Movies Made in Michigan

Michigan Made Many

by Mallory Brown

The “Great Lakes” state has been appreciated by many filmmakers in the past. The following is a list of some of the memorable films that were made…you guessed it…in Michigan.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959 in Marquette, Ishpeming, Michigamme)
This mystery drama follows a trial of a small town murder. James Steward, playing the defending lawyer, realizes his witnesses are not as truthful as they appear and sets out to find the missing puzzle piece to save his client.

Somewhere in Time (1980 on Mackinac Island)
Christopher Reeve plays a charming playwright who travels back in time to meet a famous actress played by Jane Seymour. This timeless love story is captured in the historical Grand Hotel.

The Evil Dead I and II (1981, 1987 in Detroit, Marshall)
Sam Raimi’s first hit films, the Evil Dead movies explore the terrors of a group of friends who unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons. Both chapters star Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984 in Dearborn, Detroit)
A freewheeling Detroit Cop, played by Eddie Murphy, travels to California to investigate the murder of his best friend.

Midnight Run (1988 in Niles)
Robert DeNiro stars as a bounty hunter who tracks down a former mafia accountant. The criminal must be delivered to LA, but as the two travel cross country, their journey is complicated by the pursuing FBI and Mafia.

Die Hard II (1990 in Alpena, Kincheloe, Sault Ste. Marie)
The second of the Die Hard series follows Bruce Willis as John McClane who combats a team of terrorists holding an airport hostage.

Presumed Innocent (1990 in Detroit)
Harrison Ford plays a prosecutor who is investigating the murder of his colleague and mistress to find himself being framed. Brian Dennehy plays the chief prosecuting attorney.

True Romance (1993 in Detroit)
Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are newlyweds who find themselves in a dangerous scandal when a wedding present goes wrong. Appearances are made by Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997 in Detroit)
John Cusack plays a professional hitman who begins to develop a conscience. When a job sends him to Grosse Point, he attends a 10 year high school reunion and begins to mix his past life with his new dangerous one. Minnie Driver and Dan Aykroyd are supporting actors.

Out of Sight (1998 in Bloomfield Hills, Detroit)
Directed by Steven Soderburgh, George Clooney plays a career bank robber who busts out of jail and captures a U.S. Marshall played by Jennifer Lopez. When opposites attract, in this good guy-bad guy story.

American Pie 2 (2001 in Grand Haven)
The sequel to the ever-famous college flick follows the gang as they spend a summer by the lake. Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Thomas Ian Nicholas, and Eugene Levy make another hilarious adventure story.

8 Mile (2002 in Detroit)
Based on the life of Detroit rapper sensation, Eminem. Revealing the hardships and trials he faced on his way to fame. Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy play Eminem’s real life female counterparts.

Road to Perdition (2002 in Grand Rapids, Saugatuck, West Olive, Zeeland)
Tom Hanks plays hitman Mike Sullivan, who must flee from his crime boss when his son witnesses a hit. Family bonds are put to the test as Sullivan explores the morality of his occupation. Jude Law co-stars as the hire to kill Sullivan.

Four Brothers (2005 in Detroit)
Staring Mark Walberg, this film follows four adopted brothers who are reunited at their mother’s funeral. When the brothers discover her death was intentional, they band together to investigate and find the killers.

The Island (2005 in Detroit)
Directed by Michael Bay, this Sci-Fi thriller reveals a future world where humans exist in a controlled environment. Ewan McGregor stars with Scarlett Johansson as two human/clone counterparts who fight to save the humanity left in their manufactured world.

Upside of Anger (2005 in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit)
Joan Allen plays a sharp-witted suburban wife who falls for her neighbor, Kevin Costner, when her husband unexpectedly disappears. Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, and Alicia Witt star as her four daughters.

Dreamgirls (2006 in Detroit)
Based on the Broadway musical, this film showcases Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, and Anika Noni Rose as a trio of black female soul singers
who cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960’s. Jamie Foxx stars as manager of “The Dreams”, and Eddie Murphy is singing sensation James ‘Thunder’ Early.