"Mystic Pizza" is a real pizza parlor, located at 55 West Main St. in Mystic, Connecticut. Writer Amy Holden Jones was vacationing in Mystic one summer, saw the pizza parlor and was inspired to write the story. After the movie came out, the real Mystic Pizza shop became so popular, lines would stretch to the sidewalk and patrons would regularly steal mementos from the restaurant.
Debut theatrical feature film of actor-writer Matt Damon. Regular collaborator Ben Affleck also auditioned for the film.
In his review of the movie at the time of its release in 1988, Roger Ebert accurately predicted that the movie would "someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars."
On David Letterman, Julia Roberts explains that after her audition she was told she was good but physically completely wrong for the part. She then colored her hair black (which is normally dark blond) for the follow-up audition and got the part. She also tells the story of how whilst waiting for her audition all the actresses up for the part were intensely studying the script. So she decided to listen to her Walkman and sing loudly to put them off and stand out to the casting director and it worked.