Movies Filmed In Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is home to such a gritty landscape that it is perfect for many films that need a little bit of edge.
While LA and New York are both famous and iconic movie sets, Pittsburgh has been the home of many iconic and classic movies.
In this article, we will take a look at the best movies filmed in Pittsburgh, USA, including everything from action-packed, tense blockbusters to real tearjerkers.
So, if this interests you, then read on for more!
Movies Filmed In Pittsburgh
Here are the best movies filmed in Pittsburgh, USA.
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman: The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy.
The screenplay was co-written by Jonathan Nolan and features Christian Bale as Batman / Bruce Wayne, who fights to protect Gotham City from Bane (played by Tom Hardy.)
Pittsburgh filming locations for this DC Superhero movie include Heinze Field, Downtown, the Carnegie Institute, and Carnegie Mellon University Software Science Institute.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is an iconic psychological horror film based on a novel written by Thomas Harris.
It is about Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee who, to catch a serial killer, must enlist the help of a cannibal killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
The movie was directed by Jonathan Demme and the screenplay was written by Ted Tally.
It stars Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins in the lead roles of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter.
Pittsburgh filming locations include Soldiers 7 Sailors Memorial Hall, the county jail, and Allegheny County Courthouse.
Flashdance (1983)
Flashdance was directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Jennifer Beals.
It is a romantic drama and dance movie that sees Beals playing Alex Owens, an enthusiastic dancer who has dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Pittsburgh filming locations for Flashdance include the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Duquesne Incline, and Smithfield Street Bridge.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
Written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age epistolary novel that depicts the relationship between an introverted freshman and two seniors as they experience life in the real world.
Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller star in leading roles.
The many tunnels and bridges of Pittsburgh feature as filming locations for this cult classic movie.
Most of the movie is filmed in Peters Township, and other locations include Kings Family Restaurant, The Hollywood Theater, and the Fort Pitt Tunnel.
Chbosky reportedly chose Pittsburgh as a filming location because it had the authenticity and magic necessary for the movie.
Fences (2016)
Fences was initially a play written by August Wilson.
The movie adaptation was directed by Denzel Washington, and stars himself, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, and others.
Fences depict a POC father in 1950s America as he tries to come to terms with life and simultaneously raise his family.
This period drama movie has many filming locations in Pittsburgh, including Hill District, Warren United Methodist Church, and Liberty and Wylie avenue.
Adventureland (2009)
Adventureland is a romantic comedy written and directed by Greg Mottola.
It stars Jesse Eisenberg as James Brennan, a new college graduate who gets a “bad” job at an amusement park.
However, he soon discovers that his “bad” job may not be so bad after all.
Adventureland also stars Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, and others.
Pittsburgh filming locations for this movie include Kennywood Amusement Park.
Jack Reacher (2012)
Tom Cruise stars as the titular character of this action-thriller movie.
Jack Reacher was directed by Christopher McQuarrie and based on the book One Shot, written by Lee Child.
The movie sees a homicide investigator trying to solve a case where five random individuals were killed by a trained military sniper.
Jack Reacher also stars Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Werner Herzog, and more!
Pittsburgh filming locations include Mario’s South Side Saloon, the Stanwix Tower Apartments, the Armstrong Tunnel, Sewickley Country Inn, and the North Shore Riverfront Walk.
The Road (2009)
The Road was directed by John Hillcoat and is based on a book of the same name written by Cormac McCarthy. The screenplay was written by Joe Penhall.
Both the movie and the book take place in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world and feature a father and son as they attempt to travel to the sea.
It stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, and more!
Pittsburgh filming locations include the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area.
The Fault In Our Stars (2014)
In the midst of the boom in popularity for YA stories lies The Fault In Our Stars.
Based on a book of the same name by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars features Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort in the lead roles of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two teenagers who fall in love while battling cancer.
The Fault In Our Stars movie was directed by Josh Boone.
Pittsburgh filming locations include St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oakmont, Shadyside, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh international airport, and Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
Striking Distance (1993)
Striking Distance is an action, mystery, and crime movie directed by Rowdy Herrington. It stars Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Farina, Tom Sizemore, and others.
The movie features the protagonist Tom Hardy (no relation to the actor Tom Hardy), a man from a police family, who tries to investigate the murder of his father.
There are many Pittsburgh filming locations for Striking Distance, including Point State Park, Mount Washington, Monongahela, Monessen, and Allegheny County Courthouse.
Final Thoughts
Pittsburgh is home to many gritty landscapes, which makes it an excellent filming location, even if it is not an obvious one like Los Angeles or New York.
It works as a filming location for many genres, including horror, action, romance, and drama, as conveyed by this list!
Have you seen all of the movies featured in this list? How many Pittsburgh filming locations did you spot?
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy our post on ‘Movies Filmed In Savannah Ga‘.
