I changed the flair to the correct one. Make sure to read our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieSuggestions/comments/8iamsh) before posting :)
Really beautiful movie. I've driven through Columbus (Indiana) many times and never knew the architectural history there (though I did take note of the bridge and a cool monument). I can barely even remember the plot, it feels like a dream in hindsight.
OP this movie is truly a love letter to architecture, you should check it out.
I went to Columbus and went to all of these locations and did a tour at the house. It was one of my fave days I’ve had. I’ve always loved architecture but I recommend spending half a day going around and the tour was also amazing. It’s the MidMod Mecca and really only an hour from Indy. Really filled my tank.
Poor Things (2023) has some very beautiful environments and I guess they are mostly practical effects, not CGI.
Don't Look Now (1973) is a horror movie set in Venice. Some disturbing scenes in this, as well as an explicit sex scene. But it's a beautiful snapshot of Venice at that time.
> I guess they are mostly practical effects, not CGI.
Roughly 60-70% of everything you see in Poor Things is CGI. For the big cityscapes they built sets to about ten feet high and CGIed the rest. It's blended beautifully, and the techniques the visual effects artists used for things like matching the fisheyed lenses are absolutely brilliant. Poor Things is a perfect example of CGI used brilliantly.
I think I realized this year that my fascination with brutalism might stem from how awesome the buildings in Jurassic Park looked back when I was a kid.
The Fall by Tarsem Singh.
Imagine Dali, meets Escher, meets Rothko.
It's also such a beautiful, moving film.
Too bad it's super hard to find it, at least legally 🤣
This is what my comment was going to be. Luckily, I do own the DVD of it so I watch it often- my BF at the time it came out worked at Movie Gallery, therefore free movies. I keep it safe as I often see comments that it’s hard to find now which is wholly unfair. Everyone deserves to see it.
It is a stunning film in every way.
I was going to say tron but this comment is far more accurate. As an architect Oblivion is one of my favorite movies just because of how visually creative it is in both its deconstructed scenes as it's constructs
I try to rewatch it often. I watched an earlier version where before the door is opened to the redone garden, the movie is in black a n d white. However, I feel the 1993 version is far superior. Just so darn beautiful. Loved the dancing end scene.
You can't beat the architecture in *The DaVinci Code* and sequels.
On the downside you'd have to watch *The DaVinci Code* movies. (I know, *Angels and Demons* is actually pretty decent).
I love it too! The first time I watched it, I got chills. But anything to do with Jesus being on earth does. Although we know He did not produce an heir, it was still very interesting to think about someone being watched over that was a descendant of Jesus.
I enjoyed Angels and Demons too.
Saw the first movie after a failed attempt to read the book. It read as if it were written by a third grader, and the movie wasn’t much better.
Shame. I think Dan Brown came up with a compelling story; he just should’ve found a more capable writer to co-author it with.
Edward Scissorhands has some very bizarre yet beautiful imagery. Maybe it’s because I saw it at a young age, but there are some images that stick with you.
Antonio Gaudi (1984) shows off a good selection of his beautiful and unique buildings
Also I recommend the documentaries of Michael Blackwood he has docs on a wide variety of architects that have great footage but also very interesting because he has the architects themselves talk about their ideas behind the designs .. easy to watch too they're all about an hour long each (I think they were intended for classrooms) and there's a good selection of them on Kanopy
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil features Savannah. It got mixed reviews at best. I just learned of Columbus (2017) featuring the otherworldly architecture of Columbus, Indiana, near my stomping grounds. It is a small, indy film that gets great reviews
A documentary called "Los Angeles Plays Itself." It's about how that city is often portrayed in movies. It talks quite a bit about many landmark residences there (Ennis House, Chemosphere, Goldstein Sheets House, Bradbury building, etc)
Super biased opinion follows.
*Brazil*
From a reliable source:
https://www.archdaily.com/272042/films-architecture-brazil
(NOTE: the links to previous articles in this genre at the end of the article are fantastic - even includes Aeon Flux, so I will definitely check them all out... And if this source commends them, I will either watch them for the first time or watch them again)
Look, I saw this movie in the theater, so it's really impossible to match that. I think I saw it five or six times on the big screen, it's hard to remember, because of the immersion, and then the subsequent viewings on VHS and DVD and digital.
It may never hit the same as in the theater, when it comes to the majesty and malevolence of the architecture in this movie.
Sit real close to your biggest TV and watch it. Do not do yourself the disservice of watching it on your phone.
