15 Movies Filmed in Connecticut

You might not associate sports with the state of Connecticut, but ESPN was actually originally started in the state and currently, Stamford is home to the headquarters of the WWE. It’s possible that you might associate the third smallest state in the US with education, as New Haven is home to Yale University, one of the twelve Ivy League universities in the country.

But what you may not know at all about Connecticut is that it has been the site for many film locations throughout the years. There are several that were obviously filmed in Connecticut. Both the 1974 and the 2004 versions of The Stepford Wives. And Mystic Pizza? There is, of course, a real town of Mystic and also a real pizza place called Mystic Pizza. Then there are the ones that are tricky; those that were filmed in Connecticut, but took place far from it. 2005’s War of the Worlds was shot in several different states, with Connecticut posing as Boston.

We may all know Camp Crystal Lake is in New Jersey, but Friday the 13th Part II had many scenes that were filmed in Connecticut. And while Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 took place in several different areas, the RISD campus you see onscreen was actually Western Connecticut University in Danbury. The train station in Metcalf in Hitchcock’s 1951 Strangers on a Train was filmed in what you may now know as the Danbury Railroad Museum.

And the 1950s Marshall College in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is actually modern-day Yale University. Although the birthplace of Samuel Colt (inventor of the revolver) is not overwhelmingly known for being a second home for Hollywood, there are quite a few more films that owe their scenery and decor to the Constitution State.

Movies Filmed in the State of Connecticut

Mystic Pizza (1988)

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The comedy-drama film Mystic Pizza is directed by Donald Petrie. It tells the story of three teenage girls, portrayed by Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, and Lili Taylor, working as waitresses at Mystic Pizza. The story is set in the town of Mystic, Connecticut; however, the movie was filmed in other parts of Connecticut as well – Groton, Stonington, Stonington Borough, Pawcatuck, New Londo, New Haven, and Noank. Some scenes were also shot in Rhode Island.

(1h 44min | R)

The Stepford Wives (2004)

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The Stepford Wives is a science fiction comedy-horror film directed by Frank Oz, based on the novel with the same title by Ira Levin. It stars Nicole Kidman who portrays Joanna Eberhart, whose career of being a reality TV show executive producer suddenly ended. After a mental breakdown, she and her family decided to move to Stepford in Fairfield County, Connecticut. As such, among its filming locations in Connecticut are Norwalk, Fairfield County, Greenwich, New Canaan, and Darien. Other filming locations include New Jersey and New York.

(1h 32min | PG-13)

Revolutionary Road (2008)

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Directed by Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road is a romantic drama film based on the novel of the same title by Richard Yates. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Wheeler and Kate Winslet as April Wheeler as a young couple residing in Connecticut trying to deal with their personal problems while raising their children. Thus, it was filmed across Connecticut – in Darien, Trumbull, Rowayton, Beacon Falls, Redding, Shelton, Southport, Stamford, Thomaston, Bethel, Norwalk, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, and New Canaan. Other than Connecticut, the movie was also filmed in Manhattan, New York.

(1h 59min | R)

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

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Rachel Getting Married is a drama movie under the direction of Jonathan Demme. It stars Ann Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, and Debra Winger. The story is about a rehabilitating drug abuser Kym Buchman (Hathaway) who was temporarily discharged from the rehab to attend her sister Rachel’s wedding. The movie was filmed in Fairfield and in Stamford, Connecticut.

(1h 52min | R)

Birds of America (2008)

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The comedy-drama Birds of America is an independent movie directed by Craig Lucas. It shows the story of a college professor (Matthew Perry) who has to deal with the troubles caused by his dysfunctional siblings who suddenly showed up. It was filmed in Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford, Connecticut.

(1h 25min | R)

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009)

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The romantic comedy-drama The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is written and directed by Rebecca Miller, based on her novel of the same name. It stars Robin Wright as Pippa Lee, along with Alan Arkin (as Herb Lee), Maria Bello (as Suky Sarkissian), Blake Lively (Young Pippa), and Winona Ryder (as Sandra Dulles). It follows the life of Pippa Lee, including flashbacks of her chaotic past. The movie was filmed in New Milford, Danbury, and Stamford, Connecticut.

