Where was Lawless filmed?
2012
City Locations
Georgia (USA)
Location Types
Ranch, Riverside, Church, Storefront
Location Styles
Americana, Colonial, Craftsman, Dilapidated, Rustic
About Lawless
Director John Hillcoat crafted an entertaining crime drama featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Shia LaBeouf, and Gary Oldman. Lawless is set during the Prohibition era in rural Virginia.
It chronicles the story of the Bondurant brothers, three bootlegging siblings who endeavor to attain their piece of the American dream while being pursued by a corrupt lawman. The plot follows Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf), who strives to expand his family's moonshining business into a vast criminal empire, hoping to win Bertha Minnix's heart (Mia Wasikowska), an Amish girl.
His older brother Howard (Jason Clarke) provides him with brute force and intimidation when necessary, with their eldest sibling Forrest (Tom Hardy) playing the role of leader and offering sage advice. However, they must be wary of Special Deputy Charley Rakes (Guy Pearce), who is determined to shut down their illegal operations.
Although Hardy's portrayal of Forrest Bondurant received widespread praise, critics had mixed reviews of the movie. Nonetheless, the film garnered nominations for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2012 (John Hillcoat) and for Best Original Song "Fire In The Blood/Snake Song" at the Satellite Awards in the same year. Dylan Tichenor won the Editor of the Year award at the Hollywood Film Awards for Lawless.
Lawless Locations
Various parts of Georgia, mainly the Coweta and Meriwether Counties, served as backdrops to the scenes seen in Lawless. These counties are located in the beautiful southern region of the U.S. and boast breathtaking landscapes that double as ideal film locations.
Grantville, Senoia, Gay, Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge, and McIntosh Reserve Park were the specific locations that brought the crime drama to life. Grantville is an old industrial town with a mix of abandoned factories and buildings. It is also where major fight scenes occur, including Floyd Banner's hideout, which was filmed using an existing building structure.
Senoia has a picturesque waterfall and campsite at 1739 Elders Mill Road that served as a filming site for several scenes, while Cotton Picking Farm in Gay, Georgia provided the backdrop for some of the more rural aspects of the film.
The Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge, located on Covered Bridge Road, served as the setting for the final battle between Bondurant and the police. At the same time, Whitesburg’s McIntosh Reserve Park appeared in the closing moments of Lawless, including the family reunion and Forrest slipping into a pond.
The bridge scene in Lawless
Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge, Covered Bridge Rd, Woodbury, GA 30293, USA
The opening scene featuring the Bondurant boys driving over the bridge captures the movie's spirit. The boys deliver moonshine to a police officer, slyly outsmarting them and showing their independence as bootleggers. The image of these characters boldly crossing a bridge with illegal hooch symbolizes their rebellion against the oppressive law enforcement forces.
The scene was shot at Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge in Woodbury, Georgia. This structure is an old covered bridge built by freed slave Horace King in 1840, making it one of the oldest and longest wood-covered bridges still standing. It's known as “Kissing Bridge” because locals had a tradition of smooching on its deck when they passed through it. It’s also popular among tourists who visit this landmark every year.
To get to this location, take I-85 S to Covered Bridge Road, and you will arrive directly at Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge.
The Franklin County scenes in Lawless
Main St, Newnan, GA 30263, USA
The Bondurants moonlight as respected figures in their community, running a restaurant and gas station as a front for their moonshine business. They take pride in providing a service to their fellow citizens, despite it being illegal. The town scenes introduce the central characters and set up the Prohibition-era backdrop for the rest of the movie.
The majority of filming for Lawless was done in Coweta County, Georgia, which is part of Metro Atlanta. This county’s close proximity to Atlanta and its convenient access by road made it easy for transportation logistics.
The opening scenes of Newnan were used to depict Franklin County during both daytime and nighttime. The building "Thompson's Mercantile" can still be found today on Main St. in Newnan, as seen in later scenes.
You can reach Newnan by taking I-85 South from Atlanta and exiting at Exit 47, which leads directly into Newnan, GA, and Main St.
Jack spies on Bertha in the church scene in Lawless
Bible Baptist Church, 1485 GA-34, Newnan, GA 30265, USA
Jack (Shia LaBeouf) encounters Bertha Minnix (Mia Wasikowska), the local preacher's daughter. He shows up intoxicated at the church and embarrasses himself, leading Bertha's father to prohibit her from seeing him. However, it only heightens Bertha's interest in Jack, and she continues to flirt with him.
The indoor church scenes were shot in Newnan, Georgia, at Bible Baptist Church (1485 GA-34, Newnan GA 30265). Although the location has since been converted into a marketplace, it still maintains the features of a contemporary Baptist church.
Visitors can enjoy exploring the city of Newnan, which became the county seat of Coweta County in 1828. The Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center, also known as Caswell House, can be found in the city. It is one of the few Georgia counties with a specific focus on African-American history. Established in July 2003, the museum is housed in a mill village home donated by Ruby Caswell.
If you would like to visit this location, it is located at 1485 GA-34, Newnan, GA 30265, USA. It is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
The family reunion at Jack's house scene in Lawless
McIntosh Reserve Park, 1046 W McIntosh Cir, Whitesburg, GA 30185, USA
In the end, we learn that Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy), and Howard (Jason Clarke) got married and had kids. At a reunion in Jack's house, Forrest goes out to dance on a frozen lake while drunk and ends up falling in the frozen water. A few weeks later, he succumbs to pneumonia.
This poignant scene was filmed at McIntosh Reserve Park in Carroll County, Georgia. The 527-acre park is known for its beauty and tranquillity, with its lush greenery and serene atmosphere providing the perfect backdrop for the family reunion. McIntosh Reserve Park offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy, from exploring its 14 miles of trails to camping out under the stars or flying model airplanes in its large grassy area.
To get to this location, travel by private car through S Fulton Pkwy from Atlanta.
Conclusion
A trip to the Lawless filming locations would be well worth it for fans who want an up-close encounter with the memorable settings that brought the crime drama to our screens. Several areas of interest would make a perfect tour itinerary, starting with the campsite and waterfall at 1739 Elders Mill Road in Senoia.
The Lawless production team also recorded some scenes at the Gay, Georgia, Cotton Picking Farm. Several exterior sequences were recorded in Carroll County and LaGrange City, which is Troup County’s seat.
Overall, Lawless is a movie that every crime drama fan should watch if only its contribution to the movie industry by presenting an engaging drama set back in a time when America was still raw and wild. It serves as an entertaining watch and encourages viewers to reflect on our modern-day society, where laws are less respected than they should be.
Even if you’re not a fan of period pieces or historical dramas, you’ll find plenty here to enjoy thanks to its superb production values and extraordinary cast performances.