Baltimore’s Role in TV Shows & Movies
Whether as the main setting or a stand-in for another location, Baltimore's played a pivotal part in several hit shows and movies. Is your favorite on the list?
Even if you haven’t yet made a trip to Charm City, you’ve probably seen it on screen. Many know Baltimore from the hit show The Wire, but the city has inspired and been featured in countless other television shows and movies over the years. Read on to find out exactly where you may have spotted some of our gorgeous neighborhoods and attractions—and how to explore them for yourself, movie buff or otherwise.
Movies Set or Filmed in Charm City
Hairspray
The Patterson Park Observatory is one of the most iconic landmarks in Baltimore.
Perhaps the most quintessential “Baltimore” film, this 1988 John Waters classic features many Charm City neighborhoods and locales. The Turnblads’ apartment above the Hardy Har Hut was located in the Patterson Park area of Southeast Baltimore, while the VonTussel’s home was located a few blocks away on Clinton Avenue. Walk in their footsteps by meandering the sprawling green park, home to tennis courts, an ice-skating rink and the historic Patterson Park Observatory. The school scenes were filmed at Perry Hall High School in Baltimore County, and The Corny Collins Show was shot at the now closed Flite 3 Studio on East Cold Spring Lane, which also appears in the movies Avalon, Species 2 and Cecil B Demented.
He’s Just Not That Into You
Baltimore is the backdrop to this star-studded romantic comedy, based loosely on a self-help book of the same name. In addition to scenic shots of Mount Vernon and Canton—plus the Domino Sugars and Mr. Boh signs—the film is full of references to Baltimore culture, and the characters can be seen enjoying Clipper City beer, crab feasts and Terps basketball. For the best views of the Domino Sugars sign, visit the Baltimore Museum of Industry or get on the water! Hop on the Water Taxi, book a scenic cruise or flex your muscles with a kayak ride or paddleboard experience. You’ll spot Mr. Boh from Brewers Hill where the landmark National Bohemian brewery used to be based. While the beer is no longer produced in Baltimore, there are plenty of homegrown ales on tap for you here.
The Domino Sugar sign is best viewed from the water.
House of Cards
The free Baltimore Museum of Art boasts one of the largest holdings of Matisse’s works.
This political drama may be set in Washington, D.C., but it frequently filmed in Baltimore during its five-year run. The northwest D.C. townhouse of Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife (Robin Wright) is actually found in Baltimore’s Bolton Hill neighborhood, and Johns Hopkins University stood in for his fictional alma mater, The Sentinel. House of Cards also filmed in the free Baltimore Museum of Art, which houses the largest public holding of Matisse’s work in the world, as well as the former Baltimore Sun office on Calvert Street, the Baltimore War Memorial and a strip of shops on East Preston Street.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Based on the nonfiction book about Baltimore native Henrietta Lacks, the African American women whose cancer cells unwittingly produced the first immortalized human cell line and revolutionized medical research, this medical saga starring Oprah Winfrey was filmed almost entirely in Johns Hopkins Hospital, the site of the real-life story.
Lady in the Lake
Written by former Baltimore Sun reporter Laura Lippman, “Lady in the Lake” follows housewife-turned-journalist Maddie Schwartz after she discovers a Black woman’s body in Druid Hill Park. The story was loosely based on that of Shirley Parker, who went missing in Baltimore in 1969 and was later found in the park. The book was recently developed into a television show starring Natalie Portman and Baltimore native Moses Ingram, and filming took place all over the city and surrounding county, from the Peabody Library to E. Redwood Street and Loch Raven Reservoir.
Druid Hill Park plays a central role in Lady in the Lake.
Pink Flamingos
The Washington Monument stands in the center of Mount Vernon and offers sweeping views of the city. Photo by Jason Varney.
While much of “Pink Flamingos” takes place in Phoenix, MD, the infamous final scene of John Waters’ 1972 cult classic was filmed in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The charming neighborhood adjacent to downtown Baltimore is known for its French-inspired architecture, the free Walters Art Museum and the original Washington Monument. The film also had its debut in Charm City during the Baltimore Film Festival held on the University of Baltimore’s campus, after which it sold out three consecutive screenings. Waters remains a heavy influence on the festival, which is now known as the Maryland Film Festival and takes place in Station North Arts & Entertainment District at the beautiful SNF Parkway Theatre.
Sleepless in Seattle
Interior from above of The Peabody Library in Baltimore. Photograph by Jason Varney.
Baltimore plays a large role in Nora Ephron’s timeless romance, “Sleepless in Seattle,” in which Baltimore Sun reporter Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) writes a letter to Seattle-based widow Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) after she hears him on a radio show. Many Charm City landmarks have cameos in Annie’s story, including the George Peabody Library, the cobblestone streets of Fell’s Point and the old Sun building on Calvert Street.
