October 30, 2024 | Jack Hawkins

These American Streets Have Made The Most Movie Appearances


These American Streets Have Made The Most Movie Appearances

America—the home of Hollywood and the center of all things movies and television. It's no surprise that many major American cities and their streets have featured dozens of times on the big screen. Is your street among the most-filmed city streets in America?

Rss Thumb - American Filming Streets

Hollywood Boulevard: Los Angeles, CA

Of course, the most-filmed street in America was going to be Hollywood Boulevard, credited with appearances in a whopping 133 movies. Movies such as The Italian Job (2003), The Muppet Movie (1979), along with many other classics have all been filmed on this iconic street.

Hollywood Boulevard at duskSean Pavone, Shutterstock

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Sunset Boulevard: Los Angeles, CA

Another LA location that's heavily used by the film industry is Sunset Boulevard. Movies like Million Dollar Baby (2004), Gunsmoke (1955), and the 1997 crime thriller L.A. Confidential, all conducted some filming on Sunset Boulevard. In total, 64 movies were filmed on LA's second-most famous boulevard.

Sunset Boulevard at Magic HourChrisGoldNY, Flickr

Park Avenue: New York City, NY

New York City's Park Avenue is home to the city's richest, living in some of the most lavish apartment buildings. Some of the most well-known movies to be filmed on Park Ave include Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Godfather, Part III (1990), and Eddie Murphy's Coming To America (1988). In total, Park Avenue is credited in 61 movies as the primary filming location.

Park Avenue looking south toward the MetLife Buildingmidweekpost, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Broadway: Manhattan, NY

Alongside being one of the world's best-known theaters, Broadway in Manhattan is also one of New York's most iconic streets. It's been credited in a total of 51 movies, among some of the most famous are The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013), The Godfather (1972), and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004).

Screenshot of the movie The Wolf of Wall StreetRed Granite Pictures, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

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5th Avenue: New York City, NY

Another famous New York City street is 5th Avenue, home to Jessica Lange and Patti Smith—and credited as filming locations for 46 movies, including: Spider-Man (2002), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and American Psycho (2000). 

Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of ArtA. Balet, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Wall Street: New York City, NY

The iconic financial center of the United States has also been the site of many a great movie—not all of them have been about money, either! Among the most well-known is Leonardo Di Caprio's The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013), The Devil's Advocate (1997), Independence Day (1996), and at least 45 other movies.

The Main Entrance to the New York Stock ExchangeKen Lund, Flickr

Vine Street: Los Angeles, CA

Vine Street is LA's third-most sought after street for filmmakers in California. Movies such as The Big Lebowski (1998), Rush Hour (1998), Get Him To The Greek (2010), and Ocean's Eleven (2001) graced Vine Street with their presence, and are just a few of the 35 movies where Vine Street is credited as the filming location.

Screenshot of the movie Get Him to the GreekUniversal, Get Him to the Greek (2010)

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Wilshire Boulevard: Los Angeles, CA

A 15.81-mile stretch of prime filming real estate in Los Angeles, Wilshire Boulevard is another popular LA filming location. It has been credited as a filming location in 31 movies, including The Addams Family (1991), Secretary (2002), and Zodiac (2007).

Wilshire Boulevard at Hope StreeDowntowngal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mulholland Drive: Los Angeles, CA

Mulholland Drive is one of the most iconic roads in LA, credited as the filming location in 28 movies, including the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, Commando (1985), and an eponymous movie, Mulholland Drive (2001), about a Hollywood-hopeful that becomes amnesiac after a car accident on the stretch of road. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover's action flick Lethal Weapon 2 also contained scenes from Mulholland Drive.

Mulholland Drive from aboveKimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Market Street: San Francisco, CA

One of the most iconic streets in America is Market Street, where the trams still run today, as they did in the 1940s, and the street life is still bustling and busy as ever. The tram-heavy location was chosen as one filming location for 28 movies, including Zodiac (2007), Milk (2008), and Herbie Rides Again 1974).

