Coast To Coast Movie Locations In The USA

America is famous for its big blockbusters, known for creating sentiment and excitement. If like us and you’re movie obsessed, its fun to spot landmarks and buildings featured in your favourite films. We’ve drawn up a list of places you can actually visit on your next American adventure.

New York

The concrete jungle is home to so many iconic buildings, celebrities and history, it’s a goldmine for movie makers. It would be one of the first places to visit to feel the nostalgia and buzz of the movies. As you can see from the list below, there’s plenty to see.

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library has been featured on-screen numerous times throughout the years. Visit the library for it’s stunning, classic architecture, exhibitions and events. Some of the huge blockbusters who have used the building include:

• Spiderman


• Spiderman 3


• The Day After Tomorrow


• 13 Going On 30


• The Thomas Crown Affair


• Ghost Busters


• Maid in Manhattan


• The Adjustment Bureau


• Sex and the City: The Movie


• Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Times Square

Times Square is the busiest intersection in Manhattan. It is the centre of the entertainment industry, you’ll find theatres, restaurants and shops as well as glittering lights at every angle. This major tourist spot attracts 26 million people each year, so no wonder it would feature in so many movies. Below are just some of the titles which feature Time Square:

• Vanilla Sky


• New Year’s Eve


• Enchanted


• Spiderman 3


• Letters to Juliet


• Date Night


• Captain America

Florida

Where can you visit for vibrant coastal cities with Caribbean-esque charm or laid-back beaches? Florida may seem like an unlikely place for cinematographers, but you may be surprised by what films have been shot in the Sunshine State.

Miami



Gangster film Scarface, True Lies, Bad Boys and the Fast and Furious franchise are some of the big-name films shot in Miami, thanks to the tropical climates and glamourous neighbourhoods. Below we share two of the most famous movie spots:

Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel

This luxury hotel is one of the Miami Beach’s most premier resorts. Steeped in history and dripping in opulence, it attracts the rich and famous to bask in the sun and relax by the pool.

• Scarface


• The Bodyguard


• Goldfinger


• Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach

Ocean Drive

• Burn Notice


• Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious (Ok, this isn’t filmed in Miami, but the Hollywood set has been modelled on the dazzling Ocean Drive and Miami Beach area.)


• Birdcage


• Scarface

Tampa

A few films have used Tampa for filming but the most notable is the mob classic, Goodfellas. The film has a scene in Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, a major landmark in the city. In the scene Robert De Niro and Ray Liottas character threatens to feed a debtor to the zoo’s biggest resident, a large cat.

Live By Night, Ben Affleck’s crime drama. Historic Ybor City was completely recreated in a studio for filming, but you can visit the real thing. Take a walk through the cobbled streets, eat traditional Cuban food, smoke cigars and dance the night away in one of the lively bars.

Other films shot in the Tampa area include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Magic Mike and Edward Scissorhands. Visit the area for the legendary 2-mile riverwalk lined with shopping, dining and family entertainment.

Los Angeles

We cannot write a blog about movie locations and not include Los Angeles. Movie stars live, work and play in the city, so it’s only natural that you’ll spot a few celebrities filming in LA. Here’s just some of the titles with scenes shot in the City of Angels and the surrounding area.

Griffith Park

Spanning 4,310-acres, this mighty urban park has a historic zoo, merry-go-round, train and an observatory. With heaps of landmarks and natural beauty, it has become a mecca for cinematographers. The movies below have scenes shot in the observatory, woodland, merry-go-round or use multiple locations throughout the 4,310-acres. Griffith Park is worth exploring, its home to world-famous Hollywood Sign as well as many other attractions. Embars on one of the mainly daily tours of the park.

• Rebel Without A Cause (see the momument dedicated to James Dean by the Griffith Observatory)


• La La Land


• Back to the Future Part 2


• Who Framed Rodger Rabbit


• Twins


• Jurassic Park

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is the playground of the rich and famous. Mansions, luxury stores and high-end restaurants adorn the sun-soaked streets. Here, there are two main films which always spring to mind when you mention this elite county.

• Beverly Hills Cop


• Pretty Women

Visit Beverly Hills for shopping along the world-famous Rodeo Drive, the fine dining restaurants or the luxury restaurants.

 

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