A Quiet Place
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are of the most adorable couples in Hollywood, and did you know they played on-screen husband and wife in the 2018 thriller film _A Quiet Place_? This low-budget film just spent $17 million in production, but according to Box Office Mojo, the movie earned $340 million worldwide!
How did the producers manage to make such a tremendous good film on such a tight budget? Well, most of the scenes of this post-apocalyptic film were shot in an abandoned bridge, where the family was hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing. This bridge is located in New Paltz, a small town in New York, and the scenes they shot there cost them practically nothing!
The Martian
Matt Damon has acted in so many movies and has shot films on so many sites that I’m sure nothing can surprise him. He has been in Las Vegas during the _Ocean’s_ trilogy, to China in _The Great Wall,_ and all around Europe in the _Bourne_ trilogy. Is there any country in the world where he hasn’t worked at?
Well, here’s a thinker: have you ever wondered where _The Martian_ was filmed? Cause theoretically; it is set on the planet Mars! Well, the producers of this film chose to shoot most of the scenes in the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its bright red and sandy mountains that seem to belong to another planet. We’ve all seen Mars through pictures taken by NASA, but after this film, we can imagine how it really looks like!
The Shining
Adapting a famous book to film is never an easy job. There are so many details that directors need to address, and one of them is finding the perfect setting. When film director Stanley Kubrick read Stephen King‘s bestselling novel _The Shinning_, he spent months wondering in which building the film could be shot. We all remember that spooky and remote hotel where Jack Nicholson goes mad, but do any of you know where it is found?
That immense building happens to be a hotel in real life, too: it’s called Timberline Lodge, and it is located in Oregon, USA. It is said that author Stephen King didn’t like the film version of his book, and maybe the reason is that when writing the novel, he drew inspiration from a different hotel: Colorado’s Stanley Hotel!
Gladiator
We all remember the story of the former Roman General that wanted to take revenge on the corrupt Emperador that killed his family. But maybe the most amazing and wonderful scene of the movie is the epic battle between Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott. Let’s see where this scene was shot!
Believe it or not, this epic battle was shot in a small British town named Farnham. This Oscar-winning film was shot in many other locations, but this imposing forest with its huge tall trees is the first thing that pops into our minds.
Fargo
Twenty-five years ago, the Coen Brothers made one of the most iconic cult movies of all time… of course, we’re talking about _Fargo_! Released in 1996, this film triggered a real-life treasure hunt all over the world, even reaching places like Japan, where a woman went to search for a case full of money!
Obviously, part of the movie was shot in Fargo, North Dakota, but some of the most memorable scenes take place in another small North Dakotan town, Grand Forks. Remember the memorable scene where Steve Buscemi buries a suitcase under a pile of snow? That was Grand Forks!
Avatar
There are places on earth that can blow our minds with just pictures or videos, and I’m pretty sure the famous and talented director James Cameron felt that way about the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China. Take a look at this beautiful park shown in the picture below: Does it ring a bell? Can you guess which iconic film was shot here?
This Chinese National Park, famous for its strange rock formations and green mountains, was the site chosen to represent the fictional planet of the sci-fi film _Avatar_. As you can imagine, after the release of the movie, the park doubled the number of yearly visitors.
Avengers
The Marvel superhero franchise_ Avengers_ has proved to be one of the most successful sagas of all time. The last one, _Avengers: Infinity War,_ received critical acclaim and was a major box office success. The producers didn’t expect less, as they spent crazy sums of money on animation and locations.
Many parts of the movie were filmed in Brazil and Scotland. It must have been very hard to choose them! But I’m sure none of you know where the scene of Thanos’ resting spot was filmed! This iconic scene was shot in the Banaue Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in The Philippines. Maybe if you look carefully, you can spot the rice terraces at the far end!
The Rock
Most American films are shot in Hollywood studios, so many of the buildings you see in movies are actually fake. However, this is not the case with the 1996 thriller _The Rock._ Directed by Michael Bay and starring Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery, this film was shot in the famous federal prison of Alcatraz.
Most areas of the Island of Alcatraz were used to shoot scenes, including some parts of the prison. We can imagine it must have been really tough to shoot in cells that were even smaller than a closet, but for sure many crew members must have enjoyed walking through the amazing gardens of Alcatraz.
