Five movies and TV shows you may not know were filmed in Central Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Movies and TV shows are a pop culture fixture, spanning war dramas to romance films, and in Central Virginia, the list of those films filmed in the region continues.

8News compiled a list of five movies and TV shows that were either fully or partially filmed in Central Virginia.

"Loving" (2016)

"Loving," a biographical romantic drama, focused on the plaintiffs in the 1967 US case (the Warren Court) decision, Loving v. Virginia, as a white construction worker named Richard who lives in Caroline County falls in love with a Black woman.

Due to some of the movie taking place in Caroline, the motion picture was filmed across the Central Virginia area. It was filmed in Charles County and the City of Richmond.

MORE: Seven movies and TV shows you didn’t know were filmed in Central Virginia

In honor of the historic case, Virginia Opera and the Richmond Symphony brought “Loving v. Virginia” to the area this May. Based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving, it ran at the Carpenter Theatre from May 9 to May 11.

"Major Payne" (1995)

The 1995 American military comedy film, "Major Payne," sees Major Benson Winifred Payne sent to Madison Preparatory School in Virginia.

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the movie was filmed in several locations, including Charles City, Charlottesville and Richmond.

It was filmed at the Ashland train station, and a house near the train tracks is also featured, where Major Payne considers leaving. The battle scene was filmed on a river, and a house across the Ashland train station was depicted as Major Payne's dream house. Meanwhile, the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville was a prominent filming location.

"Turn: Washington’s Spies" (2014-2017)

Set against the backdrop of America's first spy ring, "Turn: Washington’s Spies" is set in the Revolutionary War and was filmed in Virginia for all four seasons, according to VTC.

The show filmed in Williamsburg, Richmond and Petersburg areas, and has been used as a promotional tool for Virginia tourism.

According to VTC, the AMC series aired over 200 Virginia tourism advertisements nationally on the network as part of a partnership with the corporation and the Virginia Film Office.

The film was shown at the Virginia Film Festival in October 2023, according to the festival itself.

"Tapawingo" (2024)

The 2024 comedy film, "Tapawingo," started filming in the City of Hopewell in June and July 2021.

Tapawingo stars include Jon Heder, who played Napoleon Dynamite in 2004, and Billy Zane, who played Rose’s fiancé in the “Titanic” in 1997. The movie will also feature “The Bold and the Beautiful” acctress Kim Matula, “Married…With Children” actress Amanda Bearse and “Home Improvement” actor Blake Clarke.

The movie sought extras from the Richmond area to play teenagers and seniors, like 15-year-old kids attending school or playing basketball, and 70-year-old adults taking a swim or playing bingo, 8News reported in 2021.

"Giant" (1956)

The 1950s epic drama film "Giant" saw local residents cast as extras for scenes, with early sequences of the film filmed in Virginia.

Set in West Texas the movie, the film starred Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. It follows a powerful Texas ranching family in the 1920s and the coming of big oil, as the Great Depression begins.

According to Hotel Paisano, the movie filmed scenes in Albemarle County, with the Ardmore, Maryland, railway depot shot near Keswick.