In which US state does "Super 8" take place?

“Super 8” takes place in Ohio, where a group of teenagers witnesses a catastrophic train derailment while making a homemade monster movie. The story is set in 1979 in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio.

The film was written and directed by J. J. Abrams and produced with Steven Spielberg. Its plot combines an alien mystery with a coming-of-age story: the young filmmakers are dealing with friendship, grief, family conflict, and first love when the military becomes involved in the strange events.

A common mix-up concerns the filming location. Although the story takes place in Ohio, much of “Super 8” was filmed in Weirton, West Virginia. The title refers to the Super 8 film format used by the children for their amateur movie, not to a location or a sequel.

The film was released in 2011 and is often compared with “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Stand by Me,” and “The Goonies” because of its nostalgic small-town setting and young ensemble cast.