BUCKETLIST LOCATIONS

You Can Step Into These 10 Iconic Film Locations In The U.S.

Image: Tima Miroshnichenko

In today’s cinema, green screens and CGI reign; they are great tools for creating ethereal, fantastical worlds. But once upon a time, some unforgettable movie moments were captured in the real world. Previously unassuming landscapes and corners of our cities are now forever tied to some of cinema’s most memorable characters and dialogues. For film fans, exploring these sites can feel like stepping into the movies. Check out this list of ten iconic film backdrops you can visit in the US to recreate some of these legendary scenes and add them to your own collection!

Image: Heliberto Arias

What do Iron Man, Hannah Montana, Mr. Bean, and Forrest Gump have in common? Well, they all visit this spot at some point in their films. The Santa Monica Pier, founded in 1909, attracts millions of visitors annually with its boardwalk, amusement park, and ocean views. Steven Spielberg featured the iconic pier in 1941 (1979), a comedic take on a fictional Japanese attack on California after Pearl Harbor.

Other titles where the boardwalk can be seen include The Sting (1973), Cellular (2004), and Her (2013).

Image: Patrick T'Kindt

Who could forget the symbol of the bond between Mia and Sebastian? In La La Land (2016), the Observatory shows up from several angles, and the couple even steps inside it to waltz through the stars–literally. In real life, the facility offers free admission and welcomes all visitors to its grounds and building.

Perched atop Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, it’s also remembered from the classic Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which La La Land quotes repeatedly.

Image: Chang Ye

It’s 7 a.m. on a cold morning in Philadelphia and the residents are rolling their eyes—because here come the movie fans again. The 72 steps to this museum have become a rite of passage. In Rocky (1977), the training montage shows the hero finishing his morning run with an energetic climb up the stairs, punching the air with his fists in the morning mist, celebrating over a dawning Philly.

Today, fans from around the world travel to emulate the triumphant climb. There is now a bronze Rocky statue near the base of the steps. Created for Rocky III (1982), the statue has remained there to remind everyone of the cultural meaning behind those steps.

Image: Eric Ward

Grim past and all, Alcatraz Island is still one of the most visited sites in the city. Located in San Francisco Bay, the former prison is famously featured in The Rock (1996), where a gripping hostage rescue unfolds.

Now a national park, the island can be reached via ferry, and the main building is today a museum that explores the island’s notorious past. Alcatraz has also appeared in other films, such as Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Murder in the First (1995), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

Image: manniguttenberger

After running for three years, two months, fourteen days, and sixteen hours, Forrest halts. He does so in this exact spot of Monument Valley, which has since been dubbed the "Forrest Gump Point." The beloved 1994 movie has transformed this segment of Route 163 between Kayenta, Arizona, and Mexican Hat, Utah, into a landmark of cinema history.

Today, a roadside marker commemorates the spot, and several fans pull over to take pictures in front of the breathtaking view of the quiet red rock formations.

Image: Jon Tyson

"Patience" and "Fortitude" are the two iconic marble lions that guard the steps of the New York Public Library. By now, they both appeared in several movies: they have watched paranormal investigators in Ghostbusters (1984), witnessed survivors reaching a haven in The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and even spied a romantic rendezvous in Sex and the City (2008).

The library, officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is referred to as the "people’s palace," and is free for all to enter and explore.

Image: Chalo Gallardo

In the 1989 romcom When Harry Met Sally, Harry and Sally wander around having memorable conversations all over New York City. But the one they share inside Katz’s Delicatessen has become a top-tier gag in the genre: it’s the one that ends with the line "I’ll have what she’s having."

Established in 1888, Katz’s is a historic deli known for its delicious pastrami sandwiches, bustling atmosphere, and now for having the booth marked with a sign that reads, "Where Harry met Sally… Hope you have what she had! Enjoy!"

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

The colorful backdrop of Scarface (1983) serves as a contrast to Tony Montana’s dark and gritty business. The Art Deco architecture along Miami's sun-drenched Ocean Drive contains facades that vary only slightly from the movie, but can still be recognized. Notable examples include the Carlyle Hotel and the Colony Theater.

But several other films feature the palm trees and scenery of this drive, including The Birdcage (1996), There's Something About Mary (1998), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), and Marley & Me (2008).

