With photogenic spots like Ybor City, Pinellas County beaches, an industrial port, and our historic neighborhoods, it shouldn’t be too shocking to learn that the Tampa Bay region has hosted some pretty big film studios.
Over the years, directors like Ron Howard, Tim Burton, Alfonso Cuarón and more have chosen Tampa Bay as the backdrop to tell their stories.
But things have certainly slowed down, especially after 2015. That’s when Florida “pulled out of the incentive game,” said Tyler Martinolich, executive director of Film Tampa Bay to WUSF.
“In 2015, which was the last year we had a statewide incentive, we were actually the third largest filming destination in the United States,” said Martinolich to the station. “Since then, we’ve precipitously fallen, and now we’re not even top 20.”
But that hasn’t completed stopped studios from coming to the Sunshine State. Here you’ll find some of the more memorable films shot in our backyard, and a few newer ones you should definitely put on your watchlist.
The Infiltrator (2016)
Locations: Downtown Tampa, St. Pete Beach and Gulfport
Set in Florida, circa 1986, Robert Mazur (played by Bryan Cranston) is sent undercover attempting to infiltrate Pablo Escobar’s drug trafficking network. You’ll see a ton of familiar local spots, like Alpine Liquors, the Franklin Exchange building, Cephas’ Hot Shop, the Tampa Riverwalk, the Tampa Theatre, Tampa International Airport, the Aloft Tampa Downtown, Le Meridien Tampa, Columbia Restaurant, and more.
Photo via Broadgreen PicturesMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Locations: St. Petersburg, Largo, Tampa
One of two films Burton has opted to film in Tampa Bay, the main character’s house, and all its peculiarity, can be found in Largo. Plus, you’ll see the Gandy Bridge, shots of downtown Tampa, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, and shots around Sun City Center, Gibsonton and Ruskin.
Photo via Tim Burton ProductionsOcean’s 11 (2001)
Location: St. Petersburg
The Sunshine City makes a brief but memorable cameo in Steven Soderbergh’s classic remake of ‘Ocean’s 11.’ The Derby Lane dog track is where Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) tries to convince Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner) to come out of retirement and join the team in their upcoming Las Vegas heist.
Photo via Warner Brothers PicturesCop and a Half (1993)
Location: Tampa
Directed by Henry Winkler, this early-’90s buddy cop-comedy starring the late actor and one-time Tampa Bay Bandits owner Burt Reynolds was shot pretty much all over Tampa, and features a fantastic skateboard chase scene down Franklin Street. Also, look out for the D.W. Career Center and a fantastic Port Tampa Bay speed boat chase.
Photo via Universal StudiosGoodfellas (1990)
Location: ZooTampa
Goodfellas was mostly filmed in New York City, but early in the film the mob classic also features the “Tampa City Zoo,” aka ZooTampa (then called Lowry Park Zoo). You’ll recognize the lion habitat as the same place where Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro dangle a guy upside down.
Photo via Warner Brothers PicturesSpring Breakers (2013)
Locations: St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Treasure Island, and Gulfport
Starring James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, and Gucci Mane, Spring Breakers mostly shot in the St. Pete Beach and Sarasota areas. You’ll see a lot of familiar spots, like the Undertow Beach Bar, The Molloy, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Ringling College of Art and Design, New College, B & M Country Cooking, and more.
Photo via A24
Cocoon (1985)
Locations: Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Lakeland This Oscar-winning sci-fi fantasy tells the story of a pool that embodies the properties of the Fountain of Youth, and featured much of Pinellas County as the backdrop. The movie’s pool scenes were all filmed at the “Casa de Muchas Flores” in St. Petersburg, which was recently for sale. You’ll also notice the Southgate Shopping Center in Lakeland, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, the Suncoast Manor Retirement Community, the Coliseum, and Snell Arcade buildings, as well.
