Lights! Camera! Action! Over the years, Pittsburgh has rolled out the red carpet for Hollywood, earning itself the unofficial title of the Hollywood of the East Coast. Plenty of movies and television shows are set in the Burgh. Here are just nine iconic movies and one TV show that were shot in Pittsburgh (or nearby).
1. Mister Rogers Neighborhood – 1968
Generations of Pittsburghers have grown up in the world of make believe created by the city's beloved Fred Rogers in Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Most locals know that Mister Rogers was filmed at the WQED studios in Pittsburgh. Mister Rogers filmed 895 episodes between 1968 and 2000.
2. Night of the Living Dead – 1968
Nearly 50 years after the release of the Night of the Living Dead, horror movie fans still flock to the sites where the iconic film was shot. Director George Romero filmed scenes for the famous flick at Evans City Cemetery, in the South Side, and in Butler County. In 1977, Romero began filming Dawn of the Dead at Monroeville Mall.
3. All The Right Moves – 1983
Southwestern Pennsylvania certainly has a reputation for its strong high school football programs. Hollywood came calling in the early 1980s to film All The Right Moves in nearby Johnstown. The film - starring Craig T. Nelson, Tom Cruise, and Lea Thompson - was filmed at Point Stadium in Johnstown as well as other locations around town and in Pittsburgh.
4. Flashdance – 1983
Hollywood again rolled into town in 1983 to shoot the popular film Flashdance. Starring Jennifer Beals, the iconic movie filmed throughout the city and in Los Angeles. Pittsburgh scenes were filmed at the Duquesne Incline, Keystone Commons, and the Carnegie Institute.
5. The Silence of the Lambs – 1991
Most people probably already know that the thriller The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, was predominately shot in the Pittsburgh region. The Academy Award-winning movie filmed in such locations as Pittsburgh International Airport, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Old Allegheny County Jail, and in McKeesport.
6. Lorenzo’s Oil – 1993
Lorenzo's Oil, an emotional story about a young boy's battle against the fatal adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), was partially filmed in Pittsburgh. The film, starring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon, was shot in such locations at Carnegie Mellon University.
7. The Dark Knight Rises – 2012
Christian Bale swooped into Pittsburgh for the filming of Director Christopher Nolan's the Dark Knight Rises in 2012. The epic Batman flick filmed all around the world, including in such Steel City spots as Heinz Field and downtown Pittsburgh.
8. Jack Reacher – 2012
Tom Cruise again returned to Pittsburgh, this time in the 21st century, to film Jack Reacher. Filming locations included Deluca's Diner in the Strip District, the South Side, Saltsburg, Stanwix Tower Apartments, Sewickley, and Monroeville.
9. Fences – 2016
Parts of Pittsburgh turned back the clock to the 1950s back in 2016. That's when Denzel Washington and Viola Davis came to town to film the critically acclaimed Fences. The film was shot all over Pittsburgh, including in the West End, the Hill District, Oakland, and at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
What other famous films and TV shows shot in Pittsburgh (and a bit beyond) would you add to a part two of this list? Share below! Click here to see a list of the 20 most famous celebrities from the Pittsburgh-area.
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