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Few places in the United States offer a backdrop as instantly recognizable and versatile as Florida. From neon-lit beaches and Everglade swamps to sun-drenched suburbs and unpredictable stormy skies, the Sunshine State has long been a magnet for filmmakers looking to capture both beauty and danger in one cinematic sweep.
Whether it's a gritty crime saga in Miami, a surreal road trip through the Keys, or a small-town drama unfolding under oppressive humidity, Florida continues to serve as a fertile ground for unforgettable storytelling. For fans of film and pop culture alike, the state’s vivid personality doesn’t just sit in the background, it’s often a character in its own right.
And just as movie lovers keep tabs on the best titles shot in this sun-soaked locale, others track the latest information on the best casinos in Florida, because here, entertainment comes in all forms.
Below is a curated list of some of the most iconic, compelling, and unforgettable films set in Florida. These movies don’t just use the state as a filming location, they harness its unique atmosphere to drive story, mood, and meaning.
Scarface (1983)
It’s impossible to talk about Florida in cinema without mentioning Scarface. Brian De Palma’s explosive gangster epic takes Miami and douses it in excess, ambition, and violence. Al Pacino's iconic performance as Tony Montana, an immigrant from Cuba who scrapes his way to the top of the drug empire, is bound to the history of immigration and the crime undertone that Miami experiences today in the 1980s.
Tropical pastels and beach stalls are contrasted with urban decay, creating a visual identity that has influenced pop culture for decades.
Moonlight (2016)
A far cry from the glossy crime tales usually associated with Miami, Moonlight is an intimate, emotionally rich exploration of identity, masculinity, and love. Set in the Liberty City neighborhood, Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning film captures the quiet, often harsh realities of growing up Black and queer in a world that offers little guidance.
Shot with poetic realism, Moonlight uses the Florida sun not for glamour, but for honesty, every scene grounded in a haunting beauty that never lets the viewer look away.
The Florida Project (2017)
Sean Baker’s The Florida Project is a masterclass in blending harsh social commentary with childlike wonder. Set in the shadow of Disney World, the film follows six-year-old Moonee and her mother as they navigate life in a pastel-painted motel that doubles as a last refuge for many of Florida’s working poor.
The contrast between the "happiest place on earth" and the economic hardship just outside its gates paints a uniquely Floridian dichotomy. Baker's use of real locations, non-professional actors, and vibrant cinematography gives the film an almost documentary-like power.
Body Heat (1981)
Few films capture the sweltering tension of a Florida summer quite like Lawrence Kasdan's Body Heat. A neo-noir drenched in sweat and sexual tension, it stars William Hurt and Kathleen Turner as lovers caught in a dangerous web of lust and deception.
Shot on location in a tiny Florida town, the blinding heat is transformed into a metaphor for the characters' declining self-control. With its steamy atmosphere and crisp dialogue, the movie reinvigorated the noir genre while firmly establishing itself in the sultry heart of the South.
Cocaine Cowboys (2006)
Not a work of fiction, this documentary unfolds with the speed and ferocity of a gangster saga. Cocaine Cowboys chronicles the real-life drug trade that turned Miami into one of the most dangerous cities in America during the 1980s.
Using interviews, archival footage, and a pulsing soundtrack, the film paints a vivid portrait of a city transformed by crime, money, and mayhem. Essential viewing for anyone interested in the true stories behind Florida’s cinematic reputation.
Wild Things (1998)
This cult classic thriller thrives on Florida's swampy, sun-drenched chaos. Set in the fictional Blue Bay, Wild Things is a labyrinth of twists, betrayals, and double-crosses.
Featuring Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, and Matt Dillon, the film plays like a sunburned soap opera meets noir mystery. The humid Florida setting adds to the film’s simmering tension, where secrets boil just beneath the surface and nothing is quite what it seems.
Spring Breakers (2012)
Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers is an acid-soaked fever dream of youth culture, criminality, and beach-party excess. Following four college girls who spiral into a life of crime, the film blurs the line between satire and social commentary.
Florida's beach towns (specifically St. Petersburg) become the setting for a visual onslaught of neon colors, booming bass, and surreal moments that challenge conventional storytelling.
Pain & Gain (2013)
Michael Bay's Pain & Gain is an adaptation of the incredible true tale of a team of Miami bodybuilders who fall into kidnapping and homicide. Half action comedy, half cautionary tale, the film doubles down on Florida's notoriety for outrageous headlines and wacky criminality. Saturated in bright colors and surrealism, it presents the frenetic energy that many people identify with the state.
Magic Mike (2012)
Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike trades in Florida’s flashy nightlife and strip club scene, using Tampa as a backdrop for a story that’s part performance spectacle, part economic fable.
While known for its choreography and charisma (thanks to Channing Tatum), the film also delves into themes of aspiration, exploitation, and reinvention, classic Florida themes wrapped in glitter and charm.
Conclusion: A State of Cinema
From moody noir to sunlit indie drama, Florida has served as a cinematic muse for decades. Its contradictions (beauty and darkness, luxury and poverty, freedom, and danger) make it an endlessly fascinating place to tell stories. Each of these films uses the state not just as a location, but as a lens through which to explore broader human themes.
Florida is more than just palm trees and pool parties, it’s a complex character that shapes narratives with every flash storm and sunset. As long as filmmakers continue to explore its rich visual and cultural landscape, the Sunshine State will remain a star in its own right.