Ranking the 5 most Cleveland movies of all time
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The performance scenes in Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett's 1987 film "Light of Day" were shot at Cleveland's Euclid Tavern. Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Cleveland has stood in for everything from New York City to Washington, D.C., on the big screen — but some movies let The Land play itself.
State of play: One of the most recent examples was the 2024 comedy "Lost & Found in Cleveland," which showcased Playhouse Square, Public Square, the West Side Market, Slavic Village and other parts of Northeast Ohio.
In honor of "Lost & Found in Cleveland" finally streaming on Amazon Prime Video, we're counting down the five movies that best capture the city's character, culture and landmarks.
5. "Light of Day" (1987): Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett bring Cleveland's blue-collar rock scene to life, including performances filmed at the legendary Euclid Tavern.
4. "Lost & Found in Cleveland" (2024): Martin Sheen, June Squibb and an ensemble cast headline this love letter to Cleveland, following residents whose lives intersect when an antiques appraisal show comes to town.
3. "A Christmas Story" (1983): Sure, it's set in Indiana. But Ralphie's house in Tremont and the Higbee's department store scenes have made Cleveland a holiday movie destination.
2. "Major League" (1989): Never mind that much of it was filmed in Milwaukee. The movie's opening scene featuring various shots of Cleveland during the late 1980s scored to Randy Newman's "Burn On" is as Northeast Ohio as it gets.
1. "American Splendor" (2003): Paul Giamatti portrays legendary Cleveland comic book writer Harvey Pekar in this acclaimed biopic filmed around Cleveland and Lakewood.
- Few movies capture the city's working-class soul better.