Whilst the lower budget means Obi-Wan Kenobi hasn't been able to show off its fantastical locations in as much detail as previous efforts, it nevertheless contains some of the magical quality that makes fictional cities so enticing. Of course, real-life urban locations are harder to make appealing to the audience but plenty of great movies have managed it in the past.
The film buffs of Reddit picked out just some of the movies that did a great job of crafting a city setting that any viewer would want to visit afterward. Whether real or entirely fictional, these are some of the finest examples.
Savannah - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
While thrillers don't always make for great travelogues, Redditor bookstore puts forward "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil for Savannah" and, indeed, its nonfiction roots and its commitment to using real locations in the city of Savannah, Georgia means the intriguing setting ends up front and center.
In the words of its journalist main character, portrayed by John Cusack, "New York is boring" when compared to the weird and wonderful Savannah. An early tour of the city taken by the main character takes in some of the city's greatest hotspots but upper-class parties and courtrooms are just as important to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil's fascinating portrait of Savannah.
Hong Kong - Chungking Express (1994)
Some movies are synonymous with the place in which their set and Chungking Express, a movie comprised of two stories about lovesick Hong Kong cops, is definitely one of these. One Redditor explained the powerful effect of its lively and alluring portrayal of the city by saying "Hong Kong is now at the top of my to-visit list because of that movie."
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, the movie was made on a short time scale with a limited budget and, because of that, there is something very gritty and real about its portrayal of the bustling metropolis. Taking in the area surrounding the Midnight Express fast food place that gave the movie its name, it shows a city full of life at night.
Los Angeles - Nightcrawler (2014)
Whilst Los Angeles may feature in a lot of movies, as itself or in disguise as other cities in many cases, Nightcrawler certainly did something special with it. Redditor Point21Gigawatts noted how the filmmaking played a role in this, saying "Nightcrawler's amazing nighttime cinematography made me really want to visit Los Angeles."
Jake Gyllenhaal's unique journalist main character makes for the perfect lens to see the city through, going to work at night in search of violent events to record. Cities really do come alive at night and, for many fans, Nightcrawler's depiction of a lurid yet beautiful LA was an appealing one.
Fargo - Fargo (1996)
Despite being a movie with one of the most famous misleading titles, Fargo still managed to pique plenty of fans' curiosity about the city that sits between North Dakota and Minnesota. One of these was onlineFace who elaborated that "after watching the movie and tv show I'm really curious to see what Fargo is really like."
While the Coen brothers do a typically fantastic job of portraying Minnesota as a place full of intrigue and character, Fargo itself is curiously absent from the movie to the point of being a source of interest in itself. No more than a single short scene of the movie is actually set in Fargo but it was enough to get plenty of fans interested in the city.
Tokyo - Lost In Translation (2003)
For some film fans, including Redditor superbmil, there's an obvious choice for a movie that could make any fan fall in love with its setting: "Lost in Translation for Tokyo". Inspired by director Sofia Coppola's time in Japan's capital, she does an incredible job of getting across what's to love about the city through a charming romantic comedy/drama.
While some critics suggested that the movie's depiction of Japanese people left a lot to be desired, Coppola made great use of the urban setting itself, utilizing real locations and available light to ensure it felt like a very real and down-to-earth portrayal of Tokyo. Its background role in the melancholic romance made it an appealing destination for a lot of the movie's viewers.
Chicago - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Ferriss Bueller's Day Off is one of the most iconic coming-of-age movies of the 80s and, with its portrayal of a slacker's day off in Chicago, its setting is a huge part of what makes it great. One film fan on Reddit, JMueller2012, puts it as simply as possible "Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Chicago" and many agreed with the sentiment.
Featuring some of Chicago's most famous spots, including the former Sears Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Wrigley Field, the movie is one of the best advertisements for the renowned city. Even more than the bold architecture, however, it's the bold character of John Hughes' unforgettable comedy that makes its setting so memorable.
Vienna - Before Sunrise (1995)
Romance is the perfect genre for portraying what makes a city magical and Redditor PointMan528491 highlights the Before Trilogy as especially perfect for this, putting forward "Before Sunrise and Before Sunset with Vienna and Paris, respectively" as both great choices. However, it is Before Sunrise that stands out for its setting that isn't seen as often in cinema.
The movie is very dialogue-focused rather than being full of action, with some incredibly quotable lines, and this only means more quiet moments to show off the beautiful Austrian capital city. It seems to take on an almost fairytale quality that has stuck with fans of the movie even over 25 years since its release.
Bruges - In Bruges (2008)
In the appropriately blunt tone of some of the movie's dialogue, Redditor ducky_is_me elaborates on their suggestion of In Bruges by explaining "It's set in Bruges." The crime thriller's distinctive black sense of humor may be what it's most remembered for but that doesn't mean it doesn't do a lot for the Belgian capital too.
Centered on two incognito hitmen who have a unique opportunity to get to know the city whilst hiding out after a bungled mission, the movie manages to show off a lot of the beauty of the historic city, though some intense action may make it a little hard to focus on. Nevertheless, it's a movie that's synonymous with its city location and a favorite amongst movie fans.
Paris - Midnight In Paris (2011)
Paris has long been famous as the city of romance so it takes a lot to make the French capital even more of an appealing destination. For some Redditors there is one movie in recent memory that succeeded in doing just that, with one explaining "this might be a bit too obvious of a choice, but Midnight in Paris."
Although the city is incredibly beautiful, every background looking straight out of a painting, just like the main character's relationship, it's possible that this idealized version of the city doesn't tell the full story. Nevertheless, it's impossible not to fall in love with the Paris seen in the movie, with every landscape somehow more enticing than the last as the movie's plot gets more fantastical.
Cloud City - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
If the city locations of Earth in the present are appealing then there's definitely also a strong draw to the fantastical locations of a galaxy far far away. Redditor Geers- explains the appeal of one location from the Star Wars movies that particularly stands out, saying simply that "Cloud City is friggin' awesome."
Contrasted against the jungle swamps of Dagobah, Cloud City seems like a paradise in the sky as a futuristic floating metropolis full of bright clean lines and lappings of luxury. Though that doesn't prevent imperial meddling, it's easy to see why Lando adopted the place as his home as there are a lot of fans that wouldn't mind doing likewise.