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While most Hollywood movies are made in Hollywood, many of them are set in other places of America. In fact, there’s a popular film for every state in the country. Do you know where 'The Wizard of Oz’ was shot or which state is represented in ‘The Music Man’? Let’s find out!
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are the main leads in a story about two male lovers. Back in 2005, it was a shock to have a Hollywood movie like that, and it was shot in the mountains of Wyoming. The flick received Academy Award nominations and is still respected to this day.
Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph gave the world a hilarious story of the craziness surrounding an upcoming wedding. It was the female answer to ‘The Hangover’ and other movies where boys were getting rowdy. Additionally, the rest of the cast, including Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne, was brilliant. It was also set in Wisconsin, where the two main leads grew up together.
While there are other movies based in West Virginia, this one is the most beloved. It’s about Harry Powers, a notorious murderer, but filmed so beautifully that it is a noir and fairytale at the same time. Robert Mitchum is the lead, and his performance will blow you away.
While other 'Rambo' sequels might have had more actions and bloody scenes, this one is definitely more brilliant. It was co-written by Sylvester Stallone inspired by David Morrell’s novel. In the movie, the protagonist John Rambo hides from Sheriff Will Teasle in the forest regions of Washington. It’s definitely a manly movie.
Most films based in Virginia are more about Washington D.C. However, this story about the T.C Williams football team will warm your heart. It’s remarkable because, in the movie, an African-American becomes head coach over a white man, and of course, Denzel Washington rocked the part.
This is the perfect bro movie for anyone who wants a good laugh. It’s beloved among cult-comedy fans, and it’s set in Vermont. The sequel was not as loved as the first one, but you can still watch and enjoy it. In any case, the original was just awesome!
This film tells the story of a man, Aron Ralston, who was trapped in the Blue John Canyon and had to amputate his arm to get out. Danny Boyle directed it, and James Franco did an astounding job making a basically one-man story incredibly nail-biting.
This is another teenage cult classic, and it’s based in Texas. It introduced Matthew McConaughey to the world as well as the iconic, “Alright, alright, alright”. It’s a typical coming-of-age story with a bunch of kids who seemed sort of lost and tired of high school.
This might be one of the most iconic horror movies, and the world has Sam Raimi to thank for that. It shows a bunch of kids from Michigan State University who went to a cabin in Tennessee. However, they quickly regret their actions as demons and bloodiness invade the place.
Naturally, Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest’ is the best film from South Dakota. The story is about an exec from NYC who must run away after being confused with a foreign spy. He runs to South Dakota, and the crucial part of the movie takes place on Mount Rushmore.
‘The Notebook’ introduced the amazing chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and had fans swooning for their characters’ love story. Additionally, the setting of an older South Carolina makes everything seemed more romantic. It reminds people of a simpler time.
‘The Conjuring’ is another amazing horror film on this list, but this is based in Rhode Island. The movie is based on a real story, and the actual house that was supposedly haunted is, in fact, located in the Ocean State. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga played the Warrens, demonologists who help a family deal with the supernatural phenomena in their new home.
You might have been expecting to see ‘Rocky’ as the best film from Pennsylvania, but there’s just something about Bill Murray’s comedy that portrays the state better. It shows the small-town side of this state. Can you imagine having to re-live the same day over and over again?
Most people will say that ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is the best film from Oregon, but ‘Wendy and Lucy’ is quietly an amazing story. It’s also directed by Kelly Reichardt and stars Michelle Williams. Additionally, Reichardt’s dog became Williams’s companion as she embarks on an adventure.
Naturally, ‘Twister’ had to be the pick for Oklahoma. Disaster movies don’t really place a bunch of importance on their setting, but this one really showed the picturesque side of the state. There’s also the infamous cow scene that has become iconic over the years.
Tom Cruise plays Charlie Babbitt, a conceited man from California who returns to Cincinnati, Ohio to see who got his father’s inheritance. Dustin Hoffman plays his autistic older brother, who is particularly good at math. They later go to Las Vegas to take advantage of the casino.
Most films set in North Dakota are actually documentaries, but that’s not really what this list entails. Luckily, ‘The Overnighters’ is a perfect movie. The story is about a pastor that takes in men coming to North Dakota to work on Williston as there has been an oil boom. But there are many twists and turns in this story.
