SEATTLE — The 1990’s were a golden time for the silver screen in Washington State, and you can still visit many of the “living” sets!
Keith Simanton, IMDbPro Managing Editor, identified eight movies shot that immortalized local locations on film.
"Singles" (1992)
Cameron Crowe's “Singles" was filmed in a variety of Seattle buildings and music venues, but it centered the Coryell Court apartments (1820 E Thomas St.) in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
"They all lived here in this kind of Melrose Place-like commune,” Simanton said. "This is like a Seattle hub for the '90s."
Shot just before the explosion of grunge, the film features musicians who became household names – like Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell.
"They're all characters in this film. It's marinated in Seattle,” Simanton said.
"Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)
Fans can visit any number of locations, but the most famous may be The Athenian in Pike Place Market. The film showcased both the restaurant and vendors because of the director’s sense of taste.
"Nora Ephron was a huge foodie,” Simanton said. "She realized she had to incorporate Pike Place into this somehow, because she loved it so much."
"The Vanishing" (1993)
A gas station at 742 SW Mt Si Blvd. in North Bend was the site of a horrifying abduction in the suspense thriller starring Sandra Bullock, Kiefer Sutherland and Jeff Bridges.
"It's funny because you can watch the movie and see where the clear cuts happened on the mountain behind us, and now 31 years of growth have occurred since then,” Simanton said.
"This Boy's Life" (1993)
Skagit County was captured on film for the movie starring Robert De Niro and a very young Leonardo Di Caprio. The period piece was shot on-location in the small town of Concrete.
“It's still a stunning movie,” Simanton said.
"Disclosure" (1994)
The movie starring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas showcases everything from Washington State ferries to the city's future in tech. A pivotal scene was shot outside and inside the Fairmont Olympic (the Four Seasons, at the time of filming.)
"There's actually a whole sequence that's shot in the rooms with a VR headset,” Simanton said. "The Fairmont has aged much more gracefully than much of this film."
"Assassins" (1995)
This action film brought Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore to the Emerald City and showcases locations from downtown to Queen Anne.
"If you want to watch Seattle in the '90's, watch the first half of ‘Assassins,’” Simanton said. “Because it's set under the viaduct and it's set in Pioneer Square, and then there's a whole scene on the monorail."
"Practical Magic" (1998)
Coupeville posed as a New England town for the witchy comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. But the beautiful house they lived in wasn't real - it was just a shell.
"The rumor is, Barbra Streisand so loved that house, she was like 'How do I buy that house?' And they were like, 'Sorry, we had to tear it down immediately after we finished filming,’” Simanton said.
"10 Things I Hate About You" (1999)
Tacoma also went Hollywood for the teenage rom com starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. Based on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” it was shot in and around Stadium High School.
"Stadium High School is a cool high school, and Heath Ledger is a cool guy,” Simanton said.
Even though Seattle isn't the filming hub it used to be, Simanton said it was the right place - at the right time - in the 1990's.
"There's something special, there's something unique about the weather, about the atmosphere, about the people, about the architecture,” he said. "Seattle was the perfect venue."
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