Popular Movies and Television Shows Set in Miami
Miami’s tropical climate and stunning architecture make it an extremely popular destination, not just for holiday makers, but also for many of the industry’s top film and television producers who have filmed here in the past.
Miami’s tropical weather, beautiful locations and vibrant culture have made the area an extremely popular setting for many movies and television shows. Miami itself is one one of the largest film production and distribution centres, not just in the USA, but the entire world. Some truly memorable scenes from many classic productions have been shot in and around Miami, so it’s likely for visitors to spot a familiar location when travelling through the area.
When thinking of famous Miami-based movies one tends to spring to mind - the Brian De Palma classic, Scarface.
The movie was shot almost entirely in Miami and features a number of hotels and buildings that remain instantly recognisable to fans of the film. The De Palma and Pacino love affair with Miami continued in 1993, when they reunited to shoot Carlito’s Way, a movie which has gone on to achieve cult status.Some other world-renowned movies that have been shot in Miami include The Bodyguard, Donnie Brasco, Blow, True Lies, Any Given Sunday, Casino Royale, Ali and Bad Boys & Bad Boys II, to name but a few.
Many popular television shows have also been shot in Miami over the years; including Dexter, Charlie’s Angels and Burn Notice. Arguably the TV series most synonymous with the Magic City is Miami Vice. This popular crime drama ran from 1986-1990 and set the tone for many shows that followed.
As a filming location, Miami also has big international appeal. Due to the high Hispanic population, numerous Spanish-speaking shows are created in Miami every year. In fact, 55% of Miami citizens list Spanish as their first language.
One of the first Bollywood movies to be produced entirely outside of India, Dostana (translated as ‘friendship’) was filmed in Miami in 2008. Incidentally the movie went on to become one of the highest grossing Bollywood movies of that year.
Miami has also been an influence for a number of high profile video game developers. Perhaps the best example being Rockstar Games’ GTA Vice City, which is set in a city heavily based on 1980s Miami. The game is widely considered the best of the extremely successful GTA franchise and was the best selling Playstation 2 game of all time.
There are a number of open-top bus tours which circulate Miami, offering tourists a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of some iconic movie landmarks, from stunning beaches to classic Miami hotels. Some typical sights may include the Sun Life Stadium, the home of NFL team Miami Dolphins that was featured in the movie Ace Ventura; or even the cemetery where Michael’s Jackson revolutionary Thriller video was shot.
With so much to offer, it’s easy to see why Miami is such a popular destination for film makers and fans alike.
Article submitted by Harald Bindeus, Director of Sales & Marketing at Grand Beach Hotel Miami. This Miami hotel was built and opened in 2009 and is located right on the Atlantic Ocean close to South Beach. For more information visit www.miamihotelgrandbeach.com.
