Driver’s Ed is an upcoming Romantic comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly and written by Thomas Moffett. The film stars Sam Nivola, Sophie Telegadis, Mohana Krishnan, Aidan Laprete, Kumail Nanjiani, and Molly Shannon.
This fun road-trip comedy follows a group of teenagers who steal their school’s driver’s education car and head on a wild journey filled with chaos, friendship, and life lessons. Fans of Bobby Farrelly’s comedy style can expect plenty of funny moments mixed with heartfelt scenes.
The story follows a group of teens who steal their school’s driver’s education car to help a high school senior reconnect with his college-freshman girlfriend. Their road trip quickly turns into a hilarious and unforgettable adventure packed with trouble, friendship, and emotional moments.
The movie is scheduled to release on May 15, 2026. The film is expected to receive a theatrical and streaming release through Amazon MGM Studios.
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When and Where Was Driver’s Ed Filmed?
| Film Name | Driver’s Ed |
|---|---|
| Genres | Comedy, Road Trip, Action |
| Filming Locations | Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Rocky Point, and highways across North Carolina |
| Filming Dates | Early 2025 through Summer 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Not Yet Officially Confirmed |
| Release Date | May 15, 2026 |
Driver’s Ed was primarily filmed across different parts of North Carolina. The production used real streets, restaurants, highways, and university locations to create a realistic road-trip atmosphere. Filming began in early 2025 and continued through the spring and summer months before post-production wrapped later that year.
📍Wilmington
Wilmington served as the main filming hub for Driver’s Ed. Many school scenes, residential neighborhood moments, and funny street sequences were filmed throughout the city. The filmmakers selected Wilmington because of its mix of suburban streets and lively downtown areas, which perfectly matched the movie’s teenage comedy vibe. The city’s film-friendly environment also made it easier for the production team to shoot large outdoor scenes and driving sequences.
Several scenes were also filmed at the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus. Hoggard Hall, one of the university’s best-known buildings, appeared in campus-related moments in the movie. The realistic campus setting helped make the story feel authentic and relatable for younger audiences.
📍Buen Dia Mexican Breakfast & Lunch
The production also filmed scenes at Buen Dia Mexican Breakfast & Lunch, located on Castle Hayne Road in North Carolina. This local restaurant appears during one of the group’s road-trip stops. The cozy atmosphere and colorful setting added charm and realism to the film’s journey scenes. The filmmakers used this location to showcase small-town North Carolina while giving the road trip a more natural and grounded feel.
📍Paul’s Place Famous Hot Dogs
Another memorable stop in the film takes place at Paul’s Place Famous Hot Dogs in Rocky Point, North Carolina. During the road trip, the characters pause here while traveling across the state. The restaurant’s classic roadside look perfectly matched the movie’s adventurous tone. This small but important location helped capture the feel of a true American teen road trip.
📍North Carolina Regional Highways
Many of the movie’s exciting driving scenes were filmed on highways across North Carolina. These roads were used for major chase scenes, comedy moments, and stunt sequences involving the stolen driver’s education car. The open highways gave the production team enough space to safely film fast-moving action scenes while still keeping the movie’s lighthearted and funny tone.
The highways also added a realistic road-trip feeling to the story, making viewers feel like they were traveling alongside the characters during their chaotic adventure.
📍Wake Forest University
Address: 1834 Wake Forest Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Some important university scenes in Driver’s Ed were also filmed at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. The filmmakers used parts of the campus to shoot several college-related moments and key scenes connected to the road-trip storyline. The university’s beautiful buildings, green campus areas, and classic college atmosphere helped make these scenes feel realistic and visually appealing.
Wake Forest University added an authentic college setting to the film, especially during scenes where the teenage characters experience new challenges and emotional moments during their journey.
Driver’s Ed Behind the Scenes
To make the filming of Driver’s Ed feel authentic, the filmmakers used many real-world locations instead of relying only on studio sets. Bobby Farrelly reportedly wanted the movie to capture the natural feeling of a teenage road trip, which is why the production spent a large amount of time filming outdoors in North Carolina.
The cast and crew also filmed several scenes during busy public hours, helping the movie feel more realistic and energetic. Many viewers at the Toronto International Film Festival praised the movie for its classic comedy style and fun group chemistry.
Is There Any Trailer Available for Driver’s Ed?
Yes, the official trailer for Driver’s Ed has already been released online. The trailer introduces viewers to the wild road trip, the teenage friendships, and the movie’s funny driving disasters.
Driver’s Ed is set to be released on May 15, 2026, via Vertical Entertainment.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Driver’s Ed filmed?
A1: Driver’s Ed was mainly filmed in Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Rocky Point, and several highways across North Carolina.
Q2: What scenes were filmed in Wilmington for Driver’s Ed?
A2: Many school scenes, neighborhood moments, and campus sequences were filmed in Wilmington, including scenes at the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.
Q3: When did filming for Driver’s Ed begin?
A3: Filming for Driver’s Ed started in early 2025 and continued through the spring and summer months.
Q4: Can fans visit the filming locations from Driver’s Ed?
A4: Yes, many filming locations from Driver’s Ed are real public places in North Carolina, including Wilmington and local restaurants featured in the movie.
Q5: Who stars in Driver’s Ed?
A5: Driver’s Ed stars Sam Nivola, Sophie Telegadis, Mohana Krishnan, Aidan Laprete, Kumail Nanjiani, and Molly Shannon.
Driver’s Ed brings together comedy, friendship, and a chaotic road-trip adventure using real filming locations across North Carolina. From Wilmington’s college campus to local roadside restaurants and scenic highways, each location helped create the movie’s energetic and relatable atmosphere. Fans who enjoy fun teen comedies and road-trip stories will likely enjoy exploring the real places featured in Driver’s Ed when the film arrives in 2026.
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