The Most Iconic Movie Filming Locations

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The Most Iconic Movie Filming Locations

When movies become widely loved and adored, the places they’re set in tend to become just as beloved. The result is that filming locations become iconic because of their attachment to the stories and characters we have an intense fondness for. 

Compiled below is a list of some of the most iconic filming locations that brought some of our favorite films to life.

Christ Church Cathedral & Bodleian Library, Oxford, England

The beauty of the Harry Potter series’ Hogwarts interior was created thanks to stunning sets like Christ Church Cathedral and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Christ Church served as the set for the Hogwarts dining hall, stairways, hallways, and common areas within the school, while the Bodleian Library was used to film scenes that included the infirmary and library. Harry Potter fans can do a walking tour of the Oxford area and learn the details and changes that brought the magical world to life.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Another visually stunning aspect of the Harry Potter series was the scenes of the Hogwarts Express making its way to the school. These shots were set at the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland and are just as stunning in person as they are on the screen.

Fox Plaza, Los Angeles, United States 

Moving us away from the fantasy world to another genre entirely is the famous Fox Plaza, which served as the iconic Nakatomi Plaza. The Plaza was a huge component of the first Die Hard movie that saw John McClane taking out Russian terrorists and becoming one of Bruce Willis’s most iconic movie characters.

Katz’s Delicatessen, New York, United States

It’s hard to forget the scene in When Harry Met Sally that ended with the line “I’ll have what she’s having.” While that scene is widely known and quoted, even 35 years after the movie was released, it’s a lesser-known fact that the scene was filmed at a real restaurant in New York, Katz’s Delicatessen. Given the popularity of the movie, the restaurant deserves icon status.

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States

Whether you’re comparing physical casinos or online casinos, Caesars Palace is one of the biggest casinos in the world in terms of recognition and popularity. The casino has been a hot spot for movie-making magic, serving as the set for Rain Man, Ocean’s Eleven, The Hangover, and many more beloved cinematic favorites.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, United States

The Rocky movies have made the stairs leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art an iconic location thanks to the film’s training montages. The site has become so popular because of the movie that there’s even a statue of Rocky Balboa at the base of the Museum’s steps. 

Skópelos Island, Greece 

The movie Mamma Mia! was filmed at various spots on the tiny island of Skópelos in Greece, and the beautiful scenery of the film has enamored many, making the island an iconic location and popular tourist destination. The island is so famous thanks to the movie that walking tours are dedicated to taking people through key filming locations shown in the film, like the wedding chapel, beach, and port.

Waikato, New Zealand

The Lord of the Rings movies have made the landscape of New Zealand famous and a tourist attraction, but in particular, it’s the green landscapes of Waikato, where the village of Hobbiton was created, that stand out. The village built for the set was made permanent in the town, making it a huge tourist attraction for LOTR fans.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

The Martian, starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain, quickly became a critically acclaimed and well-awarded movie after its release. Surprisingly, the out-of-the-world scenes of the Mars landscape weren’t created by CGI. Instead, the scenes were filmed in Wadi Rum, a valley in Jordan. This filming location revealed a stunning landscape that looks remarkably like the terrain of Mars, giving it a lasting reputation and an iconic status. 

Hatley Castle, British Columbia, Canada 

Anyone who’s seen the X-Men movies knows of the mansion that served as The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Scenes featuring the school’s exterior were created thanks to the Hatley Castle in British Columbia, Canada, which served as the filming location for multiple X-Men movies. The castle has even been used as a filming location for scenes in The Descendants, Smallville, and even MacGyver.

671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, United States

671 Lincoln Avenue is more famously known as the McCallister home from the movie Home Alone. While this filming location is iconic, it’s only the exterior that made its big Hollywood debut. The home itself, while immensely spacious for a family home with six beds and six baths, was too small to accommodate an entire movie crew. As a result, the interior scenes were filmed in a set built in the gym of an abandoned high school.

L Street Tavern, Boston, United States

In Good Will Hunting, which stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and the late Robin Williams, the characters spend a great deal of time hanging out at a local bar. That bar, the L Street Tavern found in Boston, now steadily brings fans of the movie through its front doors for a drink and pub fare. How do you like them apples?

Hook & Ladder Company 8 Fire Station, New York, United States

If you’ve seen the Ghostbusters movies, you likely recognized quite a few New York attractions, like the New York Public Library or the Columbus Circle, but the real icon in these films is the firehouse where the Ghostbusters team sets up their workspace. The building showcased in the movie, the Hook & Ladder Company 8, is a functional heritage fire station supporting the New York Fire Department.

Beloved Films Create Iconic Places & Dream Destinations

While the number of movies and filming locations that exist in the world are countless, the films that we feel particularly connected to create a sense that where they were filmed is iconic. They are so iconic, in fact, that it’s worth detouring away from our daily routine or even planning an entire trip around the filming location just for the chance to see them in person.