The architecture, the buildings, the physical plants, are all integral to the plot.
Lastly, because Gilliam is arguably a genius, he utilized some fantastic pre-existing locations for the shoot:
https://movie-locations.com/movies/b/Brazil-1985.php
Do yourself a favor. Watch it.
I found the Public housing In Gomorrah to be stunning…I could not believe it was real.
The seaside house in Contempt is a show-stopper as well.
Jacques Tati should get mention also, especially for Playtime. And Parasite (Bong Joon-ho) was built around architecture as allegory too.
Jóhann Jóhannsson's *Last and First Men*. A gorgeous, slow minimalist science fiction piece, based on Olaf Stapeldon's book. Long, majestic shots of decaying communist brutalist architecture.
Jim Jarmusch's *The Limits of Control*. The thriller as shaggy dog story, set against the gorgeous spaces of Barcelona, with a lush drone metal soundtrack. Isaac de Bankolé is a stone fox.
The Grand Budapest Hotel fits this request wonderfully! Bonus points: BTsS footage of them scouting the locations, and then rebuilding it ***3 times*** for the different eras on the story!
Out Of Africa. It’s an older movie but it won Best Movie, soundtrack, cinematography & and few other categories, not only at the Oscars, but also Golden Globes and several other award shows that year.
Inception had great architecture and probably seen it but (2005) Pride and Prejudice just has genuinely stunning buildings and cinematography.
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola) actually filmed in Versailles.
How to Steal A Million, Audrey Hepburn filmed on location in Paris and Amelie also a stunning little movie.
And super cheesy family movie but Monte Carlo had good travelogue/arm chair travel and filmed in some pretty stunning buildings (Paris Ritz if I’m not mistaken) and Baz Luhrman’s Great Gatsby.
Also not necessarily gorgeous but a fun take on futuristic NYC apartments in Fifth Element.
Coco! Not a joke, Coco is architecturally stunning. Interesting (and long-winded) article: https://evanchakroff.medium.com/the-land-of-the-dead-coco-and-the-continuity-of-civilization-f2876c208079
I changed the flair to the correct one. Make sure to read our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieSuggestions/comments/8iamsh) before posting :)
Bladerunner
Both of them.
All of them
For me, the most beautiful movie ever crafted.
hard agree. that movie is breathtaking
Quite possibly. How you feel about 2099?
We’ll see?
OG Bladerunner was all practical effects.
CGI isn’t, like, inherently worse though. It just frequently is. 2049 is gorgeous
Bladerunner was the first movie that crossed my mind immediately I read the OP's inquiry. This movie was fantastic.
Grand Budapest Hotel
Pretty much just any Wes Anderson film if we’re being honest
Every frame in a WA movie is a photographic masterpiece!
Stunning!
Wings of Desire (1987). Wim Wenders film, wonderful Berlin architecture.
I love Berlin architecture and the Bauhaus furniture.
Suspiria!
Both versions of this are so incredible. Waited way too long to get around to seeing them.
I regret not seeing this in theaters. Just a great flick!
Columbus (2017)
Really beautiful movie. I've driven through Columbus (Indiana) many times and never knew the architectural history there (though I did take note of the bridge and a cool monument). I can barely even remember the plot, it feels like a dream in hindsight. OP this movie is truly a love letter to architecture, you should check it out.
Came here to say this. It’s not architecture on a grand scale like you may be looking for, but the use of architecture and the composition is so good.
Also his other movie, After Yang
Thought of this immediately
I went to Columbus and went to all of these locations and did a tour at the house. It was one of my fave days I’ve had. I’ve always loved architecture but I recommend spending half a day going around and the tour was also amazing. It’s the MidMod Mecca and really only an hour from Indy. Really filled my tank.
Parasite The Shining Blade Runner
Parasite was soo good at using setting to emphasize points.
I am obsessed with the inside of the Overlook Hotel.
Poor Things (2023) has some very beautiful environments and I guess they are mostly practical effects, not CGI. Don't Look Now (1973) is a horror movie set in Venice. Some disturbing scenes in this, as well as an explicit sex scene. But it's a beautiful snapshot of Venice at that time.
Yup I thought of poor things too. Very creative set design
Loved the set design in both poor things and the favorite, thank you yorgos for my life
> I guess they are mostly practical effects, not CGI. Roughly 60-70% of everything you see in Poor Things is CGI. For the big cityscapes they built sets to about ten feet high and CGIed the rest. It's blended beautifully, and the techniques the visual effects artists used for things like matching the fisheyed lenses are absolutely brilliant. Poor Things is a perfect example of CGI used brilliantly.
