Where Was Major Payne Filmed? A Classical War Era Comedy Parody!

Comedy movies will come and go, but nothing can beat the charm of old Hollywood comedies that can make anyone go ROFL easily. Old classics like Major Payne (1995) have forever left an imprint on everyone’s mind and set a benchmark that new movies can rarely achieve. If you want to know more about the movie and where was Major Payne filmed, I am here to tell you more about it. 

Released in 1995, the war comedy movie Major Payne is loosely based on the 1995 movie The Private War Of Major Benson. The movie’s plot follows the life events of one Major Benson Winifred, who lives, breathes, and sleeps war. However, his life motto changes once he receives an honorary discharge from the army for his service on the battlefield. With Damson Wayand and Steven Martini following the lead, Major Payne is one big LOL movie to watch. 

Where Was Major Payne Filmed? Find Out More About The Locations! 

One of the finest Hollywood comedies made to this date, Major Payne was shot majorly in Hollywood (see what I did there!) The major difference between movies released in the 90s and today is the filming locations. Over the years, with technological advancements, many movies nowadays are being shot in front of big screens. Making it tough to decipher when an actual location was used or not. Circling back to Major Payne, the movie was entirely shot in Virginia, America. 

Other popular movies that were shot in and around Virginia include Dark Waters, Wrong Turn, Dave, War Of The Worlds, etc. 

Charlottesville, Virginia 

The filming of the movie Major Payne commenced in Charlottesville, Virginia, with the principal photography. The major filming location in and around Charlottesville includes the Miller School of Albemarle, located at Old Main Road near 1000 Samuel Miller Loop. The historical boarding school campus served as an ideal location for filming a pivotal sequence of the movie. Major Payne used one of the classrooms to sit and reflect back on the story of a Marine officer preparing to train a young group of JROTC individuals. 

Over the years, Charlottesville has been used as a major filming location for many popular movies, including Giant, Hacksaw Ridge, Fall, The Replacements, etc. 

These movies aren’t the only factors that have boasted the popularity of this beautiful city. Charlottesville is also famous for its Neo-classical architectural wonders, mesmerizing gardens, and adventure activities near the famous Blue Ridge mountains. 

Ashland, Virginia 

Some sequences of Major Payne were also filmed in one of the state’s largest towns, Ashland. Ashland is a beautiful town located in Hanover County. Located at 112 North Railroad Avenue, Ashland Station was used for shooting the remaining sequences of Major Payne. The railway station was built in 1923 to replace an existing railway station built in 1866. The railway station not only boasted the transportation of Ashalnd but also helped give a major kick to the economy of the town. 

Some of the popular movies shot in Ashland include What About Bob, Shrink Wrapped, Christmas Every Day, Loving Austin, etc. 

Other Filming Locations Used In Virginia 

While most of the shooting for Major Payne took place in Charlottesville and Ashland, other locations like Goochland and Richmond were also used for some minor movie sequences. Goochland County is a small census-designated place located near the north of James River whereas Richmond is the capital of Virginia. 

Many popular movies, including Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, were shot at these captivating locations in Virginia. 

The Plot Of Major Payne | What Is The Story About?

Having worked in the Marine Corps all his life, Major Benson Winifred Payne is shocked as well as escalated upon receiving an honorable discharge from his active duty. With no wars to fight and no lives to save, Major Payne is clueless about what he can do to keep moving forward in his life. However, before all hope is lost, the major finds a simple solution to escape this crisis and decides to join as a faculty member at the Madison Preparatory School. 

On his very first day, Payne finds it difficult to lead a teenage group of JROTC students who lack purpose in their life and don’t want to be led. So, how will the Major fight one of the toughest battles of his life? Will he end up losing or winning? 

Well, you can watch Major Payne on leading OTT platforms, including Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, Redbox, Vudu, Apple TV, etc., and find out what happens next! 

Final Words 

So, this was all that you needed to know about the filming locations used in Major Payne. If this article helped add a little more to your knowledge, don’t forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below. And if you want to know more about your favorite films and the stories behind their filming locations, don’t forget to mention the movie titles in the comments down below.