Five Movies to Watch That Take Place in Baltimore

From “Sleepless in Seattle” to “Hairspray” and other John Waters pictures, as well as Barry Levinson’s famous films like “Diner” and “Avalon,” there is a rich tradition of wonderful movies that take place in Charm City. All of the aforementioned films are well-known, and there is a good chance any Baltimore movie buff has seen them. However, with the brand-new film “The Baltimorons,” set to release at the beginning of September, it’s worth revisiting other flicks that take place in Baltimore that you may not have seen. With that in mind, here are five movies worth checking out that are set here in Maryland’s largest city.

• “The Sum of All Fears” — Thriller, 2002

Based on Tom Clancy’s book, this thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Ben Affleck is about the legendary Jack Ryan, who in this film is played by Affleck. It’s up to Ryan to prevent a nuclear war as a Neo-Nazi tries to push the U.S. into war with Russia. Unfortunately for Baltimoreans, much of “The Sum of All Fears” was filmed in Montreal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a watch. Best of all, it’s available for free on PlutoTV, as well as available for rent on other platforms, too.

• “The Shape of Water” — Romantic Fantasy, 2017

Nominated for 13 Oscars, “The Shape of Water” is in many ways unlike any other movies you have likely seen. Without giving too much away, Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece from 2017 is an atypical love story that reaches into the realms of science fiction and fantasy as well as romance. Again, most of the filming took place in Canada, but there are some beautiful shots worth seeing, even if they aren’t actually from Charm City. “The Shape of Water” is available for rent on Amazon Prime, Google Play Movies and Apple TV.

• “Enemy of the State” — Thriller, 1998

Will Smith and Gene Hackman star in this thriller about a lawyer who becomes embroiled in turmoil when evidence of a political assassination comes to him unwillingly. Here’s the best part: most of the filming took place in Baltimore, with some just down the road in Washington, D.C. That means that the scenes you see actually look like Baltimore, not sort-of look like Baltimore! With Jon Voight, Regina King, Barry Pepper, Jason Lee, Lisa Bonet, Jack Black and Scott Caan, the supporting staff is absolutely stacked. Check it out for free with a Hulu subscription or premium FuboTV or YouTube TV subscription.

• “To Catch a Killer” — Crime, 2023

This movie about a serial killer on the loose doesn’t have the best critical reviews, but it is truly thrilling from start to finish. Filmed in Canada (no surprise here) and starring Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn, this is the newest film on the list and the English debut of Argentine director Damián Szifron. With twists and turns and plenty of darkness perfect for a night in with a loved one, “To Catch a Killer” is also easy to watch: it’s available for free on Netflix or able to be rented on Amazon Prime.

• “Step Up” — Teen Romance, 2006

If you haven’t seen this, your kids may very well have. It’s from close to two decades ago at this point, but “Step Up” is a coming-of-age classic. Filmed in Baltimore, this movie is a great representation of the multicultural and artistic nature of the city. Starring Channing Tatum in one of his first major roles, “Step Up” features some iconic scenes and dance numbers with a soundtrack to match. The original spawned a franchise of a half dozen movies and is still beloved by fans old and young today. While it’s not free to stream anywhere, it is available to rent on Prime Video, Google Play Movies and Apple TV.