It's Movie Night!
Gather your friends and family for a special movie night that showcases films made in the Lowcountry! Pick from several feature movies that were filmed in and around Beaufort. To get in the mood, start your day with a tour to see some of the locations where filming took place. See more information below.
Beaufort, South Carolina: A Hollywood Favorite
Beaufort, South Carolina, isn’t just a charming coastal town with breathtaking views—it’s also a star-studded filming location that has played host to some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies. With its picturesque antebellum homes, majestic live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and a warm, welcoming community, it’s no wonder filmmakers continue to be drawn to this Lowcountry gem.
Famous Movies Filmed in Beaufort and the Lowcountry
The Great Santini (1979)
This poignant drama starring Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner was filmed at the stunning Tidalholm Mansion, a historic home that has become one of Beaufort’s most recognizable landmarks. The film, based on Pat Conroy’s novel, showcases the area’s timeless charm.
The Big Chill (1983)
This star-studded drama featuring Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, and William Hurt was filmed at the iconic Tidalholm Mansion, the same house used in The Great Santini.
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Stanley Kubrick’s harrowing Vietnam War epic may be best known for its intense boot camp scenes, and the archive footage was shot on Parris Island, the famed Marine Corps Recruit Depot just outside Beaufort. The movie itself was all shot in London, where the director Stanley Kubrick lived.
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Set in 1902, this beautiful, atmospheric film follows a Gullah family preparing to leave the Sea Islands for the mainland. Filmed on St. Helena Island and Hunting Island State Park, it was the first film directed by an African American woman to receive a wide theatrical release. This film (along with “Forrest Gump,” “The Big Chill,” “Deliverance” and the 1940 documentary, “Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort, South Carolina”) was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress National Film Registry due to its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.
The War (1993)
Kevin Costner, a Vietnam veteran, helps his kids battle over a tree house while recovering from his traumatic war experience. A beautiful live oak at Carolina Shores was chosen as the location for the tree in The War.
Forrest Gump (1994)
The beloved Academy Award-winning classic starring Tom Hanks made great use of Beaufort’s scenic beauty. Many of the Vietnam War scenes were filmed on Fripp Island and Hunting Island, while the iconic running scenes took place along Beaufort’s rural roads. The University of South Carolina-Beaufort campus and the historic Woods Memorial Bridge also made appearances.
The Jungle Book (1994)
Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale came to life with Beaufort’s lush greenery standing in for the jungles of India. Hunting Island’s dense forests provided a stunning natural set for the film’s breathtaking visuals.
Something to Talk About (1995)
Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid star in this romantic comedy about a woman who discovers her husband has been unfaithful and returns home to her eccentric Southern family. Beaufort and Jasper County provided locations for the film. The producers conducted a nationwide casting call for a young girl to play Dennis and Julia’s daughter. Haley Aull, from nearby Orangeburg, was selected.
White Squall (1996)
Based on a true story, this adventure follows a group of teenagers who set sail on a school sailing voyage that takes a tragic turn. The film used the Beaufort area and surrounding Lowcountry as part of its backdrop. Beaufort Municipal Court Judge Ned Tupper was featured in one scene.
Last Dance (1996)
Sharon Stone stars as a woman on death row who forms an unlikely friendship with the young lawyer assigned to review her case. Filming took place in Jasper County and other Lowcountry locations. The producers were able to film all the prison scenes inside the Ridgeland Correctional Institution, which had just been built but was unoccupied during the months the film was being made.
Gone Fishin' (1997)
Danny Glover and Joe Pesci play two lifelong friends whose fishing trip goes spectacularly wrong. The film's second unit filmed in Beaufort and Jasper.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Eddie Murphy stars as a workaholic real estate agent whose family gets caught up in a haunted mansion. Portions of the opening driving sequence of the Disney film were filmed in Jasper County.
