You May Be Surprised To Learn These 12 Movies Were Filmed In Michigan

There's something about Michigan that gets filmmakers' attention. Maybe it's that Rust Belt grittiness as was the case for 8 Mile. Or perhaps its picturesque, idyllic northern Midwest charm in Grosse Pointe Blank. Whatever the reason, we are always excited to discover a film that was shot here. Here are a dozen made-in-Michigan gems.

12) Up in the Air

George Clooney stars as a successful, yet lonely jetsetter in this 2009 film. Filming was mostly shot in St. Louis, Missouri, but several scenes were also filmed in Detroit, Omaha, Las Vegas and Miami.

11) True Romance

This 1993 romantic crime film, directed by Tony Scott and written by a young Quentin Tarantino, was shot in Detroit and several Southern California cities.

10) Road to Perdition

This 2002 crime thriller was set in 1930s Chicago, but filming also took place in several western Michigan cities, including Grand Rapids, Saugatuck, Zeeland and West Olive.

9) Out of Sight

The 1998 American crime comedy film based on a novel by iconic Michigan writer Elmore Leonard was shot in a number of locations in Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Los Angeles and even Louisiana.

8) Escanaba in da Moonlight

This ode to Upper Peninsula, directed by Michigan native Jeff Daniels, was filmed throughout the Escanaba area in the UP.

7) Grosse Pointe Blank

Even though this 1997 American comedy crime film starring John Cusack was named after the tony suburb of Grosse Pointe, only a small portion of the film was actually shot there. Some scenes took place in Detroit, while the majority of the movie filmed in California.

6) Gran Torino

This 2008 film directed by Clint Eastwood is full of Michigan representation, with scenes shot in Highland Park, Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Royal Oak and Center Line.

5) Four Brothers

Filming for this 2005 film starring Mark Wahlberg took place in Detroit and Ontario in Canada.

4) The Five Year Engagement

This 2012 rom com with Jason Segel was shot in Ann Arbor, Detroit, San Francisco and Sonoma, Calif., among other locales.

3) 8 Mile

Detroit played a major role in Eminem's break out film, as well as Warren, Southfield, Southgate, Highland Park and Sterling Heights.

2) Dreamgirls

The Michigan Film Office says this blockbuster that told the fictionalized story behind Motown legends The Supremes was also shot in Michigan.

1) Beverly Hills Cop

This film in many ways put the action comedy genre on the map when it premiered in 1984. Filming took place in Detroit, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

And here are a few runner-ups, with stories based in Michigan, but that were actually shot somewhere else.

Robocop

This 1987 classic was set in post-apocalyptic Detroit, but filming was actually done in Dallas, because of its futuristic skyline.

The Virgin Suicides

This 1999 film marked the directorial debut of Sofia Coppola and was set in wealthy Grosse Pointe, Mich. Filming actually took place in Toronto and Los Angeles.

The Crow

Shooting for this 1994 film set on Detroit's infamous Devil's Night really took place in a studio in North Carolina.

These are some of our favorites. But surely there are some other cinematic treasures either filmed in or set in Michigan that we're missing. Please share!