The United States is one of the world’s most important filming countries, with Hollywood, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas and many other cities forming part of global film history. Los Angeles and the wider Southern California area remain closely associated with the American film industry, from classic studio productions to films such as “La La Land”, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Heat” and “The Terminator”. New York City has also become one of cinema’s most recognisable urban backdrops, appearing in films such as “Taxi Driver”, “Ghostbusters”, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”, “King Kong”, “Spider-Man” and “The Godfather”. Beyond the major cities, the country’s deserts, mountains, highways, small towns and national parks have been used in countless productions, from westerns filmed in Monument Valley to road movies, crime films and large-scale blockbusters. With its vast range of landscapes, major studio infrastructure and long cinema history, the United States remains the most influential filming country in the world.
7 Days Liquor Store
In Superbad (2007), 7 Days Liquor Store is used for the scene in which Fogell, using his fake McLovin ID, goes into the liquor store to buy alcohol.
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury department store at 754 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, with the men’s store across the street at 745 Fifth Avenue. Founded…
Beverly Hills City Hall
Beverly Hills City Hall in Beverly Hills was used in the "Beverly Hills Cop" films, where it appears as part of the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Buckhead Diner
Buckhead Diner appears in DTF St. Louis (2026), and the building has also been used for other Atlanta-shot productions.
Caribbean Club
Caribbean Club is best known for its connection to "Key Largo" (1948). Decades later, the bar also appeared in "Bloodline" (2015–2017).
Circus Liquor
Circus Liquor appears in Clueless (1995), Blue Thunder (1983), and Alpha Dog (2006).
Colony Hotel
Colony Hotel has appeared in productions including Miami Rhapsody, Dexter and Bad Boys for Life. It is also strongly connected to the Scarface.
Coral Castle
Coral Castle appears in The Wild Women of Wongo (1958), Nude on the Moon (1961), and a number of documentary and television productions about the site itself.
CVS Miama Beach
In Scarface (1983), 728 Ocean Drive is used for the Sun Ray Apartments, now a CVS, where Tony Montana and Manny Ribera go to make a drug deal.
Devils Tower
Devils Tower is most famously connected to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977). It also appears in the science-fiction comedy "Paul" (2011).
Eastern State Penitentiary
As a filming location, Eastern State Penitentiary is used in three feature films: 12 Monkeys, Return to Paradise, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Empire Diner
Empire Diner appears in both film and television, including Manhattan, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Men in Black II, Law & Order, and many more.
Fire Island Lighthouse
Fire Island Lighthouse has appeared in several productions, including "Men in Black II" (2002) and "What Happens in Vegas" (2008).
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Fontainebleau Miami Beach appears in Goldfinger (1964), Scarface (1983), The Bodyguard (1992), Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988), and many more.
Garrett Jacobs Mansion
The Garrett Jacobs Mansion has been used in productions as Bedroom Window, Clara’s Heart, Her Alibi, The Accidental Tourist, He Said, She Said, Major League II, 12 Monkeys, Diner, Species II, and My One and Only.
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory appears in Rebel Without a Cause, The Terminator, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, La La Land, Transformers, and many more.
Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum appears in Men in Black, The International, Three Days of the Condor, Manhattan, Someone to Watch Over Me, and When in Rome.
Hook & Ladder 8
Hook & Ladder Company 8 appears in the Ghostbusters franchise, Hitch (2005), Seinfeld, and How I Met Your Mother.
Hotel Edison
Hotel Edison appears in The Godfather (1972), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Bullets over Broadway (1994), and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014).
Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast
Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast in Antonito, Colorado, is one of the most charming real-world locations connected to "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade".
Jaws Bridge
Jaws Bridge appears in Jaws (1975), and is closely associated with the bridge, to the point that it is now better known by Jaws Bridge than by its formal one.
Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza appears in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Along Came Polly (2004), and Sex and the City. It is most famous on screen from Spider-Man 2, but in Seinfeld it is also used as Paisano’s Pizza.
Joker Stairs
Joker Stairs appears in Joker (2019). The staircase is one of the film’s defining locations and associated with Arthur Fleck’s transformation into the Joker.
Katz’s Delicatessen
Katz’s Delicatessen appears in When Harry Met Sally… , Donnie Brasco, Across the Universe, We Own the Night, and The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016).
Key West Lighthouse
Key West Lighthouse is most closely connected to "Licence to Kill" (1989), where it appears during the Key West section of the James Bond film.
La Boite en Bois
La Boite en Bois appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). Rather than being limited to a single episode, the restaurant was used multiple times in the series.
Last Resort Bar
Last Resort Bar in Port Orange, Florida, is a small roadside biker bar with a dark real-life history and a direct connection to "Monster" (2003).
