Movies Filmed In Oregon
If you’re a movie enthusiast, then you will know that Oregon is a great place to film.
People love to shoot their movies there because of the beautiful scenery, its wide variety of landscapes that make for wonderful filming locations, and, of course, its proximity to Hollywood!
There have been many fantastic movies made in Oregon, USA.
In this article, we will check out the wide variety of movies made in Oregon, spanning many different eras and genres.
So, if this is of interest to you, then read on for more! See if you can spot your favorites on this list.
Movies Filmed In Oregon
The following list details some of the best movies that were filmed in various locations in Oregon, USA.
Twilight (2008)
First on our list is Twilight. The Twilight movie is an adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s popular book series of the same name!
The movie was directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as lead characters Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, respectively.
Twilight is part of the Romantic Fantasy genre and entails new-girl-in-town Bella Swan trying to adjust to her new life in Fawkes and growing relationship with the mysterious Edward Cullen.
Filming locations for the first Twilight movie include Portland, St. Helens, Oxbow Park, and Carver.
Stand By Me (1986)
Steven King’s novella, The Body, was adapted into the cult classic Stand By Me in 1986.
The movie was directed by Rob Reiner and stars River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell, Will Wheaton, and Corey Feldman as four young boys whose lives change forever when they find the dead body of a missing boy.
Stand By Me is a much-beloved coming-of-age movie that is fun, sad, and scary, all in one.
Oregon filming locations for the movie include Eugene, Veneta, Brownsville, and Cottage Grove.
Into The Wild (2007)
Into The Wild is a drama loosely based on a true story.
It stars Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless, a young man who decides to give up all of his possessions and live in the wilderness.
Sean Penn directs this heartbreaking tragedy, while Kristen Stewart, Jena Malone, William Hurt, and Marcia Gay Harden also star.
Oregon filming locations include the Cascades and Astoria.
The Ring (2002)
Ehren Krueger’s screenplay was adapted by director Gore Verbinski into The Ring, a supernatural horror.
The movie stars Naomi Watts as a reporter from Seattle who attempts to investigate a cursed videotape.
The Ring is an American remake of a Japanese horror movie, directed by Hideo Nakata and based on a novel of the same name by Koji Suzuki.
Oregon filming locations include Columbia Gorge and Newport.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is based on a novel written by Ken Kesey.
Given that Kesey is such a distinct writer of Oregon, there’s no wonder that this move is an oscar-winner!
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest was directed by Milos Forman and stars Jack Nicholson as a character who attempts to rebel against the repressive staff at a mental institution.
The Oregon filming locations for this movie include the Central Oregon Coast and Oregon State Hospital.
The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson also stars in another great movie on this list: The Shining.
This psychological horror movie is also based on a novel by Stephen King and was directed by Stanley Kubrick. It was co-written by Diane Johnson.
The Shining sees a family spending the winter in an isolated hotel, unaware that it is home to a sinister presence that threatens their lives.
Not a lot of The Shining was filmed in Oregon, save for the exterior shots of the Timberline Lodge.
However, the lodge became so popular that many guests still ask to stay in Room 217, where Stephen King stayed as he wrote the novel.
Free Willy (1993)
Free Willy is a family-friendly movie about a young boy who makes friends with a captive whale at an amusement park in Astoria, and, along with his friends, attempts to set him free.
This touching movie was directed by Simon Wincer, and the screenplay was written by both Keith Walker and Corey Blechman.
It stars Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Michael Madsen, Jayne Arkinson, and others.
It also stars an orca named Keiko, who was subsequently freed from its own amusement park captivity after starring in the movie.
Keiko was relocated to an aquarium on the Oregon Coast, Newport.
The filming locations for Free Willy include Astoria and Portland, Oregon.
The General (1926)
This is a silent film regarded as one of the best comedies (American) ever made.
The General was written and directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, and stars Keaton himself, Marion Mack, Jim Farley, Glen Cavender, and more!
This comedy revolves around an engineer, who, after facing rejection from the Confederate Military, must attempt to recapture his beloved train, The General, after it has been taken by Union spies.
Oregon filming locations for The General include Cottage Grove.
Wendy And Lucy (2008)
Wendy and Lucy is a drama movie directed by Kelly Reichardt. It was adapted by both Reichardt and Jon Raymond, from Raymond’s own short story, Train Choir.
The movie stars Michelle Williams as Wendy, a penniless drifter attempting to travel with her dog to Alaska, in order to find work.
However, her plan goes awry when her car breaks down.
Filming locations for Wendy and Lucy include Portland, Oregon.
The Goonies (1985)
Last but not least, we have The Goonies. This iconic comedy-adventure movie was directed by Richard Donner and adapted from a screenplay by Chris Columbus.
The screenplay itself was based on a story by Steven Spielberg.
The Goonies stars Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, and Martha Plimpton as children who gather for one final weekend together as they face the closure of their homes.
Oregon filming locations for The Goonies include Astoria.
In fact, this movie is so popular and beloved that tourists flock to Astoria even today to try and see its filming locations!
Final Thoughts
Oregon plays host to many wonderful movies from a plethora of different decades.
If you’re a movie buff living in Oregon who hasn’t seen any movies filmed in your home state, then our list is a great place to start!
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy our post on ‘Movies About Berlin‘.
