If you saw the recently released horror film Wish Upon, you definitely took note of its Shaker Heights shout-out and multiple aerial shots of downtown Cleveland. The city hasn’t just provided set locations for horror flicks, superhero blockbusters and a certain well-known 1983 Christmas movie, though; here are 16 productions that have taken advantage of its relatively low filming costs.
All filming locations from IMDb.
Cleveland hasn’t just provided set locations for horror flicks, superhero blockbusters and a certain well-known 1983 Christmas movie, though; here are 18 productions that have taken advantage of its relatively low filming costs.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Rocky River
This sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger essentially serves as a tour of downtown Cleveland, if you know what to look for. The film shot at Tower City, Lake View Cemetery, Euclid Avenue and other spots around town, not to mention the fact that the Cleveland Museum of Art represents SHIELD headquarters.
Photo via BagoGames/FlickrThe Kings of Summer (2013)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Chagrin Falls, Warrensville Heights, Lyndhurst, Bainbridge
This quaint coming-of-age dramedy, starring breakout teen Nick Robinson and Nick Offerman as his gruff, Ron Swanson-esque father, truly made the most of Cleveland-area filming locations. Look out for familiar parks, Chagrin Falls landmarks and Plain Dealer mailboxes.
Photo via Geeks of DoomFun Size (2012)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights
Victoria Justice sparked quite a social media storm among her young fanbase when she starred in this Adventures in Babysitting -esque Halloween flick, which filmed primarily in Cleveland Heights — more specifically, at the Cain Park Apartments on Lee Road, Boulevard Elementary School and Coventry Food Mart.
Photo via YoutubeThe Fate of the Furious (2017)
Local filming location: Cleveland
While this global thriller and eighth addition to the franchise didn’t spend a lot of time downtown, the film did shoot outside a parking garage on Prospect Avenue, Perk Plaza and other spots. Plus, it lets the city masquerade as Manhattan. But don’t let the digitized storefronts and added-in real footage of New York fool you; it’s Cleveland.
Photo via Universal PicturesWish Upon (2017)
Local filming location: Cleveland (aerial shots)
This horror flick, released last month, was filmed in Toronto. But it does feature multiple aerial shots of the Cleveland skyline, and implies that its gruesome action takes place in or near Shaker Heights.
Photo via ComingSoonThe Avengers (2012)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, North Olmsted
Perhaps the most well-known of all superhero movies filmed downtown, The Avengers shut down parts of the city in 2011 while filming its penultimate fight scene, meaning Cleveland played an important part in kicking off the Marvel extended universe.
Photo via Marvel DatabaseA Christmas Story (1983)
Local filming location: Cleveland
This 1983 Christmas classic split its filming time between Cleveland and Canada, but is most synonymous with its familiar local settings — particularly the Parker family home, which you can visit in Tremont year-round, seven days a week.
Photo via s_herman/FlickerThe Deer Hunter (1978)
Local filming location: Cleveland
The Deer Hunter, which took home the Best Picture Academy Award in 1979, shot all over the U.S. and Thailand. But among its many filming locations are several in Cleveland itself, like a supermarket on Starkweather Avenue and U.S. Steel Central Blast Furnace, featured in the opening sequence.
Photo via Caspy2003/FlickrAmerican Splendor (2003)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Lakewood
This unconventional comic book-meets-reality narrative was based on works of the same name by Harvey Pekar; his comics focus on life in Cleveland. Since his character in the film also resides in the city, that makes American Splendor one of the few flicks to not only be filmed here, but acknowledge its real setting.
Photo via YoutubeThe Bye Bye Man (2017)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Richmond Heights
The Bye Bye Man marked another 2017 horror flick that made use of Cleveland and its surrounding areas, though this was released back in January (and notably less well-received than Wish Upon ). Director Stacy Title told The Plain Dealer that the experience, which included shooting in the Cleveland Public Library and Cleveland Heights area, was “fantastic” and “beautiful.” We’ll take it.
Photo via The Paw PrintTake Shelter (2011)
Local filming locations: Elyria, Lorain, Chardon
Most movies boasting Cleveland filming locations utilize downtown, but this 2011 indie flick about a young father with apocalyptic visions opted for the area’s suburban countryside instead. The film was written and directed by Arkansas native Jeff Nichols, but producer Tyler Davidson hails from Cleveland.
Photo via AMC NetworksDraft Day (2014)
Local filming locations: Cleveland, Aurora, Highland Hills
Fans of this Kevin Costner flick can thank Cleveland’s low production costs, which is why the Browns are the team featured rather than the Buffalo Bills. And while Draft Day isn’t based on a true story, it does include footage of real, local Browns fans.
Photo via Le RepêchageThe Fortune Cookie (1966)
Local filming location: Cleveland
Not many classics were filmed in Cleveland, but this Jack Lemmon-led rom-com used three main locations downtown, including the Municipal Stadium (now serving as a man-made barrier reef in Lake Erie).
Photo via Play it Again, Dan/WordPressSpider-Man 3 (2007)
Local filming location: Cleveland
The third installment in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy was filmed all over New York City, Los Angeles and, briefly, Cleveland, when Euclid Avenue served as the backdrop for one of the 2007 film’s Manhattan scenes.
Photo via YouTubeAir Force One (1997)
Local filming location: Cleveland
Cleveland building exteriors may not scream “Eastern royalty” or “Moscow” to you, but those behind Air Force One thought differently. This iconic 1990s action movie’s palace in Kazakhstan is actually Case Western Reserve University, and Severance Hall and Cleveland City Hall are also featured in its opening sequence.
Photo via Roger EbertWhite Boy Rick (2018)
Local filming location: Cleveland
No, this is not a still from Matthew McConaughey’s upcoming crime drama, but evidence that he did assimilate to Cleveland culture for a period of time while filming in 2017. The film came out that next year.
Photo via Slider/TwitterMajor League (1989)
Local filming location: Cleveland
While this film was mostly made in Milwaukee and Arizona, it is clearly set in Cleveland. Exterior shots of downtown can be seen throughout this sports classic, and that’s enough for us.
Film screenshot photoThe Rocker (2008)
Local filming location: Cleveland
“The Rocker” was largely panned by critics and movie lovers alike, but despite the hate, there were at least a couple laughs to be had throughout the film. Only exterior shots were done in Cleveland for this one, but hey, we’re always a sucker for an underdog.
Film screenshot photo
