Published Mar 2, 2026, 7:00 PM EST
Ambrose Tardive is an editor on ScreenRant's Comics team. Over the past two years, he has developed into the internet's foremost authority on The Far Side. Outside of his work for ScreenRant, Ambrose works as an Adjunct English Instructor.
Florida has a rich cinematic history; from the gangster epic Scarface, to the sci-fi comedy Cocoon, to the essential '90s erotic thriller Wild Things, Florida has been the setting for some of the most unforgettable on-screen moments ever. So, let's take a closer look at some of the most iconic Florida films.
Each U.S. state has its own unique identity. Some of these translate to the screen better than others. Florida is one of the most distinctly cinematic states, giving movies set there a particular look and feel.
The Floridian movies here use their location to their advantage in ways that viewers will forever associate with the Sunshine State.
Body Heat
Directed By Lawrence Kasdan; Starring Kathleen Turner, William Hurt, & More; Released In 1981
Florida's frequently sweaty, sticky climate makes it a natural setting for erotic films like seminal '80s thriller Body Heat. In the movie, William Hurt and Kathleen Turner's characters become embroiled in an intense love affair, which naturally doesn't sit well with her husband, a love triangle that escalates into multiple murders and betrayals.
Body Heat was written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, who is perhaps better known as the weriter of the screenplay for another iconic film released in 1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Body Heat was shot in Palm Beach County, and the location is crucial to the overall vibe of the movie. Just like you can sense the heat radiating between the two leads, you can feel the swampiness of the surroundings the characters move through. In short, Body Heat walked so that Wild Things could run in the '90s.
Scarface
Directed By Brian De Palma; Starring Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, & More; Released In 1983
Brian De Palma's Scarface is a remake of the 1932 Howard Hawks film. Except De Palma transposes the story from Chicago to Miami, and changes main character Tony from Italian to Cuban. The change made Al Pacino's character Tony Montana a strikingly relevant character for the early 1980s, and it made Scarface synonymous with South Florida.
That's not something the Cuban community in Miami was thrilled about when the film was being made. Much of the movie was actually shot in Los Angeles due to local outcry against the production in Miami. Yet Scarface captures the look and feel of the city, while weaving a complex crime epic that still ranks among the GOATs.
Cocoon
Directed By Ron Howard; Starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Steve Guttenberg, & Many More; Released In 1985
Ron Howard's Cocoon is a beloved '80s sci-fi comedy, set in St. Petersburg, Florida, about the residents of a retirement community whose youth and vitality are restored by swimming in a pool containing the life force of a group of extraterrestrials. It memorably ends with the characters leaving Earth to go to the alien homeworld, where they'll "never get older" and "never die."
It's the ultimate feel-good film about getting older, in which the characters are actually able to circumvent the inevitable. Florida is essential to the movie on every level. It informs the wardrobe of its characters, and their behavior, and in the end proves critical to Cocoon's climax, which takes place off the coast.
Bad Boys
Directed By Michael Bay; Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, & More; Released In 1995
There's a case to be made that Bad Boys kickstarted the modern era of action movies. It was the directorial debut for Michael Bay, it helped firmly establish Jerry Bruckheimer as one of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster producers, and it legitimized Will Smith as an action star. Florida is an essential part of the film's recipe for success.
Smith and Martin Lawrence play Miami narcotic detectives; the original script called for Bad Boys to be set in New York, and the location change was vital to giving the movie its own distinct identity. Its own Floridian look and feel, which was reflected in the cinematography and aesthetic of Bad Boys, as much as the background.
The Birdcage
Directed By Mike Nichols; Starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Calista Flockhart, & More; Released In 1996
The madcap humor of The Birdcage is all about the clash of cultures and identities. Though the film is primarily a comedy about sexuality, its themes are also mirrored in the setting. The conservative characters played by Gene Hackman and Diane Lane are total "fish out of water" in vibrant and loud Miami.
The Birdcage highlights Miami's deeply rooted queer culture. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane's characters are consummate Floridians, and giving them a memorable style in the film that it would have lost set anywhere else. The location's importance is reinforced by key exterior shots, including footage of Miami Beach's iconic Carlyle Hotel.
Flipper
Directed By Alan Shapiro; Starring Elijah Wood, Isaac Hayes, & More; Released In 1996
Every '90s kid remembers the triumphant moment when Flipper saves Elijah Wood's character's life at the climax of Flipper. The movie is one prominent example of a classic cinematic trope: the story of an ordinary American kid who becomes extraordinary. With a dolphin as its lead, there is really only one state that Flipper could be set.
America's fascination with the idea of "a boy and his dolphin" goes back to the 1960s, when the original Flipper movie and TV series were produced. Call it recency bias, but the '90s Flipper is the version everyone thinks of these days. Surprisingly, the franchise has been dormant since Flipper: The New Adventures wrapped up its TV run in 2000.
Ironically, the movie was filmed in the Bahamas. But the island doubles effectively enough for Florida's Gold Coast. The important thing, in this case, is where the movie says it takes place. Why? Because it made a generation of kids want to move to Florida in the hopes of befriending an aquatic mammal.
There’s Something About Mary
Directed By The Farrelly Brothers; Starring Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, & More; Released In 1998
There's Something About Mary is the pinnacle of raunchy 1990s comedies. The movie can't go more than 2-3 scenes without getting into "there's no way you could do that today" territory. Which of course is part of what makes it a classic. Another part of that? It's iconic Florida setting.
Once again, Miami steps up. The movie was shot on location there, and it captures the look and feel of the city as well as any of the other movies on this list. 25+ years later, that makes it a time capsule as well; not only does it nail Miami, it showcases its location at a particular bygone place and time.
Wild Things
Directed By John McNaughton; Starring Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, & More; Released In 1998
Earlier we said Body Heat walked so Wild Things could run, but really, it's better to say it sprints. Wild Things infamously leveled up the eroticism and also the plot twists and turns of its predecessor. Both the Miami suburbs and Everglades play key roles in the movie, and the film's gleeful "male gaziness" wouldn't be possible in a colder locale.
Wild Things is willfully sleazy, with its tone verging on camp. The steaminess of the plot is accentuated by the movie's scenery. Even when the story gets dark, it's still a bright, flashy Floridian film, one that is etched into the memories of '90s filmgoers for more than just the obvious reasons. Beyond its salaciousness, Wild Things has a killer aesthetic.
Miami Vice
Directed by Michael Mann; Starring Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, & More; Released In 2006
2006's Miami Vice brought decades of pop culture full circle. Director Michael Mann helped create the '80s TV show Miami Vice, which defined Florida's image in the wider American consciousness for decades after. In '06, Mann updated the show for the big screen, turning the police procedural into an action-packed blockbuster.
Miami Vice is over the top, but it's pivotal to understanding Florida's cinematic identity. The movie doesn't stop to luxuriate in its location the way the OG television series used to, but at the same time it uses the South Florida setting to its advantage in a way the show never could, making it the perfect capstone to the longrunning franchise.
What do you think, readers? Which of these movies best represents Florida? And what Florida classics did we leave out?
Release Date July 28, 2006
Runtime 132 Minutes
Director Michael Mann
Writers Michael Mann, Anthony Yerkovich
English (US) ·