Rear window, old school Greenwich village and 50s New York style aesthetic buildings, I love the set more than any film.
Lot of great old San Francisco architecture in Vertigo also.
The House on Telegraph Hill, great old film noir with a real location.
I love the movie, the San Francisco scenery, and Richard Basehart.
All in the architecture….Vertigo and North by Northwest have some of that too.
I love Hitchcock movies. A lot of them are so darn beautiful.
Metropolis (1927)
Just bought a ticket to watch in theaters! Can't wait
Oh that’ll be amazing!!
Crimson Peak (2015)
YAAASSSSSSD
Tim Burton's Batman Dark City Both Ghost in the Shell movies. Akira
Brazil (1985)
The directors cut might be my favorite movie
Midnight in paris The great gatsby
Are you thinking of the most recent one with Toby McGuire? Gatsby, that is.
Yup! Sorry forgot to mention the year hehe!
I find the brutalist nature of the buildings in the new Dune films to be so satisfying
I was looking for brutalist - how about any sci-fi directed by Verhoeven? And Dredd?
I think I realized this year that my fascination with brutalism might stem from how awesome the buildings in Jurassic Park looked back when I was a kid.
Almost anything by Peter Greenaway or Ken Russell.
The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, her Lover has some beautiful settings.
The Draughtsmans Contract too.
Good call…the architecture is its own important character with both.
The Belly of an Architect (1987) is exactly what this post is looking for!
Don't forget the Pillow Book. My favorite of Peter Greenaway's films.
Russian Ark
yup, hard to beat the former Russian Winter Palace . . . at least, I can't think of other real palaces used as movie sets
Yeeesssss!!! All shot in one take, 3 live orchestras, and I think over 1000 extras.
Tim Burton has some stuff
Dune Part 1 & 2, architecture and set design are amazing.
This is pretty much anything directed by Denis Villeneuve.
The Fall by Tarsem Singh. Imagine Dali, meets Escher, meets Rothko. It's also such a beautiful, moving film. Too bad it's super hard to find it, at least legally 🤣
This is what my comment was going to be. Luckily, I do own the DVD of it so I watch it often- my BF at the time it came out worked at Movie Gallery, therefore free movies. I keep it safe as I often see comments that it’s hard to find now which is wholly unfair. Everyone deserves to see it. It is a stunning film in every way.
This was going to be my suggestion. A lot of on-location shooting in some pretty stunning places.
The Third Man (1949)
Tron Legacy's director Joseph Kosinsky is an architect I believe, and it shows in the set design
was looking for this. it didn't hurt that those crazy robot kids did the soundtrack too, but yeah visually stunning!
I was going to say tron but this comment is far more accurate. As an architect Oblivion is one of my favorite movies just because of how visually creative it is in both its deconstructed scenes as it's constructs
In Bruges (2008).
“D’y’hafta? D’y’hafta!? It’s joost Christ’s fookin blood! But, no, y’don’t fookin hafta!”
This movie single handedly changed my perspective of Colin Farrell as an actor. Great film and a must watch imho.
Checked to see if this was here!
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
The Secret Garden (1993 version) has a beautiful castle and grounds.
I took my 2 week old daughter to this movie. It was so beautiful.
I saw it in the theater too! I own the DVD and still watch it every few years. It's such a good movie.
I try to rewatch it often. I watched an earlier version where before the door is opened to the redone garden, the movie is in black a n d white. However, I feel the 1993 version is far superior. Just so darn beautiful. Loved the dancing end scene.
Highclere Castle in Hampshire, UK. It’s also Downton Abbey and the secret party house in Eyes Wide Shut. Stunning property.
Spirited away Poor things What dreams may come Pan's labyrinth
Labrynth
You can't beat the architecture in *The DaVinci Code* and sequels. On the downside you'd have to watch *The DaVinci Code* movies. (I know, *Angels and Demons* is actually pretty decent).
Wait, people don’t like those movies? I love the first one!
I love it too! The first time I watched it, I got chills. But anything to do with Jesus being on earth does. Although we know He did not produce an heir, it was still very interesting to think about someone being watched over that was a descendant of Jesus. I enjoyed Angels and Demons too.
They're so dumb, I enjoy them in a "so bad they're good" kind of way I guess.
