🎬 Lights, Camera, Cape Cod: Your Guide to the Films Shot Right Here on our Shores
Top 10 Movies Actually Filmed on Cape Cod & The Islands
It’s a classic Cape Cod experience: cozying up on a rainy afternoon and putting on a movie, only to gasp when you realize you recognize the scenery. From historic dramas to heartwarming holiday films, our sandbar has served as the perfect backdrop for decades. I’ve put together my top 10 list of the films that genuinely set up shop on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, so you know exactly which ones to watch next for an authentic local cinematic treat! These are the movies—including some great holiday surprises—where the sand, the salt air, and the beautiful scenery are 100% real. Join me as we celebrate the films that truly made the Cape their star!
The Iconic & The True Stories
Jaws (1975): Everyone knows this film used Martha’s Vineyard as the setting for the fictional Amity Island. I remember the film crew using the SSA dock in Woods Hole to get to the Vineyard; some local kids were even hired as extras! This classic cemented the island in movie history and local lore. Next time you are on the Vineyard, hook up with one of the Jaws tours that will show you all the sites, including the “Jaws bridge” featured in the movie.
A summer ritual- kids take a plunge off the Jaws bridge! The Finest Hours (2016): This true-life drama about the Coast Guard’s daring 1952 rescue was largely shot in Chatham. It tells the incredible story of four young Coast Guardsmen who braved high seas and driving snow in their small wooden lifeboat to save 32 seamen from a doomed oil tanker. Look for plenty of authentic Chatham scenes, including the historic Coast Guard Station and the Orpheum Theater.
One Crazy Summer (1986): I almost had my 15 minutes of fame as an extra in this wacky flick! Our family and friends were even hired as extras. My buddy Moe and I were set to sit in the front pew with none other than Demi Moore—a new blossoming star fresh from a stint on General Hospital. The setting was a church scene that unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor. Although the scene got cut, we all received a check in the mail from the production company, which we used to take the kids out to a celebratory dinner.
Period Charm & Literary Adaptations
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (2022): A recent heartwarming adaptation of the bestseller, this movie used authentic spots like Cape Cod Jewelers in Hyannis, Parnassus Books in Yarmouth, and the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis to bring the story of the fictional island bookseller to life. We loved the movie so much, it’s on our 2025 Feel-Good Movie List which I send out with my Christmas cards every year. (If you want a copy, just ask!)
The Golden Boys (2008): Set in 1905 and based on a Joseph C. Lincoln novel, this comedy used the historic areas of Barnstable, Chatham, Orleans, Provincetown, and Yarmouth to capture the look of the early Cape.
The Lightkeepers (2009): Starring Richard Dreyfuss, here’s another Joseph C. Lincoln adaptation, set in 1912. This film utilized the beautiful lighthouses and coastal areas of Provincetown and Truro for its romantic comedy plot. Pro Tip: If you enjoy the Cape Cod lifestyle from that era, pick up some original Joseph Lincoln books at Titcomb’s Bookstore in Sandwich.
Year By the Sea (2016): Based on the memoir, this drama about self-discovery showcased a variety of stunning Cape towns, including Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans, and Wellfleet. This one shows the characters experiencing the real Cape Cod—clamming on the Brewster flats, seal-watching on Monomoy, and climbing to the top of Nauset Light. You’ll recognize Main Street and Uncle’s Toms Bridge in Wellfleet, and many other well-known areas of our beloved Cape Cod.
Holiday & Star-Driven Fun
A Cape Cod Christmas (2021): It was in October of 2021 when the Falmouth DPW set up the Falmouth Village Green lighting display a bit early to work alongside the producers of this delightful, localized holiday film. White lights adorned the trees, and fake snow was blown on the sidewalks in front of the Pickle Jar and other Main Street settings. Many scenes were shot in Eight Cousins Books. In one scene at the bookstore, the lead actress, Katie Leclerc, and the shopkeeper were chatting, and our book, My Mosaic Alphabet Book, was featured on the bookshelf right behind them! This is a cornerstone Cape Cod film that has become an annual tradition for our family to see.
Noëlle (2007): Shortly before Christmas, a priest arrives to shut down the church of a fishing village’s dwindling parish and becomes entangled in the lives of the town’s eccentric residents. Filmed entirely on Cape Cod with scenes in Dennis (including the memorable O’Shea’s Olde Inne) and other iconic buildings, this independent, charming movie is the quintessential Cape Cod Christmas movie. Note: Don’t confuse this with the Disney movie of the same name starring Anna Kendrick.
Sabrina (1995): The romantic drama starring Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford features scenes shot on Martha’s Vineyard, including downtown Vineyard Haven and in a cottage that once belonged to Billy Joel and overlooks Chilmark Harbor. Filming was also done in Paris, Long Island, and Manhattan.
🕵️ Sidebar: Sneaky Stand-ins—Movies Set Here, Filmed Far Away
The Biggest Imposter: The Perfect Couple. Let’s talk about the biggest cinematic fraud to hit streaming in recent memory. The hit Netflix miniseries is supposedly set entirely on Nantucket. But because filming an entire production on that island is a logistical nightmare, the crew used the Cape as their very own body double! While the crew did sneak over to grab a few aerial shots and briefly filmed at the Hyannis Steamship Authority dock, it was Chatham that was completely transformed to masquerade as Nantucket, with key locations like the Chatham Beach and Tennis Club and Eastward Point filling in for the main estate. They even filmed the supposed “Nantucket Police Station” inside a simple storefront at Northport Plaza- it's now Elwood's Raw Bar! North Carolina’s Identity Theft: Wilmington, NC, is apparently the official body double for the Cape. Both Dawson’s Creek and The Summer I Turned Pretty filmed there. Don't they know—nothing can replace Cape Cod ! The Christmas Impostor: The Hallmark movie Christmas Bells Are Ringing was entirely filmed in British Columbia, Canada. It's a good watch for a Hallmark movie. The Baseball Switch: Summer Catch, set in the Cape Cod Baseball League, had to film mostly in North Carolina, although a few scenes were shot on the Cape. It's a well done film starring Freddie Prinz as a Chatham A's ball player who falls for a local girl. Well worth spending an evening in front of the TV.
It’s a Wrap!
Whether it’s the high-stakes drama of The Finest Hours or the heartwarming local charm of A Cape Cod Christmas, our home has a long and storied history on screen. These films truly capture the unique character and spirit of our coastal communities—even the ones that snuck a little bit of North Carolina in! Which of these films is your favorite, and do you have any other local filming memories or stories to share? Let me know in the comments below!
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