5 Movies You May Not Have Known Were Filmed in New Orleans

New Orleans is such a unique city, there is no other like it. Its uniqueness due to multiculturalism and a long history provides it with wonderful architecture, which in turn provides a wonderful backdrop for movies. Here is a list of five movies filmed in New Orleans you may or may not have known were filmed there.

1) A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

This classic Tennessee Williams film adaptation has been alluded to hundreds of times throughout pop culture due to the brilliant Marlon Brando performance. Starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter and directed by Elia Kazan, A Streetcar Named Desire will forever be remembered for Marlon Brando’s classic scene taking place in the French Quarter as he breaks down and yells to Stella.

2) Easy Rider (1969)

This rebellious classic road movie was written by its stars Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. It was also directed by Dennis Hopper. The film is about drug culture, nomadic lifestyle, freedom, and the current state of American society. Well, at least as it stood towards the end of the 1960s. It also was Jack Nicholson’s first notable performance.

While not entirely filmed in New Orleans, there is a completely unforgettable scene of the characters enduring an acid trip at the St. Louis Cemetery #1.

3) Steel Magnolias (1989)

Starring Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Sally Field, the film Steel Magnolias is based on a play by the same name. It takes place in a small town in Louisiana but several scenes were shot around New Orleans.

This tight friendship movie is based around a few women and the acceptance of a new beautician into their small circle.

4) Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Largely based around the writer Anne Rice’s hometown of New Orleans, this dark vampire classic starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise was a box office smash. It also took place in Paris, but it easily could be said that 95% or more of the film took place in New Orleans. Both cities are excellent because they both add to the allure of the vampire.

5) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton, this bizarre yet beautifully filmed movie is about a man aging backward and the curious consequences of such a life. New Orleans is a city that blends the old and the new together where time seems to fool you. In other words, it’s a perfect city for such a story and film to be made.

There have been plenty more movies filmed in New Orleans as well as television shows. From Voodoo to hauntings, the rich history of the city makes it so appealing. This immaculate bayou city is the perfect place for storytelling. And the visual medium is especially well-suited for it.

We will definitely discuss more movies filmed in New Orleans in the near future.