Top 11 Movies Filmed in Salem, Massachusetts by US Box Office

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Lights, Camera, Salem: Unleash Your Inner Movie Buff at These Filming Locations!

Lights, camera, action! Get ready to embark on an unforgettable cinematic adventure as we take you on a journey through the captivating world of movies filmed in Salem, Massachusetts. If you’re a true movie buff or simply looking for some excitement, you’ve come to the right place. Forget about your daily routine for a moment and let us ignite your wanderlust with the allure of these iconic filming locations!

Key Takeaways:

  • Salem, Massachusetts is not just a historic city with a rich past—it also boasts a vibrant movie scene.
  • Exploring movie filming locations can be a thrilling experience that allows you to step into the shoes of your favorite actors and immerse yourself in the on-screen magic.
  • Visiting these locations provides a unique opportunity to see familiar places through a different lens and gain a deeper appreciation for the art of filmmaking.
  • Discovering the spots where some of your favorite films were brought to life can add an extra layer of excitement and nostalgia to your travel itinerary.

Imagine strolling down the same streets where legendary actors have walked, and reliving the memorable scenes that made your heart skip a beat. Salem offers a glimpse into a world of make-believe, where reality intertwines with fiction in the most enchanting way. From historic landmarks to charming cafes, each filming location adds its own touch of movie magic to this already mesmerizing city.

Brace yourself as you venture into the bewitching world of Salem’s movie history. Picture yourself standing in front of that iconic backdrop that left you breathless on the silver screen. It may feel like a dream, but trust us, it’s real—and it’s waiting for your enthusiastic arrival!

But why stop at just witnessing these movie magic moments when you can become a part of them? Grab a friend, strike a pose, and channel your inner movie star as you recreate your favorite scenes right where they were filmed. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a hidden talent for acting or spark a passion that lingers long after your visit.

While exploring Salem’s movie filming locations, don’t forget to soak in the city’s other delights. Try some delicious local dishes, visit historic landmarks, or simply get lost in the enchanting atmosphere that inspired countless filmmakers.

After all, immersing yourself in the true essence of a place is just as important as retracing the steps of your favorite movie characters.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, pack your excitement, and let Salem’s movie magic guide you to a world of wonder. Dive into our listicle below, an eclectic mix of films that have celebrated this enchanting city. Lights, camera, adventure awaits!

Don’t just take our word for it—explore the movies filmed in Salem, Massachusetts and ignite your imagination. Start your own cinematic journey here: insert call-to-action button linking to the listicle of movies filmed in Salem

American Hustle – US Box Office: USD$150.12millions

Director: David O. Russell

Main Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence

Release Date: 20 December 2013

Filming Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; Natick, Massachusetts, USA; Essex Superior Courthouse – 34 Federal Street, Salem, Massachusetts, USA; George I. Clapp Elementary School – 40 Hudson Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: American Hustle is a fictional movie about a brilliant con man named Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who, along with his equally crafty and alluring British colleague Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), is made to work for a crazy FBI agent named Richie DiMaso. The story is set in the seductive world of one of the most stunning scandals ever to rock our country (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso forces them into a mafia and powerbrokers’ world in New Jersey that is both dangerous and alluring. Carmine Polito, played by Jeremy Renner, is a passionate and erratic political figure from New Jersey who is stuck between the Feds and scam artists. Rosalyn, Irving’s unpredictable wife (played by Jennifer Lawrence), might be the one to snap the chain that topples everything.

Famous quotes:

Sydney Prosser: “You’re nothing to me until you’re everything.”

Richie DiMaso: “You got any other questions?”

Paco Hernandez: “Yeah, I think the name of this operation is offensive. What, Abscam? “Arab-scam”? It’s racist!”

Irving Rosenfeld: “Are you fucking kidding? What do you care? You’re Mexican.”

Irving Rosenfeld: “I felt like we had a secret, just the two of us. Like that thing where you just wanna be with one person all the time. You feel like the two of you get something no one else gets.”

Fun Facts about American Hustle:

  • Christian Bale claims that a large portion of the film was spontaneous. You understand how this will transform the plot substantially down the track, he said to the director and writer David O. Russell during the film’s production. Russell then responded, “Christy, I despise plans. Characters are everything to me, that’s all.”
  • Even after being introduced to Christian Bale, Robert De Niro reportedly didn’t recognize him on the set, according to David O. Russell. De Niro drew Russell aside and inquired about Bale after pointing to him. De Niro initially didn’t think this was Bale, but once Russell persuaded him otherwise, he said, “Wow, he looks incredibly different,” and nodded in agreement. After De Niro learned who Bale was, Russell had to reintroduce the two.

