Netflix’s The Waterfront is a gritty coastal crime drama exploring the unraveling of a powerful fishing-family dynasty. Created and showrun by Kevin Williamson—celebrated for Scream, Dawson’s Creek, and The Vampire Diaries—the series centers on the Buckleys, whose commercial fishing and restaurant empire in the fictional town of Havenport, North Carolina, becomes entangled in drug smuggling. The patriarch, Harlan Buckley (played by Holt McCallany), alongside Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and Jake Weary, drive this tense, morally complex narrative. In the following article we willl take a look at the locations where The Waterfront was shot.
Plot Overview:
Harlan Buckley suffers his second heart attack, forcing the Buckley family to fight to save their legacy. His wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) take desperate measures, while daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), recently sober and at odds with her past, confronts hidden truths. The arrival of enigmatic smuggler Grady (Topher Grace) escalates the tension, dragging them deeper into illegal territory
‘The Waterfront’ Filming Locations & Other Details:
The series was wholly filmed in coastal North Carolina, utilizing real towns to build the haunting, atmospheric setting:
1. Wilmington, NC
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Served as the primary production hub, with interiors and studio work shot in Wilmington.
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Locations included the former US Postal Office on Front St., Chamber of Commerce offices, and sound stages at local facilities.
2. Southport, NC
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Functioned as the on-screen town of Havenport, with notable spots like Fishy Fishy Cafe doubling for the Buckleys’ restaurant and local marinas standing in for waterfront areas.
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Other sites featured include the Southport Community Building and Longshoremen’s Union building
3. Carolina Beach, NC
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Used for additional waterfront visuals, adding atmospheric coastal scenery .
Behind the Scenes & Production Insights
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Kevin Williamson, with personal ties to NC coastal life, described the series as “deeply personal” and grounded in family history, mirroring his own father’s struggles as a fisherman who got involved in smuggling.
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Principal photography took place from August to December 2024 in Wilmington and Southport.
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The show blends real locations with studio sets to create a seamless coastal world, balancing gritty realism with high-production visuals .
