A movie to make you fall in love with any city
Rex FeaturesRome: The Talented Mr Ripley
If you can get past the creepiness of Matt Damon’s sociopathic title character (and Jude Law’s blinding hotness), you can see how amazing it would be to live in Rome in the 1950s - especially if you had the money to live the full-on posh life of Dickie Greenleaf. The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) shows how alluring the Italian capital can be - and how easy it is to set off on weekend jaunts to Palermo, Venice, Ischia and more.
Rex FeaturesNew York City: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
From When Harry Met Sally to Sex and the City, there are countless movies that capture the magic and fast-paced excitement of the Big Apple - but none are quite as classic and elegant as the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The fashion alone is enough to fall in love with Audrey Hepburn’s charming socialite character as she zips from Midtown to the Upper East Side in iconic yellow taxis searching for rich men and posh parties.
Rex FeaturesDublin: Once
Before it was a hit musical in Leicester Square, Once (2006) was a charming film about a pair of musicians who fall in love in a music shop in Dublin. From its opening shots on Grafton Street, the film features loads of bustling city scenes that make us eager to plan our next visit.
Rex FeaturesLas Vegas: The Hangover
Okay, so we don’t exactly want to relive the Wolfpack’s crazy night (we’ll pass on waking up with a stranger’s baby and a tiger in the toilet!) - but The Hangover (2009) does make us long for our own, slightly tamer Vegas adventure. The shots of The Strip from the roof of Caesar’s Palace offer a stunning view of the city lights and the action inside the world-famous casinos has us dusting off our lucky dice.
Rex FeaturesChicago: The Break-Up
The fact that the main character is a boat tour guide, is just one of the reasons why The Break-Up (2006) perfectly showcases the beauty of the Windy City. In between Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston’s hilarious rows, we get sweeping city skylines and views of Lake Michigan. Plus, the scene at Wrigley Field proves that you can find love at a baseball game - even if it doesn’t last forever.
Rex FeaturesLondon: Love Actually
When searching for films that capture the romance and charm of London, look no further than Richard Curtis. His 2003 hit Love Actually gives us extensive views of Central London, as well as a peek at Peter and Juliet’s home in Notting Hill, the Christmas crowds at Selfridges on Oxford Street and the “dodgy end” of Wandsworth. Plus, don’t forget the tear-inducing closing and opening scenes at Heathrow Airport. Pass the tissues, please.
Rex FeaturesLos Angeles: Pretty Woman
Only Julia Roberts could make a prostitute seem so wholesome and loveable - and only L.A. could provide the perfect backdrop for Pretty Woman (1990). Though the hotel scenes were set at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, they were actually filmed at the Ambassador Hotel - but the result is just as lush. From Hollywood to Beverly Hills, the film shows Southern California at its finest - and the shopping montage on Rodeo Drive is one of the best in rom-com history. Not watching this film again would be a big mistake. Big. Huge.
Rex FeaturesBrighton: Wimbledon
As the title suggests, much of this 2004 film - starring Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany - takes place at Wimbledon and it’s actually the only movie given permission to film during the tournament. But when the lovers make the drive down from London to Brighton in a snazzy convertible, it’s hard not to fall for the lovely seaside city. The scenes on Madeira Drive make it clear just why Brighton is so popular for weekend getaways.
Rex FeaturesVenice: The Tourist
Considering it stars two of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers - Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp - it’s surprising that this 2010 film got mixed reviews. But there’s no criticising its location. After watching [i]The Tourist[i], we’re keen to lounge in posh Venice hotels and explore the winding canals on a gondola - just so long as no one’s shooting at us from the bridges.
Rex FeaturesFlorence: A Room with a View
The view in question in this Academy Award-winning film is of the city of Florence, with the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore and Palazzo Vecchio taking centre stage. Watch it to get a feel for how romantic Italy was in the early 20th century - and to marvel at how young Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench look!
Rex FeaturesMadrid: Abre los Ojos
You may be more familiar with the Tom Cruise adaptation, Vanilla Sky - but the 1997 Spanish film Abre los Ojos tells a similar story with a darker tone. Plus, it includes Madrid as a feature character. Parque de Berlin and Calle Gran Via are just a few key landmarks that set the scene in Spain’s dynamic capital city.
Rex FeaturesSydney: Two Hands
Starring Heath Ledger and Rose Byrne, this black comedy shows the gritty side of Sydney in the late ‘90s. Luckily, it also shows the unique character of the city - and the gorgeous white sands of Bondi Beach.
AlamyTokyo: Lost in Translation
Much of 2003’s Lost in Translation takes place inside the luxe Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel, and the breathtaking views from the New York bar - where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson’s characters meet - are enough to sell the city. But the magic really happens when the unlikely pair hits the streets to take in the bright lights and the karaoke bars.
