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Movie Locations TOUR

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Production scouts love Chelsea's waterfront and neighborhoods. The dramatic views of the Tobin Bridge from lower Broadway are a popular backdrop. Residential neighborhoods, local businesses and our industrial waterfront also get their time in the spotlight. Comedy, drama, action, romance - they've all found a home here. 

Check out the clips or watch the whole movies and TV shows to find familiar locations.  

See a movie or location we've missed? Let us know! 

MADAM WEB, 2024

Starring dAKOTA JOHNSON, adam scott, Emma Roberts

The superhero film is an extension of Marvel's Spiderman universe.  Produced by Sony, the film is scheduled for release in 2024. 

Using the working title of Claire, the crew filmed at 134 Chestnut Street and under the Route 1 viaduct in the summer of 2022. Shooting took place throughout Massachusetts including the Financial District of Boston, Andover, Weymouth and Worcester as well as New York and Mexico. 

godmothered, 2020

Starring Isla Fisher, Jillian Bell, Santiago Carbera

Set at Christmas time, "Godmothered" is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Jillian Bell), who upon hearing that her chosen profession is facing extinction, decides to show the world that people still need fairy godmothers. Finding a mislaid letter from a 10-year-old girl in distress, Eleanor tracks her down and discovers that the girl, Mackenzie, is now a 40-year-old single mom (Isla Fisher) working at a news station in Boston. Having lost her husband several years earlier, Mackenzie has all but given up on the idea of "happily ever after," but Eleanor is bound and determined to give Mackenzie a happiness makeover, whether she likes it or not.

The Polish Political Club on lower Broadway is cast as the TV station where Eleanor works.

The FORGER, 2014

Starring John Travolta

An art forger (John Travolta) arranges an early release from prison so that he can spend time with his dying son, then must pull off one final job for the man who made his freedom possible.

Addison Street is the home of the art forger and both exterior and interior scenes were filmed here.

 

About Fate, 2022

Starring Emma Roberts and Thomas Mann

How do you know who is "The One"?  Margot Hayes (Emma Roberts) and Griffin Reed (Thomas Mann) are both about to tie the knot with someone else. But fate places them in each other's lives and opens their eyes to true love. 

Shot in the Boston area, inside the sauna of Dillon's Russian Steam Bath on Chestnut Street is a location for the hero to ponder his fate. 

music video: chillin, 2009

wale and featuring lady gaga

The waterfront at Atlantic Salt and Cherry Street in the downtown are sites for performances. 

ocean state job lot ads, 2021

Starring frank vincent

In a series of three ads, discount retailer featured actor Frank Vincent as the tough Mafiosi Father Christmas. Appalled by the horrific amounts of money being spent he threatens to employ mafia methods when collecting money from customers who run up debt.

Along with the ad shot under the Tobin Bridge, anotherad was shot beside Atlantic Salt on Marginal Street

Parrotta's, a bar that was once on the corner of Winnisimmet and Williams, was where "Santa" shakes down someone who overspent during the holidays. 

Blown away, 1994

Starring Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Llyoyd Bridges, Forest Whitaker

After staging a particularly gory jailbreak, Irish Republican Army agent Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones) makes his way to Boston and begins systematically picking off members of the police bomb squad. The leader of this team, Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges), is set to retire, but the recent spate of bombings lead him to stay on in an attempt to save as many of his men as possible. It isn't long before he discovers the culprit is his old colleague Gaerity, seeking revenge from their shared past.

The site of the former Beacon Cafe at 81 Broadway is where Tommy Lee Jones kidnaps Lloyd Bridges from a bar. 

R.I.P.D., 2013

Starring Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stéphanie Szostak

Veteran lawman Roy Pulsifer (Jeff Bridges) works for the R.I.P.D., a legendary police force charged with finding monstrous spirits who are disguised as ordinary people but are trying to avoid their final judgment by hiding out among the living. When Roy and his new partner, Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds), uncover a plot that could end all life, they must discover a way to restore the cosmic balance or else watch the tunnel to the afterlife start sending angry souls back to the world of the living.

The house across the street from Atlantic Salt on Marginal Street was "blown up" for this action movie.