Luke’s Bar & Grill
Luke’s Bar & Grill appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). The exterior was reworked as Poppie’s, the restaurant connected to one of the show’s supporting characters.
O’Neill House
The O’Neill House is best known as a filming location in two feature films: Breathless (1983) and 8 Million Ways to Die (1986).
Oasis Motel
Oasis Motel in Gretna, Louisiana, appears in "Dallas Buyers Club". In the film, the motel becomes one of the places connected to Ron’s underground operation.
Old Joliet Prison
Old Joliet Prison appears in The Blues Brothers (1980), Prison Break (2005–2006), Let’s Go to Prison (2006), Derailed (2005), and Empire (2015–2020).
Pete’s Tavern
Pete’s Tavern appears in Two for the Seesaw (1962), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Rounders (1998), Sex and the City (1998–2004), and several other productions.
Peter McManus Cafe
Peter McManus Cafe appears in Highlander, Radio Days, Keeping the Faith, The Other Guys, Seinfeld, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, and Broad City.
Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps
Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps appear most famously in Rocky (1976), and later returned in several other Rocky and Creed films. They also appear in Shazam.
Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel has appeared in many films, including North by Northwest, Plaza Suite, Arthur, Crocodile Dundee, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and many more.
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall has served as a prominent filming location for movies such as The Godfather, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Rosemary's Baby, and Annie.
Rocky Statue
The Rocky Statue appears in Rocky III (1982), Rocky V (1990), Philadelphia (1993), Creed II (2018), and several later Rocky-related screen works.
Ross Dock Picnic Area
Ross Dock Picnic Area is best known from "Big" (1988). The location also appears in "The Juror" (1996) and "World Trade Center" (2006).
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier appears in numerous productions, including The Sting, Forrest Gump, Ruthless People, Cellular, Iron Man, Her, Modern Family, and Seinfeld.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of New York City’s most famous churches and one of the best-known examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States.
Swifty Laundromat
In Striptease, Swifty Laundromat is used for one of the scenes showing Erin Grant’s everyday life away from the club world that dominates much of the film.
Tacombi Nolita
Tacombi Nolita appears in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016). It is in Season 2, Episode 3, “Ugly,” and places the scene at 267 Elizabeth Street.
Tavern on Main
In 8 Million Ways to Die, Tavern on Main is used as The Keg Bar. The exterior of the bar is shown on Main Street, with Scudder’s apartment located behind it.
Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green has appeared in An Unmarried Woman, It’s My Turn, Arthur, Only When I Laugh, Ghostbusters, Heartburn, Wall Street, Beaches, and many more.
The Arcade Cleveland
The Arcade is strongly connected to "Superman" (2025), where Cleveland doubles for Metropolis. The film uses several Cleveland landmarks, including The Arcade.
The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea
The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea is best known to film fans from Licence to Kill, where it appears during the opening section of the James Bond film.
The Carlyle
The Carlyle has appeared in several productions, including Scarface (1983), Miami Vice, The Birdcage, Pronto, Random Hearts and Bad Boys II.
The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip appears in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016) and Jerry Before Seinfeld (2017). In both, the club is used in connection with stand-up comedy.
The Donut Hole
The Donut Hole has appeared in Moving Violations (1985), Dragnet (1987), and Calendar Girl (1993).
The Ernest Hemingway Home
The Ernest Hemingway Home has appeared in films including "Licence to Kill" (1989) and "The Leisure Seeker" (2017).
The Exorcist House
The Exorcist House refers to the private residence in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., which was used for exterior filming of the 1973 horror movie The Exorcist.
The Exorcist Steps
The Exorcist Steps are a famous 75-step stairway in Washington, D.C. renowned as the filming location for the climax of the 1973 horror film The Exorcist.
The Moorings Village
The Moorings Village is best known as the Rayburn family inn in "Bloodline" (2015–2017). The Netflix series was filmed largely in the Upper Florida Keys.
The Shelley
The Shelley appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). In the series, it serves as the exterior of Jerry’s apartment, even though the character’s address is in Manhattan.
The Viper Room
The Viper Room appears in Valley Girl (1983), The Doors (1991), Be Cool (2005), Daisy Jones & the Six (2023), and Walking the Edge (1985).
Three Twenty One
Three Twenty One appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). It is used as the exterior of George’s apartment building during the earlier part of the series.
Times Square
Times Square has served as a filming location for numerous iconic movies, with famous scenes shot in the area.
Tom’s Restaurant
Tom’s Restaurant appears in Seinfeld, where it serves as the exterior of Monk’s Café, the regular meeting place for Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer.
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998), House on Carroll Street (1988), and Elementary (2012–2019).