53 Movies You Might Not Know Were Filmed in Cleveland

Major 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 Photo

Miss Meadows (2014)

Local filming locations: Cleveland
A Cleveland-based film starring Katie Holmes? Yep, it happened. The Toledo native starred in this black comedy from director Karen Leigh Hopkins, who shot the film mostly around University Circle but also ventured out to Edgewater Park for some beautiful shots of Lake Erie.

Photo via Film Screenshot

The 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 Doom

The 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 Pictures

My Blind Brother (2016)

Local filming locations: Sheffield Lake, Lorain and Lakewood
Sheffield Lake, Lorain and Lakewood were the locations for this comedy starring Nick Kroll, Adam Scott and Jenny Slate. Chagrin Falls’ resident Tyler Davidson’s Low Spark Films produced the film to give it even more of a Cleveland connection. Davidson was also the producer behind popular Cleveland-based films Take Shelter and The Kings of Summer.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Native Son (2019)

Local filming locations: Cleveland
The 2019 HBO film based on the classic Richard Wright novel may have taken place in Chicago, but it was filmed in Cleveland. This film, which was an updated version of Wright’s novel, created over 80 local jobs during filming and premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Photo via Film Screenshot

The Oh in Ohio (2006)

Local filming locations: Cleveland, Cleveland Heights
Paul Rudd, Parker Posey, Mischa Barton, Danny DeVito and Heather Graham were just a few of the stars in this 2006 film. Coventry Village in Cleveland Heights and Case Western Reserve University were a couple of the Cleveland locales used in this dark comedy directed by Billy Kent.

Photo via Film Screenshot

Spider-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 YouTube

Take 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 Networks

The 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