Over the years, South Florida has been the backdrop for many of Hollywood’s greatest motion pictures. From the Bad Boys series, which take you on wild police chases along neon-lit Miami streets, to “Mountains,” which chronicles small neighborhoods that are being demolished due to gentrification, there are dozens of recent films shot here that continue the legacy of great movies like “Scarface” and “One Night in Miami.”
The five films named below represent some of the best depictions of what you might see or whom you could meet on our sunny beaches.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
“Bad Boys Ride or Die” is the final film in the series with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence that started three movies ago with “Bad Boys” in 1995. The film follows detectives Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett attempting to clear the name of their deceased police captain, Conrad Howard (played by Joe Pantoliano).
Locations include Brickell Avenue in Miami and Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. Scenes depicting city life feel true to life here. A lot of the buildings, though shot elsewhere, look like those you would see in North Miami. The bustling vibe from the background actors, sets, and locations helps bring the spirit of Miami to life.
The majority of scenes in the four films in the series are in Miami, but some were shot in Atlanta and Mexico City. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” scored a 68% percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which is about 10% less than the series’ second and third movies.
Mountains (2023)
Filmed entirely in Miami’s neighborhood of Little Haiti, “Mountains” is the feature debut of director Monica Sorelle. It stars Atibon Nazaire, Sheila Anozier, and Chris Renois.
The story follows Xavier (Atibon Nazaire), a demolition worker who dreams of purchasing a new home for his family, all while his neighborhood is quickly being torn apart and gentrified by his employers. Some locations seen in the film include the Villain Theater and the collaborative “Welcome to Little Haiti” mural.
The film’s dialogue swaps between English in Xavier’s workplace and Haitian Creole in his home. This movie does an incredible job of highlighting an area in Miami that isn’t regularly seen. The streets are filled with residents speaking Haitian Creole which makes the audience feel like they are walking the streets with the characters Xavier and Esperance.
Father of the Bride (2022)
This remake of the 1991 classic stars Andy Garcia, Miami legend Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, and Diego Boneta in leading and supporting roles.
Taking place in Coral Gables, the movie follows the Cuban-American Herrera family as they scramble to plan a wedding in one month when Sophia (Adria Arjona) breaks the news to the family over dinner, all while Billy (Andy Garcia) and Ingrid (Gloria Estefan) juggle around the topic of when they should tell their family that they are getting a divorce.
The film features a variety of iconic South Florida locations like Domino Park in Calle Ocho and Star Island in Miami Beach. The depictions of Cuban-American families in this film are true to the source, down to the morning cafecito and father who demands that the groom ask for his blessing.
Moonlight (2016)
Best picture winner “Moonlight” follows Chiron, played by Ashton Sanders, as he navigates life in Miami and discovers his sexuality. The film follows the character through different chapters of his life that are played by two other actors.
Other famous actors who starred in this movie include Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, and Janelle Monae. It is based on the life of MacArthur award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney,.
Notable locations in Miami that were shot in the film include Liberty City, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, Jimmy’s Eastside Diner, and Downtown Miami. A lot of the scenes that take place in Liberty City showcase the city life of Miami at night.
Rather than showing common urban locations that are often used for filming in Miami, the movie focuses on real neighborhoods in the city. This in turn highlights the lifestyle of many residents who live in these areas.
Reminiscence (2021)
“Reminiscence” is set in a world destroyed by climate change. Miami is flooded and citizens are only allowed to go out at night due to extreme heat during the day.
Hugh Jackman’s character, Nick Bannister, runs a business that allows people to revisit old memories using a special machine. His client, played by Rebecca Ferguson, goes missing, causing him to search for her and find out where she went.
While the movie is set in Miami, the only location seen in the film is the Miami Beach Art Deco District. Since the movie takes place in an apocalyptic world, there is no connection to draw to realistic Miami life.