The Town – US Box Office: USD$92.19millions

Director: Ben Affleck 

Main Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner

Release Date: 17 September 2010

Filming Locations: Bunker Hill, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA; Fenway Park – 4 Jersey Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Somerville, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Mohegan Sun Casino – 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Connecticut, USA

Main Plot: As per Christian Bale, most of the film was improvised. During filming, he told director and writer David O. Russell, “You realize this will impact the plot later.” To which Russell said, “Christians, I despise schemes. I love characters, that’s it.” David O. Russell also said Robert De Niro did not notice Christian Bale on set, even when introduced to them. De Niro grabbed Russell, pointed at Bale, and asked what he was. At First, De Niro didn’t think it was Bale, but once Russell convinced him, he said, “Wow, he looks so different,” and nodded his head. Russell had to reintroduce the two once De Niro realized who Bale was.

Famous quotes:

Doug MacRay: “I need your help. I can’t tell you what it is, you can never ask me about it later, and we’re gonna hurt some people.”

James Coughlin: “…Whose car are we gonna’ take?”

[last lines]

Doug MacRay: “No matter how much you change, you still have to pay the price for the things you’ve done. So I got a long road. But I know I’ll see you again – this side or the other.”

James Coughlin: “If we get jammed up, we’re holding court on the street.”

Doug MacRay: “Not the way I planned it, but for the first time in my life, I’m leaving this city. Maybe if I go, I can stop looking.”

Fun Facts about The Town:

  • Ben Affleck lauded Jeremy Renner before the movie’s release. He joked that editing could cut to Renner gazing at a napkin to make the moment work if someone else’s shot or performance was awful. Renner’s performance earned him an Oscar nomination.
  • Jeremy Renner researched armed robbers in Charlestown to perfect his accent.

Bride Wars – US Box Office: USD$58.72millions

Director: Gary Winick

Main Cast: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen, Bryan Greenberg

Release Date: 09 January 2009

Filming Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York City, New York, USA; Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: Ben Affleck greatly appreciated Jeremy Renner’s performance in the film before it was even released. He went so far as to humorously say that if there was ever a horrible shot or portrayal from another person in a scenario, the editing crew could quickly transition to Renner staring at a paper to salvage the situation work. After some time, they recognized Jeremy Renner’s performance with a nomination for an Academy Award. Jeremy Renner did his study in Charlestown by associating himself with real people who had been convicted of bank robbery. Helped him perfect their accents.

Famous quotes:

Marion St. Claire: “It was quite a wedding and as I stood there watching I realized something I’d forgotten a long time ago. Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there’s also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who’s been standing beside you all along.”

Daniel: “They haven’t spoken in a week. That’s like a century in girl years.”

Marion St. Claire: “A wedding marks the first day of the rest of your life. You have been dead until now. Were you aware of that? You’re dead right now.”

Emma: “I understand.”

Marion St. Claire: “Angela, for example, will die dead.”

Fun Facts about Bride Wars:

  • Initially, the movie was going to be a teen comedy, and Emma Roberts was going to play the role of Liv, while Nikki Reed was going to play Emma.
  • During the celebration, one shot features an intricate dance routine. After the players had several unsuccessful attempts, a background performer who also occurred to work as a dance teacher offered to advise the actors on how to make the moves correctly.

Joy (I) –  US Box Office: USD$56.45millions

Director: David O. Russell

Main Cast:  Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramírez

Release Date: 25 December 2015

Filming Locations: Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA; Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA; 66 Winter Street, North Reading, Massachusetts, USA; Lynn, Massachusetts, USA; Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: Joy Mangano, a divorced mother of two who works as a booking for Eastern Airlines, was employed there in 1990. She resides in having to work Peconic, New York, with her two small children, her mother, Terri, her maternal grandma Mimi, and her ex-husband Tony. When Joy’s father, Rudy, visits her home, her divorced parents fight. Peggy, Joy’s older half-sister, is a perfectionist who frequently makes fun of Joy in front of her kids for her failing marriage. Terri spends the entire day in bed watching telenovelas, leaving Joy to manage the household while Peggy and Rudy get very close. The only people who support Joy in following her dreams of the invention are Mimi and Jackie, her best friend.

Famous quotes:

Joy: “Don’t ever think that the world owes you anything, because it doesn’t. The world doesn’t owe you a thing.”

