8 Famous Movies Filmed Along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway

The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway is a roadway that brings travelers through the beautiful and historic North Shore of Massachusetts. The towns and cities along this route have served as the backdrop for many famous movies over the years. The Byway includes sweeping coastlines and quaint New England downtowns to grand estates and historic landmarks. Here are just a few of the famous movies that have been filmed in this stunning region.

The Crucible (1996)

This Arthur Miller play, which takes place during the Salem witch trials, was adapted into a big cinema picture in 1996, with Choate Island in Essex, Massachusetts, serving as a crucial shooting site! While the set is no longer standing, the island is home to multiple historic buildings as well as a myriad of wildlife. This 135-acre “treasure of Essex Bay” is located in the Essex River Estuary and is a part of the Crane Wildlife Refuge, which is owned and managed by The Trustees. While the public can access the island in the summer months by canoe or kayak, the Trustees host “Choate Island Days” one weekend a year where you can take a boat and receive a tour.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

“Manchester by the Sea” is a critically acclaimed film directed by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, and Lucas Hedges. The film tells the story of a man named Lee Chandler (Affleck) who returns to his hometown of Manchester, Massachusetts following the death of his brother.

The majority of the film was shot on location in the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and other multiple places along the Byway, such as Beverly, Lynn, and Essex. A notable spot includes Fibber McGee’s located at 102 Cabot Street in Beverly, a great neighborhood pub known for their wings and burgers. 

Shutter Island (2010)

This psychological thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed in several locations in Massachusetts including Ipswich and Nahant. While Nahant is not directly on the Byway, it is a beautiful and easy stop off the roadway in Lynn. “Shutter Island” tells the story of a U.S. Marshal who investigates a psychiatric facility on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. He uncovers a conspiracy that threatens his own sanity.

The Turner Hill Mansion located at 251 Topsfield Road, Ipswich, was the filming location used as the magnificent executive house for the hospital, in its baronial, wood-lined sitting room, which is dominated by a massive fireplace. You can dine and golf at this beautiful estate, and it is also a popular wedding venue!

Grown Ups (2010)

Much of the movie “Grown Ups” was filmed on location near Chebacco Lake in Essex County, Massachusetts. The lake lies within the boundaries of Essex and Hamilton. “Grown Ups” uses the restaurant Woodman’s located at 119 Main Street in Essex, for a scene where all the characters in the film go out for a family dinner. Feel free to enjoy some fantastic fresh seafood there yourself!

Other nearby towns along the Byway such as Marblehead and Swampscott were featured heavily in the film’s 2013 sequel, “Grown Ups 2”.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

“Hocus Pocus” is a classic Halloween film that has become a beloved favorite among many. The movie, released in 1993, tells the story of three witches brought back to life in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. While much of the film was shot in a studio in California, there were several recognizable sites in Salem featured including the Salem Common, Pioneer Village, Salem’s Old Town Hall, and the Ropes’ Mansion.

The opening scene depicting Salem Village in 1693 was shot at Pioneer Village, which is America’s first living history museum. Pioneer Village is open to the public seasonally, you can learn more on their website and visit them at 93 West Avenue in Salem.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

In this famous thriller, a group of fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts, are caught in a massive storm. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring George Clooney, “The Perfect Storm” utilizes the cities’ picturesque harbor as the backdrop for multiple scenes.

The film was based on the tale of Andrea Gail, a fishing boat from Gloucester that perished in the Atlantic Ocean during the aptly named, “Perfect Storm” of 1991. The actual bar frequented by the crew in Sebastian Junger’s book by the same name is the Crow’s Nest, which was also featured in the movie and is located at 334 Main Street in Gloucester.

The Proposal (2009)

A high-powered book editor played by Sandra Bullock faces deportation to her native Canada and announces her engagement to her helpless assistant played by Ryan Reynolds. The couple then travel to visit his family in Sitka, Alaska in this lovable romantic comedy.

While the setting for the film is intended to be Alaska, it was mainly shot in Rockport and Manchester-by-the-Sea, two beautiful seaside towns along the Byway! Spend a day exploring the many shops, restaurants, and galleries along Bearskin Neck, one the the film’s scenic shooting sites, located at the intersection of Main Street and Mt. Pleasant Street in Rockport.

CODA (2021)

This Oscar-winning dramedy tells the story of a teenage girl with a passion for singing who is the only hearing member of her deaf family. The movie is set (and was mainly filmed) in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where her parents and brother operate a fishing business. Some waterside shooting locations you’ll recognize from the film include Jodrey’s State Fish Pier located at 2 State Fish Pier and Lanes Cove at 2 Lanes Cove Road both in Gloucester.

Read our other blog post, Landmarks and Historic Sites on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, to discover the many other “must-see” sites along the Byway!