The great thing about movies is that no other artistic medium is better at transporting you to another place.
To honor that quality, we took a look at the best movie from each state, plus Washington, DC. We looked at reviews, other resourcesthat analyzedmovies fromdifferent states, and our own professional opinion.
Each film on this list captures its setting, while also telling a great story.
ALABAMA: "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
The state's history as the flashpoint of race and criminal justice in United States history has made it the setting of excellent films about those subjects, whether serious dramas like "Selma," thoughtful satires like "Talladega Nights" and "Borat," or goofy comedies like "My Cousin Vinny."
The great forerunner of them all is "To Kill a Mockingbird" starring Gregory Peck, based on Harper Lee's seminal novel, which has a moral clarity few films can match.
ALASKA: "Grizzly Man" (2005)
Werner Herzog's documentary tries to peer into the soul of Timothy Treadwell, an environmentalist who dedicated his life to protecting Alaska's grizzly bears, only to be eaten by one.
The film combines Treadwell's own footage with Herzog's research into the circumstances of Treadwell's death and the nature of his relationship to wildlife. It's harrowing, darkly funny, and unforgettable.
ARIZONA: "Midnight Run" (1988)
Arizona has a wealth of great films that take advantage of its beautiful desert landscapes and idiosyncratic suburbs — like "The Searchers,""Thelma & Louise,""Johnny Guitar,""Raising Arizona," and "My Darling Clementine."
The greatest Arizona film, though, is the overlooked "Midnight Run," about a criminal accountant who jumps bail and get chased by a bounty hunter, the FBI, and the Mafia. It stars Robert De Niro, in an extremely good leather jacket and one of his rare excellent comedy roles, Martin Brest, Yaphet Kotto, and Charles Grodin.
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