Stay Hungry

"Stay Hungry" was filmed in 1976 directed by Bob Rafelson adapted from a 1972 novel set in the bodybuilding community in Birmingham. The film was shot on location all around Birmingham including the Bank for Savings Building, Mountain Brook Parkway, 2nd Avenue North, Joy Young Restaurant, Country Club of Birmingham, Boutwell Auditorium, and the Lyric Theatre. Some of the actors in the film were Jeff Bridges as Craig, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Joe Santo, and Sally Field as the gym receptionist, Mary Tate.

"I love the people of Birmingham. I think they are very warm and affectionate, and they still have enough time to talk to each other. I really like the people here, and the hospitality" said Arnold Schwarzenegger on the people of Birmingham.

Verne Miller

"Verne Miller" is a feature film produced by Alive Films in 1987 starring Scott Glenn as a hit-man for Al Capone's Chicago mob. The sensationalized story was inspired by real people and events. Some scenes were filmed in the Birmingham area including the Alabama Theatre, Tutwiler Hotel, Bessemer Hall of History, and the parking lots of Shades Cahaba Elementary School and Piggly Wiggly. The completed film had its world premiere at the Alabama Theatre in July of 1988. Birmingham's own Carl Spurlock played a judge in the film and Bob Penny portrayed a real estate agent.

Space Jam

"Space Jam" is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka starring Michael Jordan. The film is about Jordan's initial retirement from the NBA in 1993 and his 1995 comeback where he is enlisted by the Looney Tunes characters to help them win a basketball match against a group of aliens. Michael Jordan's opening scene was shot at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. In this scene, the audience sees Jordan playing baseball because he had decided to quit basketball and start a career in baseball.

Talladega Nights

"Talladega Nights" is a 2006 comedy film directed by Adam McKay starring Will Ferrell. The film also features John C. Reilly, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and Sacha Baron Cohen. "Talladega Nights" is about Ricky Bobby played by Will Farrell who is trying to be the best NASCAR driver. Some of the racetrack scenes were filmed at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Murderball

"Murderball" is a 2005 American documentary film about physically disabled athletes who play wheelchair rugby. It focuses on the Canadian and U.S teams rivalry leading to the 2004 Paralympic Games. It was directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. It won Best Documentary Feature at the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award. There were a few scenes filmed here in Birmingham at the Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center. The Lakeshore Foundation was used for Olympic and Paralympic training and international wheelchair sporting events.

Borat

"Borat" is a 2006 feature directed by Larry Charles and is a mock-documentary style that chronicles an extended visit by a Kazakhstani television reporter, Borat Sagdiyev, played by Baron Cohen, to the United States. Two segments were staged in Birmingham. The first was when Borat visited the city under the guise of learning about Southern values and manners and his first visit was to Kathie Martin who is the owner of the Etiquette School of Birmingham. The second segment was the dinner party at Magnolia Springs Manor in Helena organized by Cindy Streit of Etiquette Training Services.

After the true nature of the "documentary" was released, Cohen's Birmingham-area targets seemed to have taken the joke in stride. Kathie Martin told Newsweek she was dissapointed not having been let in on the joke while Mike Jared, one of the dinner party guests, told the Birmingham News that "All things considered, we got out of this pretty clean."

Failure to Launch

"Failure to Launch" is a 2006 American romantic comedy directed by Tom Dey starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica. The film is about a 35-year-old man who lives at home and shows no interest in leaving the comfortable life his parents made for him. That's where the expert comes in to get him to leave the parents house. The rock climbing scenes were filmed in Cherokee Rock Village in Leesberg, Alabama with other scenes shot in Gadsden at the former Runt's and most recently Jim's Barbecue on Broad Street where the building has been transformed into a bike shop for the bike scene in Cherokee Rock Village.

Tommy Fell, the location coordinator with the Alabama Film Office, said the film company raved about everyone and they said nothing but good things about everyone and that this will open up more opportunities to promote areas of the state where films have not been done!

42

"42" is a feature film produced for a 2013 release starring Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, Harrison Ford as Dodgers owner Branch Rickey as well as Alabama natives Andre Holland, Lucas Black, and Linc Hand. The film is about outfielder Jackie Robinson's first year in the Major Leagues in 1947. Most of the scenes were staged at Rickwood Field. While the stadium doubled for several other 1940s-era ballparks, one scene recreated a 1945 Birmingham Black Barons date against Robinson's Kansas City Monarchs. Other footage was taken at the Tutwiler Hotel and the Alabama Theatre.

Trading Paint

"Trading Paint" is a 2019 American sport action film directed by Karzan Kader starring John Travolta, Michael Madsden, Shania Twain, and Toby Sebastian. This film is about a father and son duo competing to be the best racer and what they will sacrifice to be the best. Some of the Birmingham locations include Hueytown High School, Golden Rule Bar-B-Q in Hoover, UAB Medical West, and Harry & Billie's Bar in Bessemer.

Bigger

"Bigger" is a 2018 American comedy-draa film by George Gallo about the life of real bodybuilders Joe Weider and Ben Weider. The film is about brothers Joe and Ben who were the architects of muscle and were able to launch an empire against all the odds and changed the world of bodybuilding in the United States. The cast included Tyler Hoechlin as Joe, Aneurin Barnard as Ben, and Calum Von Moger as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some of the Birmingham locations include Morris Avenue, 1st Avenue North, 3rd Avenue North, Alabama Theatre, and the Lyric Theatre.