21, 2008

Starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a brilliant student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, needs some quick cash to pay his tuition bills. He joins a group of students who, under the leadership of unorthodox professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), use their math skills to win big in Las Vegas. Seduced by a beautiful teammate (Kate Bosworth) and loads of money, Ben learns that the stakes are higher than he ever imagined when he crosses paths with casino enforcer Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).

A key character lives at the corner of Broadway and Beacon Streets.

black mass, 2015

Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgard

While his brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains a powerful leader in the Massachusetts Senate, Irish hoodlum James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) continues to pursue a life of crime in 1970s Boston. Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), the lawman convinces Whitey to help the agency fight the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance spirals out of control, Bulger increases his power and evades capture to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in U.S. history.

Whitey's confrontation with the Boston Police was filmed on Highland Street at the parking lot between Essex and Suffolk Streets.

the departed, 2006

Starring Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlburg, Martin Sheen

South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster's trust, a career criminal named Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) infiltrates the police department and reports on its activities to his syndicate bosses. When both organizations learn they have a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin must figure out each other's identities to save their own lives.

“Frank Costello” picks up his intended hit at 51 Essex Street. 

ted, 2012

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale

When John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) was a little boy, he made a wish that Ted (Seth MacFarlane), his beloved teddy bear, would come alive. Thirty years later, foul-mouthed Ted is still John's constant companion, much to the chagrin of Lori (Mila Kunis), John's girlfriend. Though Lori's displeasure is exacerbated by the pair's constant consumption of beer and weed, she's not the one who's most disappointed with John; it may take the intervention of John's boyhood toy to help him grow up at last.

The party house was (according to the film) 81 Broadway. The MassPort building nearby was the site for a tomato fight. Stop and Compare Market on Hawthorne Street was the grocery store where Ted works. 

ted, 2015

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda, Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Giovanni Ribisi, Morgan Freeman

Life has changed drastically for thunder buddies John (Mark Wahlberg), now a bachelor, and best pal Ted (Seth MacFarlane), now married to the woman (Jessica Barth) of his dreams. Problems arise when the couple decide to adopt a child, but the law declares Ted to be property and not a person. Angry and dejected, the lovably foulmouthed teddy bear must now seek legal help from a young lawyer (Amanda Seyfried) and a legendary, civil-rights attorney (Morgan Freeman) to get the justice he deserves.

Stop and Compare Market on Hawthorne Street was the grocery store where Ted works. 42 Blossom Street was the house where they met Flash Gordon and partied.

gone baby gone, 2007

Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan

Along with his girlfriend (Michelle Monaghan), a private detective (Casey Affleck) takes on the difficult task of searching for a kidnapped girl in Boston. During his investigation, he must deal with the girl's aunt, a disapproving lawman (Morgan Freeman) and a drug dealer.

Chase scenes were filmed on Vale Street in front of the Accorda building. Other scenes were filmed inside 214 Webster. 

equalizer, 2014

Starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless.

Chelsea Floor Covering on Everett Avenue was turned into a neighborhood diner while other scenes were shot at Broadway and Williams. See the crew and Denzel on set.

next stop wonderland, 1998

Starring Hope Davis, Alan Gelfant, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Callie Thorne, Jimmy Tingle, Holland Taylor 

Boston residents nurse Erin Castleton (Hope Davis) and marine biology student Alan Monteiro (Alan Gelfant) don't know each another, but they share a frustration: their romantic lives. Having split with boyfriend Sean, Erin is unwillingly back on the market thanks to her mother, who places a singles ad in Erin's name. Scrambling for cash to repay a debt, Alan has little time for love. They almost meet on a train and at an aquarium. When they finally do meet, will they hit it off?

The movie is chockful of recognizable Boston area locales.  

Knight and Day, 2010

Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Mollà, Viola Davis, Paul Dano

June Havens (Cameron Diaz) chats up her charming seatmate on a flight out of Kansas, but she doesn't realize that she will soon land in the middle of an international adventure. The fellow passenger, Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), is a covert operative who claims he has been set up to take a fall. Now his reluctant partner, June must dodge bullets in Boston, leap rooftops in Austria and evade bulls in Spain, while she and Roy learn that trust is the most important survival skill.

