Running in the footsteps of the silver screen: 8 cities that have left their mark on cinema

From the earliest silent films to the blockbusters that now fill cinemas around the world, cinema has continually pushed back its boundaries. Born in Europe at the end of the 19th century, it quickly developed into an international industry, with cities becoming true capitals of the seventh art. Hollywood, Bollywood, arthouse cinema, spy films and major historical productions: each destination tells a different side of this story. For this new episode of “In the Footsteps of…”, JOOKS takes you on a journey through eight cities that have helped shape cinema, across eras, genres and continents.

Los Angeles - The City of Stars

Hollywood, a real-life film set

Our journey begins in Los Angeles, where cinema has become much more than an art form: a true industr

At the beginning of the 20th century, film studios settled around Hollywood, attracted in particular by California’s climate and the diversity of its landscapes. Little by little, names such as Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal and Columbia became inseparable from world cinema. Even today, Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame and the hills surrounding the city are closely associated with the world of the big screen. Los Angeles has also become a vast open-air film set, from La La Land to Blade Runner. With JOOKS, set off on a run through this city, where you could almost expect to come across a film camera on every street corner.

London - From Spies to Wizards

The British capital between fiction and reality

From California, our journey crosses the Atlantic to London, another great capital of cinema, where British productions have reached far beyond the country’s borders.

The city gave birth to one of the most famous spies in cinema history: James Bond, whose adventures have regularly taken place in its streets and around its landmarks. London has also become the playground of Sherlock Holmes and the setting for numerous scenes in the Harry Potter series. From film studios to the streets of central London, the British capital maintains a close connection with cinema and major international productions. Running with JOOKS along the Thames or through its historic neighbourhoods, discover a city where fiction and reality seem to constantly meet.

Venice - When the City Becomes a Film Set

In Venice, every canal has a story to tell

After the great capitals of cinema, we head to Venice, where the city’s architecture and canals have offered filmmakers a setting that would be almost impossible to recreate in a studio.

Its palaces, bridges and narrow streets have welcomed both historical films and major action productions. James Bond, for example, takes part in some of his adventures here in Casino Royale, while Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade uses the city as a setting for several scenes. More recently, Mission: Impossible has also made the most of the city’s spectacular scenery. With JOOKS, explore the streets and waterfronts of Venice and discover a city where every façade already seems ready for the big screen.

Berlin - Cinema at the Heart of History

Alexanderplatz, at the heart of cinematic Berlin

Our journey then takes us to Berlin, a city where cinema is closely intertwined with the political and historical upheavals of the 20th century.

From the early days of German cinema, Berlin established itself as an important creative centre, particularly with the Expressionist movement of the 1920s. Later, the divided and then reunified city became a favourite setting for stories about the Cold War and Germany’s transformation. Good Bye, Lenin! offers a humorous and nostalgic take on this period, while The Bourne Supremacy turns Berlin’s streets into the setting for a thrilling chase. Running through Berlin with JOOKS, between Alexanderplatz, the banks of the Spree and its historic neighbourhoods, discover a city whose history seems to have been written for the cinema.

Prague - A City of a Thousand Sets

A timeless setting in the heart of Prague

Just a few hundred kilometres away, Prague demonstrates another of cinema’s great strengths: its ability to transform a real city into a setting for telling stories set in eras sometimes far removed from our own.

With its medieval architecture, Baroque palaces and well-preserved streets, the Czech capital can easily stand in for other European cities. Miloš Forman’s Amadeus, for instance, recreates 18th-century Vienna here, while Mission: Impossible and Casino Royale have also taken advantage of its spectacular settings. Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the Old Town give the capital an instantly recognisable atmosphere. With JOOKS, explore these real-life film sets and discover why Prague has long been one of filmmakers’ favourite cities.

San Francisco - The City of Great Chases

Legendary streets made for car chases

After the historic settings of Prague, we return to the United States, this time to a city where the streets themselves have become an essential part of the spectacle.

With its steep hills, sloping streets and trams, San Francisco offers filmmakers a unique playground for action films. Bullitt famously featured a spectacular car chase here, while Alfred Hitchcock immortalised the city’s landscapes in Vertigo. Later, The Rock also made the most of the Bay Area’s iconic locations. Here, the setting is no longer simply a backdrop: it plays a full part in the action. With JOOKS, get ready to tackle San Francisco’s famous hills and discover a city that has left its mark on the history of action cinema.

Mumbai - Welcome to Bollywood

In Mumbai, cinema is everywhere, even in the streets

After Hollywood and its major productions, our journey moves to another continent to discover another powerhouse of world cinema: Mumbai and its iconic Bollywood.

For several decades, the city has been at the heart of the Hindi-language film industry, with a particularly prolific output combining comedy, romance, action, drama and music. Films shot in Mumbai regularly feature its neighbourhoods, streets and urban landscapes, while its studios welcome stars and directors from across the industry. Cinema plays such an important role here that it has become an integral part of Indian popular culture. With JOOKS, explore Mumbai and discover a metropolis where cinema does not simply tell stories: it plays a full part in shaping the city’s identity.

Sydney - From Australian Sets to Blockbusters

A real-life film set for the big screen

The final stop on our journey is Sydney, showing how cinema has become a truly global phenomenon, bringing together productions from all four corners of the world.

With its Opera House, Harbour Bridge and spectacular bay, Sydney has instantly recognisable settings that have attracted numerous filmmakers. The city and its surroundings have notably provided the backdrop for The Matrix, Mission: Impossible 2 and The Great Gatsby. Australia has also become an important film production hub, welcoming both local films and major international productions. With JOOKS, explore Sydney and its iconic landscapes, and bring this journey in the footsteps of the seventh art to a close in a city where cinema continues to cross borders.

Discover all these cities and more than 500 other destinations on the JOOKS app!

JOOKS