Silence Of The Lambs
The 1991 thriller film _Silence of the Lambs_ came to be one of the most successful films in history, receiving multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor. Starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, the film features the ultra evil villain Hannibal Lecter. But where was this thriller filmed at?
Some scenes were shot in Alice Town, a small town located in the North Bimini Island in the Bahamas. Located 50 miles off the coast of Florida, this is the place that Hannibal Lecter chooses for his retirement home, and it is shown at the very end of the movie. Keep on reading to find out the most incredible places where our favorite movies were shot!
The Revenant
_The Revenant_ is one of the best movies of all time, not only because of its brilliant representation of frontiersman Hugh Glass’ story but also because it earned Leonardo DiCaprio his very first Academy Award for Best Actor. Let’s not forget that the film also includes a very talented cast, with stars such as Tom Hardy and Domhall Gleeson.
The film directed by Alejandro Iñárritu was shot in some of Canada’s most incredible landscapes, mainly in parks located within the Kananaskis Country. However, the scenes of the waterfall were shot at the Kootenai Falls in Montana, USA. Last but not least, the film’s ending scenes were shot in the southernmost tip of Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego.
A Fistful Of Dollars
Some remote and unknown places become famous around the world after the release of a movie, and such is the case of San Miguel in Mexico. This beautiful colonial city became well-known after the director Sergio Leone decided to shoot many of his western films here.
Without a doubt, no other director can capture the true essence of western films as Leone. He has thoroughly chosen the locations of each of his films, and he chose San Miguel to shoot the iconic film _A Fistful Of Dollars_ as well as other of Clint Eastwood’s classics.
The Hunger Games
_The Hunger Games__,_ written by Suzanne Collins, is perhaps one of the greatest and most interesting novels of all time, and it was also the inspiration for the film series with the same name. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth, the film was a box office success and received multiple awards. But where was it filmed?
The Dupont State Forest in North Carolina was the place the director and producer chose to bring the novel to life. This mysterious forest was already famous before the release of this movie since it was also the location of the 1992 action-drama film _The Last Of The Mohicans._
The Beach
If you’ve ever watched _The Beach_ with Leonardo DiCaprio, you’ve probably fantasized about spending all your summers in those white sandy beaches with turquoise waters_. We have director Danny Boyle to thank, as he’s the one who chose the location. But where are these stunning beaches located?
These paradisiac virgin beaches are located in Hat Maya, Thailand. Before the film was released, these beaches were basically secret spots only known by local people. But as you can imagine, after the film, hundreds of thousands of tourists began booking their ferry tickets to visit this jaw-dropping site.
I Robot
Choosing the location of a film is no piece of cake, and it literally takes months and months until the director and the production crew finally settle on a place. Director Alex Proyas had a really hard time choosing the perfect place to shoot the action-drama film _I, Robot_.
Proyas and his team chose to shoot this futuristic action film in Shannon Mews Mansion, located in Canada. It was a strange choice because while the movie is set in the distant future, this mansion is over one century old!
The Godfather
_The Godfather_ is possibly one of the most successful film trilogies in history. It’s clear that no other actor could have done a better job portraying the Corleone family than Al Pacino and Marlon Brando. Francis Ford Coppola’s directorial work was impeccable, and he did a great job choosing the location!
You probably remember the time that Michael Corleone had to escape to his hometown in Sicily, right? Even though most of the scenes of these three movies were shot in the US, this particular one was actually filmed in Italy, although not in Sicily. You can visit these beautiful ancient buildings in the medieval town of Sacova.
127 Hours
Another successful film directed by the visionary Danny Boyle is the drama-action film _127 Hours_. From the first minute up to the last, this biographical thriller starring James Franco will keep you shocked to your very core.
The most outstanding feature of this film is its jaw-dropping location. It was filmed in the Blue John Canyon in Utah. After the release of the movie, thousands of tourists began to visit the canyon just to take a photo imitating Franco’s character. If you do the same, make sure you don’t get stuck amid the rocks for 127 hours!
Black Panther
The Marvel superhero film _Black Panther_, directed by Ryan Coogler, was shot in many countries around the world, like Georgia in Asia, Argentina in South America and South Korea in Asia. Are you thinking about where to go on your next vacation? Watch this film and choose your favorite scenery!