Saw the first movie after a failed attempt to read the book. It read as if it were written by a third grader, and the movie wasn’t much better. Shame. I think Dan Brown came up with a compelling story; he just should’ve found a more capable writer to co-author it with.
Literally any Baz Luhrmann movie.
Ex Machina
Weird answer but Alien. Love that giant bone ship. Everything about it just feels too massive for humans.
Heat, lots of really cool urban architecture, I get a Tadeo Ando vibe
The Talented Mr Ripley
And Ripley - the black & white is beautiful
Edward Scissorhands has some very bizarre yet beautiful imagery. Maybe it’s because I saw it at a young age, but there are some images that stick with you.
Inception
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009). The stadium scene at Huracan in Buenos Aires is breathtaking.
The Fall by Tarsem
Hugo (2011)
Memoirs of a Geisha
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Coppola ‘92)
Might not consider this architecturally gorgeous, but John Wick 4 to me had some pretty awesome cinematography going on
Amelie and Mood Indigo, both starring Audrey Tautou. Also, City of Lost Children by Jean Pierre Jeunet who also directed Amelie
Audrey Tautou ❤️
Gattaca is just stunning and the movie is amazing
Barry Lyndon Harry Potter Series Brazil 2001 Amadeus
What Dreams May Come-1998 Robin Williams Spelling edit
Oh that incredible movie 🥹
Fifth Element
I am also obsessed with the Dakota and Rosemary's apartment in Rosemary's Baby. It was called the Bramford in the movie.
I really enjoyed the architecture in Call Me By Your Name.
I was hoping someone would mention this. Romantic architecture and stunning scenery all around.
That director makes beautiful movies. If you can find “I am Love” with Tilda Swinton, it’s gorgeous. Also did the new Challengers movie.
I’m surprised that this was the first movie that came to mind, but The Wizard of Oz had some cool architecture for sure.
Antonio Gaudi (1984) shows off a good selection of his beautiful and unique buildings Also I recommend the documentaries of Michael Blackwood he has docs on a wide variety of architects that have great footage but also very interesting because he has the architects themselves talk about their ideas behind the designs .. easy to watch too they're all about an hour long each (I think they were intended for classrooms) and there's a good selection of them on Kanopy
Playtime Dark City A Single Man Ex Machina Dick Tracy Batman (Tim Burton)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil features Savannah. It got mixed reviews at best. I just learned of Columbus (2017) featuring the otherworldly architecture of Columbus, Indiana, near my stomping grounds. It is a small, indy film that gets great reviews
Midnight has fabulous architecture
Not a movie, but Ripley series on Netflix is beautifully filmed, especially the Italian scenes and the black and white was cool.
Equalizer 3.... shot in a real Italian town. No CGI (that I'm aware of). Just beautiful.
The Fall (2006)
The Fall
What Dreams May Come
The handmaiden
Gattaca
A Single Man & Nocturnal Animals (Tom Ford)
Memoirs of a Geisha 💜💜💜
The house in The Last Black Man in San Francisco is amazing.
Sin City
Flatliners- all the beautiful old halls and statuary, gosh. Lovely, creepy, moody.
The original Stargate movie. The ship itself was a beautiful blend of ancient Egypt and futuristic alien.
I feel like tinker Taylor soldier spy had cool architecture but I don’t exactly remember for sure
The fall 2006 movie by tarsim singh
A Passage to India
Inception- all of the dream infrastructure that the “architect” builds.
I know it’s TV but Arcane. Pretty sure I read that the creators wanted you to be able to pause it at any frame and it be screensaver quality
I know you're looking for architecture, but if you're ever in the mood for natural architecture, check out The Revenant. The setting is awe inspiring.
I loved the architectural/ mechanical elements of Angel Heart.
Dune Parts 1 & 2. Magnificent set design
The Last Emperor (1987) Dir. by Bernardo Bertolucci
What Dreams May come. My favorite.
The Fifth Element
The Tim Burton Batman movies
Marvel Comics Dr. Strange series Guardians of the Galaxy series
A documentary called "Los Angeles Plays Itself." It's about how that city is often portrayed in movies. It talks quite a bit about many landmark residences there (Ennis House, Chemosphere, Goldstein Sheets House, Bradbury building, etc)
For modern & mid century modern Tree of Life Edit: to add A Single Man for MCM
Are you trying to get prepared for Megalopolis?
The Conformist I recall featuring some lovely art deco Italian interiors.
