A part of the United States for nearly the country’s entire existence, Georgia and its capital, Atlanta, are rich in American history and the birthplace of countless culturally significant moments. The city played a pivotal role in both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, and it remains a rich and important place within the American south. Containing beaches on its southeast corner, mountains on its northwest corner, and farmland all throughout, Georgia and Atlanta are integral parts of the United States. Dubbed by many as the New Hollywood, Atlanta serves as the third place where production of feature films and television seems to have boomed — first, in the early 20th century, in the state of Florida, then, in the mid-20th century, California, and now, almost two decades into the 21st century, Atlanta, Georgia. With no end in sight to this new phenomenon, it’s worth taking a look at some of the most significant projects filmed in the Georgia city.
Baby Driver
Edgar Wright’s love letter to car movies from the 1960s and 70s, Baby Driver stars Ansel Elgort as the titular Baby—a getaway driver who helps criminals evade crime scenes without getting caught. He does it with style, though: Wright’s direction sees Baby drifting in and out of traffic, around (and sometimes through) buildings, and racing across the metropolitan area of Atlanta. Of all the movies on this list, this is the one that shows off the city in all its glory.
Fast Five
The fifth installment in the ongoing Fast & Furious franchise remains one of the most critically-acclaimed of the bunch. Like Baby Driver, the film features plenty of great chase sequences. Unlike Baby Driver, Fast Five takes these scenes way over the top. It’s not as grounded as Baby Driver, but who expects that from this franchise? The scenes in Atlanta are as sharp and exciting as anything else in the franchise.
The Nice Guys
Shane Black’s greatest movie of the 21st century, The Nice Guys stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as a private eye and a tough guy who team up to find a missing girl. It’s actually set in 1970s Los Angeles, so the average viewer wouldn’t even be able to tell the movie was actually shot in Atlanta — it doesn’t matter, though, because The Nice Guys utilizes the city’s streets and architecture in the best possible way. The southern city transforms into the west coast landmark with ease.
Prisoners
Denis Villeneuve’s first English-language film, 2013’s Prisoners stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman in another story about a missing girl. Like The Nice Guys, the movie doesn’t take place in Atlanta even though it was shot there — the movie’s story actually takes place in Pennsylvania. It’s an incredible film, helped largely by its shooting locales.
The Hate U Give
One of the most important films on the list, The Hate U Give is a testament to the cultural significance of Atlanta. Telling the story of a young girl who finds herself torn between her private school and her low-income neighborhood, especially after the death of one of her friends at the hands of a police officer, the movie is a comment on the race relations and cultural divide that occurs in cities like Atlanta all over the country. Not only was the movie shot in Atlanta, but it speaks truth to Atlanta, as well.
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