Northern Michigan’s sweeping shorelines, dense forests and charming small towns have long served as a cinematic canvas for filmmakers looking to capture and utilize the region’s unique beauty and ambiance.
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From the historic elegance of Mackinac Island to the rugged allure of the Upper Peninsula, this part of the state has inspired films that range from heartwarming family tales to suspenseful dramas.
Whether it’s the timeless romance of “Somewhere in Time,” which was filmed on Mackinac Island’s iconic Grand Hotel grounds, or the quirky humor of “Escanaba in da Moonlight” showcasing life in the U.P., several films use Northern Michigan as more than a backdrop.
Northern Michigan’s natural landscapes, local culture and serene environments contribute to unforgettable on-screen moments in these seven movies:
1. “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959)
Based on a true story, this courtroom drama was filmed in Big Bay, Marquette, Ishpeming and other Upper Peninsula locations, providing an authentic look at the area.
- Directed by Otto Preminger, the film follows an upstate Michigan lawyer as he defends a soldier who claims he killed an innkeeper due to temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife.
- The film’s screenplay by Wendell Mayes was based on the 1958 novel of the same name written by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name of Robert Traver.
- The music was done by jazz legend Duke Ellington, who also makes a cameo in the movie.
- The movie’s main set was an actual courthouse, the decades-old Marquette County courthouse, which made filming a unique challenge for the crew given the limited space. Several scenes were also filmed in the actual home of the author of the original novel, Justice Voelker. You can read more about film’s the behind-the-scenes photos and details from Sam Leavitt of the American Society of Cinematographers here.
2. “Somewhere in Time” (1980)
A romantic classic was filmed primarily on Mackinac Island between May 24, 1979, and July 20, 1979, showcasing historic landmarks like the Grand Hotel.
- Written by Richard Matheson and directed by Jeannot Szwarc, the movie based on Matheson’s novel “Bid Time Return” stars Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. The plot follows Richard Collier (Reeves), a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Through self-hypnosis, he manifests himself back in time to the year 1912 to find love with actress Elise McKenna (Seymour).
- According to Seymour, she and Reeves fell in love while filming the movie and she recalled the details of the whirlwind romance in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2022.
- In a column originally published in INSITE in 1995, ensemble and crew member Jo Addie discussed what it was like working with the “Superman” heartthrob: “There were few extras who worked as many days as I did,” Addie wrote. “The days I wasn’t needed, I spent watching the filming. I even had the tremendous joy of spending an entire day off from filming with Chris and Jane, flying to the mainland in Chris’ plane and going bowling with them for some needed recreation ‘off the rock.’ — I’ve said before that Chris is the kind of guy anyone would want as a friend. I’ve said that he had an optimistic nature and a wonderful childlike enthusiasm for whatever project or hobby he was involved with, a person whose genuine zest for life was apparent at all times. He was also one of the nicest people I have ever met. And he was quite diplomatic, as the next story will reveal.” You can read more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the movies’ filming in the digitized full column here.
- A Mackinac Island gazebo was made famous due to its being featured in the film. A memorial has been erected on the island honoring the film — you can see the “Is It You?” marker near the waterfront on the west side of Mackinac Island, where Reeves’ Collier first came face to face with the character played by Seymour after he traveled back in time.
3. “Escanaba in da Moonlight” (2001)
A comedy directed by Jeff Daniels, highlighting life in the Upper Peninsula filmed in Escanaba and the surrounding areas.
- The 2001 comedy about hunting and hunting traditions, and was set and filmed in the Escanaba.
- A Central Michigan University graduate, Daniels knows the state intimately and purposely incorporated U.P. slang terms and Michigan culture into the film.
- The film premiered at Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, where he still spends quality time today.
4. “Dogman” 1, 2, & 3 (2012, 2014, 2024)
This horror based on a Michigan cryptid was filmed in Benzie County and includes shots of a variety of places and businesses in the area.
- Directed by Richard Brauer, the films follow Michigan hunter Hanklin Purvis (Larry Joe Campbell) as he contends with an inhuman threat that begins attacking his family and town.
- The movies feature several downtown Beulah businesses including Lucky Dog Bar & Grille.
- Per Cryptid Wiki, the movie incorporates Michigan cryptid legend the dogman hat is said to be a seven-foot tall, bipedal, canine-like creature with a human torso. first reported in 1887 in Wexford County, Michigan. Sightings have been reported in several locations throughout Michigan, primarily in the northwestern quadrant of the Lower Peninsula. In 1987, the legend of the Michigan Dogman gained popularity when a disc jockey at WTCM-FM recorded a song about the creature and its reported sightings.
5. “Camp Manna” (2018)
Filmed near Traverse City at two different YMCA camps, this film is stylistic to the summer camp films of the 80s and 90s and tells the story of a Christian camp turned upside-down by the arrival of the wayward new kid, 15-year-old Ian Fletcher.
- The film stars Jimmy Tatro, Gary Busey and local Leland Public School graduate Lukey Klein in the main role of Ian Fletcher.
- The movie was first screened at the conclusion of the 2016 Art Prize competition in Grand Rapids.
- In a 2018 interview with Patheos ahead of the film’s wide release, co-director Eric Machiela discussed how “Camp Manna” straddles the line between evangelical satire and nostalgia: “The script was a bit more satirical than the film that came across on screen,” Machiela said. “It worked really well in script form, but as we were putting the film together and editing the film, we were with people who knew us and knew our heart and our intent, which allowed us to make a little bit more on-the-nose jokes,” said Machiela. “But we’re also trying to ride that line where it is pushing the envelope and giving people a sort of catharsis and ability to laugh; we don’t want anyone to feel threatened by this.”
6. “Quicksand” (2023)
A thriller filmed in the Leelanau County area, this movie had its premiere in Traverse City, emphasizing the region’s scenic landscapes and locations.
- An independent Michigan-made comedy film directed by JohnPaul Morris that follows friends Ray and Paul, played by Tanner Presswood and Simon Elias, in their wild attempt to find their best friend’s ring ahead of his wedding.
- The movie was filmed over three weeks in September 2019 in the Grand Traverse area and had its premiere in 2023 at the City Opera House. It also was screened at Manistee’s Vogue Theatre and at Frankfort’s Garden Theater.
7. “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)” (2025)
An anthology film that follows several characters whose lives intertwine around Green Lake as a young girl learns to sail, a boy fights for first chair at Interlochen Arts Camp, two sisters operate a bed-and-breakfast and a fisherman seeking the catch of his life. The film showcases and centers on the picturesque serenity of Green Lake and the impact it has on each of the film’s characters.
The film was selected by and premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Read about the cast and crew’s experiences producing the film and attending the festival in 9&10’s deep dive story with director Sierra Falconer.
The film is currently for sale for distribution, but may soon be coming to a theatre near you.
- The independent film was directed by Traverse City native Sierra Falconer
- One of its producers, Grant Ellison, is also a Traverse City native and husband to Falconer
- The film’s locations included Green Lake, Interlochen Arts Camp and various spots around the Grand Traverse area
- Many of the film’s cast and extras hailed from Northern Michigan