9 Oscar-Worthy Film Locations You Can Visit in Real Life
While much of the country is in the thralls of winter, Hollywood is in the midst of another season: awards season. We’ve already watched stars bring home coveted trophies at the Golden Globes and Critic's Choice Awards, but the main event is just getting started.
The Academy Awards are set to take place on Feb. 24, and on Tuesday morning, the nominees were announced. While film fans are busy speculating about this year’s winners, we're busy planning getaways inspired by this year’s nominated films. From visiting a castle in England that appeared in the historical period drama, “The Favourite,” to spending the night in a popular Los Angeles hotel from “A Star Is Born,” here are nine filming locations from seven movies you can visit while you wait to see who takes home an Oscar next month.
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
Locations: New York City and the Dominican Republic
Based on the novel by the same name, “If Beale Street Could Talk” is a film set in 1970s New York City, and that’s exactly where the majority of filming was done. The part love story, part drama filmed along Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem and Minetta Street in Greenwich Village was the set for Tish and Fonny’s romantic walk in the rain. (Fun fact: the rain was unexpected, so the umbrella was completely improvised.)
Aside from filming in Manhattan, the cast — of which Regina King is nominated for Best Supporting Actress — and crew of the film did head to the Dominican Republic for a few days. The island was a stand in for Puerto Rico where parts of the movie take place.
“Roma”
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Even before appearing as the backdrop of this critically acclaimed film, the Mexican capital was seeing a boom in tourism. Between the incredible street food, world-class art and history, it’s easy to understand why. But, Alfonso Cuarón's autobiographical movie, “Roma,” which is up for nine Academy Awards, brings even more attention to the stunning city. Although the filming locations are relatively modest — small homes compared to main attractions — it could be a fun addition to your itinerary if you’re already planning a trip. (And February, happily, is one of the best times to visit Mexico.)
Head to 22 Tepeji Street, Colonia Roma, which is the address of the house where the movie was filmed. Just across the street, at 21 Tepeji Street, is the original house belonging to Cuarón.
“A Star Is Born”
Location: Los Angeles, California
You could make an entire Hollywood itinerary based on the filming locations of “A Star Is Born,” which is nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture. They shot at iconic locations such as Griffith Park, The Short Stop bar in Echo Park, the Regent Theater, the Greek Theater (where Jackson brings Ally on stage for the first time), the Shrine Auditorium (where they recreated the Grammy Awards) and The Virgil (where Jackson first sees Ally singing at La Vie En Rose). You can even pay a visit to Super A Foods, where the couple sits in the parking lot for a famous scene from the flick.
As far as where to stay, choose from any one of the Los Angeles hotels where they filmed, including the famous Chateau Marmont, Hollywood Roosevelt and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.
“The Favourite”
Location: England
If we’ve learned anything from “Downton Abbey,” it's that fans of period pieces love to visit the historical locations where Hollywood productions filmed. The same can be said for Best Picture (and seven other Academy Awards) nominee, “The Favourite.” Most of the movie was shot at Hatfield House in England, located about 20 miles from central London.
Visitors are welcome at the stunning estate on particular dates and can roam through the Marble Hall, Long Gallery, King James Drawing Room and gardens where numerous scenes were filmed.
“Green Book”
Location: Louisiana
Although “Green Book” is supposed to take place across the country in locations including New York City, Memphis and New Orleans, most filming of the Best Picture (and four other Academy Awards) nominee was done in Louisiana. The International House Hotel — a boutique New Orleans property — was used as the entrance to the Copacabana, while the historic Carver Theater (also in New Orleans) served as the backdrop for the interiors. The Clover Grill in the French Quarter was the location for the hot dog-eating contest scene in New York, and the pawn shop seen in the flick was filmed around the corner at Sigle's Antiques on Royal Street.
Other locales include The WP Brown House (where Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen’s characters attend a private party in Pittsburgh), The Orpheum Theater, the Saenger Theatre, The Roosevelt Hotel, the New Orleans Athletic Club and the English Turn Clubhouse.
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Location: New York City
Film and literary buffs will love following Melissa McCarthy’s footsteps around New York where her character, Lee Israel, once duped the publishing industry and landed in legal trouble. The Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor-nominated movie filmed many scenes on West 81st on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and Julius’s on West 10th Street in Greenwich Village served as the gay bar Israel frequented in both real life as well as the film.
Argosy Bookshop, on East 59th street, and Logos on 84th Street and York Avenue were both featured in the film, although rearranged quite a bit.
“Black Panther”
Location: Georgia, South Korea and Argentina
Although Wakanda in the Best Picture nominated film isn’t a real place, the movie did use a few real destinations across the globe as backdrops. Most shooting was done at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, but the cast and crew did venture out to Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn district for a handful of scenes. The famous car chase scene was filmed in Busan, South Korea, and several other spots — Gwangalli Beach, Gwangan Bridge and the Jagalchi Market — are recognizable as well.
And that stunning waterfall you see in the flick? That’s a real location, too. It’s actually Iguazu Falls in Argentina and absolutely worth the long-haul flight.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.