It’s Oscar season, and the awards are coming up on March 12. There have been many films that included scenes made around the Tampa Bay area. Some of them have been nominated for Academy Awards.

Some people love to see films made with familiar sights/filming sites. In some cases, the movie may have just have had a scene that took place locally. Others were just about completely made here.

Not every film gets consideration for an Acadamy Award nomination. Others are great entertainment, but just don’t reach that level within the industry. Others are plain crap, for lack of a better term.

Oscar statuettes sit on display backstage.
(Photo by Matt Petit – Handout/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)

Here’s a list of films that did get some Oscar attention from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

• Cocoon

  Released in 1985, the film “Cocoon” was made greatly in Pinellas County, in and around St. Pete and Clearwater. The first of two on the list directed by Ron Howard.

  “Cocoon” received Academy wins for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Don Ameche and Best Effects/Visual Effects.

• Edward Scissorhands

  From 1990, here’s a film whose set is still a place people visit. The house where Edward lived in the film recently changed ownership and has been used as a museum of the film.

  Though it didn’t win an Oscar, the movie was nominated for Best Makeup.

  https://twitter.com/zillowgonewild/status/1500281482606256128

• Goodfellas

  Among the top rated films of all time, “Goodfellas” from 1990 featured a marquis of stars. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino.

  A lounge on Busch Blvd. and Lowry Park Zoo (before it became known as ZooTampa) were filming sites for “Goodfellas” which earned an Oscar win and several nominations.

  Joe Pesci earned the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Other nominations for the film included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Film Editing.

  

  Actors Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, Robert De Niro, Paul Sorvino and host Jon Stewart attend the closing night screening of “Goodfellas” during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at Beacon Theatre.
  (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival)

  

  American actor Joe Pesci smiles as he holds up his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘Goodfellas’ at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony, Los Angeles, California, March 25, 1991. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• The One and Only Ivan

  One of two movies made around Tampa that stars Bryan Cranston. It also features the voices of Sam Rockwell, Chaka Khan, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren and Danny DeVito. It’s a film based on a real gorilla named Ivan.

  The film’s Oscar nomination was for Best Achievement in Visual Effects

• The Greatest Show on Earth

  Before we had “The Greatest Showman,” there was “The Greatest Show on Earth” from 1952. Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston starred in a Cecil B. DeMille classic.

  Sarasota, home of the Ringling Museum, was featured as a filming location. Heston and many castmembers joined many locals who were paid 75¢ per hour, according to SarasotaMagazine.com.

  “The Greatest Show on Earth” earned Oscars for Best Picture and Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. There were also nominations for Best Director, Best Costume Design, Color, and Best Film Editing.

• Parenthood

  Another movie on this list directed by Ron Howard brought Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen to Florida to make this comedy/drama. Sites included Orlando and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

  “Parenthood” was nominated for two Oscars. Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Music, Original Song/

• Cop and a Half

  Okay, so not every film made is going to win an Oscar. “Cop and a Half,” was directed by Fonzie, Henry Winkler. It did win Burt Reynolds a Razzie for Worst Actor. “Spring Breakers” also showed off some of the Tampa Bay area, as did “Dolphin Tale,” “Magic Mike,” “The Punisher,” “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” and “The Infilrator” (another that starred Bryan Cranston).

  Just because they didn’t get a nomination from the Academy doesn’t mean they can’t be entertaining movies.

Sign me up for the My Q105 Insider email newsletter!

Get the latest local news, contests, presale information, and so much more from your favorite 80's artists. Tell us if you want to receive update from the MJ Morning Show on Q105!

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.