Famous Movie Locations You Can Visit in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis and the entire Twin Cities metropolis are popular destinations for many movie producers.

But why are so many people drawn to travel in Minnesota, especially Minneapolis-St Paul?

We took a look at the state’s offerings and found some outstanding spots to relive some of your favorite film scenes in the city.

Let’s jump in!

Featured in the film The Mighty Ducks, Mickey's Diner has been a staple in downtown St Paul, Minnesota, since 1939.

Why Do People Love Minnesota?

The nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes, isn’t quite right. In fact, the state has over 11,000 freshwater bodies. Of course, it also borders Lake Superior on the northeast corner. With around 10.6 million wetland acres, fishing, boating, paddling, and swimming are favorite activities in Minnesota. That alone is an excellent reason to love the state.

Also known as the North Star State, the majority of its population lives in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area, aka the Twin Cities. This leaves vast parts of the state covered in forests and farmland, which provides plenty of opportunities to stargaze.

Winter can be bitterly cold, but summertime high temperatures are generally in the 80s, and the state receives around 200 days of sunshine each year. Considering storms are more common in the winter, the traditional camping season should have very few rainy days.

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Minnesota has 72 state parks and recreation areas and 58 state forests, which equal about four million acres. National parks and sites cover over six million acres.

In addition to all the outdoor recreation, cities such as Minneapolis-St Paul offer cultural experiences of all kinds. Believe it or not, the Twin Cities have the second-highest number of theater companies in the USA, next to New York City.

Speaking of theater, many TV shows and movies have been shot on location in Minnesota, including That Was Then… This Is Now, Purple Rain, Airport, Beautiful Girls, Jingle All The Way, and The Mighty Ducks. We’ve gathered five iconic filming locations for you to check out when you’re in the area.

We’ve got a whole article dedicated to Prince’s city: Discovering Prince’s Minneapolis from Paisley Park to First Avenue.

#1 Mickey’s Diner

This 1940s-style Minneapolis-St Paul diner is a converted railcar that was the hangout spot for the hockey players in all three of The Mighty Ducks movies. Jingle All the Way and A Prairie Home Companion had scenes here, too.

You’ll also see this restaurant in the Pet Shop Boys’ video for Where the Streets Have No Name and on shows such as Man vs Food.

Unfortunately, the diner is currently closed with no suggestion that it’ll reopen anytime soon. That said, internet rumors state that the owner is using it for storage, so you can still stop by and snap that iconic selfie out front.

#2 Mall of America

On the south end of Minneapolis, you’ll catch scenes from the movies Jingle All the Way and The Mighty Ducks at the Mall of America (MOA). Remember Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character tackling someone in a mall? Yep, that’s the spot. The hockey players also enjoyed time at Camp Snoopy (now Nickelodeon Universe), a seven-acre indoor amusement park.

MOA is an insanely huge shopping and entertainment mall covering a whopping 29 acres. In fact, it’s the largest in the USA, with more than 520 stores and 60 restaurants. It houses the above-mentioned Nickelodeon Universe, plus a SEA LIFE Aquarium, a comedy club, world-class gaming, mini-golf, and many other attractions.

Know Before You Go! RV RULES: Can You Park Overnight at a Mall?

#3 Rice Park

The Mighty Ducks and Jingle All the Way both have scenes in Rice Park. Remember the ice sculptures? In addition, the Internet has reports of a new murder mystery, Unholy Communion, being filmed in the Twin Cities. Rice Park will likely make an appearance.

St Paul dedicated this city park in 1849 and renovated it in 2019 for its 170th birthday. In the colder months, it offers walking paths, benches, a spectacular fountain, and an ice rink. Rice Park also hosts art installations, music concerts, and festivals throughout the year, including the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

#4 Half Time Rec

This Irish-style bar in St Paul, Minnesota, is the location for a couple of iconic scenes from the Grumpy Old Men movies. Although the writer set the movie in Wabasha, Minnesota, they filmed much of it near Minneapolis-St Paul. In actuality, no scenes were shot in Wabasha!

Half Time Rec offers an extensive pub food menu with just a couple of nods to Irish, such as fish and chips and a corned beef sandwich. You’ll not find shepherd’s pie here, but pizza, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more are all available.

The bar presents live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Other nights include a DJ or karaoke, and indoor bocce ball is available anytime.

Google and TripAdvisor show high ratings for Half Time Rec. It would make a great place to start or end your St. Paul tour since it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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#5 Bryant Lake Bowl

Beautiful Girls shot scenes all over the Twin Cities, but we feel Bryant Lake Bowl (BLB) is one of the most iconic spots. After all, rumor has it that one of its stars, Matt Dillon, visits the entertainment hub whenever he’s in town.

BLB, as it’s known to locals, is more than just a vintage bowling alley. It provides a full-fledged restaurant that Guy Fieri visited during one of his Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives episodes. The famous destination also includes a theater, which supports local musicians, actors, and comedians. It has something going on almost every night!

Plan a few more stops with Secret Twin Cities: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure!

You Won’t be Bored Exploring Minneapolis-St Paul

Whether you prefer to be outdoors or inside, or a little of both, you’ll find plenty to do in and around the Twin Cities. The area offers everything from taking selfies at famous filming locations in Minneapolis-St Paul to fishing in the state’s gorgeous lakes. So, head to the North Star State this summer and discover your favorite hangouts!