October 13, 2016, 3:28 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Imagine strutting through a casino like George Clooney in “Ocean’s Eleven,” lounging on the legendary “The Beach” like Leonardo DiCaprio, or crawling through the entrance of a Hobbit house like Elijah Wood—we present 10 locations where you can walk in the footsteps of your film idols.
1. Matamata (Hobbiton), North Island, New Zealand (“The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”)
The lush green landscape with its charming hills in the Waikato region was the filming location for the Shire in Middle-earth. The small town of Hobbiton was once built here and later dismantled. For the later filming of “The Hobbit,” the town was rebuilt and has served as a tourist attraction since the end of filming.
“It’s fantastic that this place remains after filming, and you can experience it live,” said a visitor on Tripadvisor.
2. Bellagio, Las Vegas (“Ocean’s Eleven” and “Ocean’s 13”)
The casino hotel in Las Vegas serves as the main filming location for the movie, where the crew led by Brad Pitt and George Clooney plans a spectacular heist: the looting of the casino vault, which is said to contain around $160 million. They celebrate their successful robbery in front of the famous Bellagio fountains.
A Tripadvisor user: “Standing where Clooney and Pitt once stood: amazing! I could watch the lights and water show over and over…”
3. Park Hyatt in Tokyo (“Lost in Translation”)
The film tells the love story between Bob (played by Bill Murray), a U.S. actor in the midst of a life crisis who travels to Japan for a commercial shoot, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a younger woman dissatisfied with her life who accompanies her husband on a business trip. They meet at the hotel and spend many hours together.
A Tripadvisor user about the Park Hyatt: “We really enjoyed our stay here… I watched ‘Lost in Translation’ on the flight back :)”
4. Devil’s Tower, Wyoming (“Close Encounters of the Third Kind”)
Legend has it that the unusual shape of the “Devil’s Tower” comes from a giant bear clawing at the mountain to retrieve a princess from the summit. It was likely less this story and more the almost alien appearance that led Steven Spielberg in the ’70s to film the alien landing here.
“What a beautiful landscape. I kept thinking about the scenes from the movie,” said a visitor on Tripadvisor.
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5. Gloucester Cathedral, England (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “Doctor Who”)
Visitors to this site won’t encounter Nearly Headless Nick or Moaning Myrtle, but stepping through the old wooden door into the crypt might lead to encounters with ghosts of monks from the old monastery.
Several scenes from three of the “Harry Potter” films were shot here, including the one where Harry and Ron hide from the evil troll.
Gloucester Cathedral also served as a backdrop for the “Doctor Who” series.
A Tripadvisor user: “You immediately recognize this building from movies like Harry Potter and Doctor Who.”
6. Ko Phi Phi Le, Thailand (“The Beach”)
For many, the bay seen in the film with Leonardo DiCaprio has become the epitome of a dream beach. However, those expecting solitude and seclusion in Maya Bay on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh will be disappointed. The island, part of the Ko Phi Phi Don archipelago in the Andaman Sea, is now a mass destination.
A Tripadvisor user: “As a fan of the movie, visiting was a must for me. I wanted to be in the same places as DiCaprio.”
7. Gavurdere Viaduct, Turkey (“Skyfall”)
The massive stone arch bridge with its eleven arches is nearly 100 meters high, making it the tallest railway bridge in Turkey. In the opening sequence of the James Bond film, the climax of a dramatic chase scene takes place on the viaduct, which is also a key scene for the entire film plot.
“The famous Skyfall bridge is an architectural masterpiece,” writes a visitor on Tripadvisor. “It’s quite eerie to look down into the abyss from so high up.”
8. Ta Prohm – Siem Reap, Cambodia (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”)
For the film adaptation of one of the most successful video games of all time, the temple complex of Angkor Wat served as a backdrop in four scenes. There, Lara Croft searches for a relic.
A Tripadvisor user about the site: “Unbelievable, unbelievable… I definitely need to watch Tomb Raider again!”
9. Marriott Marquis, Atlanta (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”)
In the film version of the “Hunger Games” trilogy, the Capitol is the capital of the fictional state of Panem. Its residents are the wealthiest citizens of the country, living in decadent luxury compared to most people in the districts. The Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta serves as the backdrop for the luxury quarters with glass elevators.
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10. Sky Bar, Lebua, Bangkok (“Hangover 2”)
After the huge success of the first “Hangover” film, which took place in Las Vegas, the sequel is set in Thailand. Many scenes were shot in Bangkok’s Chinatown and the entertainment district Soi Cowboy. One of the absolute highlight locations is the Sky Bar of the luxury hotel Lebua, offering a breathtaking view of the Thai capital. Only a glass wall separates the guest from the traffic far below.
Find more stories about famous filming locations here!
11. The Flintstone House, San Francisco, USA
The animated series about the Flintstone family living in the Stone Age wasn’t filmed in this house. So Florence Fang simply recreated the house from the series. The property is located near San Francisco and is guarded by fake mammoths and dinosaur figures. Curious? Learn more in this video:
The successful animated series is set to have a sequel in 2021, as reported by the magazine “Variety”.