If you walked onto the set of Fly Me to the Moon, you might’ve actually thought you were at NASA in 1969. It’s wild. Most people assume movies like this—big-budget period pieces starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum—are just green screens and CGI magic in a studio somewhere in Burbank. But for this specific project, the producers went big. They didn’t just want it to look like the Space Coast; they wanted to be on the Space Coast.
So, where exactly was Fly Me to the Moon filmed?
Basically, the production lived and breathed at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Merritt Island, Florida. They also spent a massive chunk of time in Georgia, which has become the "Hollywood of the South" for a reason. But the Florida stuff? That’s what gives the movie its soul. You can’t fake that humid, salty Atlantic air or the sheer scale of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) with a computer. Not really.
The Kennedy Space Center Reality
Filming at a working government facility is a nightmare. Honestly, it is. You have to deal with intense security, active rocket launch schedules, and the fact that you're walking around literal history. But director Greg Berlanti knew that to sell the "fake moon landing" subplot of the film, the "real" parts had to look as authentic as humanly possible.
They got permission to film at the Kennedy Space Center, which is a huge deal. They used the exterior of the VAB—one of the largest buildings in the world by volume. If you’ve ever seen it in person, you know it’s intimidating. It’s where the Saturn V rockets were stacked. Seeing Channing Tatum’s character, Cole Davis, walking against that backdrop adds a layer of weight that a soundstage just can't replicate.
They also utilized the Astronaut Walk of Fame and various areas around Titusville. Local residents in Brevard County got used to seeing 1960s-era cars lining the streets. It wasn't just about the big buildings, though. They needed the "vibe." The Cocoa Beach area, which was the heartbeat of the Apollo era, served as the visual blueprint for the entire film.
Georgia’s Role: The Soundstages and the "Faked" Moon
While Florida provided the scale, Georgia provided the infrastructure. Most of the interior scenes—Kelly Jones’ (Johansson) office, the bars where the characters drink, and the high-stakes Mission Control rooms—were built on stages in and around Atlanta.
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Specifically, much of the production was headquartered at Tyler Perry Studios.
This is where the movie gets meta. Since the plot involves a marketing executive (Kelly) being hired to film a "back-up" version of the moon landing in case the real one fails, the crew had to build a movie set inside a movie set. They recreated a lunar surface with incredible detail. It had to look "fake-real."
Think about that for a second. The production designers had to study exactly how NASA’s actual moon footage looked, then build a set that looked like a 1969 film crew was trying to mimic it. It’s a double-layered challenge. They used specific types of sand and lighting rigs to match the harsh, single-source light of the sun on the lunar surface.
Why the Location Matters for the "Fake Landing" Plot
You’ve probably heard the conspiracy theories. The ones where people swear Stanley Kubrick filmed the whole thing in a desert. Fly Me to the Moon plays with that cultural myth, but it grounds it in the desperate political climate of the late 60s.
By having Fly Me to the Moon filmed at actual NASA sites, the movie creates a sharp contrast. When the characters are at the real Launch Complex 39A, the world feels vast and dangerous. When they transition to the secret soundstage where the "fake" landing is being prepped, the world feels claustrophobic and cynical.
That shift doesn't happen by accident.
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Production designer Shane Valentino had a massive task. He had to ensure that the NASA offices didn't look like a museum. In 1969, those offices were brand new. They were state-of-the-art. So, instead of the dusty, "vintage" look we see in modern documentaries, everything in the film looks crisp, mid-century modern, and functional.
Specific Spots You’ll Recognize
If you're a space nerd or a Florida local, you'll spot some gems:
- The VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building): It’s impossible to miss. It’s the star of the Florida exterior shots.
- The Saturn V Center: While they used some replicas, the sheer presence of Apollo-era hardware is everywhere.
- Titusville’s Old Town: Several street scenes were captured here to give it that authentic "Space Race" town feel.
- Atlanta Soundstages: The interiors of the homes and the secret "Moon Room" were meticulously crafted in Georgia.
It’s actually kind of funny. Georgia’s pine trees and red clay look nothing like Florida’s palm trees and sand, so the production had to be very careful with their "cheating" shots. Whenever you see a wide shot with a horizon, you can bet they were down in Brevard County. When it’s a tight shot of a character in a car, they might have been 400 miles north in Atlanta.
The Costume and Set Synergy
Location is only half the battle. To make the Fly Me to the Moon filmed locations believable, the set dressing had to be perfect. They didn't just buy "old-looking" phones. They sourced period-correct Rotary phones, IBM Selectric typewriters, and those iconic heavy-rimmed glasses that every NASA engineer seemed to wear in 1968.
Mary Zophres, the costume designer, worked closely with the locations team. Scarlett Johansson’s outfits are bright, popping against the sterile, gray-and-blue palette of the NASA facilities. It’s a visual representation of her character—a shark-like marketing pro—invading the serious, scientific world of Cole Davis.
The color theory here is actually pretty cool. The "real" NASA locations are washed in whites, grays, and the pale blue of the Florida sky. The "marketing" world and the "fake" set have more saturated, "Hollywood" colors. It’s a subtle way of telling the audience what’s real and what’s a sell.
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Accuracy vs. Entertainment
Let’s be real: this is a romantic dramedy, not a documentary. While the locations are real, some of the geography is tweaked for the sake of the story. For example, the distance between certain buildings at KSC is much larger in real life than it appears in the movie. In the film, characters seem to zip between the launchpad and the offices in seconds. In reality? You’re taking a bus.
But that’s the magic of movies. You want the feeling of being there.
Interestingly, NASA was actually quite involved. They don’t usually let just anyone film on-site, especially for a movie that involves faking a landing (even if it's just a "backup"). But because the film ultimately honors the achievement of the Apollo 11 mission and the 400,000 people who worked on it, the agency gave the green light.
How to Visit These Filming Locations
If you want to go see where Fly Me to the Moon was filmed, it’s actually pretty easy. Unlike some movie sets that are torn down or hidden on private lots, the KSC is open to the public.
- Book a KSC Bus Tour: This is the only way to get close to the VAB and the launchpads. You can’t wander around freely (it’s still a federal facility with active SpaceX and NASA launches), but the tour takes you right past the iconic spots seen in the movie.
- Visit the Apollo/Saturn V Center: You’ll see the actual rocket hardware that inspired the sets. It’s hauntingly big.
- Drive through Cocoa Beach: Go to the pier. Eat at some of the local spots. A lot of the "vibe" of the film is still alive in the older parts of town.
- Titusville: Walk the downtown area. Some of the storefronts still have that 60s architecture that made it a perfect filming location for the street scenes.
The Georgia side is a bit harder to visit. Tyler Perry Studios does offer some tours, but you won’t see the Fly Me to the Moon sets—those are long gone, replaced by the next big production. That’s just the nature of the industry.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're planning a trip to see these locations or just want to appreciate the film more, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Launch Schedule: If you go to the Kennedy Space Center, check the "Space Coast" launch calendar first. If there’s a launch that day, certain areas might be closed to tours, but you’ll get to see a real rocket go up, which is better than any movie.
- Look for the Details: On your next re-watch, look at the background in the VAB scenes. Those aren't props; those are real pieces of aerospace history.
- Support Local: If you visit Titusville, stop by the small businesses. They hosted the crew for months, and many of the shop owners have great stories about seeing Scarlett and Channing around town.
Watching the movie now, it’s clear that the choice of location wasn't just about taxes or convenience. It was about weight. You can feel the history in the walls. Whether it's the high-tech stages of Atlanta or the hallowed ground of Cape Canaveral, the film manages to bridge the gap between "the moon" and the very real people who tried to get us there.