Have you ever wanted to see what your favorite movie looks like in real life? There are many film locations in the U.S. that you can experience up close and personal. From the iconic scenes in Ghostbusters to the Hunger Games franchise, there are movie locations for everyone to enjoy.


Locations Of Famous Movie Scenes In The U.S.


1. Ghostbusters Headquarters

The Ghostbusters headquarters, or Hook and Ladder No. 8, is a must-see for any movie fanatic. Located in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan at 14 North Moore Street, this firehouse is still operating today. The station is immediately recognizable with Ghostbusters artwork on the sidewalk. Other scenes from Ghostbusters were filmed throughout New York City, including in New York Public Library, where the Ghostbusters encountered their first ghost. The library was featured in many other movies including The Day After Tomorrow and Spider-Man. The subway and bus are near both locations and entrance to the library is free.


2. Hunger Games Locations

Many scenes of the Hunger Games series were filmed in areas of Atlanta, Georgia and North Carolina and can be visited easily. The Marriott Marquis Hotel was where the victors stayed in the second film, Catching Fire, and it features the popular glass elevator shown in the movie. The hotel is located at 265 Peachtree Center Avenue in downtown Atlanta. Atlanta’s historic Swan House was also used as President Snow’s manor in Catching Fire. District 12, Katniss Everdeen’s home district, was actually an abandoned textile mill called Henry River Mill Village in Hickory, NC. Peeta’s bakery and sections of the town are still existent. Tours are offered by Hunger Games Unofficial Fan Tours for $50 and include activities and food. The tours are only offered on weekends and you should book in advance.


3. Monument Valley Western Films

Monument Valley features the prominent red buttes that are seen in dozens of films including old westerns and modern classics. You may have seen Monument Valley in scenes from National Lampoon’s Vacation and Back to the Future III. It can also be seen in Forrest Gump, when Forrest is running across the country, and in Disney’s The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp. Old westerns starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda were also filmed at Monument Valley. It is located in southern Utah near the Arizona border on Navajo Nation land. There is a $20 entrance fee per car and it is best to visit the park in the fall.


4. Philadelphia’s Rocky Scenes

It’s estimated that Rocky’s infamous run ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was about 30 miles long. See the steps Rocky ran up and try for yourself. Then, take a triumphant picture with your arms up in there overlooking Philly. The museum is located at 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy and at the bottom of the stairs you will find a bronze statue of Rocky seen in the films. You have to try Pat’s King of Steaks, where Rocky stops for a classic Philly Cheesesteak briefly in the movie.


5. Shawshank Redemption

The Ohio State Reformatory was featured in scenes of the 1994 film, Shawshank Redemption. The office of the Prison Warden and Andy Dufresne’s escape tunnel are a few of the places you can see from the movie. The prison was also used in Air Force One with Harrison Ford and the TV show Ghost Hunters. General admission for a self-guided tour is $12 and guided tours, offered on Saturdays and Sundays, are $17. The reformatory is closed from September to April for public tours and is located in Mansfield, Ohio. They are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April-September and closed for major holidays.


6. Blade Runner

The Ennis House in Los Angeles was built in 1924 and has been featured in many movies and TV shows. The house architecture was inspired by Mayan revival and was used in the 1982 Blade Runner. Exterior scenes for the movie were shot at the home and interior scenes were recreated in a studio. The house was also seen in scenes of The Karate Kid III and House on Haunted Hill. The house is located at 2607 Glendower Avenue and is a private residence. The famous house is visible from the street, but be mindful of the neighborhood.


7. Robocop

Robocop is supposedly set is futuristic Detroit, however most scenes were filmed in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas City Hall is the headquarters of ‘Omni Consumer Products’ and is located at 1500 Marilla Street. There are many other areas of Dallas seen in the movie including the Dallas Police Station. Take a self-guided tour of the city and see how many scenes you can spot.


8. Back to the Future

There are many film locations to see in Los Angeles, but you can’t miss the Gamble House featured in the 1985 film ‘Back to the Future.’ The Gamble House is located in Pasadena, Ca, at 4 Westmoreland Pl. Owned by David B. Gamble, of the Procter & Gamble Company, the house was built in 1908. It was used as the home of Dr. Emmett Brown in the movie. It is a National Historic Landmark and offers tours frequently. Tours of the grounds and inside of the house are offered for $15 per person. It is recommended to book in advance and photography is not allowed inside the house.


9. Universal Studio Tours

The studio tours offered at Universal Studios Hollywood gives insider perspective on classic films shot at Universal Studios. The tram tour serves as a ride and a tour. Actual film sets of the movies Psycho, Back to the Future and War of the Worlds. The tour reenacts the classic Bates Motel scene and scenes from Jaws. This 40-50 minute tour is informative and exciting and is included with park admission. A one-day ticket starts at $95 a person and a VIP Experience is also offered to go behind-the-scenes of closed movie sets.



This article was written by Taylor Bishop.