Photo via Twentieth Century FoxEdward Scissorhands (1990)
Locations: Lutz, Lakeland
The goth classic “Edward Scissorhands” was filmed all around Tampa, and the brightly-colored neighborhood from the film can be found in Lutz (though the pastels paint job is log gone). You’ll also noticed the shopping mall in Lakeland, and fun fact, the original home from the movie was for sale back in 2022.
Photo via 20th Century FoxSummer Rental (1985)
Location: St. Pete Beach
Carl Reiner’s classic comedy Summer Rental stars the late John Candy in his prime, and it was filmed mostly in Pinellas County. Look out for Billy’s Stonecrab Seafood & Steaks in Tierra Verde, the Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, John’s Pass, and the old St. Petersburg Pier which can be seen during the final leg of the regatta.
Photo via Paramount PicturesMagic Mike (2012)
Locations: St. Pete Beach, Ybor City
Channing Tatum was literally a male stripper in Tampa in his younger days, and this film finds a fictional version of himself and Matthew McConaughey stripping all over town. There are plenty of familiar locales in this film, including The Bricks Ybor, Amalie Arena, tons of shots of downtown Tampa, Fred Howard Park in St. Pete, and others.
Photo via Warner Brothers PicturesLethal Weapon 3 (1992)
Location: St. Petersburg
A week before retirement, police detective Robert Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover) is roped into an important case with his partner Martin Riggs (played by Mel Gibson), and you know it all ends with the famed Soreno Hotel in downtown St. Pete getting blown to bits.
Photo via Warner Brothers PicturesChina Moon (1993)
Locations: Lakeland, Bartow, Tampa
Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, and a young Benicio del Toro star in this murder mystery about a homicide detective who has an affair with a woman who accidentally kills her abusive husband. The film shows quite a bit of Polk County, including Palm Court restaurant, Clipper Barber Shop, and Brown’s Billiards.
Photo via Tig ProductionsFear of Rain (2020)
Locations: Tampa, St. Petersburg
This psychological horror film put Tampa, and much of Seminole Heights, front and center. Besides Harry Connick Jr., Madison Iseman and Katherine Heigl, you’ll also see
quite a bit of downtown Tampa, Julian B Lane Riverfront Park, Davis Islands, Hillsborough High School, Oaklawn Cemetery, and more.
Photo via LionsgateGreat Expectations (1998)
Locations: Fort De Soto Park, Sarasota
Director Alfonso Cuarón’s adaption of the classic novel used the famous Ca’ d’Zan historic residence in Sarasota for his film, and you’ll notice Fort De Soto is where a young Finnegan meets an escaped convict.
Photo via 20th Century StudiosPain Hustlers (2023)
Location: Tampa
This crime comedy starring Emily Blunt, Chris Evans and Andy García, centers on a high school dropout who lands a job with a failing pharmaceutical company, and while it may have garnered poor reviews, at least you’ll get to see the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, shots of Bayshore Boulevard, the Gandy Bridge, and more.
Photo via NetflixDolphin Tale 1 and 2 (2010, 2014)
Locations: Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Oldsmar and Tarpon Springs
Inspired by true events, the Dolphin Tale saga documents the true-life tale of Winter, an injured bottlenose dolphin and her quest for a prosthetic tale. Both the original and the sequel were shot all over Pinellas County, so look out for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Admiral Farragut Academy, Satinleaf Avenue, Honeymoon Island and more.
Photo via Alcon EntertainmentZola (2020)
Locations: Tampa, St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Largo
In 2015, A’Ziah King composed a Twitter thread telling a personal story about her life during a 48-hour period in Tampa Bay. The thread went viral, so much so that King’s story is now a professionally-produced movie, titled “Zola.” The film was shot in Tampa Bay and features a variety of well-known locations, like the Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club, The Ranch House Grill, Publix at Dolphin Village Shopping Center, the Westshore Grand Tampa, the Dolphin Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Alpine Liquors, and more.
