Filmmaking is a delicate art. Thoughts and ideas are carefully plotted into a script. Each page translates to a minute on the big screen. Each page undergoes revisions underneath the judgment of a red pen. Words turn into intellectual properties, intellectual properties turn into rights, and rights turn into dollars that finance the production of the film. A cast and crew are then vetted to make preparations for the shoot. One of the most important preparations is selecting locations.
Depending on the movie, scouting for locations can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Some directors use their hometown as the only backdrop in their film. The right spot for a scene makes all the difference for a story and its audience. The most memorable scenes are those that are recognizable but also obscure. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California is synonymous with Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. The setting of Middle-earth in the fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings was made possible due to the landscape of New Zealand. The desert planet of Tatooine in the space opera Star Wars was shot in the Republic of Tunisia, located in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa. Near and far, there are film locations that make viewers want to book a visit.
10 Al-Khazneh – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Petra is the national symbol of Jordan, a city located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The specific site in Petra where Indy and friends find the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is called Al-Khazneh. The sandstone structure was carved by hand and is thought to be a mausoleum. A more popular belief is that it held treasures, for its name means "The Treasury" in Arabic. The location was a fitting end to the adventures of Indiana Jones and remains the most-visited tourist destination in Jordan.
9 Griffith Observatory – The Terminator (1984)
Nice night for a walk, eh? The Terminator and a number of movies and television shows have featured the Griffith Observatory. It got its star power from James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause when he was called "chicken" and has been a symbol of Los Angeles ever since. In addition to the stars in the sky, tourists can take in the sights of the Pacific Ocean, Downtown L.A., and the Hollywood Sign.
8 Baseball Diamond – Field of Dreams (1989)
The baseball diamond from Field of Dreams is a Mecca for fans of the sport and movie. Kevin Costner plays a farmer who turns his corn field into a baseball field, where he is met by the spirits of baseball's past. The location of the Field of Dreams is Dyersville, Iowa, owned by real farmer Don Lansing. He maintained the property as a designated tourist attraction for 20 years, welcoming 65,000 people for free. The iconic field and its surrounding acreage were later sold in 2011 to Go The Distance Baseball, LLC, who planned to develop more playing fields for youth baseball near the movie site.
7 Katz’s Delicatessen – When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Katz's Delicatessen is the best place to eat a sandwich and fake an orgasm. The classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally tackles the idea of a man and a woman being just friends inside one of the oldest restaurants in America. The New York deli is located in Manhattan and has commemorated the famous movie scene with a sign above its table that reads, "Where Harry met Sally... hope you have what she had! Enjoy!"
6 Boston Public Garden – Good Will Hunting (1997)
Robin Williams won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor because of this scene from Good Will Hunting. The observed life and wisdom Williams shared as Dr. Sean Maguire took place at Boston Public Garden. The bench was the site of a temporary memorial for the actor and comedian in 2014, but a fundraising project for a permanent memorial was started in response.
5 Fox Plaza – Die Hard (1988)
Fox Plaza, better known as Nakatomi Plaza, was the site of Die Hard, one of the greatest action films ever made. In his first scene, Bruce Willis as John McClane (who is afraid of heights) develops an essential character arc when he jumps off the Plaza's roof while tied to a fire hose. The building and its surrounding area in Los Angeles was used for principal photography and is the home of 20th Century Fox.
4 Timberline Lodge – The Shining (1980)
The Timberline Lodge serves as the exterior location of The Shining on Mount Hood in Oregon. The opening scene and dark synth soundtrack build up its ominous architecture and looming presence for the haunted Overlook Hotel. For the interior shots, the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, California, was used. Both hotels were designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and chosen for their 1920s and 1930s aesthetic.
3 Hook & Ladder Company 8 Firehouse – Ghostbusters (1984)
The paranormal entrepreneurs and exterminators known as the Ghostbusters set up their ghost-catching business at the New York City Fire Department station Hook & Ladder Company 8 Firehouse. The firehouse was built in 1903 and was threatened with closure in 2011, but a public campaign with advocacy from actor and former fireman Steve Buscemi, kept the station open. As of this writing, Hook & Ladder No. 8 is still active at 14 North Moore Street.
2 Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue – Rocky (1976)
The Rocky franchise made Philadelphia famous and its landmarks well-known. The Philadelphia Museum of Art proudly bears its 72-step stairway or the Rocky Steps shown in a montage from Rocky and its Rocky statue shown in Rocky III. Both represent life imitating art and the everyman going the distance no matter the challenge.
1 Randy’s Donuts – Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Everybody loves donuts, including aliens. In the science fiction musical romantic comedy Earth Girls Are Easy, three furry extraterrestrials played by Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, and Jim Carrey seek female relations on Earth. They shave off their hair and mimic American pop culture to (almost) blend in. The novelty architecture of Randy's Donuts dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, functioning as a 24-hour, drive-in donut bakery. Located in Inglewood, California, Randy's Donuts has appeared in many films and other forms of pop culture.