In truly atmospheric movies,citiescan actually feel like characters in the film, which perfectly represent the place in which they are set. From iconic releases of Italian neorealism to iconic works frommodern musical classics, talented directors have been imbuing their films with a sense of time and place since the beginnings of cinema itself. While some movies encapsulate the awe-inspiring beauty of their city setting, others tap into the grimy underbelly of addiction, crime, and violence that make up urban landscapes.
There are some movies that make youwant to give it all up and move to the country, but other beloved films tap into the hustle and bustle of big city life. Plenty ofamazing films have used their city setting in interesting ways, where the characters and their surroundings are intrinsically linked, and the place perfectly complements the story they’re experiencing. Whether it’s New York, Los Angeles, or Paris, so manyall-time great moviesperfectly represent the cities in which they are set.
9Taxi Driver (1976)
Perfectly represents New York City
There are many dimensions to New York City, although no depiction embodied the gritty, urban decay of the city that never sleeps better than Martin Scorsese’sTaxi Driver. WithRobert De Niro as the all-time great anti-hero Travis Bickle, this disillusioned, insomnia-suffering loner took viewers on a journey through the grimy city streets and the repulsive porn theaters that littered the landscape he endlessly drove seedy customers through. Through his iconic voiceover monologues, Travis was driven by disgust, as he was constantly subjected to the city’s worst offerings.
WhileTaxi Driverwasn’t the most complimentary portrayal of New York ever seen on screen, it tapped into something real about the city during this grimy era. Coming out just one year before punk rock truly broke through in the New York music scene, it’s clear Scorsese had his finger on the pulse of the cultural zeitgeist as a mohawked De Niro gunned down the gangsters and pimps exploiting the city’s vulnerable youth.
8Before Sunrise (1995)
Perfectly represents Vienna
As perhaps the greatest movie meet-cute of all time,Before Sunrisetells the story of a young American backpacker named Jesse and a striking French girl called Céline who have a chance encounter on a train and spontaneously spend one night in Vienna together. While cities can often feel like characters in movies, it’s always a different dimension of the city that depiction andBefore Sunrisecaptured the feeling of exploring a place for the first time and immediately falling in love with it.
Watching asEthan Hawke’s Jesse and Julie Delpy’s Célineshared a kiss at the top of the Wiener Riesenrad at sunset, walked alongside the Donaukanal, or made each laugh at a Viennese café showcased the beauty of Vienna in a way rarely seen on screen. With each movie in theBeforetrilogy capturing the innate essence of the cities they’re set in, those looking for a glimpse of Paris or to be whisked away to a Greek island need only watch the sequels.
7Midnight In Paris (2011)
Perfectly represents Paris
Although Woody Allen has become intrinsically linked to his home of New York through movies likeManhattan, this controversial director’s work has also highlighted the beauty of many places around the world, such as in movies likeVicky, Christina, Barcelona,andTo Rome with Love. However, Allen truly tapped into something special with hisOscar-winning script forMidnight in Paris, a film that not only showcased the beauty of the city today but also tapped into its incredible art and literary history.
Telling the story of a man who discovers a way to travel back to 1920s Paris each night,Midnight in Pariswas a history lesson in the legacies of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dalí, and Gertrude Stein. As Owen Wilson’s struggling writer character Gil interacted with the notable names of the Lost Generation,Midnight in Parishighlighted the creativity and literary importance of the French city. As perhaps Allen’s greatest work in the 21st century,Midnight in Pariswas a beautiful homage to the City of Love.
6Trainspotting (1996)
Perfectly represents Edinburgh
While many might think of castles and beautiful Scottish landscapes, Danny Boyle’sTrainspottingshone a light on a much grimmer side of Edinburgh. As the story of a group of heroin addicts, this iconic adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s cult novel tapped into the disillusionment and troubled youth of a city in economic turmoil, where opportunities were few and far between. With a dark sense of humor and a sense of desperation,Trainspottingbrought the working-class district of Leith to life with unflinching realism.
Although Edinburgh is known as a beautiful city for tourism and exploration, that’s not the version that’s put on clear display inTrainspotting. By showcasing the poetic chaos of Welsh’s original novel,Trainspottingwas a bleak depiction of the city’s addiction issues with a punk rock edge.Trainspottingdid not romanticize Edinburghone bit, although when these characters returned for the sequel,T2 Trainspotting,more than 20 years later, what was striking was how much the city had been gentrified and how much more polished and idealistic it looked.
