This post was originally published on here
Movie making has been one of the new industries in Louisiana over the past 20 years. But I bet you didn’t know that the silent classic Tarzan of the Apes from 1918 was shot in Morgan City. But what are the highest grossing movies that were filmed in Louisiana? You might be surprised by this list.
The film industry loves all the unique features of Louisiana including lush bayous, historic plantations, and urban architecture.
The Tax Credit Revolution “Hollywood South”
The boom of filmmaking in Louisiana kicked off in high gear in 2002 when lawmakers passed the Motion Picture Production Tax Incentive. This package offered tax credits of up to 40% on qualified local expenditures and payroll. The Bayou State was one of the first to offer these big deals to lure production to the state and it worked. Productions exploded across the state, quickly earning Louisiana the nickname “Hollywood South.” Major production hubs emerged in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, supported by specialized infrastructure like Celtic Media Centre and state-funded training programs.
Hollywood A-Listers in Louisiana
The lucrative financial credits brought major studios and Hollywood’s biggest stars to Louisiana:
Brad Pitt: Starred in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which filmed extensively across New Orleans and neighboring parishes.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx: Filmed Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning western Django Unchained at historic plantations in Wallace.
Chris Pratt: Led the massive blockbuster reboot in Jurassic World utilizing sets built inside the former Six Flags New Orleans park and the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility.
Tom Cruise: Filmed key sequences for Oblivion in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in the state.
Though not a movie, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson: Immersed themselves in southern Louisiana’s rural landscape while filming the critically acclaimed first season of HBO’s True Detective.
The state has teamed with private industry to bring together Louisiana Entertainment to help transform scenic locations across the state into ideal sights for movie projects.
But what movies filmed in Louisiana have been the most successful? Take a look at the top 8 grossing movies and how much they made.
What Are the Highest Grossing Movies Filmed in Louisiana
Some of the movies on the list might surprise you
