Guide To Movies Filmed In Boston

It seems like there is a former movie location around every corner in Boston. For decades, movie makers have been coming to the city to showcase the interesting inhabitants and sites in their films. Whether they are making true stories or simply building fiction off the character of Boston, they often wind up with popular underground films or major blockbusters. Not all of them are memorable to movie fans today, but there are a few that stand out and are even some of the most popular movies of this age.

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"Good Will Hunting"

"Good Will Hunting" is the movie that launched the careers of screenwriter/actor team Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Thanks in large part to the performances of Damon, Affleck and screen legend Robin Williams, this movie reached far beyond the streets of Boston. A great deal of the film was shot in Canada for various reasons, but there are several shots from Boston and the entire film is based in Boston. Some would argue that "Good Will Hunting" was the best film of both the writers' careers and easily one of Williams' best, so it is certainly worth a watch.

"The Boondock Saints"

When it comes to cult films set and filmed in Boston, "The Boondock Saints" is a must-see. Sean Patrick-Flanery of "Powder" fame and Norman Reedus, the biggest name in zombies, star as twins who are caught up in a vigilante string of murders. They star alongside Billy Connolly and Willem Dafoe, who should equal blockbuster success. Unfortunately, the film did not become popular until well after its release. Look out for locations like Longfellow Bridge and Boston Common in the film.

"The Departed"

Few movies filmed in Boston have had such mainstream success as "The Departed." With an insanely apt cast that includes such stars as Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Alec Baldwin, it was hard to strike out. However, it was the stellar screenplay by William Monahan that really took it home. This move cannot be missed. Bostonians will spot locations like the State House, St. Francis Xavier Church, Suffolk University and Logan International Airport.

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"Ted"

While it is another Mark Wahlberg film, "Ted" takes this Boston actor in a completely different direction than "The Departed." In "Ted," written by the hilarious Seth MacFarlane, Wahlberg plays a man whose wish to have his teddy bear come to life when he was a boy came true. A raucously inappropriate film, "Ted" is not for the faint of heart. It contains a few Boston-centric jokes and filming locations that locals will notice. These include a gag about Quincy and scenes shot in the New England Aquarium, Fenway Park, Boston Common and more.

"Mystic River"

Arguably the most heart-wrenching film ever set in Boston, "Mystic River" is based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name. The film documents the lives of a group of Boston friends from the tragic clergy abuse one suffers to the death of a daughter that brings them all together again as adults. Tobin Bridge, Miller's Market and a number of Boston neighborhoods are featured in scenes from this memorable film. It is hard to notice them with all of the brilliant acting that makes "Mystic River" stand out.