In the world of cinema, the term mise-en-scène is highly nuanced and complex. However, if we get down to its nitty-gritty, the location of a movie's set is among its most essential elements. What makes movie locations so fascinating is that there's often a lot more to them than meets the eye. What may appear as a fascinating backdrop in a movie may not be as distinct in real life.
For instance, the sets of post-apocalyptic movies like I Am Legend are purposefully marred with bleak visuals of barren cities. However, in real life, these cities are a far cry from their movie portrayals. Similarly, a lot of times, filmmakers not only remodel but reinvent movie locations in such a way that they appear to be wholly different places on-screen.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017) - Hawaii
Judging by its rich wildlife and verdant forest visuals, many might assume that the fantastical world of Jumanji was filmed somewhere in the African forests. Not to mention, even Robin Williams once revealed that the game's title Jumanji translates to "many effects" in South Africa's Zulu.
However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was not filmed in Africa. It was filmed at the Kualoa Mountains of Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, which is known to be a popular filming location for Hollywood films. Other than Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jurassic Park, King Kong, and Lost have also been filmed there.
Beauty And The Beast (2017) - England
The 2017 retelling of the renowned fairy tale Beauty and the Beast unfolds in an 18th-century French village. However, the film was originally filmed far from its setup.
The filming of the Disney live-action film predominantly took place at Shepperton Studios in south-east England. Over the years, Disney has become a regular visitor to the UK. Other than Beauty and the Beast, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Mary Poppins Returns are among the many films that have been shot there.
Atomic Blonde (2017) - Budapest
Charlize Theron starter Atomic Blonde is a one-of-a-kind spy thriller. It centers on Lorraine Broughton, an elite M-16 spy who races against time to pull off an impossible mission.
Based on an eponymous graphic novel, the events of the movie unfold right after the fall of the Berlin wall in the German capital itself. However, in the movie, Budapest is disguised as the movie's German backdrop. Unsurprisingly, because of Budapest's neo-gothic architecture, it is often depicted as many different European nations in cinema.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - Germany
Academy Award favorite The Grand Budapest Hotel remains to be among Wes Anderson's best works. Apart from its captivating fictionalized historical storytelling, the movie uses its whimsical visuals and undercurrent of dark themes to fascinate viewers.
In all of its illusive thoughtfulness, there lies another nagging question: was it filmed in the titular location? Well, it wasn't. Its iconic cake shop Mendl’s, however, was filmed in a real German bakery called Pfunds Dairy.
Cloverfield (2008) - Los Angeles
Directed by Matt Reeves, Cloverfield is touted as a dystopian thriller that unfolds in New York City replete with human-hunting monsters. As convincing as its New York setup may seem, the film was actually shot in Los Angeles.
From Warner Bros Burbank lot's "New York Street" to San Pedro's LA Harbor District, the movie walks viewers through several locations of the City of Angels. Even the scene where the head of the Statue of Liberty falls into a crowded street was shot in L.A.
Scarface (1983) - Los Angeles
This one might come as a surprise for fans of Al Pacino's classic. Scarface tells the story of Tony Montana, who arrives broke in Miami. But soon joining forces with his close friend Manny, he climbs his way to the top by building a drug empire in the Sunshine State.
Remade from a pre-Code gangster film of the same name, Scarface peels its several layers with scintillating realism. And impressively, its makers recreated its Los Angeles set in such a way that it's hard to believe it was shot anywhere outside Miami.
Full Metal Jacket (1987) - London
Who would have thought that what appears to be war-torn Vietnam in Full Metal Jacket is actually an enormous abandoned gasworks at Beckton, East London? Even the Parris Island Marine boot camp in the movie was only a redesigned former Royal Air Force station and then British Army base in Bassingbourn Barracks.
This wasn't the first time Stanley Kubrick recreated a whole nation through set designs and creative filming. From creating a futuristic world out of Southern England in 2001: A Space Odyssey to reanimating London as Manhattan in Eyes Wide Shut, the filmmaker's vision for set designs was clearly like no other.
Casablanca (1942) - Los Angeles
Often labeled with the "Greatest of All Time" tag—and rightfully so—Casablanca has aged like fine wine. With its memorable romantic duo Bogie and Bergman, elegant direction, and dramatic plot, the film has now become a legend among the classics.
Many cinephiles would be surprised to know that the movie was filmed nowhere close to Casablanca. It was entirely shot at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. The opening scene, being an exception, was filmed at Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys, Los Angeles.
Dallas Buyer's Club (2013) - New Orleans
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club revolves around a Texas-based rodeo who contracts AIDS. When he learns that a banned drug can help AIDS patients live longer, he tries to find loopholes in the system to smuggle medicines and help the needy.
McConaughey's accent and brilliant performance might have given off a Texan vibe to many viewers. However, the film was actually shot in New Orleans, where Louisiana city doubled for Dallas\.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Ireland
Ranking among the best war movies of all time, Saving Private Ryan takes viewers on an epic journey through the Normandy invasion of World War II. Eight men led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) are assigned to look for Private James (Matt Damon) whose three brothers died in combat. Through the bravery and loss, courage, and sacrifice of its protagonists, the film completely immerses a viewer.
Due to this, many may not realize that it wasn't filmed in Normandy at all. Instead, its filming took place at Ballinesker Beach in Ireland where over 2500 Irish Reserve Army troops were hired for filming the opening sequence.