I haven’t ever felt much of an urge to visit the real-life locations where my favorite movies and TV shows were shot, but then, I live in the heart of Sopranos country in New Jersey and I work in the middle of the film set that is midtown Manhattan, so I pass sites every day that I’ve enjoyed on screen. But if you’re from elsewhere — say, the U.K. — you might be tempted to visit North America just to drive to famous movie spots, like the author of this Observer article, who recommends a road trip to Marfa, Texas, where both No Country for Old Men (pictured) and There Will Be Blood were shot (at the same time, in fact). He also suggests trips to Boston (The Departed, Good Will Hunting, Mystic River), Canada’s Banff National Park (Brokeback Mountain), and the Mississippi Delta (O Brother, Where Art Thou?).
Tell us, tourists, have you ever planned a trip around a movie location you wanted to visit? Which sites have you been to, and did they live up to your expectations, or did they seem smaller-than-life?
I never want away especially for a movie location…but I have visited my share!!! When I was in New Zealand, let’s just say that I coordinated one of my stop just to go and do a trek next to Mt Doom! And one time in Rome, I did a pretty detour to find la Boca della Verita from Roman Vacation. And so much more, I can’t even began!
when i was in high school i loved Fame. i was going on a trip to NYC and begged my mother to take me by the School of Performing Arts… she said no
but it’s the only time i’ve really tried to see a movie site!
The only movie site I can think of that I’ve been to wasn’t on purpose. I was in Minnesota visiting my dad and we just happened upon the restaurant that Sophia Loren and her mom owned in the blockbuster sequel “Grumpier Old Men”…so I took a picture there.
I haven’t done it yet, but if I had the time and resources, I think it’d be fun to visit famous movie sites. I would definitely have to have at least one other person with me because I’d probably insist on recreating famous shots at the famous movie sites with me standing in for the movie character.
I went to a wedding once at the resort in Virginia where the exteriors for Dirty Dancing were filmed. Totally unintentional. Very pretty place, though, and I would recommend it highly.
Sorry about that I meant Roman Holiday (My bad with my french translation!).
I completely forgot about a tour I took in Thailand to an island shown in The Man with the Golden Gun, even pose as a Bond girl…
I’ve never actually been tempted to go on holiday just to see a movie or tv sight. However, I did seeing the sights in Manhattan last summer and actually found the apartments that were used as file footage of the main apartments on Friends. Also, my town square is the one feaured on October Road, so it is sort of surreal to see it every Monday–especially this past year’s Christmas episode, when they digitally added in snow (I live in Newnan, Georgia, so the square is NEVER covered in snow)
How is Chicago not on this list? Between the fun of a Blues Brothers tour (complete with hitting some of Chicago’s awesome blues bars, and maybe visiting the Billy Goat Tavern, inspiration for the “Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger…” SNL skit); all the locales utilized in The Sting and The Untouchables; riding the El (made famous in Risky Business and While You Were Sleeping, and less famous by On the Line); and other recent hits filmed here (Fred Claus, The Breakup, both new Batman movies, Angelina Jolie’s new Wanted movie), Chicago deserves film tourism.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget the ultimate “turning a movie into tourism” idea: you can LITERALLY have a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in Chicago – Sears Tower, Art Institute, fancy lunch, and Cubs game….by far the best city for a movie-themed visit.
I live it every day too, Gary… in Fargo, although I am pretty sure 0% of the movie by the same name was actually filmed here, and almost none of it is set here, either.
I live in Manhattan and pass sites every day (my block has been in multiple movies) but on one trip to Paris my friend and I did an Amelie tour of Montmartre. You can visit the grocery store, the cafe where she works, Sacre Couer – it was a lot of fun!
While I was visiting family in NJ, I of course had to make a stop at the Quik Stop to see the store where “Clerks” was filmed. Totally worth it.
I live very close to Banff/Ft. McLeod where they filmed Brokeback and I try to go as much as possible. It’s more beautiful up close then it is on screen. I also watched Brad Pitt’s Jesse James movie the other night and was happy to see the entire movie was filmed in historical parks I visted as a child.
I also had the chance to spend a few days exploring China’s Hollywood, Hengdian, last year. They filmed Jet Li’s Hero there and it was neat to see the buildings… especially since we were the only people in the park at the time!
No I haven’t done this and wouldn’t plan around a movie, but if I happened to be visiting a famous spot, I would probably check it out, take a pic. When I went to LA I did get a pic of me going up the staircase of the Kodak Theatre, just so I that every year, when I watch the Oscars, I can say I walked those same steps as the stars. Yes I’m lame.
LONDON. 28 Days Later just made it seem so charming.
We didn’t plan on it, but when I was in Oxford for a summerterm class we toured Christ Church College where they shot scenes from Harry Potter. It was pretty sweet. I’d love to visit Scranton Pennsylvania though just because of The Office. I know they don’t actually shoot there but they incorporate a lot of the area into their show and I think it’d be fun to see what they all talk about. Or just go on the set in LA, but I don’t think that counts for this blog haha.
I’d love to see the town where TWIN PEAKS was filmed!