The film was shot mainly in Washington, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, as well as in London. The creators wanted to show the scale of the civil war that engulfed the country, so in different cities they chose memorable locations that immediately and unmistakably identify the city of the events.

Filming Locations:

New York

In the Movie

The scene where we are shown a view of New York and pillars of smoke rising here and there, indicating that fighting is taking place in the city.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on Staten Island, from where a similar view of the city opens.

Street Near the Church

In the Movie

The scene where Lee gets out of the car to get closer to the rally and take some photos. People demanding drinking water begin to behave aggressively and attack the police guarding the tanker. At that moment, a man with an American flag runs into the crowd and blows himself up.

In Reality

The scene was filmed although the creators try to tell us that this is New York by placing a police car with NY DP markings on the road and adding skyscrapers in the background, it is actually an area of Atlanta, and the church building is Big Bethel Church.

Lincoln Memorial

In the Movie

The scene where Soldiers prepare to storm the Lincoln Memorial, and helicopters attack the building with missiles.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the explosion is computer graphics.

Valero Gas Station Stop

In the Movie

The scene where The reporters stop at a gas station, seemingly ordinary, which quickly reveals the widespread lawlessness of the new reality. The car wash structure on the premises was specially built for this scene, setting the stage for a confrontation with looters, dramatically emphasizing the desperate circumstances and moral decay prevailing in the conflict-torn country. This encounter is a stark reminder of the constant dangers lurking in everyday situations.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a Valero gas station located in the vicinity of Fairburn, Georgia, specifically chosen to depict an ordinary roadside stop in a world turned upside down. The production crew built a car wash right on the spot to enhance the realism of the scene and create a confined environment for the dramatic events that unfold there, turning an ordinary gas station into a place of danger.

Greenbriar Mall Scene

In the Movie

The scene where The scene with the iconic image of a downed helicopter inside an abandoned shopping mall, against which the action of Greenbriar Mall unfolds. The production designers deliberately chose this largely abandoned retail space near their offices, adding elements such as a JCPenney sign to enhance its recognizable American look and emphasize the feeling of a once-thriving commercial center now irrevocably spoiled by conflict. The visual offers a powerful statement about the collapse of consumer culture.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Greenbriar Mall, located in the southwestern part of Atlanta, Georgia, an existing large shopping complex that had partially fallen into disrepair before filming. This abandoned quality made it perfectly suited for depicting a post-apocalyptic setting, allowing production designers to easily add elements such as a fictional JCPenney sign to enhance its recognizable American look.

Emory Clinic Building

In the Movie

The scene where A scene depicting a tense interior sequence, utilizing the unique interior and exterior aesthetics of the Emory Clinic building. Although the text does not specify the exact nature of the action, its previous use as a research center in other media suggests a setting for confined, possibly high-risk, interactions or investigations. This location contributes to the film's gritty realism, using familiar institutional architecture for dramatic effect, implying a sense of a past, orderly world now repurposed for conflict.

In Reality

The scene was filmed inside an architectural structure on the Briarcliff campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, a distinctive building known for its previous use in other major productions. Its unique institutional aesthetic and labyrinthine corridors made it an ideal choice for creating a tense, confined environment that hints at a history of scientific or medical activity, now repurposed or abandoned amid the broader conflict.

Refugee Camp at Alonzo Herndon Stadium

In the Movie

The scene where A scene depicting a vast refugee camp, using the extensive, somewhat abandoned grounds and structures of Alonzo Herndon Stadium. The stadium's inherent decay from lack of maintenance after the college's past financial difficulties lent an authentic, poignant realism to the portrayal of a displaced population struggling in makeshift dwellings. This setting effectively conveys the horrifying humanitarian consequences of the ongoing civil war and the struggle for survival.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Alonzo Herndon Stadium, a sports facility located on the campus of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, known for its current state of disrepair. The stadium's existing dilapidated condition, caused by historical financial problems, naturally created an authentic, bleak atmosphere without extensive dressing, making it a powerful visual metaphor for social collapse.

Burning Building at CDC Chamblee Campus

In the Movie

The scene where A scene depicting a building engulfed in flames, located within the secure and controlled environment of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facility. The juxtaposition of such an important scientific and public health institution with the destructive imagery of war creates a powerful visual effect, suggesting the complete breakdown of civil society and the spread of conflict into previously inviolable spaces. This burning structure serves as a stark symbol of devastation.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the CDC-Chamblee campus facility, located in Chamblee, Georgia, which is an important research and administrative center for public health. This prominent federal campus, with its advanced laboratories and offices, was chosen to create a dramatic backdrop for a scene of destruction, symbolizing the breakdown of critical public services and the far-reaching scope of the conflict.

Abandoned Highway

In the Movie

The scene where A scene where a group of war correspondents moves along a deserted highway clogged with an eerie collection of abandoned and wrecked vehicles, symbolizing the widespread collapse of infrastructure and order. This striking visual emphasizes the dangerous journey through war-torn territories, illustrating the immense scale of destruction and societal breakdown. The silence and desolation of this stretch of road underscore the severity of the conflict and the difficulties involved in crossing a devastated country.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on a section of Georgia State Route 20 (GA-20) near the town of Hampton, Georgia, in a more rural and open area. This particular stretch of highway provided the necessary space and isolation to effectively depict a deserted, war-torn highway, making it an ideal choice for showcasing the large-scale infrastructure damage and societal breakdown across the country.

Sniper Zone at Bouckaert Farm

In the Movie

The scene where A peaceful golf course dramatically transforms into a dangerous sniper zone, metaphorically named 'Winter's Tale'. This vast area offered the ideal diverse landscape for a key confrontation, where the landscape itself becomes a character, heightening the danger. Beyond this key sequence, the farm's varied terrain was also used for other segments, including dense road scenes through forests, a military camp, and serene shoreline landscapes, making it a versatile filming location.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Bouckaert Farm, a renowned equestrian facility located in the vast rural area of Chattahoochee Hills near Fairburn, Georgia, known for its scenic and diverse landscape. This premier estate provided the ideal and versatile environment for transformation into a dangerous sniper zone, using its natural features for a key battle scene and providing various other natural settings for different parts of the film.

Conyers Town Square

In the Movie

The scene where A scene depicting a town that, notably, appears untouched by the widespread conflict raging across the country. This sequence showcases a serene clothing store on Center Street, framed by the majestic Rockdale County Courthouse in the background. The calm facade of this location is intentionally designed to create a stark contrast with the surrounding devastation seen in other parts of the film, highlighting pockets of unexpected calm amidst chaos and raising questions about privilege or isolation.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on picturesque Center Street in Conyers, Georgia, with the historic Rockdale County Courthouse serving as a prominent backdrop, creating an illusion of normalcy. Conyers' well-preserved downtown offered a stark contrast to the destruction elsewhere, making it an ideal location to depict a town seemingly unaffected by the surrounding national turmoil.

White House Set at Tyler Perry Studios

In the Movie

The scene where A scene constituting a critically important part of the film's final section, where the dramatic final confrontation takes place inside or around the White House. This sequence greatly benefited from the use of Tyler Perry Studios' impressive 75% replica of the Executive Mansion. This detailed set provided a highly realistic and controlled environment for filming the tense climactic moments, allowing for complex staging and visual effects that would have been impossible to achieve at the real White House.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Tyler Perry Studios, a massive film production complex located in Atlanta, Georgia, which houses a meticulously crafted replica of the iconic White House. This impressive 75% reproduction provided an invaluable and highly realistic backdrop for the climactic scenes, allowing filmmakers to execute complex actions and visual effects in a controlled environment that very accurately mimicked the real Executive Mansion.