Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Discover this quaint Southern movie-set city—4 reasons to go now
Reading time: 4 minutes
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It only takes a glance at the courthouse square of Canton, Mississippi, to think, “This feels like being in a movie.”
As one should: Canton is a much-loved movie-set city that Hollywood has cast many times over. Because of that, this town of less than 11,000 people, just 25 miles north of Jackson, is also a capital city in its own right: The Movie Capital of Mississippi.
Read on to discover how in less time than it takes to reach the beach, you can star in this adventure exploring the history, art and color of tiny Canton.
Quick guide
Learn more about movies filmed in Canton
Canton’s classic architecture has drawn film crews since the 1990s, earning the movie capital title with a setting you may have seen on-screen in films including:
- “A Time to Kill” in 1996
- “My Dog Skip” in 2000
- “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” in 2000
- “The Minute You Wake Up Dead” in 2022
Next up for this movie-set city is “The Girl in the River,” expected in September of 2026.
You can see set pieces, photographs and memorabilia from these films and more at the Canton Movie Museums in downtown Canton. You can book tours by appointment.
Explore Downtown Canton
While the Canton Courthouse Square seems perpetually ready for a close-up, it’s even more delightful to stroll and step inside the shops to see what’s inside.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Eat: Refresh with a midday meal + tea at Merri Pennie’s Mercantile & Tea Room.
- Treat: Enjoy a scoop, shake or sundae served by friendly folks at The Daily Scoop.
- Shop: Browse antique shops + other unique small businesses for treasures to take home.
Reflect on an important Civil Rights-era site
Honored with a new Mississippi Freedom Trail marker in early 2026, the Canton Freedom House once served as the local headquarters of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) during the Civil Rights Movement.
It is the last standing CORE Freedom House in the state and has hosted civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and James Meredith, for organizing protests, voter registration drives and strategic planning.
Today, the restored house serves as a museum, preserving photographs, articles and other memorabilia of the era. Guided tours of the house are also available by appointment.
Visit Freedom House Canton, Inc. for more details + to book a tour.
See the 1855 Greek Revival courthouse
The courthouse square district is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the courthouse itself is the jewel. Here are a few notes for history and architecture buffs:
- Work began in July 1855 on the courthouse, which was completed + officially opened in 1858.
- The building has also served as a library, theater + even a hospital during the yellow fever pandemic in 1878.
- When a new courthouse went up one block north in 1995, the old building underwent a $2 million renovation.
- The building continues to serve as a focal point of community events, such as the long-running Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show, with the next one set for Oct. 8, 2026.
These are just a handful of things to do and see in Mississippi’s Movie Capital; consider this the trailer for a movie-set city getaway starring YOU.
Ready to make your debut? Head over to VisitCantonMS.org to shape your itinerary + book your stay.
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