Florida is known for its unique diversity and that diversity has translated to the big screen in all of the films shot there. Whether they are big-budget Hollywood films or small independent pictures, films shot in Florida always have a distinct look and feel because of Florida’s interesting landscape.
Films shot in Florida run the gamut from offbeat comedies such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, all the way to horror classics such as Creature From The Black Lagoon. Though not as prevalent as states like California, Florida has an impressive resume of films to its name.
Monster (2003)
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Sometimes, a film’s location is necessitated by the story, and in the case of Monster, the film was uniquely Floridian. Monster tells the true crime story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos as she goes on her crime spree throughout Central Florida in the 1980s. The film also explores her personality and the relationship that would eventually lead to her capture.
The real-life story of Aileen Wuornos played out across the state and Monster was filmed at several locations from her real life. Areas such as Orlando and Daytona Beach were frequent haunts of Wuornos and were used as actual locations in the film. Monster is made extra terrifying with the knowledge that the events of the film really happened in those locations.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was one of the films that put Jim Carrey on the map and launched him into superstardom. The film tells the story of a private investigator who specializes in animal-related cases. When the Miami Dolphins’ mascot is kidnapped, Ace joins the investigation to hilarious results.
Because the film’s story is intimately tied to the city of Miami, it was only natural for the film to shoot there as well. Though the film could have been shot in any beach city in California, by using Miami as a location the film is given more visual authenticity.
Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)
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Because of its lush and tropical environment, Florida rarely gets the opportunity to play anything but itself. However, in the case of the scary Universal classic monster movie Creature From the Black Lagoon, Florida was the perfect substitute for the Amazon rainforest. The film follows a group of scientists as they are terrorized by a prehistoric creature who inhabits the mysterious Black Lagoon.
The film was shot in several locations across the state including Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs. Florida’s natural springs were a perfect backdrop for the film because of their remoteness and lush tropical foliage. At a glance, it wouldn’t be difficult to mistake many of Florida’s environs for a South American rainforest.
My Girl (1991)
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The 1980s and ’90s were a key period for film in Florida. Many Hollywood productions were re-locating to the state and taking advantage of Florida’s production-friendly tax credits. My Girl tells the story of a young girl who struggles with the physical and mental changes in her life as she enters her pre-teen years in a small town.
My Girl is a unique example of Florida cinema because the film itself isn’t set in the Sunshine State. Though the film was shot in the greater Orlando area, the production attempted to pass off Central Florida as a small town in Pennsylvania. Though a Florida native may have no trouble spotting the difference, the film succeeded at creating the illusion of Pennsylvania in the South.
Miami Connection (1987)
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Some films are unforgettable because they are masterfully executed pieces of art, while other films are unforgettable for the exact opposite reason. Miami Connection tells the story of a martial arts rock and roll band that runs afoul of a group of evil ninjas and another band of martial arts rockers.
Shot entirely in the Orlando area of Central Florida, Miami Connection is a prime example of a film that was so bad it was good. Though the film is a cheesy mess, it is always entertaining and a notable piece of Florida independent film history. Even if it failed at its mission to make an action classic, the film is a rare example of a local Florida filmmaker pursuing his dream of making movies.
Moonlight (2016)
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Though film production in Florida slowed down significantly after the 1990s, Moonlight proved that it was still a viable artistic hub. Moonlight tells the story of a young Black man who grows up through life struggles while he simultaneously grapples with his own sexuality.
The film was shot exclusively in South Florida and predominately around Miami, the city in which the film takes place. Miami was the perfect backdrop for the film because it is a visually interesting and vibrant city that played well into the dark, neon-tinged visuals of the film.
Doc Hollywood (1991)
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Florida proved to be a valuable location to many productions because it could easily be passed off as other parts of the South when necessary. Doc Hollywood tells the story of a young hot-shot doctor traveling through the South from Los Angeles who gets arrested in a small town. He is sentenced to community service and throughout his time there he learns to appreciate the simpler life.
The mossy vistas of north Florida were a perfect location to serve as a fictional town in coastal South Carolina because of their similar environment. Doc Hollywood was shot entirely in Micanopy, a very small hamlet of fewer than one thousand residents which gave the film an authentic feeling because of the real-life serenity of the locations.
Scarface (1983)
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Miami, like many big cities throughout the country, has a reputation and many films have played off of its checkered past. Scarface tells the story of a Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana who stops at nothing to become the biggest drug kingpin in the state of Florida.
The epic crime film was shot exclusively in the Miami area and the location stands in stark contrast to the bloody conflicts playing out on screen. Because Miami is known as a fun-loving vacation hot-spot, it makes for an interesting backdrop for the violent things that happen in the film.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
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Though Tim Burton’s movies are known for their dark style, Edward Scissorhands called for a visual contrast between the dark and the light. The film tells the story of a suburban saleswoman who takes in a young man who was assembled by a scientist. Though he has a strange, steampunk appearance and scissors for hands, he attempts to fit into suburban America.
The film’s exact setting is never made clear but the production utilized a real suburban neighborhood in the Tampa area as a stand-in for the film’s exaggerated suburbia. The symmetrical nature and sunny demeanor of the actual neighborhood was a perfect backdrop for Burton’s film because it is simultaneously absurd and mundane.
The Florida Project (2017)
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Few films are as quintessentially Florida as director Sean Baker’s heart-wrenching masterpiece, The Florida Project. The film tells the story of a young mother and her daughter who struggle to make a life for themselves living in various hotels along Kissimmee’s US Highway 192.
All of the film’s locations were real and the entire film was shot along Highway 192 in Kissimmee. The dire situations of the characters are in stark contrast to the manufactured happiness of Walt Disney World, which stands mere miles from the setting of the film. While most films attempt to obfuscate the dark side of life in Central Florida, The Florida Project holds a light on the situation and makes it the focus of the film.
