Top 5 Movie Apartments
Normally, I make a Top 5 List based on whatever pops into my mind and go from there. Sometimes it connects with the world going on around me and if not usually I can find a connection when I try hard enough. In the case of today’s topic, the best movie apartments, I credit my sister who gave me the idea. Considering I just moved from a not terrible but definitely not great apartment (with mice) to a nice house this topic actually does fit nicely into my real world. I have spent the last nine years bouncing from shitty to less shitty to slightly less shitty places (okay, one slum, one student house with roommates that was mostly fine, and one apartment that was decent for the first four of six years) and so dreaming of a beautiful, cinematic space all my own is a familiar topic. Films and TV often have IMPOSSIBLE apartments: they’re always big, nicely furnished, matching, and in prime real estate locations. Despite how frustrating it can be to see unpaid interns or even mildly successful writers live in spaces way outside their means, it’s also really fun to get a peak into the life of the characters. Which books do they read? What’s their choice of color pallet? Do they have a holographic girlfriend? There are cinema related reasons for these unrealistic spaces, they need enough room to film, it has to be aesthetically pleasing and work with the movie’s colors, the art often needs to be symbolic of the movie’s themes, and it needs to be well lit (let’s be real no apartment rental is well lit). However, despite any successes we may find in life most of us will never be able to afford a posh London flat, a coveted Brooklyn brownstone, or that two bedroom with a beach view in LA. And that’s okay; just like it is okay to acknowledge that while these apartments are never realistic they’re always enviable. It’s also possible to look at them as design inspiration as well. These five definitely share that in common.
(Quick note: my website gets funky when I add pictures and it throws off the formatting. If you want to see shots of the apartments, though, I’ll link to them in each description.)
5. Alex’s Warehouse, Flashdance
I’m not bitter but I am certain that Alex could not have afforded this. I know for a fact in 2020 it would be impossible. How do I know this? Well, I lived in Pittsburgh for nine years and I looked, nay, SCOURED the city for an affordable warehouse loft. In case you were wondering what they go for, here’s a company that uses an old warehouse building for some gentrified lofts. It’s not like the movie interior, where she appears to be squatting, though, because nowhere is anymore. Sorry.
I do love how thrown together and convincingly bare bones the movie set was. There was something romantic for my early 20s soul, especially since it was mostly filmed in the very city I was living in.
4. Marianna’s Apartment, Sidewalls
This is not only a rom-com but also a film about a city’s architecture so it’s only natural that the woman’s apartment is going to be great. What I like about Marianna’s place, though, is how the director wasn’t afraid to let Marianna be messy. It not only works for the character but it makes her and her life feel more real. This small Buenos Aires spot also isn’t as outlandish as many of the others on the list. It isn’t big and hundreds of years old with all of the charm and none of the wear. The whole movie the viewer gets to see wonderful Argentinian architecture so if that’s your thing I highly recommend this one (it was on Hulu when I saw it).
3. The Shared Apartment, Last Tango in Paris
I want to first make it very clear that I do not endorse this film nor the behind the scenes actions of the director and Marlon Brando. HOWEVER, what I will say is if you want to have a nameless affair with an older stranger in a foreign city this apartment would be a beautiful choice. With its high ceilings, hardwood floor, wood furniture, old-style key, and balcony with a beautiful Paris view this is a great location choice.
2. Nola Darling’s Studio, She’s Gotta Have It
THAT. HEADBOARD. And those windows. I’m sure they’re impossible while trying to stay affordably warm during a New York winter, but they are gorgeous. With all the candles, minimalism, personal art, and hardwood floors, this is DEFINITELY a New York City apartment to love.
1. Theodore’s Apartment, Her
This spot was Holly Golightly’s until I decided I needed to toss in an adult apartment that wasn’t a dream place for someone under the age of 25 (I’m closer to 30 than 25 now so maybe my choices are filling the void that a not having a chic single girl apartment left. I’m mostly picking this one because this is my absolute dream view—halfway up the LA skyline, the beautiful lights both above and below me, so I can just stare and daydream (the Alaska mountains I get to see daily work nice for that, too, though). It’s also the perfect tone for the movie; minimalist and lonely, Phoenix is in the center of the city yet far away from any real connection.
Some honorable mentions, that frankly may be more TRADITIONALLY aesthetic choices for this list are (obviously) Holly Golightly’s NYC apartment in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Diana’s apartment in The Boy Downstairs, Alec and Leslie’s loft in St Elmo’s Fire, Sarah’s apartment in Under the Silver Lake, and Nina’s London flat in Truly, Madly, Deeply, minus the rats (this one is impossible to find a good photo of, but trust me the flat is so beautiful). To be honest I was very conscious not to stuff this list with New Yorkers. So now I turn to you, my readers. What are YOUR favorite movie apartments? You can pick New York City pads if you want but I’m extra interested in hearing choices outside of North America and Europe, especially in Asia and Africa. Let me know in the comments!