5In The Mood For Love (2000)
Perfectly represents Hong Kong
As one of the most beautiful romantic dramas and an aching depiction of buried emotions and devastating grievances, Wong Kar-wai’sIn the Mood for Lovewas one of the most gut-wrenching depictions of Hong Kong ever seen. Set in 1962 British Hong Kong,this story of Shanghainese expatriates and neighbors who discover their partners are cheating on themwas an emotional glimpse into the pain and heartache of residents among the cramped corridors of Hong Kong apartments.
With the depiction of the city acting as a metaphor for the repressed feelings of these heartbroken neighbors,In the Mood for Loveused the urban environment of its claustrophobic setting to showcase characters who always felt watched or overheard. Much of the emotional power ofIn the Mood for Lovecame from what was left unsaid, as its devastating depiction of unrequited love made for emotional viewing.
4Paterson (2016)
Perfectly represents Paterson, New Jersey
While cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have been endlessly depicted across countless incredible movies, the same cannot be said for the many small American cities that make up the United States. One rare exception to this was Jim Jarmusch’sPaterson, a slow-moving drama starring Adam Driver as a New Jersey bus driver named Paterson who works in the city of Paterson. With an uneventful daily routine,Patersonshowcased the everyday beauty of small city life, as Paterson was inspired to write poignant poetry in the notebook he always carried.
As a working-class story about honest people quietly living their lives,Patersonmade the city itself feel like a living poem as Driver’s character mindfully appreciated the small details that made up his urban surroundings. As a refreshingly minimalist film,Patersondidn’t try to rely on any big action sequences or over-the-top dramaand instead focused on the beauty that can be found in the ordinary. With a thoughtful script and reserved performances,Patersonnot only acted as a representation of the New Jersey city but also as a quiet love letter to all the small cities that make up America.
3Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Perfectly represents Rome
Following the conclusion of World War II, Rome found itself in a period of terrible poverty and economic hardship, with average working-class people struggling to get by. It was out of this context that Vittorio De Sica madeBicycle Thieves,one of the defining films of Italian neorealismthat captured the struggle of daily life in post-WWII Rome like no other movie. As a city still recovering from the trauma of war, rather than tap into the timeless architecture and beauty of the city,Bicycle Thieveswas an unrelenting portrayal of poverty.
As the story of a poor father who desperately needs to work to support his family,Bicycle Thievestook viewers on a journey through the devastated city as he desperately tries to locate the stolen bike he needs in order to keep his job. With a simple story, it’s impossible not to feel heartbroken while witnessing Lamberto Maggiorani’s powerful portrayal of a man at the end of his tether. While films set in modern Rome show happy citizens cruising on Vespas or sipping Aperol Spritz,Bicycle Thievesshows a harsher Rome, stripped of glamour and comfort.
2Boyhood (2014)
Perfectly represents Houston
As a movie that was filmed in small chunks over more than a decade, Richard Linklater’sBoyhoodcaptured adolescence with a level of realism and commitment never before seen. With Ellar Coltrane as Mason Evans Jr., this film chronicles a young boy’s childhood from the age of six through to his entry into university at 18. Addressing powerful themes of youth, growing up, divorce, and discovering one’s identity,Boyhoodalso served as an incredible time capsule to Houston, Texas, in the early 21st century.
Boyhoodsaw Mason dealing with his parents' divorce when he was just a child, and his life was turned upside down as he moved with his mom and sister to a new city so his mother could attend the University of Houston. These little details were part of the tapestry ofBoyhoodand helped make Mason’s childhood feel genuinely real. As a city seen through Mason’s young eyes, we viewers get to witness how he carved out a new home for himself and dealt with the trials and tribulations that a young boy faces when confronted with mature problems.
1La La Land (2016)
Perfectly represents Los Angeles
As the love story of two ambitious young people trying to find success in Los Angeles,La La Landwas a modern classic that joins iconic releases likeSunset Boulevardas a defining depiction of the City of Angels. Withtwo incredible lead performances from Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, this movie musical was an astounding success that captured the tragedy at the heart of aspiration. With beautiful music, incredible dance sequences, and truly striking visuals,La La Landmanaged to feel both modern and timeless at the same time.
Through one captivating sequence after another,La La Landembodied the grandeur of L.A. right from its incredible opening dance scene in Hollywood traffic up to its solemn conclusion at a late-night jazz bar. As a film that tapped into the bombastic, over-the-top allure of thecity, as well as the small, individual frustrations of the people trying to make it there,La La Landwas a movie masterpiece from Damien Chazelle that earned Emma Stone a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actress.
