Location, Location, Location: 5 Good Movies Filmed in Atlanta
In today’s day and age, you never really know where a movie was shot. Unless it specifically trying to be, say, a New York movie, you’re probably being tricked into where the movie was actually filmed. Case in point, this weekend’s release of Insurgent – a movie that takes place in a dystopia-ruined Chicago – was actually filmed in Atlanta (among other places).
Although I was initially disappointed to find out I wouldn’t be running at Top 5 Chicago movies, I did come around to the idea of an Atlanta-themed post.
Below you can find five good movies that were filmed in (or around) Atlanta. Enjoy!
I’ll admit that I didn’t actually know that 2013’s Prisoners was filmed in Georgia. The film is supposed to take place in rural Pennsylvania but did a lot of principal photography in Georgia. I decided to include the film because I believe it is criminally-overlooked as one of the better movies of the past couple years. Its setting isn’t essential to the story – or, maybe I should clarify: the fact that it’s filmed in Atlanta isn’t that essential. However, the beautiful landscape is part of the reason cinematographer Roger Deakins was (again) nominated for an Academy Award.
Like most movies, Zombieland split its filming locations with some (including the culminating theme park third act) taking place in Los Angeles. However, the majority of the film was actually filmed in or around Atlanta. Of the most note is Bill Murray’s mansion which was filmed at a mansion in Atlanta. For this alone, we’ve got to include the movie on an Atlanta-themed list.
You’d expect almost any list coming out in anticipation of Insurgent to involve The Hunger Games. They are, after all, both hugely popular YA franchises. This comparison will have to wait until another because today they’re being compared because of filming location. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 all had considerable shooting occur in Atlanta. I’d include this higher on the list if it hadn’t been for the fact that most of the actual arena scenes took place in Hawaii. Still, it’s worth mentioning when bringing up Atlanta’s filming history.
For the second week in a row, I’ve got to mention Remember the Titans. The Disney football film, which captured the hearts of many back in 2000, has a serious tie-in to Atlanta and, more importantly, the deep South. With a story that’s based on racism, prejudice, and inequality, Georgia seemed like a natural fit for the film. The story itself takes place in Virginia but Atlanta made it far more authentic than any coastal studio.
I don’t want to steal all the thunder away from Selma – this past year’s look at Martin Luther King, Jr’s iconic march. It makes sense to piggy-back on Remember the Titans and say some of the same things. Selma sets itself apart because it is based on a true story and, due to recent events, is as important as ever. Atlanta, both as a setting and a filming location, is an integral part to Selma and all similarly-themed films. It’s really a no-brainer at number one, despite it being a film that’s been out less than three months.
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Other movies I considered were Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Fast Five, and Flight. Any others? Sound off in the comments below.
