Famous Movies Filmed in Miami
- April 17, 2026
Greater Miami and Miami Beach has served as the setting for many popular films, including There’s Something About Mary, Scarface and Any Given Sunday, to name a few. With palm-lined streets, Art Deco landmarks and glittering waterfront views, Miami’s movie settings are instantly recognizable, and many of the destination’s most popular attractions have served as on-screen settings, too.
Discover the restaurants, hotels, bars, parks and more that have appeared on the big screen, and reminisce about some of your favorite Miami movie scenes in these iconic real-life locations.
2 Fast, 2 Furious
South Miami Avenue Bridge
Appeared in: The film’s most recognizable race scene. During a climactic point of the race, the bridge goes up, and several of the film’s main characters jump it as it rises in the ultimate “do not try this at home” moment.
Why visit: A lot has happened in Brickell since this movie was filmed in the early 2000s. Back then, there wasn’t much around South Miami Avenue, save for a Pepsi billboard that one car crashed into. Today, the bridge leads into Brickell City Centre, the neighborhood’s hub for upscale shopping and gourmet dining.
Analyze That
The St. Regis Bal Harbour
Appeared in: It was the dream wedding locale for Billy Crystal’s character Ben Sobel and his bride, played by Lisa Kudrow. All goes well until Robert De Niro’s mob boss character, Paul Vitti, crashes the wedding, hiding behind a plant and summoning the doctor during the ceremony.
Why visit: The St. Regis Bal Harbour is one of Miami’s top luxury hotels, home to a nightly champagne sabering ceremony and upscale restaurants like BH Prime Steakhouse and Atlantikos.
Any Given Sunday
Cardozo Hotel
Appeared in: The Cardozo Hotel is where Willie Beamen runs into his ex-girlfriend in Any Given Sunday.
Why Visit: Its patio is an ideal spot to kick back with a cocktail and take in the sights of Ocean Drive.
Bonus fact: It's also the hotel Frank Sinatra runs in A Hole in the Head.
Bad Boys 2
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Appeared in: It was the palatial estate of the film’s main villain, Johnny Tapia. Though it was destroyed in the movie, the house was unharmed.
Why visit: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is one of Miami’s most beautiful cultural attractions, where you can tour the opulent home of industrialist James Deering, filled with fine art, intricate ceilings and over a century of history. Its gardens are even more impressive.
The Birdcage
The Carlyle
Appeared in: It was the hotel run by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Many memorable scenes, including the famous conga line scene, were filmed at The Carlyle hotel, and you can still eat at the Carlyle Cafe.
Why visit: The people-watching from any sidewalk cafe on Ocean Drive is unmatched, and a meal at Carlyle Cafe is worth it for that alone. The cafe offers a massive menu of fresh seafood, too, as well as fun, colorful cocktails perfect for photographing with South Beach as the backdrop.
Bonus trivia: The hotel can also be seen in the movie Scarface and the opening credits of the TV show Miami Vice.
The Bodyguard
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Appeared in: The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is where Whitney Houston sings “I Have Nothing” at a charity benefit in The Bodyguard.
Why visit: It’s home to legendary LIV nightclub and the swanky Bleau Bar.
Caddyshack
Rusty Pelican
Appeared in: It served as the backdrop for the yacht club scene, where the character played by Ted Knight is attempting to christen his sailboat. Rodney Dangerfield’s character tries to ruin the fun by cruising past and creating a wake to rock the boat. He ultimately sinks the dock.
Why visit: Few restaurant views in Miami can top the one from the venerable Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. While it looks markedly different than it did in the 1980 film, the vistas out over Biscayne Bay and the Downtown Miami skyline are still spectacular. The food is solid too, and it’s one of the area’s best places for prime steaks, fresh seafood and an excellent Sunday brunch.
Chef
Versailles Restaurant
Appeared in: Chef, the 2014 John Favreau film about a stressed-out chef who returns to Miami and starts a popular food truck. He sits down at Versailles Restaurant for an after-hours Cubano and has an epiphany that reinvigorates his career with inspiration for a new venture.
Why visit: Located in Little Havana, Versailles is a Cuban American icon in Miami, not just a restaurant but a gathering place for the Cuban exile community. Stop by for breakfast and you’ll find “abuelitos” (grandfathers) out front sipping cafecitos and talking politics. Go at night and you’ll dine among generations of Miami Cuban families savoring ropa vieja and arroz imperial among mirrored walls and jacketed waiters.