(1h 38min | R)

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009)

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The Six Wives of Henry Lefay is a comedy film directed by Howard Michael Gould. It stars Tim Allen who acted as Henry Lefay who was presumed dead after he went missing because of a parasailing accident. Other stars include Elisha Cuthbert, S. Epatha Merkerson, Andie MacDowell, Jenna Elfman, Paz Vega, Lindsay Sloane, and Jenna Dewan. It was filmed in Norwalk, New Milford, and Roxbury, Connecticut; then in San Francisco and El Segundo, California.

(1h 35min | PG-13)

Everybody’s Fine (2009)

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Directed by Kirk Jones, Everybody’s Fine is a drama film starring Robert De Niro. It follows the widower Frank Goode (De Niro) who suddenly decided to go on a road trip to reunite with his grown daughters (Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale). Most parts of the movie were filmed in Connecticut – Stamford, New Haven, Danbury, Fairfield, and Hartford. Other filming locations are New York state, Illinois, and Nevada.

(1h 39min | PG-13)

All Good Things (2010)

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All Good Things is a mystery drama film directed by Andrew Jarecki based on the life of accused murderer Robert Durst. In the movie, Ryan Gosling portrays David Marks who became a suspect in a series of murders, and in his wife’s (Kirsten Dunst) disappearance. The movie was filmed primarily in Connecticut such as in Shelton, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Waterbury, Gaylordsville, Newtown, and Greenwich. Other filming locations are Manhattan and New York City, New York.

(1h 41 min | R)

My Soul to Take (2010)

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The mystery horror movie My Soul to Take is written, produced, and directed by Wes Craven. It is a film about a serial killer (Raul Esparza) suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder who stalks seven children (Denzel Whitaker, Hohn Magaro, Jeremy Chu, Max Theriot, Zena Grey, Paulina Olszynski, and Nick Lashaway) sharing the same birthday. The entire movie was filmed in Connecticut, specifically in New Milford, Tolland, and Danbury.

(1h 47min | R)

Another Earth (2011)

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The independent science fiction film Another Earth is directed by Mike Cahill. The story is about a 17-year-old Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) who saw Earth 2 from afar but then crashed with the composer John Burroughs (William Mapother), killing the latter’s family. The movie was filmed in West Haven and in New Haven, Connecticut.

(1h 32min | PG-13)

Hello I Must Be Going (2012)

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Filmed in Westport, Connecticut, Hello I Must Be Going is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Todd Louiso. Starring in it are Melanie Lynskey, Christopher Abbott, and Blythe Danner. The movie follows the story of a divorced woman who moved back to her parent’s house and was rejuvenated only through an affair with a 19-year-old guy.

(1h 34min | R)

The Big Wedding (2013)

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The Big Wedding is an American comedy movie written and directed by Justin Zackham. It is a remake of the French film Mon frère se marie (My Brother is Getting Married) that was written by Jean-Stéphane Bron and Karine Sudan. It features a star-studded cast including Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon, and Robin Williams. It is about a couple who has been divorced for years but has to act like they’re still married when their family has to reunite for a wedding. The entire movie was filmed in Connecticut, specifically in Greenwich, Darien, and Stamford.

(1h 29min | R)

And So It Goes (2014)

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The comedy-drama film And So It Goes is directed by Rob Reiner starring Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton. The movie narrates how Oren Little (Douglas) sought his neighbor Leah’s (Keaton) help in caring for his 9-year-old granddaughter whom he never met before. Aside from Manchester, England, and California, the movie was filmed primarily in Connecticut – Bristol, Bridgeport, Southport, and Black Rock.

(1h 33min | PG-13)

Boychoir (2014)

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Under the direction of François Girard, Boychoir is a music-drama film Boychoir about a young boy who was sent to a choir school who, despite his amazing voice, encountered challenges in adjusting to the culture of the school. Starring in it are Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Debra Winger, Josh Lucas. Also, as you would’ve expected after hearing its title, it also features the American Boychoir School. It was filmed at Yale University in New Haven and at Fairfield University in Fairfield. Other filming locations are Manhattan and in other areas of New York.

(1h 43min | G)

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