In recent years, the Massachusetts Film Incentive Tax credit caused a huge uptick in the Boston production scene. Dozens of films from Spirited to the more recent, The Holdovers, have since been filmed in the city to take advantage of this credit leveling up to 25% of productions with budgets of $1,000,000 or more!
The only caveat for the movie makers is in order to qualify, at least 50% of the days spent filming must be in Massachusetts, which not only means more star power, but recruiting more up and coming local talent! With the conclusion of the 146-day-long writers’ strike, we expect to have sets popping up around the city again.
This means if you’re dreaming of stardom, you don’t have to fly out to the west coast, as Massachusetts’ movie scene proliferates rapidly. Some of the films below are actively casting or scheduled filming time in Boston and other parts of the state or New England:
The Holdovers
Newly released on November 10, The Holdovers tells the tale of a curmudgeonly New England history teacher, portrayed by Paul Giamatti, stuck with a handful of students that have nowhere to go for the holidays. The film takes place in 1970s New England and much of it was filmed in downtown Boston, including at Brattle Book Shop.
Founded in 1825, Brattle Book Shop is one of the oldest used bookstores in the country. It now has over a quarter of a million media. The Alexander Payne film also recorded scenes at “Boston City Hall at 1 City Hall Square, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Orpheum Theatre at 1 Hamilton Place, Boston Common at 139 Tremont Street, and Brattle Book Shop at 9 West Street,” according to The Cinemaholic.
Good Burger 2
The sequel to the 1997 classic hit filmed in Rhode Island at a former Friendly’s restaurant in North Providence in addition to other locations across the state. The Nickelodeon Studios and Paramount+ movie, Good Burger 2, will be released on November 22.
The Instigators
The Apple TV+ action film follows two thieves on the run with the help of one of their therapists. It’s being made under the working title “Quincy” and currently filming in NYC. The film shot at Bova’s Bakery with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Bova’s closed for the first time in 97 years for this moment.
The Perfect Couple
Based on the bestselling Elin Hilderbrand book set on Nantucket, Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, and White Lotus star and Longmeadow native, Meghann Fahy are cast to portray the characters from the book. The Netflix series is set on the island just like in the book, but much of the filming also took place on the Cape in Chatham. Netflix is expected to release the series in July 2024.