Alexander Payne’s 2023 comedy-drama The Holdovers relies entirely on its mid-winter New England atmosphere to ground its story of an unlikely trio stuck at a boarding school over Christmas break. While the film is set at the fictional Barton Academy in New Hampshire, production didn't happen there at all. Filmmakers shot the movie entirely across Massachusetts between January and March 2022, leveraging real historic prep schools, vintage storefronts, and snowy urban backdrops to recreate 1970 America.
If you're wondering precisely where Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph walked, ate, and traveled on screen, this guide unpacks every major shooting site across the Bay State.
The Real Prep Schools Behind Barton Academy
Creating the illusion of a prestigious, century-old New England boys' boarding school required blending architecture from several different Massachusetts institutions. Director Alexander Payne didn't rely on a single campus; instead, production stitched together interiors, exteriors, and chapels from four distinct elite schools.
St. Mark’s School (Southborough)
For many interior spaces that anchor the daily routine of Barton Academy, production utilized St. Mark’s School in Southborough. The historic campus provided the physical footprint for key scenes, including the grand dining hall where characters share tense holiday meals and the gymnasium where PE class takes place.
Groton School (Groton)
To capture the solemn, traditional aesthetic of an upscale school chapel, the crew turned to Groton School. Its striking architectural details and historic chapel interiors offered the exact gravitas required for the film's formal academic gatherings and quiet moments of reflection.
Deerfield Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon School
Both Deerfield Academy in Deerfield and Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill contributed heavily to the exterior campus look. Their sprawling, ivy-laced brick quadrangles and snowy lawns provided the classic academic backdrop seen in wide establishing shots throughout the film's opening acts.
Fairhaven High School (Fairhaven)
Often nicknamed "The Castle on the Hill," Fairhaven High School served as a major visual anchor for the production. Built in 1905, this stunning public high school features intricate stone carvings and collegiate Gothic architecture that easily passed for a wealthy New England private academy.
Venturing Off-Campus: Towns and Exterior Backdrops
When Paul Hunham and student Angus Tully finally leave the school grounds, the film swaps ivy-covered brick for frozen village streets and classic New England townscapes.
Shelburne Falls
The picturesque village of Shelburne Falls stood in for the surrounding town of Barton. Filmmakers utilized the historic downtown area, capturing vintage storefronts covered in authentic winter snow. A local liquor store on Water Street doubled as the exterior for a pivotal neighborhood scene, while the town's iron bridge and snowy walkways added to the isolated, quiet small-town vibe.
Somerville Theatre
For movie-going sequences, the production utilized the historic Somerville Theatre, built in 1914. Its vintage marquee and classic interior auditorium provided an ideal throwback environment for 1970s cinema culture. You can check out more historic details about the venue directly on the Somerville Theatre site.
Boston and Urban Locations
As the characters travel off-campus for medical trips and holiday excursions, the production moved into Greater Boston to capture mid-century urban life.
Boston Landmarks
Production crews filmed exterior and street scenes around iconic Boston locations, including Boston Common, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and outside Boston City Hall. These spots provided a bustling contrast to the quiet, claustrophobic halls of Barton Academy.
The Museum of Fine Arts
A key bonding moment between Paul and Angus takes place inside an art gallery. The production filmed these sequence interiors at the renowned Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, utilizing its grand exhibition halls to mirror a quiet field trip day out in the city.
Local Diners and Pubs
For off-campus food and drink stops, the crew looked for neighborhood spots with authentic retro bones. The interior bar and restaurant scenes were filmed at real local establishments, including the Pleasant Cafe in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, giving the characters' late-night conversations a lived-in, unpretentious feel.
Common Misconceptions About the Production
- Was it actually filmed in New Hampshire? No. Despite the film's fictional setting taking place in New Hampshire, production took place exclusively within the borders of Massachusetts.
- Was the snow fake? Cinematographer Eigil Bryld timed the shooting schedule to match real New England winter storms. While crew members occasionally shoveled or touched up banks with real snow hauled in wheelbarrows, the majority of the wintry weather captured on screen is authentic.
- Is Barton Academy a real school? No, Barton Academy is entirely fictional, though its composite parts belong to real, centuries-old Massachusetts educational institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors tour the filming locations used in The Holdovers?
While active private boarding schools like Deerfield and Groton have restricted visitor access for security reasons, many exterior streetscapes in Shelburne Falls and public landmarks in Boston are fully accessible to travelers looking to retrace the characters' steps.
What time period does the movie cover?
The film takes place over Christmas break and New Year's in the winter of 1970 heading into 1971, which required production designers to scrub modern signage, vehicles, and storefronts from every Massachusetts street corner they used.
Where can I stream or watch The Holdovers?
Depending on your region, the film is widely available on major digital video-on-demand platforms and streaming services like Peacock in the United States. Check official distribution listings for current availability.
