The Hunger Games (2012) was primarily filmed in the western half of North Carolina, between Asheville and Charlotte. Key filming locations include:
- District 12 and surrounding areas : The abandoned Henry River Mill Village near Hildebran served as the main setting for District 12, including Katniss Everdeen's home and Peeta's bakery. This village was chosen for its authentic, dilapidated look, fitting the coal-mining district's atmosphere
- District 12 forest scenes : Filmed in Big Ivy Historical Park near Barnardsville and Pisgah National Forest, providing the lush woodland backdrop for scenes in the woods
- The Arena : The Cornucopia scenes were shot at North Fork Reservoir in Asheville, while the rest of the arena's forest scenes were filmed in DuPont State Forest near Cedar Mountain. These locations offered the secluded and expansive natural setting needed for the games
- Additional locations : Other scenes were filmed in towns such as Charlotte, Concord, Shelby, and Hildebran, including the reaping ceremony and tribute training center
In summary, the film used real outdoor locations and abandoned towns in North Carolina to create the dystopian world of Panem, rather than relying heavily on sound stages