Market Street, Downtown San FranciscoThe Erica Chang, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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South Broadway: Los Angeles, California

Another Californian hotspot for movie filming is South Broadway. Many notable movies have featured the Bradbury Building, which stands on the corner of South Broadway and West 3rd Street. Among the 15 movies that South Broadway has appeared in, some include Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), (500) Days Of Summer (2009), and The Artist (2011).

Bradbury Building on the cornerMikeJiroch, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Santa Monica Boulevard: Los Angeles, CA

Santa Monica Boulevard is LA's spectacular seaside destination for tourists and locals who love the beach. The same is true of beach-centric movies and those that want to capture the essence of a beautiful west coast sunset. 12 movies have credited Santa Monica Boulevard as their filming location, these include L.A. Confidential (1997) and Body Double (1986).

Santa Monica BoulevardPatrick, Flickr

Olvera Street: Los Angeles, CA

Olvera Street is another historic street in LA, a long stretch of road, mostly used by pedestrians, in the south of the city. Among the 14 movies that are credited with filming there, Olvera Street has seen Runaway Jury (2003) and Transformers: Dark Side Of The Moon (2011) take up residence on its historic sidewalks.

Olvera Street the oldest part of Downtown Los AngelesKen Lund, Flickr

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Central Park West: New York City, NY

Central Park in New York City is one of the world's most famous parks and is often a hotspot for film crews who want to capture the intimate setting of the city's park. Among the 20 movies that list Central Park in their location credits are: Night At The Museum (2006), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and Home Alone 2, and many more.

Screenshot of the movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkTwentieth Century, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Madison Avenue: New York City, NY

Another shout for an iconic NYC street: Madison Avenue. Home of American advertising since the 1920s, this banner-filled hotspot must require a lot of post-processing by film crews. Still, that hasn't stopped at least 20 movies from being filmed on Madison Avenue. These include Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and American Gangster (2007).

Madison Avenue in ManhattanEpicgenius, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

3rd Avenue, New York City, NY

Another popular New York Avenue for filming is 3rd Ave. Whether it's Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976) or if you were in town when Cloverfield (2008) was filmed on 3rd Avenue, at least 12 movies have been filmed here. 

750 Third Avenue, at 3rd AvenueTdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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California Street, San Francisco, CA

Not much by way of ingenuity when the street was named, it must be said. But nevertheless, California Street is San Francisco's second-most popular street for filming. 12 movies have been filmed there, including The Princess Diaries (2001), Venom (2018), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

555 California Street, formerly Bank of America CenterKen Lund, Flickr

Hyde Street: San Francisco, CA

If you're not filming on Market or California Street in San Fran, chances are you're filming on Hyde. With nine movies credited with filming there, the most popular include Doctor Doolittle (1998), So, I Married An Axe Murderer (1993), and the super-popular TV series, Full House (1987-1995).

View from Hyde StreetTruus, Bob & Jan too!, Flickr

Lower Wacker Drive: Chicago, IL

Some of the grittiest crime thrillers in Chicago have been filmed on Lower Wacker Drive. Among the seven accreditations for Lower Wacker Drive, some of the most popular movies are The Dark Knight (2008) and Batman Begins (2005).

Wacker Drive is a major street in Chicago, Illinois, United States(vincent desjardins),, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Lake Shore Drive: Chicago, IL

Many famous movies have made the trip down Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago. Among the six credits given to Lake Shore by IMDB are: Ferris Bueller's Day Off  (1986), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), and My Best Friend's Wedding (1997).

Chicago- Lake Shore DriveRoman Boed, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bourbon Street: New Orleans, LA

By far the most popular street in New Orleans' French Quarter is Bourbon Street. It's no wonder, given the amount of tourists that frequent the place, that film execs choose to film on the iconic street. Bourbon Street is credited as the location in 16 movies, including Live And Let Die (1973), Point Of No Return (1993), and Tightrope (1984).

Bourbon Street before the crowds come at nightChris Litherland, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Canal Street: New Orleans, LA

Another New Orleans hotspot for filming is Canal Street. This boundary area of the French Quarter is credited as the filming location in at least 19 movies, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Logan (2017), and Geostorm (2017).

