DC superheroes are perhaps the most easily recognizable characters in comic book history. Superman and Batman hold the crown as themost popular and recognizablesuperheroes of all time, rivaling even the most lucrative offerings from Marvel, for example.
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In the last half-century, DC has made considerable effort to expand its influence from the comic book sphere onto the silver screen, following and helping pioneer the superhero movie genre. Interestingly enough, some of the most iconic locations from movies new and old are real-life locations and operate as tourist destinations in cities large and rural alike.
7Kent Farm - Vancouver, Canada
The Superman TV seriesSmallvillewas huge back in the day and many of the sets used in the show are still around today. Much ofSmallvillewas filmed in Vancouver, despite Superman actually being from Kansas, and it’s also home to Kent Farm itself.
There are two entrances to the farm, and the entrance seen in the show is actually a small gravel path, not the main entrance. It’s a privately-owned farm now, but the owners are happy to let tourists take photos off-site.
6Wayne Enterprises HQ - Chicago Board of Trade Building
The iconic Wayne Enterprises Headquarters, featured in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, is located in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Trade building, located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago, was re-skinned and edited for the movie.
Still, though, the building towers over others nearby as an imposing monolith. The building’s interior was also used for various shots of the Daily Planet’s interior from theSupermanfranchise, but its exterior is more known for itsassociation with the Dark Knight.
5The Daily Planet - The Daily News Building, New York City
The Daily Planet is the easily recognizable workplace of Clark Kent in theSupermanfranchise, thanks to its globe and earth-centric branding throughout. It’s seen a number of renderings throughout the years, but the original from 1978’sSuperman: The Movieis smack-dab in the middle of New York City.
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Exterior shots were taken of the Daily News Building in Manhattan for the movie, and the building’s original plans and renderings from the ’30s were the primary inspiration for the film’sversion of the Daily Planet.
4Arthur Fleck’s Iconic Stairway - the Bronx, New York City
The 2019 filmJokerwas a roaring success, bringing much-needed life and a new angle to one of comics' most iconic villains. One of the most iconic (and most memed) moments from the film is when Arthur Fleck bounds manically and disjointedly down a flight of outdoor stairs, at leastpartially signifying his downfall.
These stairs are not just a set-piece, though, and function to connect the streets of Shakespeare Avenue and Anderson Avenue. The stairs are a popular draw for tourists in the Bronx nowadays, though locals aren’t as happy about it as visitors.
3Arkham Asylum - Danvers State Hospital, Massachusetts
Arkham Asylum is known for its cathedral-like architecture, imposinga sense of doom and madnesson the viewer just by looking at its pointed roofs and eerie design. The Asylum’s original influence was, in fact, a real-life mental hospital in Massachusetts.
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The Danvers State Hospital, formerly known as the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers, actually nearly burned to the ground in 2007 after the scheduled demolition began in 2006. The site is now home to a variety of apartments and living spaces, but nonetheless, its history is as interesting and terrifying as Arkham itself.
2Wander the Streets of Themyscira - Matera, Italy
Thebeginning of the movieWonder Womanshows Diana growing up and learning the ways of the Amazons in Themyscira. Unfortunately, Themyscira is not a real place, but the city it was based on is a real villa in Italy, called Matera.
Matera is built into the sides of the walls of a great mountain, covered in white rock. It’s an ancient place that has had a troubled past in modern history, but in recent times has become an incredibly popular tourist destination in its own right. It’s an incredibly vibrant place and well worth a visit even for non-Wonder Womanfans.
1The Old Bailey of V For Vendetta - London, England
V for Vendettais not the first thing that comes to mind when considering DC Comics. However, the film and graphic novel were actually funded and supported (in part) by DC Comics in the US under the Vertigo branding after its original run in a British comic anthology. The limited series turned into a 10-comic-long franchise, which later turned into the incredibly popular 2005 movie.
One of the most iconic moments in the entire film happens right at the beginning when V shows Evey Hammond a taste of things to come. He shows Evey the Old Bailey, specifically the statue of Lady Justice on top of the courthouse, and blows it upright in front of her. TheOld Bailey is in London, whereV for Vendettatakes place, and functions as a normal courthouse within the city.
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