Primary Filming Locations in Atlanta, Georgia
Stranger Things was primarily filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, with many key scenes shot at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville, a major facility operated by Pinewood Group. The series uses the Atlanta metro area for its suburban and forest settings, and much of the fictional Hawkins, Indiana, was built on soundstages and backlot areas at Pinewood Atlanta. Production for the series is handled by 21 Laps Entertainment, founded by Shawn Levy, and Monkey Massacre Productions, with Netflix as the primary distributor. For details on the studio complex, see Pinewood Group.
The show's creators chose Georgia for its competitive tax incentive program for the entertainment industry, which has helped make Atlanta one of the top filming hubs in the United States. Many exterior street scenes, school interiors, and the iconic Byers house were filmed in suburbs around Atlanta, including Douglasville, Stockbridge, and Fayetteville. The Georgia Department of Economic Development tracks and promotes these productions, and recent data shows Georgia consistently ranks among the top states for film and TV production volume. Additional information on Georgia's film incentives can be found at Discover Georgia.
Specific Hawkins and Upside Down Sets
Hawkins High School and Downtown Streets
Hawkins High School scenes were filmed at a converted facility in the Atlanta area, with interior hallways and classrooms built on soundstages at Pinewood Atlanta. Exterior shots of the fictional downtown Hawkins were often filmed on carefully dressed streets in Atlanta neighborhoods and nearby towns to create a small-town 1980s look. The production design team recreated period-specific signage, storefronts, and vehicles to match the show's time period. For background on the studio's role in major productions, see Forbes coverage of the Atlanta film industry.
Upside Down and Laboratory Sets
The Upside Down, the show's alternate dimension, was constructed using large practical sets on soundstages at Pinewood Atlanta, combined with digital effects added in post-production. The Hawkins National Laboratory interiors, including the iconic elevator and test chambers, were also built on stages at the same facility. These sets required extensive fabrication work, with practical props and lighting rigs designed to support both in-camera effects and visual effects integration. The visual effects for these sequences were handled by multiple vendors, with work supervised by the series' production team.
Production Companies and Distribution
21 Laps Entertainment and Monkey Massacre Productions
21 Laps Entertainment, led by Shawn Levy, is the primary production company behind Stranger Things, with Monkey Massacre Productions also credited on the series. Netflix serves as the distributor and global platform for all seasons, and the series is one of the platform's flagship original programs. The show's production has been recognized in industry rankings for its use of practical effects and period-accurate set design.
Georgia Film Office and Industry Impact
The Georgia Film Office, part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, tracks productions filmed in the state and publishes data on economic impact. Stranger Things is frequently cited in reports highlighting the growth of the Atlanta film and TV sector, which has attracted major productions from multiple studios. The state's film incentive program, administered by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, provides tax credits that help offset production costs. The official state film portal is available at Georgia Film Office.