Rudy: [Referring to his ex-wife] “You know what you are? You’re like a gas leak. We don’t see, we don’t smell you, and your silently killing us all.”

Young Joy: [Young Joy to Joy during a nightmare] “When you’re hiding you’re safe, because people can’t see you. But funny thing about hiding: you’re even hidden from yourself.”

Joy: [after Peggy attended her meeting without consent] “Never speak, on my behalf, about my business, again.”

Mimi: [about Tony & Joy] “They were the best divorced couple in America. Much better friends than they were husband and wife.”

Fun Fact about Joy (I):

  • Contrary to earlier claims, Joy Mangano is not the subject of this film. The ego Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers are two products by Italian-American entrepreneur Mangano that inspired Annie Mumolo’s original script. She is the CEO of Ingenious Creations, a frequent guest on the American shopping network HSN, and the owner of more than 100 patents. When David O. Russell joined the project, he introduced many supporting players and woven Mangano’s original narrative with tales of other women who had made significant life changes. Russell acknowledged that he wasn’t in a rush to see Mangano while the movie was being made because he preferred to do things his way. He solely had phone conversations with Mangano. Joy isn’t a native of Smithtown, New York, which is located on the north shore of Long Island, and her last name is never stated in the movie.

Manchester by the Sea –  US Box Office: USD$47.70millions

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

Main Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges

Release Date: 16 December 2016

Filming Locations: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, USA; Beverly, Massachusetts, USA; Lynn, Massachusetts, USA; Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School, Manchester, Massachusetts, USA; Bakers Island Light Station, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: Lee Chandler is a miserable and disagreeable solitary individual who works as a maintenance worker for an apartment building in the city of Boston. He gets a call on a dreary day in the middle of the winter instructing him to report to his childhood home, situated to the north of the town. Because of his brother’s sudden cardiac arrest, he has been given the responsibility of acting as the parent or guardian of his cousin, who is currently 16 years old. His return to the past reopens an unthinkable tragedy as if the loss of his one brother and the stress of parenting a teenager weren’t enough to weigh him down. But it does. His return to the past reopens the tragedy.

Famous quotes:

Patrick: “What happened to your hand?”

Lee Chandler: “I cut it.”

Patrick: “Oh, thanks. For a minute there, I didn’t know what happened.”

Patrick: “Who you gonna shoot, you or me?”

Suzy Chandler: “Daddy?”

Lee Chandler: “Yes, honey.”

Suzy Chandler: “Can’t you see we’re burning?”

Lee Chandler: “No, honey. You’re not burning.”

Sequel: The Summon

Fun Facts about Manchester by the Sea:

  • Casey Affleck unexpectedly broke down in tears during the morgue scene, shocking everyone on set. Kenneth Lonergan chose to keep the sequence even though it had been originally written without it.
  • The town was formally known as Manchester-by-the-Sea beginning in 1989 when local Edward Corley oversaw a highly contentious campaign to alter the name. The state legislature approved the measure that year.

Hocus Pocus – US Box Office: USD$39.51millions

Director: Kenny Ortega

Main Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz 

Release Date: 16 July 1993

Filming Locations: Plimouth Plantation – 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Ocean Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Old Burial Hill Cemetery, Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA; Pioneer Village, Forest River Park – West Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot:  Winifred, Mary, and Sarah were three sisters who were put to death in 1693 for witchcraft, but not without learning of a difficult resurrection procedure from their live book of spells. Max Dennison, a youngster who recently moved to Salem after living in California, finds it difficult to fit in 300 years later. He has to spend the evening taking his younger sister trick-or-treating from door to door while their parents attend the community Halloween dance. Max accidentally completes the lost spell in an attempt to impress a girl. From then on, the witch pursues the kids in an exciting, never-ending chase. They are anxious to cast their spells before daybreak, or they will vanish forever. The future of all the kids of Salem is in Max, Dani, and Allison’s hands as they team together to outwit, outrun, and outlive the evil three and their magical weapons.

Famous quotes:

Winifred Sanderson: “Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick!”

Billy Butcherson: “Go to hell!”

Winifred Sanderson: “Oh! I’ve been there, thank you. I found it quite lovely.”

Winifred Sanderson: “You know, I’ve always wanted a child. And now I think I’ll have one on toast!”

Sarah: [singing in the sky] “Come little children, I’ll take thee away / Into a land of enchantment / Come little children, the times come to play / Here in my garden of magic.”

