The Grabber's Denver basement actually sits in coastal North Carolina. Here is where to find every key filming site.
The Black Phone was filmed in and around Wilmington, North Carolina, in February and March 2021. Locations in Wilmington, Delco, and neighboring New Hanover, Brunswick, and Columbus counties stood in for 1978 suburban Denver, Colorado, with the Rocky Mountains added digitally in post production.
Despite its Colorado setting, The Black Phone never shot a frame in Denver. Director Scott Derrickson, who based the story on his own 1978 Colorado childhood, instead found the era look he needed in the gritty, blue-collar neighborhoods of Wilmington, North Carolina. Principal photography ran from February 9 to March 27, 2021, under the working title Static.
The production tapped the region's deep film infrastructure, including a studio lot that has hosted Blue Velvet, Firestarter, and The Crow, and benefited from a $4.7 million transferable tax credit from North Carolina. Most locations sit within a short drive of downtown Wilmington.
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grabber's House | Wilmington | Exterior shots of the house where Finney is held captive | Private property |
| Finney and Gwen's House | Wilmington | Exterior of the siblings' family home | Private property |
| Cape Fear Optimist Park | Wilmington | Baseball field opening scene | Free to see |
| Acme-Delco Middle School | Delco | School exterior and some interior scenes | Outside only |
| Sam Food Mart (Grab 'N Go) | Wilmington | Convenience store where Vance is abducted | Free to see |
| Cinespace Wilmington Studio | Wilmington | Interiors including the basement set | Private property |
| Spartan Rd area | Wilmington | Abduction scenes (Bruce) | Free to see |
| Princess Place Dr area | Wilmington | Store and neighborhood scenes | Free to see |
8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
North Carolina, Wilmington Private property
Filmed here: Exterior shots of the house where Finney is held captive
This unassuming Wilmington house provided the exterior shots of the home where Finney is held captive. It is a private residence, so viewing is limited to what can be seen from the street. Fans should not trespass or disturb the occupants. A respectful curbside stop is enough to recognize the facade from the film's tense arrival scenes.
North Carolina, Wilmington Private property
Filmed here: Exterior of the siblings' family home
The siblings' family home exterior was filmed on a quiet residential street in Wilmington's Pinecrest neighborhood. The street itself is private, so sightseers should stick to exterior views from public areas and keep visits brief. The house will look familiar from the opening stretch of the film as Finney and Gwen's daily life is established.
North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Baseball field opening scene
The baseball field that opens the movie is a real public park in Wilmington. Visitors can walk the field at no cost during normal park hours. One detail to keep in mind: the mountains visible behind the field were added digitally, since coastal North Carolina is flat. Without them, the park reads as pure Carolinian suburbia.
North Carolina, Delco Outside only
Filmed here: School exterior and some interior scenes
The school exterior and some interior scenes were shot at this former middle school in Delco, a short drive inland from Wilmington. The school has since closed, so access is limited to exterior viewing, and anyone making the trip should check its current status beforehand. The building retains the period look that attracted the production.
North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Convenience store where Vance is abducted
The convenience store where Vance is abducted was filmed at Sam Food Mart, an operating business in Wilmington. Fans can visit during regular business hours, buy something, and see the storefront much as it appeared on screen. Because it is a working store, visitors should be considerate of customers and staff while taking photos.
North Carolina, Wilmington Private property
Filmed here: Interiors including the basement set
The film's interiors, including the basement set where much of the story unfolds, were built at Cinespace Wilmington, the studio formerly known as EUE/Screen Gems. This is a working studio lot with no public tours currently offered, so there is nothing for visitors to see from inside. The basement itself was a set, not a real location.
North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Abduction scenes (Bruce)
The abduction of Bruce was filmed along public streets in the Spartan Road area of Wilmington. Visitors can drive or walk the neighborhood respectfully, taking in the same stretches of sidewalk and street where the scene played out. Because residents live here, keep stops short and avoid blocking driveways while matching the movie to the real geography.
North Carolina, Wilmington Free to see
Filmed here: Store and neighborhood scenes
Storefront and neighborhood scenes were shot around Princess Place Drive in Wilmington. It is a public area conveniently close to several other Black Phone locations, making it an easy add on to a self guided route. As with the nearby residential streets, casual photos from public sidewalks are the way to go.
The story unfolds in suburban Denver, Colorado, in 1978, but no filming happened there. Wilmington, North Carolina, and surrounding areas in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Columbus counties stood in for Denver, and the Colorado mountains seen on screen were added digitally. The flat coastal terrain otherwise disappears behind careful framing and production design rooted in 1970s period detail.
Interior filming, including the basement set, took place at Cinespace Wilmington, the facility formerly operating as EUE/Screen Gems Studios. The lot has a long genre pedigree, with credits including Blue Velvet, Firestarter, and The Crow. It remains a working studio with no public tours currently offered, so location fans should focus on the exterior sites around town instead.
No dedicated Black Phone tour exists, but visitors can explore Wilmington's film history on a guided basis. One walking option covers movie and TV locations in the Historic District.
Wilmywood Movie and TV Location Walk Tour
This walking tour of Wilmington's Historic District passes film and TV locations from the city's long production history, a good primer before seeking out the Black Phone sites, most of which sit outside downtown.
No. Although the story is set in suburban Denver in 1978, filming took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, and nearby areas of New Hanover, Brunswick, and Columbus counties. The mountains were added digitally.
Principal photography ran from February 9 to March 27, 2021, under the working title Static.
The house is a private residence in Wilmington. It can be viewed from the street, but visitors should respect the occupants' privacy and not trespass.
Yes. The opening baseball scene was filmed at Cape Fear Optimist Park, a public park in Wilmington that anyone can visit. The mountains behind it were added in post production.
The basement was a set built at Cinespace Wilmington, a working studio that currently offers no public tours. Visitors are limited to the exterior locations around the city.
Many locations were chosen for their authentic 1970s look in gritty, blue-collar neighborhoods, and the production received a $4.7 million transferable tax credit from North Carolina.
Wilmington delivers nearly everything The Black Phone shows of 1978 Denver, minus the mountains. Two houses and the school demand discretion since they are private or closed, but the park, the store, and several public streets welcome a respectful visit. Pair a morning location hunt with a film history walk downtown for a full day of screen tourism.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for The Black Phone.
