Iconic Movie Filming Locations Trivia Quiz: Test Your Expert Knowledge

Answers at the bottom — no peeking!

Think you’re a true cinephile? This expert-level quiz challenges your knowledge of the real-world locations behind legendary movie scenes. From horror classics to epic blockbusters, can you identify all 20 filming spots and score a perfect 20/20?

Questions

Question 1: Where were the exterior shots of the Overlook Hotel filmed in The Shining (1980)?

A. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
B. Timberline Lodge, Oregon
C. El Tovar Hotel, Arizona
D. Ahwahnee Hotel, California

Question 2: The Shawshank State Prison in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) was filmed at which real location?

A. Alcatraz Island, California
B. Sing Sing, New York
C. Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield
D. Leavenworth, Kansas

Question 3: The Omaha Beach D-Day landing sequence in Saving Private Ryan (1998) was shot at which beach?

A. Omaha Beach, Normandy, France
B. Utah Beach, Normandy, France
C. Ballinesker Beach, Ireland
D. Gold Beach, England

Question 4: Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) was constructed in which New Zealand location?

A. Fiordland National Park
B. Matamata
C. Tongariro National Park
D. Abel Tasman National Park

Question 5: Where was Forrest Gump’s famous bench located during filming of Forrest Gump (1994)?

A. Forsyth Park, Savannah
B. Piedmont Park, Atlanta
C. Chippewa Square, Savannah
D. Johnson Square, Savannah

Question 6: The final dance lift scene in Dirty Dancing (1987) was filmed at which resort’s lake?

A. Lake Lure, North Carolina
B. Mountain Lake, Virginia
C. Fontana Lake, North Carolina
D. Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

Question 7: The town of Amity Island in Jaws (1975) was primarily filmed on which island?

A. Long Island, New York
B. Nantucket, Massachusetts
C. Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
D. Block Island, Rhode Island

Question 8: Nakatomi Plaza in Die Hard (1988) is which real Los Angeles skyscraper?

A. U.S. Bank Tower
B. Fox Plaza
C. Century Plaza Towers
D. Aon Center

Question 9: The McCallister family home in Home Alone (1990) is located at which address?

A. 6922 Main Street, La Grange, Illinois
B. 671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, Illinois
C. 485 Woodside Lane, Kenilworth, Illinois
D. 314 Evergreen Terrace, Elmhurst, Illinois

Question 10: The Roman Colosseum exteriors in Gladiator (2000) were recreated at which site?

A. Piazza di Spagna, Rome
B. Fort Ricasoli, Malta
C. Ta’ Qali Stadium, Malta
D. Mdina, Malta

Question 11: Trim Castle in Ireland doubled as which location in Braveheart (1995)?

A. York city walls
B. King Edward I’s castle
C. Stirling Castle
D. Edinburgh Castle

Question 12: The Lars Homestead in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) was filmed at which Tunisian site?

A. Chott el Jerid salt lake
B. Hotel Sidi Idriss
C. Tataouine town
D. Matmata caves

Question 13: The boulder chase scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) was shot in which country?

A. Egypt
B. Tunisia
C. Morocco
D. Jordan

Question 14: Sad Hill Cemetery, the final showdown site in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), is located where?

A. Monument Valley, Utah
B. Cabo de Gata, Spain
C. Burgos Province, Spain
D. Tabernas Desert, Spain

Question 15: The tank battle in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) was filmed in which Spanish desert?

A. Monegros Desert
B. Tabernas Desert
C. Almería Province
D. Bardenas Reales

Question 16: Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films was inspired by which London market?

A. Borough Market
B. Covent Garden Market
C. Leadenhall Market
D. Portobello Road Market

Question 17: The fire station headquarters in Ghostbusters (1984) is which New York building?

A. Ladder Company 11, Manhattan
B. Hook & Ladder Company 8, Tribeca
C. Engine Company 55, Harlem
D. Ladder Company 14, Brooklyn

Question 18: The “I’ll have what she’s having” deli scene in When Harry Met Sally… (1989) was shot at which spot?

A. Russ & Daughters, Lower East Side
B. Zabar’s, Upper West Side
C. Katz’s Delicatessen, Lower East Side
D. 2nd Avenue Deli, Midtown

Question 19: The Paris dream folding street in Inception (2010) was filmed using a practical set in which city?

A. Paris, France
B. Vancouver, Canada
C. Calgary, Canada
D. London, UK

Question 20: The school exteriors in The Breakfast Club (1985) were filmed at which high school?

A. New Trier High School, Illinois
B. Maine North High School, Illinois
C. Glenbrook North High School, Illinois
D. Niles West High School, Illinois

Answers

  1. B. Timberline Lodge, Oregon — Stanley Kubrick filmed exteriors at this Mt. Hood ski lodge; interiors were studio-built.
  2. C. Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield — This abandoned prison provided the authentic Gothic architecture.
  3. C. Ballinesker Beach, Ireland — Spielberg chose this Wexford strand for its dunes and privacy.
  4. B. Matamata — Peter Jackson built the permanent Hobbiton set on a sheep farm there.
  5. C. Chippewa Square, Savannah — The bench faced the square’s monument; it was removed after filming.
  6. B. Mountain Lake, Virginia — The iconic lake lift was filmed at this resort.
  7. C. Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts — The island’s docks and beaches captured New England summer vibes.
  8. B. Fox Plaza — This Century City building served as Nakatomi Plaza and was Fox’s headquarters.
  9. B. 671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, Illinois — This Georgian mansion is the exact address used.
  10. B. Fort Ricasoli, Malta — Ridley Scott rebuilt Colosseum facades here for the battle exteriors.
  11. B. King Edward I’s castle — Trim Castle stood in for English fortifications in the film.
  12. B. Hotel Sidi Idriss — This troglodyte hotel in Matmata was used as the Lars moisture farm.
  13. B. Tunisia — Sidi Bouhlel Canyon near Tozeur hosted the iconic boulder chase.
  14. C. Burgos Province, Spain — Sergio Leone built and filmed the cemetery here.
  15. C. Almería Province — The desert tank sequences were shot around Almería.
  16. C. Leadenhall Market — Its Victorian arches became the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.
  17. B. Hook & Ladder Company 8, Tribeca — This active firehouse is the iconic exterior used.
  18. C. Katz’s Delicatessen, Lower East Side — The real deli hosted the famous scene.
  19. C. Calgary, Canada — A 100m street section was built and hydraulically folded at Calgary Film Studios.
  20. B. Maine North High School, Illinois — The unused school in Des Plaines provided the detention facade.

How did you do? Share your score in the comments and challenge your film buff friends to beat it!