The island where Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom takes place is called New Penzance.
New Penzance is a fictional island off the coast of New England, where twelve-year-olds Sam Shakusky and Suzy Bishop run away together in 1965. The isolated setting lets the film combine a coming-of-age story with elements of a classic adventure and a looming natural disaster.
The island’s geography is central to the plot: Sam leaves his Khaki Scout troop, Suzy leaves home, and adults and scouts organize a search across the island’s woods and shoreline. The setting also supports the film’s carefully constructed period atmosphere.
New Penzance is sometimes mistaken for a real location because the film uses recognizable New England landscapes. Production took place largely in Rhode Island, but the island and its communities are fictional. The title refers to the cove where Sam and Suzy establish their temporary refuge.