The setting in ‘Blue Velvet’ could be anywhere in the U.S., but we know it is North Carolina when the main character returned home from college after his father had a heart attack. There are crazy criminals in town and an investigation that involves the local nightclub singer. It destroys the perfect image of small-town America.
If you love mobster movies, you have probably seen ‘Goodfellas’ already. There might be other amazing movies set in New York, but Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece is iconic. It also stars Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and many more. Furthermore, the director showcases so much of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and more that it truly captures the vibe of this state.
New Mexico’s best movie naturally had to be a Spaghetti Western with the legendary Clint Eastwood. This is the final movie in the ‘Dollars’ trilogy and arguably what cemented the actor’s fame in Hollywood. It’s a story about the search for gold during the American Civil War. Furthermore, it features a classic soundtrack written by Ennio Morricone, arguably one of the best film composers of the 20th century.
You might have heard the phrase “I coulda been a contender” often in other Hollywood movies, and for a reason. Marlon Brando earned his first Academy Award thanks to ‘On the Waterfront’. He plays a man who wants to be a boxer but ends up being a dockworker in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Richard Dreyfuss played a psychiatrist that goes on vacation to New England, only to be followed by his patient Bob Wiley played by Bill Murray. The scenery of the film makes it the perfect pick for New Hampshire, and the story is the perfect satire of being dependent on your therapist.
‘Ocean’s Eleven’ features one of the most stellar casts ever with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and many more. It tells the story of a group of conmen who venture to Vegas for their schemes. It’s one of the best movies set in Nevada, although there are a bunch of picks.
The mother-daughter relationship in this film is touching for anyone that sees it, especially due to the amazing cast including Jack Nicholson, Shirley MacLaine, and Debra Winger. It won many Academy Awards in 1984. Additionally, it shows so many areas of Nebraska such as Kearny, Bryan LGH Medical Center, the University of Nebraska, and more.
Another Clint Eastwood film makes this list. This one is directed by Michael Cimino and also stars Jeff Bridges. It’s a story about two men who decide to rob a bank. Some people might choose ‘A River Runs Through It’ as the best Montana movie, but fly-fishing is not that fun.
Judy Garland stars as Ether in a story about a family living in Missouri. It’s the perfect musical with amazing versions of ‘The Trolley Song’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. It was directed by Vincente Minnelli, and he definitely showed the Midwest in an interesting way.
This crime story with Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger is remembered for being rather sweaty. It’s a representation of the heat and the swamps in Mississippi. It’s also more realistic than another movie set in this state, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’, which feels too fantastical.
While you might think that this film is set in North Dakota, most of the story happens in Minnesota. It’s a crime drama by the Coen brothers that is still fantastic even in this day and age. Additionally, it gave the duo their first Academy Award for Best Screenplay, while Frances McDormand won a Best Actress Award.
There’s just something about Clint Eastwood because many of his films have appeared on this list. ‘Gran Torino’ is the story of a grumpy old man who makes friends with his neighbor that tried to steal his 1972 Gran Torino. The actor also directed the movie himself and chose Motor City for its setting.
There are plenty of movies set in Massachusetts because Boston is the perfect setting for shocking crime movies. However, Peter Yates’ film has to be one of the best, as it’s based on the book by George V. Higgins and really showcases the life of a gun-runner played by Robert Mitchum.
While other movies in Maryland might be considered more of a classic than ‘Wedding Crashers’, you really have to give it to this comedy. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn played two friends that crash weddings to score dates. The most important wedding in the film takes place at Perry Cabin.
This movie might be animated, but it captures the beauty of Maine in a way that live-action might not be able to do so. The story is about a boy and his Iron Giant as they face the judgment of a small town with conservative views. The colors represent the coastal town. Furthermore, Vin Diesel provides the voice of the Giant.
When it comes to American classics, ‘Streetcar’ is at the top for its vivid adaptation of Tennessee Williams's play. The film was directed by Elia Kazan and helped Marlon Brando reach major success. He didn’t win an Academy Award for his performance in this film, but he went on to become a legend.