Rex FeaturesParis: Midnight in Paris
Leave it to Woody Allen to deliver both an irresistible look at modern-day Paris and an enchanting glimpse at the city in the 1920s. From the gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower to the late nights rubbing elbows with Ernest Hemingway - if we could experience the city the way Owen Wilson does in Midnight in Paris, we’d be on the Eurostar tomorrow.
Rex FeaturesBarcelona: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
We can’t help but swoon when Vicky and Cristina go sightseeing in Barcelona, hitting La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and all the touristy hot spots. But it’s their meeting with Javier Bardem’s mysterious artist that makes us really want to visit the land of sexy accents and Spanish wine. (Minus the crazy ex-girlfriend, of course!)
Rex FeaturesAthens: The Two Faces of January
A visit to the Parthenon in Athens is no doubt an educational and memorable experience - but The Two Faces of January (2014) makes it seem like a surreal and magical paradise. Throw in lavish meals under the stars and gorgeous hotels, and we’re on the next flight out. Though we’ll have to step up the style game to keep up with Kirsten Dunst.
Rex FeaturesSalzburg: The Sound of Music
Anyone who’s seen the classic 1965 film The Sound of Music knows that the landscape of Austria plays a huge role - especially those lively hills. Maria’s outings with the von Trapp children around Salzburg are enough to inspire a visit to the picturesque city.
Rex FeaturesLiverpool: Nowhere Boy
You would expect a film about John Lennon to feature brilliant shots of Liverpool - but it’s actually only the establishing scenes that were filmed in Lennon’s hometown. The rest of the 2009 movie was shot mostly in London. Still the story of how The Beatles got their start reminds us of the history and is sure to make any Liverpudlian feel a bit “made up.”
Rex FeaturesMonaco: To Catch a Thief
This classic 1955 Alfred Hitchcock thriller proves that there’s no better way to take in the beauty of the French Riviera than by cruising seaside in a convertible with Cary Grant. Clearly the film was enough to make star Grace Kelly fall in love with the opulence and glamour of the area: she became the Princess of Monaco the year after its release.
Rex FeaturesCasablanca: Casablanca
Though this Oscar-winning film was shot entirely in a Hollywood film studio, the 1942 classic inspired a keen curiosity and interest in Morocco. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Berman fall in love in the passionate and dangerous city of Casablanca, and their romance makes us all the more eager to experience Casablanca in real life - and in full colour.
Rex FeaturesBangkok: The Beach
We’d follow Leonardo DiCaprio anywhere - especially to Thailand. The 2000 film The Beach starts off in Bangkok as Leo’s character experiences the wild nightlife, meets exotic strangers and soaks up the city. Those opening scenes showcase the exciting energy of the tropical hub. And of course, knowledge that idyllic islands - like the Koh Phi Phi, where the rest of the film was shot - are nearby, is a definitely pro.
Rex FeaturesBruges: In Bruges
Colin Farrell's criminal character doesn’t exactly appreciate all that Bruges has to offer in this dark comedy - but perhaps if he wasn’t a fugitive he’d have a better attitude. In between shoot-outs and close getaways, In Bruges offers sweeping city views, as well as a tour of the main sights. And in real life, the shabby hotel where they stay - The Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce - is actually quite lovely.
Rex FeaturesStockholm: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The storyline of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is dark and disturbing, but it doesn’t stop us from being intrigued by the beauty of Stockholm - from the snow-covered streets to the lively club scene. The success of the film (and book) has sparked an uptick in Scandinavian crime drama and spurred mystery lovers to pay Sweden a visit.
Rex FeaturesBuenos Aires: The Motorcycle Diaries
Based on the memoir by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, this film follows two young friends on a journey across South America in the 1950s. The views of Machu Picciu are incredible, but the city romance in The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) happens before the trip even begins - in their hometown of Buenos Aires.
Rex FeaturesEdinburgh: One Day
Though much of the film is set outside of Scotland, the city of Edinburgh plays a huge part in the love story between Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) in One Day (2011). Their romances starts as students at Edinburgh University when they share some key city moments - like climbing Arthur’s Seat and running down the Royal Mile - and it continues (in different measures) over the next 20 years.
Rex FeaturesDelhi: Eat Pray Love
Full disclosure: after seeing Eat Pray Love, we’d happily follow Julia Roberts around to all three of her character’s enchanting destinations. But the scenes set in and around New Delhi, for the “pray” portion of the film, are particularly enchanting. As she watches the gorgeous wedding between two Indian strangers, we can’t help wishing we had the same holiday experience.
