Inspired by 2023 Oscar winning and nominated titles, step directly into the sets of this year’s biggest blockbusters and immerse yourself into the cinematic landscapes behind the movie magic. From voyaging Evelyn Wang's prime universe to walking the same halls as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to exploring the jungle that inspired Avatar’s Pandora, with our list of the most breathtaking movie locations to visit this spring and summer.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Academy Award Winner of… Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing
11 Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Costume Design, Best Directing, Best Film Editing, Best Music (Original Song), Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
Visit Chinatown and Elysian Park, Los Angeles, US:
Although most of the multiverses are fictitious locations, the “prime universe” where Evelyn Wang resides is based in California, United States. Fans of Everything Everywhere All At Once are welcome to celebrate and explore Chinese culture at Chinatown’s Chung King Road, an illustrious street filled with vibrant red paper lanterns and taverna lights. Over the years, Chug King Road has been revitalized as an acclaimed art destination. The street has been filled with multiple cutting-edge art galleries from emerging local artists. Prepare your appetite for acclaimed Asian cuisine, in this street, traditional Chinese cuisine mixes with next-generation creative Chinese dishes including Hainan chicken rice, char siu with noodles, and cocktails made with tea-infused spirits. And, if you are feeling more adventurous, visit the location where Evelyn Wang’s iconic kung-fu fight forest sequences were filmed. The 600-acre Elysian Park is located in Central Los Angeles, the heart of the city itself. Although you might not switch universes while exploring this park, you can connect with nature while enjoying the views of downtown Los Angeles, the valley, the Dodger Stadium, and the Hollywood hills. With around five picturesque hiking trails, Elysian Park offers some of the best hiking and running locations that the city has to offer. Explore the grove of unique trees planted from around the world, and breathe fresh air, from the scent that the eucalyptus trees bring in spring.
Recommended airport: Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
All Quiet on the Western Front
Director: Edward Berger
Academy Award Winner of… Best Cinematography, Best International Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Production Design
9 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best International Feature Film, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Music (Original Score), Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Visit Prague, Czech Republic: While Netflix’s moving anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front was set in Germany circa de 1917 - 1918, over the closing months of World War 1, the movie filming primarily took place in the Czech Republic. The cosmopolitan capital city of Prague was a key filming location for scenes before Paul left for the western front, and it makes for a perfect springtime city break destination. Rich in history, architecture, and cultural hotspots, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels, the ‘City of 100 Spires’ is an excellent choice for discerning travelers. While in the Czech Republic, you can even venture further afield to explore one of the beautifully preserved and historic castles featured in the film, such as Château Liběchov, Château Hořín, and Sychrov Castle.
Recommended airport: Prague Václav Havel Airport, terminal 3 (PRG)
Avatar: The Way of Water
Director: James Cameron
Academy Award Winner of… Best Visual Effects
4 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects
Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China: Although Pandora is a fictional universe, some of the stunning locations were influenced by real-life natural wonders. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping of all, the towering sandstone pillars that burst through the clouds and inspired the floating ‘Hallelujah mountains’, can be found in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China. During production, the mountains were filmed and studied, and an impressive 360-degree panorama was created to ensure Avatar’s jungle utopia reflected their beauty and majesty. The park is recognized as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you’ll find an impressive range of guided tours, including helicopter and boat tours, as well as one of the world’s longest cable cars, open-air chair lifts, the largest glass-bottom bridge in the world and winding glass-bottomed skywalk, suspended 4,700ft above the lush forest. A spring or summer visit to this unique location will not disappoint.
Recommended airport: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport (DYG)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Director: Ryan Coogler
Academy Award Winner of… Best Costume Design
5 Academy Award Nominations: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Music (Original Song), Best Visual Effects
Visit San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Kingdom of Lesotho: The next chapter in Marvel’s epic superhero franchise Black Panther was filmed in a wide range of locations, from the prestigious MIT university in Massachusetts to the cascading Iguazu Falls on the Argentina-Brazil border. However, it’s the sunny seaside location of San Juan in Puerto Rico that we’d recommend visiting first. The former Ritz-Carlton hotel was completely transformed by Marvel into a would-be royal palace and was used for many of the film’s flashback scenes. The beautiful Playa Las Palmas and Punta Cibuco beaches were also featured. With its ultra-luxurious beachfront hotels, colorful colonial architecture, and classic Caribbean charm, San Juan is a top summer destination, and it’s not hard to see why. Or, if you’d like to experience the country that inspired ‘Wakanda’, take a trip to the beautiful Kingdom of Lesotho, an independent nation boarded by South Africa. Rich in African culture and offering an exceptional landscape to explore, this vibrant yet traditional nation is well worth a visit.
Recommended airport San Juan: San Juan (Luis Munoz Marin) International Airport (SJU)
Recommended airport Lesotho: Moshoeshoe International Airport (MSU)
Elvis
Director: Baz Luhrmann
8 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Sound
Visit Graceland, The Home of Elvis Presley, and Las Vegas, US: Based on the life and meteoric rise to the superstardom of Elvis Presley, Elvis has been dubbed one of the greatest biopics of all time. Experience the world of Elvis like never before with a visit to the famous home of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Memphis, United States. A site to behold all year round, but especially in the spring and summer when you can take in the full splendor of the gardens and mansion, the tour of Graceland allows you to view costumes, personal mementos, and artifacts from iconic performances. After visiting Graceland, stroll down the iconic Beale Street, nicknamed "Home of the Blues", and tour the historic Sun Studios to learn more about Elvis's early beginnings. While the real Graceland wasn’t used for filming, parts of the legendary estate were meticulously recreated on location in Queensland, including color-matching paints and recreating furniture. Fans of Elvis would also enjoy a trip to the renowned Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the hotel where Elvis performed for the last years of his life. Spring and summer are great times to visit this fun-packed city, and you’ll even find ‘The King of Las Vegas festival at the Westgate from July 7th-9th.
Recommended airport Graceland: Memphis Airport (MEM)
Recommended airport Las Vegas: Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Director: Rian Johnson
1 Academy Award Nomination: Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Visit the Amanzoe, Porto Heli, Peloponnese, Greece: When it comes to locations, it doesn’t get much more fabulous than the glamorous setting of the ‘Knives Out’ sequel. So much so, many are surprised to learn that it is a real-life hotel and resort…minus the Glass Onion and sports car on the roof. The ultra-exclusive Amanzoe provides the backdrop for the latest Benoit Blanc whodunnit and is part of the fabled Aman Resorts collection of incredibly beautiful boutique hotels. Its impossibly elegant suites, 360-degree views, private pools, and plentiful amenities set the standard in high-end luxury. This world-class resort will reopen for the summer season on April 1st.
Recommended airport: Athens International Airport (ATH) is the nearest airport and Air Partner can organize a helicopter transfer to the hotel.
For more information about flying privately to these legendary locations, contact our private jet charter team today.