Russell Crowe and Al Pacino star in this thriller about a whistleblower that wanted to expose how the tobacco businesses knew that their products were dangerous. The movie is set in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as New York and Mississippi. Pacino plays the part of a producer that helps expose the truth.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ is another undeniable classic on this list, and it also features Judy Garland. The entire story takes place in Kansas, but you might be familiar with the phrase “We’re not in Kansas anymore”. So, take a trip down the yellow brick road and watch this film!
The colorful musical tells the story of a conman named Harold Hill, played by Robert Preston. There’s a song called ‘Iowa Stubborn’, which does not paint the state in the best light. However, the rest of the film is magical as they sweep through town in elaborate dance numbers.
Many Indiana movies could’ve made this list, such as ‘Breaking Away’ and ‘A Christmas Story’. But the top spot is for the basketball drama, ‘Hoosiers’. Everyone knows that Indiana loves basketball. The film features Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper as well as a score by Jerry Goldsmith.
‘The Fugitive’s director, Andrew Davis, has really made some amazing Chicago-based films such as ‘Code of Silence’ and ‘Above the Law’. But this movie takes the top place because it features Harrison Ford running away from Tommy Lee Jones. It also gave us a pretty amazing scene during a St. Patrick Day’s parade.
If you’re a millennial, then you might remember when ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ went viral (before that term was ever used). People were quoting the film left and right. It features dry humor. which everyone loved and influenced a bunch of nerdy comedies that came later.
Based on a novel, ‘From Here to Eternity’ is the top pick for Hawaii. It’s about a rifle company in Oahu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It also includes wonderful performances by Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, especially the scene at the beach. The cast also consists of Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Donna Reid, and more.
Naturally, this classic also had to appear on the list. Victor Fleming adapted the story from Margaret Mitchell’s novel, and it’s about a woman who has an affair with a married man during the Civil War. It’s also set in Atlanta, Georgia. Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award thanks to this film, but she wasn’t even allowed to attend the premiere in Atlanta due to segregation.
Channing Tatum’s ‘Magic Mike’ might not be your first thought when it comes to Florida, but it’s pretty magical. There’s humor as well as an interesting look at men working as strippers. Mike is luckily not as crazy as what the media made Florida men seem.
Did you know that this movie is the first to be completely filmed in Delaware? Robin Williams’ performance as an English teacher with a passion for poetry earned him an Oscar nomination. The school in the film is called St. Andrew in real life, and it’s located in Middleton, Delaware. But other important landmarks of the state are shown as well.
The story starts with a typical couple in Connecticut’s countryside, but they die in a tragic accident and haunt the house they lived in. New Yorkers move to the house and need them to get out. So, they get Beetlejuice. It’s everything a Tim Burton movie should be, which earns it the top spot in this state.
Here’s another animated movie on the list. Although ‘South Park’ doesn’t have intricate animations, it still shows many aspects of Colorado life, where the four main characters reside. The film is based on the popular show that pokes fun and satires everything in insulting ways. But people loved it.
How can you pick one movie from California when there are so many amazing options? However, this noir story based in Los Angeles takes the top spot. It’s a murder mystery starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, showcasing the harsh realities of Hollywood.
This was Andy Griffith’s first movie part. He plays Larry Rhodes, a man who goes from jail to fame in New York City. Unfortunately, the corporate world destroys him. It showcases how Southern charm might be used as a weapon. The film also features Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau.
Another Hitchcock movie on the list is ‘Psycho’, which influenced many slasher films that followed. The main character is a secretary living in Phoenix, Arizona. She runs away with stolen money and goes to a hotel run by an odd man and his mother. It was also filmed in California.
This movie features Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, and other great actors. Pacino plays a tired detective that goes to Nightmute, Alaska to help a local cop catch a serial killer. The best part is that it’s never nighttime in that town. Some parts were also filmed in Canada, but the views of Alaska were brilliant.
While there are other options, Tim Burton’s ‘Big Fish’ is the perfect movie for the state of Alabama, especially because it was completely filmed there. It tells the story of a dying man who lived a magical life and shows all kinds of places in Alabama like Jackson Lake Island.
Have you seen all these films? Maybe it’s time for a marathon! Each and every one of these movies has a certain flair that makes them a unique and perfect representation of each state. Let us know which one is your favorite. If you liked this article, share it with your friends who are also movie lovers! See you next time!