Philadelphia has become a popular location for filmmakers over the years, and the city’s historic architecture and urban charm make for great backdrops.
Philadelphia has a long and storied history of filmmaking. From the awesomely cheesy 1980s horror flick Maniac to the unforgettable story of a black woman accused of killing her white husband in Mildred Pierce, our city is home to some of America’s most iconic movies.
The city also boasts a wonderful collection of historic sites and neighborhoods that have been featured in many films, from classic dramas like Schindler’s List and The Departed to blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Avengers: Infinity War. You can even find filming locations for popular shows like True Blood and Game of Thrones.
To celebrate Philadelphia’s rich cinematic history, we’ve rounded up five movies that were filmed here — and you probably didn’t know about them!
The Artist (2011)
The silent film star Charlie Chaplin lives in a run-down alley in this classic romantic comedy. The movie was mostly shot on location at the Golden City, an amusement park that was located on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Matt Damon’s character becomes a pawn in an international conspiracy when he’s framed for murdering an agent who was tracking him down. The Bourne Supremacy was shot almost entirely inside Philadelphia City Hall, including the courtroom scenes where Damon’s character is tried for his crimes.
The Departed (2006)
In this crime drama set in Boston during the 1970s, Jack Nicholson plays Frank Costello, a mobster who plots to kill his former partners from organized crime. The Departed features many shots of downtown buildings and landmarks like Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross Bridge. Plus, it was filmed at several locations throughout Philadelphia—including Independence Mall
Rocky (1976) and sequels
Rocky’s working-class hero’s journey has been shot in places such as Kensington, Philadelphia City Hall, Italian Market, Philadelphia Museum of Art, etc.
The boxing quest to beat Apollo Creed became the very spirit of the Philly culture after the widespread success of the Rocky franchise.
Sixth Sense (1999)
The mind-blowing thriller was a breakthrough starring Bruce Willis. It defined a whole subgenre of thrillers. M. Night Shyamalan, the filmmaker behind Sixth Sense, is a Philly native and has made many other movies as well – all in Philadelphia! These include Unbreakable and Silk.
Wrapping up
Philadelphia is known for its cheese steaks and its sports teams, but it’s also a great place to make movies.
The city has been home to a number of major studios, including Columbia Pictures and Universal Studios, which produced some of the biggest blockbusters in history. One of the many problems with shooting films here has been the accidents and legal troubles.
On that note, if you’re ever in the need of some legal help – don’t be a stranger! We have the best Philadelphia personal injury lawyers as well as attorneys for other requirements.
As one of Philadelphia’s most reputable law firms, Philadelphia Injury Lawyers P.C. has represented everyone from the common citizen to film stars in all types of injury-related cases! Our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers are excellent and skilled. Learn more on our website: https://philly-injury-law.com/