However, many of the scenes were also filmed in different sites in Africa. This makes sense, considering the film is set in a fictional African nation. The producers chose the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda as the real-life setting of the fictional country of Wakanda. However, other scenes were filmed in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in South Africa and in different parks in Zambia.
Harry Potter
This brilliant film franchise based on the novels of J.K Rowling changed a whole generation. If were born in the 2000s, I’m sure you grew up reading Rowling’s novels and watching the films]! We still cry with Cedric’s or Dumbledore’s deaths and we can’t imagine better actors than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
Even though most of the scenes were shot in British studios, some others were filmed in real-life places. For example, the scenes of Bill Weasley’s beach house were shot in Pembrokeshire in South Wales. It’s needless to say that loads of Harry Potter fans visit this site each year.
The Last Samurai
_The Last Samurai_ is a 2003 and period drama directed and produced by Edward Zwick, starring Tom Cruise. The story goes around a former American military that became a Samurai, and the movie shows a very interesting blend of Japanese and American culture.
As you may imagine, most of the scenes were shot in Japan, and some were filmed in some of Japan’s most fascinating landmarks. For instance, the building you see in the picture above is the Chion-In Temple, one of Kyoto’s oldest and most famous buildings, where one of the many fighting scenes took place.
The Shawshank Redemption
The 1994 action film _Shawshank Redemption,_ based on Stephen King’s story, goes around two imprisoned men that decided to plan an escape from prison. The movie wasn’t filmed in a studio but a real-life prison, and Frank Darabont did a great job choosing the location!
But let’s talk about the movie’s last scene when Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon’s characters decide to escape to a remote paradisiac beach. This scene was shot in St. Croix, a beach located in the Virgin Islands. Now you know where to spend your next summer vacation!
The Return Of The King
_The Lord of the Rings_ is arguably the best film trilogy ever made. The brilliant directorial work of Peter Jackson, the amazing cast, and the astonishing sound and visual effects earned this trilogy countless Academy Awards. But there’s one thing we’re missing, and that’s the film’s breathtaking sceneries!
These three movies were filmed mostly in New Zealand. Jackson chose places with great landscapes throughout the trilogy, which can be most appreciated in the last film _The Return of the King_. Here’s a little secret you probably didn’t know: remember the scene where Aragorn falls off a cliff while trying to protect the people from Rohan? Well, that “cliff”, located amid the mountains, is no higher than 6 feet!
Star Wars
_Star Wars_ has proved to be one of the most successful movie franchises in history, and the release of the first of its films has constituted a turning point in the history of modern cinema. Apart from its great cast, some of the films boast fascinating and unusual landscapes.
If you’ve already seen the 8th and last of its films, _Star Wars VIII: The Last_ _Jedi,_ I bet you’re wondering whether that vast, white and mountainous landscape where many of the scenes were shot exists in real life. Well, that site happens to be the Salar De Uyuni. Located in Bolivia, it is considered to be the world’s largest salt flatland. The place itself looks quite surreal, making it the ideal spot to shoot a sci-fi film.
The Exorcist
We can’t imagine a creepier place on Earth than the McNeil Residence, right? Located in Georgetown, Washington DC, this is the house where the iconic horror film _The Exorcist_ was shot in 1973. If you dare, visit it at 3600 Prospect Street!
This building is actually a private residence. Ever since the release of the film, it has had different owners, but surprisingly, the building’s facade hasn’t changed a single bit. Let’s see our #1 most bizarre film location!
The Fellowship Of The Ring
When it comes to fantasy or sci-fi films, many directors choose to film their movies on some of the world’s most exotic and bizarre natural sites. But the case of _The Fellowship of the Ring_, the first of the _Lord of the Rings_ saga, is truly one of a kind. Most of the film was shot in New Zealand, but here’s a fact that you probably didn’t know about Hobbiton, the hometown of Frodo Baggins and the rest of the hobbits.
Hobbiton isn’t actually a real place. On the contrary, it was created for the film and is now a tourist attraction, located in Matamata, New Zealand. Nowadays, it is one of the most visited places in the country, but you should know that all these houses are just facades! But let’s give the producers some credit: the dashing green fields and hills are beautiful on their own!