Canal Street is in the city's oldest neighborhoodKen Lund, Flickr

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Pirate Alley: New Orleans, LA

One of the lesser-known movie locations in New Orleans, Pirate Alley has been credited as the location in five movies and TV shows, including Dracula 2000 (2000) and The Steel Trap (1952).

Pirates Alley the cobblestone pedestrian walkwaytkoltz, Flickr

Rodeo Drive: Beverly Hills, CA

From Hollywood to San Fran to Beverly Hills, film crews sure do film in California a lot, don't they? Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills has featured in over 60 movies, according to IMDB. These include: Clueless (1995), Beverly Hills Cops: Axel F (2024), and Pretty Woman (1990).

Screenshot of the movie Pretty WomanTouchstone, Pretty Woman (1990)

South Virginia Street: Reno, NV

South Virginia Street is one of Reno's most popular locations for filming. If you're a film buff, hang out long enough and you might catch a glimpse of a film set going up. South Virginia has been credited with 45 movies filmed on location, including Sister Act (1992), Kingpin (1996), and The Muppets (2011).

Virginia Street at nightTom, Flickr

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East Fremont Street: Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas' East Fremont Street is the second-most famous street in Las Vegas, after the Las Vegas Strip. East Fremont is credited with 42 movie appearances, including The Stand (1994), Honey, I Blew Up The Kid (1992), and Frank And Lola (2016).

Entering Fremont East DistrictKen Lund, Flickr

Center Street: Piru, CA

Center Street in Piru runs across Main Street, ending at Real Canyon. Center Street is credited with 19 movie appearances, including in films such as A Star Is Born (1954), Space Cowboys (2000), and a few episodes of Mission: Impossible from the 1960s.

Piru Meat MarketDon Barrett, Flickr

Boardwalk: Atlantic City, NJ

The iconic boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ is favored by many a visiting tourist for a leisurely stroll along the eastern seaboard, overlooking the ocean. The Boardwalk in Atlantic City is also a favorite spot for movie shoots, with 43 movies filmed there. Among the standouts are Ocean's Eleven (2001), Warrior (2011), and Snake Eyes (1998).

Atlantic City boardwalkautiscy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Pennsylvania Avenue NW: Washington DC

Of course, the grounds of The White House are going to be one of the most popular filming locations in the country, with the innumerable political shows and thrillers that have been filmed at the iconic location. Pennsylvania Avenue NW has been credited by IMDB with 190 credits as the filming location, including Air Force One (1997), Body of Lies (2008), and Clear And Present Danger (1994). 

View down Pennsylvania AvenueBen Schumin, Flickr

Beale Street: Memphis, TN

Beale Street in Memphis is one of Tennessee's popular streets for filming, with 10 movies credited as being filmed there, including The Firm (1993) and Mystery Train (1989).

Beale Street, MemphisMatt Lancashire, Flickr

Cannery Row: Monterey, CA

Monterey is another of California's hotbeds for filming, with Cannery Row being among the most popular places in the city. 19 movies credit the street for their filming, including Ratched (2020), Invincible (2001), and a 1986 Star Trek movie, The Voyage Home.

Monterey Cannery RowThank You (25 Millions ), Flickr

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Market Street: Philadelphia, PA

Market Street is a long stretch of East-West highway in Philly that's been the site of dozens of movies, including Rocky (1976), Blow Out (1981), and Twelve Monkeys (1995).

Market Street is dividing line for the ProfReader, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Try That In A Small Town Location Stirs Controversy

Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" country music hit is one of his best-known songs, but the music video shot in 2023 caused uproar when it utilized the location of the Maury County Courthouse—a courthouse that had been the site of a lynching in the state in 1927. While Aldean defended the use of the courthouse, the tone of the song and the imagery of the video spurred accusations of racism and, at the very least, tone-deafness from Aldean.

Maury County CourthouseBrent Moore, Flickr


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