WOW! Hollywood Films This Michigan Location More Than Any Other
The very warm, sunkissed, flower-wearing people of Hawaii have, for some reason, conducted a study to determine which location, in each state, is Hollywood's most frequently filmed spot.
Do me a favor: Stop scrolling and take a guess.
I'll admit, I guessed wrong. I honestly would have never guessed that THIS would be Michigan's most filmed location. With all of our beautiful, shark-free waters, one would think our lakes would be Hollywood's favorite Michigan location. Nope.
Then it has to be the Upper Peninsula, right? The UP with its beautiful landscapes, woods, state parks, waterfalls, and one of the most beautiful small town snowscapes you could find anywhere.
Downtown Detroit? Nope. Holland? Nope. Lansing? Nope. Ann Arbor? Grand Rapids? Flint?
None of the above!
Alas, Hollywood's most frequent filming destination in Michigan is:
SERIOUSLY? Wayne County's Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)? Don't get me wrong, loved Tom Hanks in The Terminal (NOT filmed at Detroit Metro Airport).
That said, Michigan CAN hold claim to some of the most iconic airport action ever to hit the silver screen:
Yes, scenes of Die Hard 2 were filmed in Michigan....but...NOT FILMED AT DETROIT METRO! No, Bruce Willis and crew spent an unseasonably warm and snow-free winter filming in Alpena, Michigan. They actually had to bring in fake snow for the shoot.
Related: Made in Michigan? Were These Movies Really Filmed in the Mitten State?
What has been filmed in Hollywood's FAVORITE Michigan filming location you ask? Just ask the people at the Detroit Metro Airport 'Commercial Filming' department:
FLIGHTS... CAMERA... ACTION! DTW Airport has played a leading role on both the small and silver screens. Thanks in large part to Michigan's generous film production incentives, the Airport has played the part of airports ranging from Milwaukee to Hong Kong -- with a few cameo appearances as itself, too.
Here are just some of DTW's credits:
- AWOL (2012)
- The Citizen (2012)
- Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
- Up in the Air (2009)
- This Must Be the Place (2011)
- The Domino Effect (2010)
- The Prince of Motor City (2008 TV Pilot)
- Homeland Security USA (2009 TV series documentary)
- This Narrow Place (2011)
- Aftermath: World Without Oil (2010 TV episode)
- Detroit 1-8-7: Pharmacy Double/Bullet Train (2010 TV episode)
- Made: Survivalists (2008 TV episode)
- Air Emergency: Cockpit Chaos (2010 TV episode)
And frankly, who could blame the brain trust that is Hollywood for picking this picturesque location as its top spot to film in Michigan? I mean look at those trams!
Hollywood...seriously, come see Michigan. College football weekends are perfect for meet-cutes, fall colors make for either romance or horror (it's a matter of who has to rake the leaves that determine which side you land on), our shimmering waterfalls, or the Great Lakes? Did you happen to notice the Great Lakes? Hollywood? The beautiful water that makes our state look like a mitten from outer space? Just so you know, they are just like the ocean, minus the giant sharks, stingrays, and other predators looking for human snacks.
Hey Hollywood, what do you think of this: Terminal 2, Layover in the D? Think on it. We'll do lunch.
Abandoned Star Movie Theater in Taylor, MI
Gallery Credit: Urban Explorer 260 YouTube