Cameron Diaz was a mechanic and her shop was the MassPort building on lower Broadway next to the PPC.

Mystic River, 2003

Starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburn, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney

hen the daughter (Emmy Rossum) of ex-con Jimmy Marcus (Sean Penn) is murdered, two of his childhood friends from the neighborhood are involved. Dave (Tim Robbins), a blue-collar worker, was the last person to see her alive, while Sean (Kevin Bacon), a homicide detective, is heading up the case. As Sean proceeds with his investigation, Jimmy conducts one of his own through neighborhood contacts. Eventually, Jimmy suspects Dave is the culprit and considers taking the law into his own hands.

The opening's car accident was filmed on the Tobin Bridge. A scene shot  at the Fifth and Cherry never made it to the final cut. Chelsea DPW’s catch basin contractor at the time provided the wet concrete for a scene on Logan Street and Chelsea Streets in East Boston where the young Tim Robbins was kidnapped.

 

transformers, 2007

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor

The fate of humanity is at stake when two races of robots, the good Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, bring their war to Earth. The robots have the ability to change into different mechanical objects as they seek the key to ultimate power. Only a human youth, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) can save the world from total destruction.

The FBI raids the house at 28 Broadway which is cast as a computer hacker's home.

ava, 2020

Starring Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Colin Farrell, Jess Weixler, Common, Geena Davis

An assassin becomes marked for death by her own black ops organization after questioning orders and breaking protocol.

Scenes were shot near Forbes Street.

city on a hill, 2019

Starring Aldis Hodge, Kevin Bacon, Jonathan Tucker, Mark O'Brien, Lauren E. Banks, Amanda Clayton

Corrupt FBI agent Jackie Rohr (Kevin Bacon) is back, looking to exploit Boston's criminal justice system in a desperate attempt to salvage his own career.

Scenes were shot in front of the Polish Political Club on lower Broadway and Fitzgerald Ship Yard. The production team manufactured their own snow. 

pink panther 2, 2009

Starring Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, emily Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy Garcia

When the world's greatest treasures, including the Pink Panther diamond, are stolen, only one man can solve the mystery: Clouseau (Steve Martin). Together with his partner Ponton (Jean Reno) and a team of international detectives, the bumbling detective must catch the thief and retrieve the artifacts -- without causing too much collateral damage.

New sets were constructed at 121 Webster Avenue. The façade of "La Plata de Nada" was filmed at the entrance of what is now Boston Paintball. Another set for the Vatican was where Steve Martin's Clouseau poses as the Pope and falls from his balcony.

the imported bridegroom, 1989

Starring Gene Troobnick, Avi Hoffman, Greta Cowan, Annette Miller, Miriam Varon, Andreas Teuber

A Jewish landlord (Gene Troobnick) brings a scholar (Avi Hoffman) from Poland to marry his daughter (Greta Cowan) in circa-1900 Boston.

The former synagogue at 76 Orange Street was used for scenes. 

ghosts of girlfriends past, 2009

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas

Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) lives life in the fast lane, committed to bachelorhood and simultaneous relationships with multiple women. On the eve of his brother's wedding, Connor receives a visit from the spirits of his jilted lovers, who take him on an odyssey through his many failed relationships to try to find out what made him such a cad -- and if there is any hope of Connor finding true love.

Sets were constructed in the lots 121 Webster Avenue.

What's your number, 2011

Starring Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, Zachary Quinto, Andy Samberg

Ally Darling (Anna Faris) is realizing she's a little lost in life. Her latest romance has just fizzled out, and she's just been fired from her marketing job. Then she reads an eye-opening magazine article that warns that 96 percent of women who've been with 20 or more lovers are unlikely to find a husband. Determined to turn her life around and prove the article wrong, Ally embarks on a mission to find the perfect mate from among her numerous ex-boyfriends.

A wedding scene was shot in front of the Polish Political Club on lower Broadway.

Spenser for hire, 1985-1988

Starring Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Llyoyd Bridges, Forest Whitaker

Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.

Season 1 Episode 11 features the Beacon Street Route 1 off ramp and a car chase along Boatswains Way to the Fitzgerald Ship Yard. A shoot out is staged at the shipyard. 

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