Let’s be honest — New Orleans films are the best.
These days we could all use some fun and escapism but we can’t help it if we live in the most beautiful city in the nation. Many filmmakers agree and have chosen the Crescent City to shoot their projects. This year alone, we’ve seen “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” “The Lovebirds,” and “Project Power.”
UNO graduate student and New Orleans native, Trey Guillory, took his enthusiasm for Louisiana-centric entertainment and has put together a podcast about New Orleans films (and TV shows) called, “Po’Cast.” Each episode stream includes about fun facts and NOLA lore surrounding the cinema shot here. When asked what inspired him to start an entertainment podcast, Guillory says, “My podcast partner (E.Y.) and I have been wanting to collaborate on something creative for awhile and with pandemic/quarantine we brainstormed some ideas and we thought it would be cool to review film and TV set in New Orleans to provide a local perspective.”
Taking a queue from the “Po’Cast” team, OffBeat has rounded up a list of five fun New Orleans films you can watch now (or later) for a little mental getaway in your own backyard.
5. TNT’s ‘Claws’
Niecy Nash, the star of this breakout series, is no stranger to shooting in our fair city. In the past, she has co-starred in Ryan Murphy’s “Scream Queens.” In this series which takes place in the fictional town of Palmetto, Florida, Nash plays Desna Simms, a nail salon owner turned crime boss. Bonus, with so many New Orleans extras, you might spot someone you know! Available to stream via Hulu and Amazon.
4. ‘Fletch Lives’
This is an oldie, but a goodie. Slightly cheesy, Chevy Chase stars in the sequel to the 1985 hit as a gonzo journalist who sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong. This time, sniffing around for crime leads him down the bayou to Houma to solve a murder mystery. Available to stream via YouTube and Amazon Prime.
3. ‘Angel Heart’
Admittedly, this is a dark neo-noir but gorgeously shot New Orleans film. The 1987 neo-noir thriller stars Robert DeNiro, Mickey Rourke, and Lisa Bonet. The film was controversial at its time of release for some very gratuitous nude scenes featuring Ms. Bonet. Available to stream via YouTube and Amazon Prime.
2. Disney’s ‘The Princess and The Frog’
The French Quarter is Disney-fied, need we say more? The Disney treatment meets Louisiana life in a princess story for those who don’t necessarily love princess movies. Fun fact: Princess Tiana was inspired by Leah Chase when the producers of the film visited New Orleans for a tech scout. Available on Netflix and Disney Plus. To hear the Po’cast episode about the film, filled with fun facts, click here.
- ‘Interview With the Vampire’ New Orleans native Anne Rice penned the wildly successful Vampire Chronicles books that put Louisiana vampire lore on the map. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and a young Kirsten Dunst haunt the streets of our city and beyond in this bloodcurdling (but fun!) adaptation of her novel. Available to stream via Amazon Prime and HBO Max.
Follow “Po’cast” on Instagram @pocastnolapodcast. Listen on Spotify here.
