John StatonWilmington StarNews
In Wilmington, summer is kind of our brand. (With apologies to Arby's: We Have the Beaches.)
Certainly, the spirit of summer fun, beauty, romance and/or mayhem is reflected in the kinds of movies and TV shows that have shot here over the decades. Just in the past few years we've had Hallmark weeper "One Summer," Prime Video mega-hit teen drama "The Summer I Turned Pretty" (currently filming its third season), and the Mel-Gibson-starring coming-of-age adventure "Boys of Summer" (still waiting on a release date).
It's not always about the title, although if you scan a list of Wilmington-shot movies and TV shows "summer" pops up a whole lot.
If you're looking to keep your summer viewing local — and why wouldn't you? — here are some movies and shows that will keep the summer vibes lasting all season long. Except where noted, most are available for purchase, rental or streaming across multiple services.
'Piranha 3DD'
It's a long, long way down from its kind-of-brilliant title to what actually happens in this deservedly direct-to-video 2013 schlockfest, which earned two Razzie nominations (including Worst Sequel) despite a star-studded cast that includes Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd, Gary Busey, David Koechner, Danielle Panabaker and David Hasselhoff (Razzie nom for Worst Supporting Actor). But if your idea of a good summer movie is mindless fun, then "Piranha 3DD" — in which ravenous Amazonian fish somehow invade a jam-packed water park (played by Wilmington's Jungle Rapids in the movie) — might warrant a nibble.
'Along for the Ride'
If you need to get the bloody taste of "Piranha 3DD" out of your mouth, this wholesome, coming-of-age summer love story on Netflix could do the trick. It's about an introverted recent high school grad (Emma Pasarow) who decides to spend the summer living at the beach with her distracted writer father (Dermot Mulroney). Naturally, she soon falls for a bike-riding townie (Belmont Cameli). A visual showcase for Carolina and Kure beaches.
Filmington: Carolina, Kure Beach make for romantic setting in Netflix's scenic 'Along for the Ride'
'Summer Catch'
You knew we had to get to the "summer" titles sooner or later. Summer romance slides into baseball when Jessica Biel meets a handsome young MLB hopeful played by Freddie Prinze Jr. Shot largely in Southport, "Summer Catch" was a critical flop but has a solid cast that includes Matthew Lillard, Brittany Murphy andBrian Dennehy.
'Weekend at Bernie's'
Nothing says summer like pretending your mob-murdered boss is still alive so that you can keep the party going at his fancy beach house, am I right? This broadly comic cultural touchstone, shot in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and Bald Head Island in 1988, is still universally known 35 years after its release.
'Florida Man'
This limited series, a darkly comic, sun-drenched Netflix neo-noir shot in the Wilmington area in 2021, was released last year, with Carolina Beach largely portraying the show's Florida setting. Edgar Ramirez ("Yes Day") plays cop-turned-mob-enforcer Mike Valentine, who decamps from Philadelphia to Florida, initially to find his boss' runaway girlfriend, Delly (Australian actress Abbey Lee), but eventually to pull One Last Score with his dad (Anthony LaPaglia of Wilmington-shot classic "Empire Records"). Violent, occasionally over-the-top summer escapism.
Florida Man: Popular and 'absurd' Netflix show loaded with Wilmington locations, actors
'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
If your summer vacation didn't involve accidentally killing a guy with your friends, covering it up and vowing never to speak of it again, then discovering that a mysterious person sending scary notes has all the receipts, I mean, what are you even doing? This 1997 horror movie, shot mostly in Southport and co-starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr., was co-written by Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek," "Scream"), who will be back in Wilmington later this year to shoot his new Netflix TV series, "The Waterfront."
'To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday'
This extremely beachy 1996 movie stars Peter Gallagher as a man mourning the death of his wife, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, with whose spirit he regularly communes. Claire Danes plays his attention-starved daughter, and there's another sighting of Freddie Prinze Jr., who is apparently the king of Wilmington summer movies. Lots of shots of area beaches here, along with a warm and fuzzy story line and moments of unexpected humor.
'Hightown'
This dark, edgy series about cops, strippers and various kinds of addictions stars the brilliant Monica Raymund as hard-partying, lusty lesbian Jackie Quinones, who starts out as a National Marine Fisheries Services agent but gradually gets drawn into investigating drugs and murder for the police on land. Set on the boozy, gay-friendly beaches of Provincetown, Massachusetts, seasons two and three were shot in the Wilmington area. There's enough drama here to keep you entertained all summer long.
Hightown: New season of gritty, edgy series loaded with Wilmington locations, actors
'Safe Haven'
Southport showcase from 2013 is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel and stars Julianne Hough as a woman running from her past when a hunky widower played by Josh Duhamel complicates things. The movie equivalent of a summer-romance beach read, you can swap it out with other films based on Sparks novels that shot in the area, including 2016's "The Choice" and 2008's "Nights in Rodanthe."
'Loggerheads'
This 2005 movie about a woman (Bonnie Hunt) who as a teen gave up her child (Kip Pardue) for adoption and is now searching for him as an adult isn't your typical summer movie, but it is incredibly beautiful and powerful, with a top-notch cast that includes Tess Harper and Chris Sarandon. Much of the movie is set on Kure Beach, with a metaphorical story line about loggerhead turtles always knowing how to find their way home.
'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
Thought I was going to leave this one off, didn't you? No chance of that, as this mega-popular Amazon series is probably the quintessential summer-themed, Wilmington-shot show or movie of all time. It's got it all: beautiful beaches, beautiful people, summer love, summer fun and an area location around every corner. Third season is currently in production, with an air date set for 2025.