Sequel: Hocus Pocus 2 

Fun Fact about Hocus Pocus:

  • Doug Jones disclosed that the moths that emerge from his mouth at the end of the movie are real, not computer-generated, during a 20th annual movie screening. According to makeup and special effects design company Tony Gardner in a 2018 question and answer session with Bloody Disgusting, the actor wore a “There was a tiny hole in the back of the mouth rig so that Doug might cough a few airs through it, which was a latex pocket connected to dentures that obstructed off Jones’ throat and caused the moths to emerge. Several months would be placed in the bag using tweezers by an animal handler. The stitches would then be sealed shut, and we would leave the frame so they could reach the shot as quickly as possible, “said Gardner.

The Crucible – US Box Office: USD$7.34millions

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Main Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen

Release Date: 27 November 1996

Filming Locations: House of Seven Gables, Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Plimouth Plantation – 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; Rebecca Nurse House – 149 Pine Street, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA; “Old” United Shoe Factory – 181 Elliott Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, USA; Hog Island, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: The Turtles live at April O’Neil’s new apartment with Master Splinter while they are between homes following their rooftop battle with the Foot Clan. They are also relying on pizza delivery from “Roy’s” Pizza. Splinter recognizes the initials from the canister of mutagen that caused them all to become mutants, as April reports on the cleanup effort being carried out in the city by TGRI. The Shredder is still alive and well, has taken back control of the Foot, and seeks vengeance on Splinter and his pupils. He kidnaps Professor David Perry of the TGRI. He forces him to help create two aggressive mutants to serve as his own students after finding that the ooze can alter animals into minions.

Famous quotes:

John Proctor: “Go to bed, Mary.”

Mary Warren: “I’ll not be ordered to bed anymore, Mr. Proctor. I am 18 now and a woman… however single.”

John Proctor: “If you wish to sit up, then sit up.”

Mary Warren: “I wish to go to bed.”

John Proctor: “Good night, then.”

Mary Warren: “Good night.”

Fun Facts about The Crucible:

  • While filming the movie, Daniel Day-Lewis met Rebecca Miller, the daughter of Arthur Miller, who would later become his wife.
  • Due to his tendency to stay in character during the entire time of filming, Daniel Day-Lewis constructed the house he resided in as John Proctor.
  • To be in character, Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t take a shower or a bath during the filming process.

The Lords of Salem – US Box Office: USD$1.16millions

Director: Rob Zombie

Main Cast: Sheri Moon Zombie, Meg Foster, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips

Release Date: 18 April 2013

Filming Locations: Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA; California, USA; Santa Clarita, California, USA; Sable Ranch – 25933 Sand Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Main Plot: The “Big H Radio Team” includes those two Hermans (Whitey and Munster) and blonde rocker Heidi, DJs at a local radio station. As a present from the Lords, a mysterious wooden cardboard box with a vinyl record is delivered to Heidi. She guesses it’s a rock group trying to get their message out there. The Lord’s album begins to play backward while Heidi and Whitey listen to it, and Heidi has a memory of a previous traumatic event. The Lords’ album is later played by Whitey, who now refers to them as the Lords of Salem. To his astonishment, the album plays without problems and becomes an instant hit with his audience. The Big H team receives complimentary concert tickets, posters, and recordings in another cardboard crate from the Lords in preparation for their upcoming performance in Salem. The rock show Heidi and her friends were anticipating is soon distant from where they are. The ancient Lords of Salem were making a comeback, and they wanted blood.

Famous quotes:

Sonny: [Observing a bloated body] “What a waste of a good man.”

Lacy Doyle: “Yes, such a pity. And he was never gonna be able stop anything.”

Megan: [sighs] “Anyone care for a fresh pot of tea?”

Lacy Doyle: “Lovely darling.”

Margaret Morgan: “Welcome… whores of Salem! I can taste the foul stench of your ancestors rotting in the folds of filth between your legs.”

Lacy Doyle: [to Matthias] “I think you’ve come here to get inside my dear little Heidi’s head. Get inside her head and fuck her brain. Have you come here to stick your nosy cock inside her head and fuck her brain, Mr. Matthias?”

Fun Facts about The Lords of Salem:

  • In the movie, there are no computerized effects.
  • To avoid leaks, Sid Haig claims that the performers were only handed the portions of the screenplay that contained their scenes.
  • She said that working with Rob Zombie was an experience unlike any other in Meg Foster’s career, likening this to “walking through a labyrinth.”