The Social Network
Everyone knows that technology giant Mark Zuckerberg birthed Facebook at Harvard, but Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus stands in for the Ivy League school in The Social Network, adapted from Ben Mezrich’s 2009 book “The Accidental Billionaires.” Most of JHU’s appearances appear early in the film; where Zuckerberg runs from a Cambridge bar to his Kirkland House dorm room, actor Jesse Eisenberg actually sped across Charles Street from University Baptist Church to the JHU dorm AMR 1 and then up the steps between Wyman and Keyser quads before landing in Latrobe Hall.
Step Up
This energetic dance drama sees a young Channing Tatum attempt to find his place at the fictitious Baltimore-based Maryland School for the Arts (not to be confused with the very real Baltimore School for the Arts), depicted by Booker T. Washington Middle School on Baltimore’s McCulloh Street. Additionally, the rehearsal scenes featuring Channing Tatum and his co-star Jenna Dewan were filmed at the site of Fell’s Point’s Sagamore Pendry Hotel, which at the time was a warehouse. Walk the Belgian block streets from the hotel to the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum, then grab lunch at Broadway Market.
The Fell’s Point warehouse where Channing Tatum and his co-star Jenna Dewan practice in Step Up is now a hotel. Photograph by Justin Tsucalas.
Veep
Like House of Cards, this political comedy often employed Baltimore as a stand-in for D.C. The first four seasons were filmed in Charm City, with notable locations including, Maryland Institute College of Art, Morgan State University, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Ottobar in North Baltimore’s artsy Remington neighborhood.
Where to Watch Movies in Baltimore
Indoor Movie Theaters
Charles Theatre
Designed in 1892, this Station North theater was a cable car barn, streetcar barn, library for the blind, jazz ballroom and newsreel movie house before becoming The Charles in 1959. It’s long been one of John Waters’ favorite spots in the city, offering first-run specialty films in addition to Hollywood movies, foreign films and cinema classics.
The Senator
Opened in 1939, The Senator Theatre is the oldest operating movie theater in central Maryland and a designated Baltimore City Landmark. It also has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t let the old-timey marquee fool you, though. The Senator still plays current blockbuster releases in addition to oldies, cult classics and a weekly repertory series. Local tip: For an elevated movie snack, purchase poutine and a burger from Clark Burger next door and bring it into the theater—no sneaking necessary!
Harbor East Cinemas
Just a couple blocks from the water, Harbor East Cinemas offers a modern movie-watching experience with power recliners, seat warmers and gourmet concessions like flatbreads and charcuterie boards. Plus, you can enjoy a movie-themed cocktail in the Harbor Bar & Lounge or bring it to your seat with you.
SNF Parkway Theater
Home to the annual Maryland Film Festival, the artfully-designed SNF Parkway Theatre in Station North also holds several screenings of both locally-produced documentaries and films and popular movies throughout the year. Avid moviegoers should consider the annual membership, which grants you access to special events, Film Festival perks, popcorn vouchers and more.
Warehouse Cinemas
Located in Hampden’s bustling Rotunda shopping district, Warehouse Cinemas prides itself on providing an elevated and comfortable movie-going experience. It’s the place to go to see current releases, with the occasional throwback favorite added to the schedule. There are ample food and beverage options, including hot items like flatbreads and fried chicken and a self-pour tap featuring 32 beers and ciders. Local tip: Warehouse Cinemas offers $7 movie tickets on Thursdays!
Outdoor Movie Nights
Flicks from the Hill
A popular summer event amongst locals, the American Visionary Art Museum‘s Flicks from the Hill movie series invites you to engage with the museum in a new way. Sitting beneath the stars on the slope of Federal Hill Park, you’ll see classic movies projected onto a 32-foot screen “held” by Adam Kurtzman’s Giant Golden Hand sculpture on the side of the Jim Rouse Visionary Center. On movie nights, AVAM is open for free from 5-9 p.m.
Rhythm & Reels
Created in 2016, Rhythm & Reels is a free outdoor movie and music series that inspires Baltimoreans to celebrate, community, culture and diversity. Each iteration takes place at a different park, promoting citywide exploration and accessible entertainment to all. Rhythm & Reels runs from June through October.
Outdoor Movie Nights at the Baltimore Peninsula
From June to October, enjoy free cinema under the stars during Baltimore Peninsula’s outdoor movie nights on The Lawn. Before showtime, treat yourself to a meal from local food trucks, play lawn games and listen to music while taking in the unparalleled waterfront views.