Image: James Morden

An all-time favorite romantic drama, The Notebook (2004) contains several iconic scenes, but the one where Allie and Noah paddle around a sunlit pond is a top contender. This swamp, located within the Cypress Gardens in South Carolina still attracts couples who rent a boat to recreate that romantic setting. Minus the hundreds of swans, that is —those were specially brought in for that scene.

As a side note, it’s the same park where the swamp scenes from The Patriot (2000) were filmed.

Image: Elias Vidal

As if you needed a reason to visit the top of the Empire State Building. But this spot is significant to the plot of Sleepless in Seattle (1993). Up there, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks finally meet in an unforgettable climactic scene.

The observation deck of the iconic skyscraper offers stunning panoramic views of Manhattan. It’s also the setting for famous scenes in King Kong (1933 and 2005), An Affair to Remember (1957), Elf (2003), and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010).

Dyslexia, anyone?

Do you know what a "spoonerism" is? It happens more often than you think

Image: Zoshua Colah

If you have never heard of spoonerisms, you are not alone. But, even if you are not familiar with the term, you have surely experienced this linguistic phenomenon that can be a sign of dyslexia. Spoonerisms are those accidental (or sometimes intentional) word swaps where the first sounds of two words trade places. Take a look at the following 11 examples of this kind of thing, and you will understand what it is.

Image: Carl Nenzen Loven

A well-oiled bicycle suggests a smooth, working bike ready to ride. Swap the sounds, and suddenly you’re talking about a "well-boiled icicle," which is nonsense but funny because icicles are frozen, not boiled.

This spoonerism illustrates how absurdity enters the room when everyday objects are assigned mismatched qualities.

Image: Jametlene Reskp

If someone is fighting a liar, you picture an argument or a clash. But with the swapped version, you’re just sparking flames instead. Two very different scenarios: one involves conflict, the other warmth.

The humor comes from the complete shift in tone: from deception and struggle to something as simple as starting a campfire.

Image: Wan San Yip

The original phrase suggests someone accidentally hissing during class, which is silly. The corrected version points out they simply weren’t there for the history lessons.

It shows how one slip can turn an ordinary comment into something unintentionally funny.

Image: Eugenia Pan'kiv

Weddings are a traditional event, with the new couple sealing the deal with a kiss. But if the sounds get mixed up, suddenly you’re picturing guests shouting rude words at the bride.

The joke lands because it twists a wholesome ritual into something shocking and inappropriate.

Image: Pierre Bamin

The proverb teaches us that doing something eventually is better than not at all. Flip the sounds, and suddenly it’s about an individual named Nate being preferable to a lever.

This one’s funny because it introduces an entirely random element (or person, Nate) into a well-known saying.

Image: Church of the King

Praising a monarch as a "dear old queen" sounds respectful. But swap the sounds, and you’re describing a school official in a very different light.

The shift is humorous because it takes a regal image and transforms it into a funny academic one.

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

A crushing blow suggests defeat, damage, or something powerful. Turn it around, and you have a shy bird blushing.

This example works because it replaces seriousness with absurdity. What could have been about battle or hardship becomes about a bashful crow.

Image: Tom Pumford

The original phrase has an emotional meaning: asking for comfort to reduce crying. Flip it, and suddenly someone is talking about tickling their ears instead.

The humor lies in how the swap removes the sadness and inserts playful nonsense.

Image: Fujiphilm

The coast guard protects the waters and rescues sailors in distress. But switch the sounds, and you’re left with a "ghost card," something that sounds like a spooky playing card.

This one is funny because it takes a respected institution and transforms it into something from a Halloween party instead.

Image: Chris Bair

A bass drum is a key part of a band’s rhythm section, loud and commanding. But "drass bum" isn’t even a real phrase, it sounds like an extravagant insult.

The silliness comes from turning a musical term into gibberish that feels rude without meaning anything.

Image: Fran Jacquier

Being disappointed by a lack of pies can be a sad thing for dessert lovers, indeed. But swap the sounds, and suddenly you’re accusing someone of dishonesty instead.

This spoonerism is a classic example of this phenomenon because it takes something light and twists it into something serious.