Father of the Bride
Maximo Gomez (Domino) Park
Appeared in: The 2022 remake of this classic casts the family as Cuban-Americans. When daughter Adria Arjona announces to her father, played by Andy Garcia, that she’s getting married, he immediately retreats to his safe place: A domino game in the park. She confronts him, and joins in the game.
Why visit: Domino Park on Calle Ocho in Little Havana is an icon of Cuban-American culture in Miami, where older residents pass the afternoon playing dominos in highly competitive games.
Goldfinger
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Appeared in: Sweeping aerial shots that opened the 1964 James Bond classic Goldfinger, where Sean Connery’s Bond meets up with CIA Agent Felix Leiter by the pool. There’s also, strangely, an ice skating rink in the lobby.
Why visit: It is Miami Beach’s most recognizable hotel, an architectural masterpiece by Art Deco master Morris Lapidus.
Iron Man 3
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Appeared in: It was the villain’s lair in Iron Man 3, where Tony Stark finally confronts Mandarin at the end of the film.
Why visit: It is one of Miami’s most photogenic attractions.
Moonlight
Jimmy’s Eastside Diner
Appeared in: The final scene of the 2017 Academy Award’s Best Picture winner, in which the main character, Chiron, meets back up with childhood friend Kevin in an emotional reunion.
Why visit: Long before Moonlight, Jimmy’s Eastside Diner in the Upper Eastside was already a Miami landmark, a vestige of old Miami where you can still get an affordable breakfast almost any hour of the day. It’s a popular spot among locals, a big reason why it was chosen for the scene.
The Rip on Netflix
Appeared in: While most of The Rip was filmed outside of Miami, the destination still makes a cinematic appearance through select establishing shots and exterior scenes. The landmarks help ground the story in Miami, since the film is inspired by a 2016 Miami Lakes case that became the largest money seizure in Miami-Dade history. Although the movie begins with a sign that says, “Welcome to Hialeah,” that sign does not actually exist.
Keep an eye out for these recognizable landmarks:
- Kaseya Center
- PortMiami
- One Thousand Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid
- Maurice A. Ferré Park
Why visit: Catch a game or concert at Kaseya Center, take in the cruise ships and ocean views at PortMiami, or admire the striking design of One Thousand Museum, one of Miami’s most iconic luxury residential towers. While you’re in Downtown Miami, take a stroll through Maurice A. Ferré Park, a 21-acre public park that offers visitors waterfront views and access to Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.
Scarface
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Appeared in: The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is where Tony and Manolo enjoy ice cream and discuss the progression of money, power and women.
Why visit: The oceanfront Fontainebleau has beautiful pools and 12 restaurants, including Hakkasan and Mirabella.
Montana’s in the Colony Hotel
Appeared in: You can see the outside of the Sun Ray motel in the infamous chainsaw scene.
Why visit: Technically, Montana’s is in the Colony Hotel in South Beach, which sits adjacent to the building used as the Sun Ray motel. The ground floor of that building is now a CVS, so Montana’s opened up next door. It’s a Scarface-themed restaurant with walls made to look like iconic murals from the film, and it serves a wide range of food, from steaks to seafood fra diavolo.
There’s Something About Mary
Big Pink
Appeared in: The covert location where Matt Dillon’s character, Pat Healy – a private investigator – meets with his informant, played by Jeffrey Tambor.
Why visit: Big Pink is a South Beach institution, a late-night diner with its iconic pink VW Beetles parked out front. The menu spans everything from spaghetti and meatballs to teriyaki chicken, with portions big enough to share. It’s a popular late-night stop for anyone craving a hearty meal, a favorite for weekend brunch and a go-to for families.
Cardozo Hotel
Appeared in: One of There’s Something About Mary’s most infamous scenes, in which Ben Stiller’s character offers Cameron Diaz some very unorthodox hair gel, leaving her with a strand of hair sticking straight up.
Why visit: The Cardozo, owned by Miami royalty Gloria and Emilio Estefan, sits in the heart of South Beach's Art Deco District, a shining example of Art Deco architecture, and a frequent stop on Miami’s Art Deco Walking Tours.
Churchill’s Pub
Appeared in: It was the strip club where Matt Dillon’s character searches for Cameron Diaz’s character, Mary.
Why visit: Churchill’s Pub was a beloved music venue and dive bar in Little Haiti for decades before it closed down a few years ago. It reopened in 2025 and has quickly resumed its role as one of the top places to catch up-and-coming local bands in Miami. The menu is a little smaller than before, but since you’re going for the music, it won’t matter.