Photo via A24Sex Ed (2014)
Locations: Downtown Tampa, The Hub, Sacred Heart Academy, Sarasota, Lakeland
Tampa saw some love with this film (the premiere was even held at the Studio Movie Grill in University Mall), and as you can see, downtown’s The Hub gets some solid screen time. Watch Haley Joel Osment play a first-year, virgin teacher in an inner city middle school (Sacred Heart Academy), who is struggling to teach teenagers sex ed.
Photo via Marvista EntertainmentThe Parent Trap 2 (1986)
Location: Tampa
A made-for-TV sequel to the original Disney Channel film, “Parent Trap 2” follows two best friends working to get their parents together before an impending move to New York. Filming took place over three weeks all over the Tampa area, and you’ll notice plenty of local spots, including the old Harbour Island Mall, Harbour Island Hotel, The Press Box, the Publix at Gandy and Himes, Nicko’s Diner, Davis Islands Yacht Club, Robert E. Lee Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, and even the Tampa Tribune newsroom.
Photo via Disney StudiosThe Punisher (2004)
Location: Tampa
A classic Marvel comeback tale, Frank Castle (played by Thomas Jane) will stop at nothing to avenge his family, who was brutally murdered, and apparently this involved kicking ass all around Tampa. You’ll noticed a ton of Tampa spots like Fort DeSoto Park, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Honeymoon Island, and the Port Tampa Bay silos (visible from the Selmon Expressway) were used as his hideout.
Photo via Lionsgate FilmsForever Mine (1999)
Location: St. Pete Beach
Set in Miami, but filmed on St. Pete Beach, “Forever Mine” is all about a love triangle involving Ray Liotta, Joseph Fiennes and Gretchen Mol. Of course, things turn deadly, but at least it all happened in the Don CeSar Hotel.
Photo via Metro-Goldwyn-MayerGrace is Gone (2007)
Locations: Plant City, Winter Haven, Fort De Soto Park
John Cusack stars as a father who struggles to deal with the sudden loss of his wife, and it was shot in quite a few spots around Tampa Bay, like Plant City and Fort De Soto Park, and Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.
Photo via The Weinstein CompanyTrue Love Blooms (2019)
Location: St. Petersburg
In what is arguably the most St. Pete-like plot of all time, Hallmark’s True Love Blossoms is all about a wealthy condo-owner who wants to build right over a beloved community garden, and it was shot all around downtown St. Petersburg and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Photo via HallmarkWaiting on Mary (2016)
Location: Pinellas County
Director Corey W. Horton’s Waiting on Mary was filmed throughout much of Tampa Bay, and centers around a comedian struggling to cope with his divorce by dressing up like a Tea Party guy from the Obama years. You’ll notice some familiar beaches in Pinellas County, as well as shots of St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and Heritage Village.
Photo via Dolphin in a Drum StudiosRoommate Regret (2024)
Locations: St. Petersburg and Clearwater
This thriller is all about a young homeowner who has to outsmart a dangerous tenant. You’ll notice plenty of local spots, like Main Event Boxing Gym, Johnny’s Restaurant and Pizza, Parkshore Grill, Three Birds Tavern, Clear Track Studios, Green Bench Brewing, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and Straub Park, to name a few.
Photo via RokuBreathing Happy (2022)
Locations: Tampa, Carrollwood, Town ’n’ Country
This indie film centers around a man attempting to make it to one year of sobriety, and was shot mostly in the Tampa area during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film prominently features the childhood house of writer and director Shane Brady, located in Palm Harbor.
Photo via Rustic Films/Scatter Brothers ProductionsLove in the Sun (2019)
Locations: Safety Harbor, Treasure Island
This Hallmark film follows a successful dating app creator who comes home to tell her father about her engagement, but while she’s there, she also reconnects with her high school sweetheart. Oh no! Viewers will spot plenty of scenes around Safety Harbor, Fort De Soto Park, and Treasure Island.
Photo via Hallmark
Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent...
More by Colin Wolf
