The city of Miami, Florida has been used for its stunning coastline and scenery in television shows and movies since 1919, like in other film cities of Atlanta, Charleston, New Orleans, and Wilmington.
Some are classics, while others you may have forgotten about. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so you can find more on IMDB and Miami and Beaches.
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Television Shows Filmed in Miami
Dozens of television shows have been filmed in Miami ranging from dramas to comedies.
American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Based on the true story of the killing of the fashion legend, FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace stars Darren Criss, Ricky Martin, and Penelope Cruz. Many of the real places from the events are used, including the Versace Mansion, now the Villa Casa Casuarina hotel, News Cafe, and the Miami Police Department. Other scenes were filmed in California.
Ballers
The HBO series Ballers stars Dwayne Johnson, John David Washington, and Rob Corddry. The show is about professional athletes, their families, and their “handlers,” all living in Miami, Florida.
While some scenes are filmed in New York and California, including the later seasons, many Miami locales are also featured, including the Clark Government Center, W South Beach, the Raleigh Hotel, Orion Jet Center, and the stadium at the University of Miami.
Curbed Miami has even more Ballers locations.
Burn Notice
The USA series Burn Notice is about a spy who receives a “burn notice” from the government to sever ties but uses his abilities to help people. Starring Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, and Bruce Campbell, the show used a number of Miami backdrops.
They include The Deauville Hotel, the Opa-Locka Flea Market, Sushi Samba, Lincoln Road Mall, and a house on Star Island. Burn Notice Locations has landmarks from most episodes.
CSI: Miami
A spin-off of the wildly popular CBS original, CSI: Miami is about a group of crime scene technicians in the Florida city, starring David Caruso, Emily Procter, and Adam Rodriguez. Despite the name, the majority of the series was filmed in California, but Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Miami Beach were also used as B-roll.
Dexter
Michael C. Hall stars as a forensic technician and serial killer who targets “the bad guys” in Showtime’s Dexter. But his sister, who also happens to be his coworker, is at risk of discovering his secret. The show recently was rebooted on the channel.
It’s set in Miami, but the majority of filming took place in California. The Miami locations include Ocean Drive, the Doral Park Country Club, Bicentennial Park, and the since-closed Jimbo’s. Seeing Stars has a list of the Miami locations.
Flipper
The classic family series Flipper tells of a park ranger and his sons that befriend a dolphin. Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin, and Tommy Norden star. The movie was filmed around Miami, including at the Miami Seaquarium and Key Biscayne.
Miami Vice
Perhaps the most famous show to be filmed in Miami, Miami Vice premiered on NBC, starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as Crockett and Tubbs, two undercover detectives working the streets.
Many locations are still open for fans to visit, including Ocean Drive, East Side Pizza, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Mac’s Club Deuce, and Miami-Dade County Courthouse. Curbed Miami has more locations.
Movies Filmed in Miami
The big screen loves Miami as a location, almost always used for its Art Deco buildings and crystal blue waterways. You might be surprised at which of your favorite movies were filmed here!
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
In the goofball comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Jim Carrey stars as the title character, who must find the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins. He stars alongside Courtney Cox and the film went on to spawn a sequel.
The filming locations include Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the since-demolished Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, and South Beach.
Any Given Sunday
Any Given Sunday follows the lives of football players and the agents who manage them. Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, and Jamie Foxx star. A number of Miami locations were used, including the Homestead Sports Complex, Greenwich Studios, the Cardozo Hotel, Villa Vizcaya, and Joe Robbie Stadium.
Bad Boys
The Bad Boys movie franchise stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as detectives protecting a witness to a murder. Tea Leoni also stars in the original film.
The movies have been filmed all over Miami, including the Dade County Courthouse, the Biltmore Hotel, Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport, Villa Vizcaya, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Oleta State Park, and the Broadmore Miami Beach.
The Birdcage
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane star alongside Gene Hackman and Dianne West in The Birdcage, a spin on La Cage Aux Folles. A gay couple must pretend to be straight for their son’s future in-laws. The Carlyle was the site of the cabaret. The Raleigh Hotel and scenery around South Beach were also used.
The Champ
Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway star in The Champ, a story about an ex-boxer struggling with gambling and alcohol misuse. The mother of his son attempts to gain full custody, so he has to get his life back on track to stay in his life.
Filming took place mostly in Hialeah, including at the Hialeah Racetrack, along with Villa Vizcaya and Coconut Grove.
Clambake
In Elvis Presley‘s Clambake, an oil heir trades places with a Florida water skiing instructor to find a girl that likes him for himself, not his money. While the majority of the movie was filmed in California, some Miami locations were used, including the lighthouse at Bill Baggs State Park, Key Biscayne, Miami Marine Stadium, and Everglades National Park.
Marley and Me
Based on the book, Marley and Me is about a mischevious but lovable dog adopted by a couple. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston star. Filming locations include Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne, Monty’s Raw Bar in Coconut Grove, and Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami. Pennsylvania was another location.
Moonlight
In Moonlight, a young black man grows up in a dangerous neighborhood in Miami as the film chronicles his life from childhood to adulthood. His mother is a crack addict and he is bullied by fellow students. But he befriends his Cuban-American neighbors, who are protective of him. He later struggles with his sexuality. Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monae, Naomie Harris, and Shariff Earp star.
Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood was highlighted, along with South Beach, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, and Jimmy’s Eastside Diner.
Pain & Gain
Based on a true story reported by the Miami New Times, Pain & Gain is about a group of bodybuilders that become entangled in a kidnapping and extortion ring. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Mackie, and Dwayne Johnson.
The Miami filming locations include the Dupont Building and the Fontainebleau Hotel. Curbed Miami has more locations.
Porky’s
The raunchy teen comedy Porky’s is about a group of friends’ run ins with a sleazy nightclub owner and his sheriff brother. It stars Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, and Wyatt Knight.
The real Porky’s was constructed for the movie, but other locations include Miami Senior High School, Oleta River State Park, and Greynolds Park. The Movie District has additional locations.
Scarface
The 1989 gangster classic Scarface is a play on the film about the life of Al Capone of the same name. It stars Al Pacino in his career-defining role as a Cuban immigrant who becomes the leader of a drug cartel. Tony Montana falls for his boss’s girl, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Miami serves as an additional character in this movie, with notable appearances by the the luxury resort Fontainebleau Miami Beach, South Beach, Key Biscayne, Brickell Avenue, and Oleta River State Park. The rest was filmed in California.
There’s Something About Mary
In the comedy There’s Something About Mary, Cameron Diaz stars alongside Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, and Chris Elliott. A man tracks down his childhood crush, but he finds that he isn’t the only one interested in her.
The movie was filmed in Rhode Island and Miami. The locations include Coral Gables, Red Fish Grill in Matheson Hammock Park, Big Pink diner, Miami-Dade Cultural Center, the Edison Hotel, and the Cardozo Hotel. The Movie District has additional locations.
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