Yes, the 2016 film Patriots Day was extensively filmed on location in Boston and numerous surrounding municipalities in Massachusetts. The production made a significant effort to use the actual settings where the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent events occurred to achieve a high level of authenticity.
Principal photography took place across the Greater Boston area. Key locations included the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, various residential streets in Watertown for the depiction of the shootout, and the cities of Malden, Quincy, and Framingham. While the production filmed near the actual marathon finish line on Boylston Street for some scenes, the bombing sequence itself was recreated at a set built at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. This decision was made out of respect for the victims and to minimize disruption to the businesses and residents of the Back Bay neighborhood.
The choice to film in the actual locations was a deliberate creative decision by director Peter Berg to honor the city and its people. This approach allowed the production to collaborate closely with local law enforcement, first responders, and medical personnel who were involved in the real events, many of whom participated in the film as extras or advisors. This commitment to on-location shooting grounds the film in a tangible sense of place, contributing significantly to its realistic and documentary-style aesthetic.