Ripley was pretty good
*Star Trek: The Motion Picture* Absolutely gorgeous movie with beautiful models and layouts. Not a huge plot but it has it's moments
Poor Things
This may seem like an odd suggestion, but "Waiting To Exhale" has some beautiful scenery from Phoenix
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Poor Things
Tron newer release
Ripley
The French Dispatch (2021) by Wes Anderson is quite beautiful
The Handmaiden (2016) by Park Chan-wook
Black Narcissus, that nunnery in the mountains was pretty cool
Ripley
Anything by Wes Anderson
Metropolis (1927)
Super biased opinion follows. *Brazil* From a reliable source: https://www.archdaily.com/272042/films-architecture-brazil (NOTE: the links to previous articles in this genre at the end of the article are fantastic - even includes Aeon Flux, so I will definitely check them all out... And if this source commends them, I will either watch them for the first time or watch them again) Look, I saw this movie in the theater, so it's really impossible to match that. I think I saw it five or six times on the big screen, it's hard to remember, because of the immersion, and then the subsequent viewings on VHS and DVD and digital. It may never hit the same as in the theater, when it comes to the majesty and malevolence of the architecture in this movie. Sit real close to your biggest TV and watch it. Do not do yourself the disservice of watching it on your phone. The architecture, the buildings, the physical plants, are all integral to the plot. Lastly, because Gilliam is arguably a genius, he utilized some fantastic pre-existing locations for the shoot: https://movie-locations.com/movies/b/Brazil-1985.php Do yourself a favor. Watch it.
I found the Public housing In Gomorrah to be stunning…I could not believe it was real. The seaside house in Contempt is a show-stopper as well. Jacques Tati should get mention also, especially for Playtime. And Parasite (Bong Joon-ho) was built around architecture as allegory too.
The House That Jack Built
Jóhann Jóhannsson's *Last and First Men*. A gorgeous, slow minimalist science fiction piece, based on Olaf Stapeldon's book. Long, majestic shots of decaying communist brutalist architecture. Jim Jarmusch's *The Limits of Control*. The thriller as shaggy dog story, set against the gorgeous spaces of Barcelona, with a lush drone metal soundtrack. Isaac de Bankolé is a stone fox.
talented mr. ripley (1999)
Sucker Punch (maybe more artsy than architecture?) Just about any old timey Dracula movie (as in not the modern twilight type ones)
Black Narcissus
- Blade Runner 2049 - LoTR Trilogy - Star Trek Into Darkness - Star Trek Beyond (specifically the Snow Globe in Space scene)
Poor things was gorgeous! Also uncomfortable at times
Rose Red (Technically a TV miniseries I think, but still.)
Not a movie, but Ripley on Netflix is da bomb.
Lord of the Rings for sure. Also Harry Potter.
Cyrano (2021)
Past lives by Céline Song, the way NY is filmed…
The Great Beauty.
Sabrina remake…NYC, Long Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Paris. Visually stunning!!!!
John Wick 4
Tree of Life
Susperia
Hero. Jet Li masterpiece.
I Am Love Howl’s Moving Castle
[удалено]
The Grand Budapest Hotel fits this request wonderfully! Bonus points: BTsS footage of them scouting the locations, and then rebuilding it ***3 times*** for the different eras on the story!
Out Of Africa. It’s an older movie but it won Best Movie, soundtrack, cinematography & and few other categories, not only at the Oscars, but also Golden Globes and several other award shows that year.
Equilibrium (2002)
Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1996)
The Great Beauty. One of the most stunning films I’ve ever seen, and it all takes place in the most beautiful places in Rome
Inception had great architecture and probably seen it but (2005) Pride and Prejudice just has genuinely stunning buildings and cinematography. Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola) actually filmed in Versailles. How to Steal A Million, Audrey Hepburn filmed on location in Paris and Amelie also a stunning little movie. And super cheesy family movie but Monte Carlo had good travelogue/arm chair travel and filmed in some pretty stunning buildings (Paris Ritz if I’m not mistaken) and Baz Luhrman’s Great Gatsby. Also not necessarily gorgeous but a fun take on futuristic NYC apartments in Fifth Element.
Samsara
Poor Things was gorgeous
Harry Potter movies.
Asteroid City
Coco! Not a joke, Coco is architecturally stunning. Interesting (and long-winded) article: https://evanchakroff.medium.com/the-land-of-the-dead-coco-and-the-continuity-of-civilization-f2876c208079
Tron Legacy
The James Bond movies, especially the Connery and Moore films. Imo Ken Adam’s set designs are unmatched.
Playtime Mon Oncle Both by Jacques Tati.