive from Atlanta to Palmetto is the Piggly Wiggle Express – when you’re in the area, you can witness where warrior Eleven makes off with the waffles. You might want to try them too, just don’t follow in his footsteps.

Selma

Academy Award-winning movie “Selma,” which chronicled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s fight for political and social justice wasn’t just filmed in Selma, but in Atlanta as well as other cities in the surrounding area. Marietta Square served as the location for multiple key scenes throughout the movie. The square, also known as Glover Park, is famous for its eateries, shops, live music and people watching.

Wanderlust

This 2012 comedy stars Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as a couple who make the move from New York City to Atlanta after becoming unemployed and hearing about the promise of jobs down south. The film is set in Atlanta and filmed right here as well as the cities of Clarkesville, Monroe and Lawrenceville. The most prominent scene in Atlanta was filmed at the lobby of the building at 191 Peachtree Tower.