World’s Cities That Are Considered Most Popular for Filming Movies

Filming locations must adhere to a specific set of requirements. Towns with a preexisting film industry can supply the support personnel needed to finish the work properly. The location must also match the aesthetic of the movie, and certain locations appear to be used more frequently than others in Hollywood storylines. When movies are not situated in particular, well-known cities, they are set in a flexible metropolis that can accommodate any plot. The moment one city earns a reputation as a great location for filming, producers frequently choose it again. 

The top eight cities for shooting are listed below.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is a fantastic location for movies since it has a thriving modern art scene and a rich architectural past. Beautiful scenery from Argentina has also been included in well-known motion pictures. The city has long been inspired by European culture, earning it the moniker ‘The Paris of the South’.

Sometimes the locations are even used as the setting for the movies whose plot is placed there. As for Buenos Aires, in 1996, Madonna portrayed the notorious Argentinian Eva Perón in the movie “Evita”, and the movie’s storyline unveils in this city. But many other places have also been represented by Buenos Aires. On the list are both China and Chile, where the films “Seven Years in Tibet” (1997) and “The Colony” (2015), respectively, were shot. Additionally, it has offered settings for science fiction and fantasy films including the comedic film “Mars Attacks!” from 1996 and the drama “Children of Men” in 2006.

San Francisco, California

Given that Hollywood is located in the US state of California, many Hollywood productions make sense to be filmed there. Additionally, San Francisco has long been a mesmerizing city for storytellers and screenwriters. It occupies a significant place in many people’s hearts and thoughts due to its robust tourism economy and standing as a countercultural touchstone.

San Francisco has come to symbolize freedom and the struggle for values because it was the epicenter of the iconic 1960s hippie culture and a key venue in the homosexual rights campaign. The history of filmmaking in San Francisco, however, is not just restricted to movies that are directly about the city. Due to its lengthy history as a filming location, San Francisco can lay claim to classic movies like “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), “The Ten Commandments” (1957), and Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (1963). Additionally, action movies like “Superman” (1978) and 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” were filmed there.

Chicago, Illinois

Films situated in the middle of the country often require a setting that does not immediately conjure up images of New York City or coastal L.A. Chicago is a well-known film location, and a lot of the USA’s Midwest-based characters appear in films shot there. The city of Chicago frequently plays a key role in the movie. In the 1997 movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, where a White Sox game takes the limelight, this was the situation.

Another movie where Chicago’s history and culture are essential to the tale is “The Untouchables” (1987), which this time revolves around Al Capone. The city’s most recognizable landmarks can be seen in the background of the 1980 blockbuster “The Blues Brothers”, which was shot throughout the city. In “Barbershop” (2002), the South Side of Chicago is examined through cinema. Another excellent movie that examines the inter-circle workings of the city portrays the lives of two inner-city high school basketball studs in “Hoop Dreams” (1994).

Chicago (actually, its suburban parts, sometimes referred to by residents as Chicagoland), in addition to being one of the most sought-after locations for filming, is also one of the biggest gambling and gaming hubs in the US. Gaming revenue totals over $2.5 billion every year. The casinos’ locations range from just a few miles outside the city boundaries to well over an hour’s drive from Chicago proper. Both their physical locations and their online counterparts provide games from the leading software suppliers, so the best QuickFire casinos are not lacking.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is frequently utilized as a location for movies, but it also serves as a stand-in for several other cities. The Canadian city’s vibrant art culture might boost its standing as a film location. The presence of the University of British Columbia campus in the city has contributed to its growing popularity. More than 90 times, UBC has served as a location for movies, with several of the school’s buildings appearing on screen.

Vancouver has even acquired the moniker ‘Hollywood North’ due to its frequent use as a backdrop in films. It served as a spoof for New York in the 2014 comedy “The Interview”, San Francisco in Tim Burton’s film “Big Eyes” (also in 2014), and even the Minnesota suburbs in the 2007 movie “Juno”. The city may not frequently be featured in films about itself, but it certainly presents a wealth of opportunities for filmmakers. Additionally, it has a thriving art scene that encourages such imaginative undertakings.

Toronto, Ontario

Ontario’s main city, Toronto, has a great deal to offer moviemakers. In order to make the jobs easier to handle and the final products more appealing, the Canadian city actively seeks out film crews as part of its business plan. Like Vancouver, Toronto is rarely used to represent itself and is regularly used as a stand-in for other (usually American) cities. 

The fact that the city has served as the location for some major blockbuster movies can be added to its recruitment pitch. There were scenes for the 2017 Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water”. “Good Will Hunting (1997), to the dismay of Chicago residents, the smash musical “Chicago” (2002) was also filmed there, as well as “The Incredible Hulk” (2008).

London, UK

London is regularly used as a setting for filming and is the only place on our list that is outside of the Americas. London is a fantastic site for filming because of its diverse locations and rich architectural history. Filmmakers are drawn to the city’s talent because British performers are becoming more and more well-known on the global stage.

There are also many wonderful iconic locations available. Though some of them are so busy that capturing the necessary photos requires careful planning, For instance, to get the empty look required for the film, the early morning hours of “28 Days Later” (2002) had to be used for filming. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1998), “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999), and “Rogue One” (2016) are among other movies that were filmed in London.

New York, New York

Naturally, New York is very close to the top of the rankings. One thing about the city is the sheer range of places it provides. The most often used site for filming is really Central Park. Other New York places including Times Square, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Coney Island, East Village, and Greenpoint are listed alongside it. 

Shooting in New York is a great idea because there are so many various locations that could be used and because it has one of the most famous art communities in the world, which attracts talent from all over the world. Movies including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), “You’ve Got Mail” (1998), “Sex and the City” (2008), and “The Avengers” from 2012 have all been filmed there.

Los Angeles, California

Of course, Hollywood itself is the most well-known film location in the entire world. So, we are back in California to conclude the list. There are not many places that can match Los Angeles in terms of the variety of locations for filming, the magnificent weather, and the plethora of talent and industry knowledge. 

Venice Beach, Hollywood Boulevard, and UCLA are some of the places where movies are shot the most. Since Los Angeles serves as a key background in many of these movies, it can be difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality. Hit films like “Boyz N the Hood” (1991), “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “The Big Lebowski” (1998), and “La La Land” (2016) were all filmed in L.A.