Hail Satan? – US Box Office: USD$0.42millions

Director: Penny Lane 

Main Cast: Jex Blackmore, Chalice Blythe, Nicholas Crowe, Sal De Ciccio

Release Date: 17 April 2019

Filming Locations: Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: Even though it has only been around for the past six years, the Satanic Temple has already made a name for itself as one of the most controversial religious movements in the annals of United States history. HAIL SATAN uses accessibility that has never existed to investigate the beginnings of this movement all the way back to its earliest days. The Temple and its enigmatic leader, Lucien Greaves, appeal for a Satanic rebellion to occur as soon as possible to save the nation’s soul. On the other hand, to what extent can we place our faith in what they claim to have seen?

Famous quotes:

Jex Blackmore: “The Satanic Temple was an idea between a handful of people directly confronting authority.”

Fun Fact about Hail Satan?:

  • Hail Satan? The development of the Greaves’ movement over the past five years. Even if the movie occasionally comes off as a commercial for The Satanic Temple (very convincingly), that may be more damning than anything else about the place of religious doctrine in our purportedly secular nation (for what it’s valuable, Lane recognizes as an atheist). There is an urgent requirement for a sociopolitical counter-myth, and that’s exactly whatever The Satanic Temple exists to provide at a time when evangelical groups are actively trying to retcon the United States into a Christian nation — a time when they’re eager to promote godless men such as Donald Trump so hard as he pledges to advance there own otherwise inflexible doctrine.

Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon – US Box Office: USD$0.39millions

Director: Otto Preminger

Main Cast: Liza Minnelli, Ken Howard, Robert Moore, James Coco

Release Date: 11 May 1970

Filming Locations: Fort Myers Beach, Florida, USA; Beverly, Massachusetts, USA; Blue Hill Cemetery – 710 West Street, Braintree, Massachusetts, USA; Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, USA; Shelter Island, San Diego, California, USA

Main Plot: Burns on Junie Moon’s face has left her with a damaged appearance, so she relies on her wits and the support of her friends Warren and Arthur to get through each day. The three patients eventually decide to check out the hospital and begin looking for a home they can share. Together, they find themselves embroiled in various misadventures, including those involving a nosy fish vendor, nosy people, covert vacations, love, and the difficulty of finding work. They must also contend with the unique medical issues that are unique to them, as well as the subtle prejudices that exist in their community.

Famous quotes:

[last lines]

Mario: [to a dog] “I know this is tough for you, but you’re going to like me… a lot. It takes a lifetime, and don’t you forget it.”

Junie Moon: “Razzamatazz! Razzamatazz! Razzamatazz!”

Arthur: “Warren made love last night.”

Junie Moon: “That’s good.”

Arthur: “To a woman… a beautiful woman named Solana.”

Junie Moon: “I guess people can’t help what their name is.”

Fun Facts about Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon:

  • Liza Minnelli publicly announced (while sobbing) that she’d never again collaborate with “tyrannical” filmmaker Otto Preminger once the filming was finished. Liza Minnelli went through a period of sadness after her mom, Judy Garland, passed away while she was making the movie. Most critics attributed her intensely emotional portrayal in the film to this reason.
  • Liza Minnelli’s horrifying “scarred woman” make-up was designed by Charles Schramm. He previously worked on her mom Judy Garland’s make-up for The Wizard of Oz (1939) and also prepped Garland’s face again for the funeral viewing.
  • Liza Minnelli’s godmother is Kay Thompson, who portrays Ms. Gregory, as the apartment’s landlord.

Alternate Ground

Director: Daniel Groom

Main Cast: Michael Anthony Coppola, Demitra Papadinis, Owen Myre, Ethan Boucher

Release Date: 6 October 2021

Filming Locations: Meredith, New Hampshire, USA; Randolph, Massachusetts, USA; Salem, Massachusetts, USA; Brookline, Massachusetts, USA; Milton, Massachusetts, USA

Main Plot: After going missing in the middle of the night, Riley, who was 13 years old, was discovered unconscious on the street the following morning. Because his family has been unable to acquire any solutions to the questions that they have posed, they have arrived at the opinion that it is some unusual medical riddle. Despite this, it would appear that something is going on that is significantly more widespread than what the medical establishment is willing to concede is occurring. A conclusion can draw from the current situation. Something that the medical community does not want to recognize is taking place because of its reputation.

Fun Facts about Alternate Ground:

  • While filming at Lake Winnepesaukee, the cast and crew assert that they saw a UFO.
  • The movie’s script wasn’t complete when shot it. While filming, episodes were added and written.
  • The psychic played by Usan Ahearn is a real psychic. She hosts a Cape Cod, Massachusetts, morning radio show.

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