Top Spots For Film Geeks And Film Buffs In Philadelphia

Influential film critic and filmmaker Francois Truffaut once said, "film lovers are sick people." That may be true, but if you need to get your film fix, Philadelphia is a great city to do it. If you've ever been to the Philadelphia International Airport, you've probably noticed the long wall of posters for movies that were either filmed in or feature Philadelphia. Philadelphia isn't just America's fifth largest city, it's also iconic and full of history, which is perfect grist for filmmakers and film buffs alike.

Philadelphia Movie Sites Tour
Independence Visitor Center
1 N Independence Mall W
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-7980
www.moviesitestour.com

Movie aficionados will love this tour of more than 50 movie and TV locations filmed in Philadelphia. You can see the actual movie clip while visiting the site of unforgettable scenes in "Philadelphia," "Beloved," "The Sixth Sense," "12 Monkeys" and more.  An expert guide will explain why Philadelphia is such a great city for making movies. And what Philadelphia movie tour would be complete without a stop so you can run up the steps made famous in "Rocky?" Moreover, you can add a lunch to the tour at a selection of restaurants that have either been featured in movies or are often visited by celebrities.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
26^th St Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 684-7602
www.philamuseum.org

Click here for a calendar of film events.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art regularly holds special screenings of films and documentaries that are related to the museum's collection or to special exhibitions. This is a great way to connect with other movie lovers in the area. Many times, the museum will have the filmmaker introduce the movie and lead a post-film discussion about the topic of the documentary shown. Free tickets to these events are possible with prior reservations made at the Ticket Center.

The Stoogeum
904 Sheble Lane
Ambler, PA 19002
(267) 468-0810
www.stoogeum.com

Click here for upcoming open house dates.

If you're into the Three Stooges, then the Stoogeum is for you. It's the world's only museum of "Three Stooges" memorabilia, and it contains nearly 100,000 pieces in the collection. Moreover, it features several interactive displays, a research library, a 16-MM film vault and an 85-seat theater for lectures, film screenings and special presentations. The Stoogeum doesn't have regular operating hours, but once a month, there are open house dates when you can visit at no cost. This is one of the best-kept secrets in the Philadelphia area, and although it's a bit outside of the metro area, it's definitely worth visiting.

Related: Top Summertime Theater Activities For Kids In Philadelphia

Victor Cafe
1303 Dickinson St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 468-3040
www.victorcafe.com

The "Rocky" series is undeniably Philadelphia's most famous film franchise, and no visit to Philadelphia is complete without running up and down the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art or taking your picture next to the Rocky statue at the foot of the steps. If you want to hit the trifecta of "Rocky" immersion, you need to have a meal at the Victor Café, which is the location of many scenes featured in the movie "Rocky Balboa." Not only can you feel like you've entered the "Rocky" movies, the food at the restaurant is highly rated by locals and visitors alike.

Ritz East
125 S 2^nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-7900
www.landmarktheatres.com

Now that you've seen all the locations of the famous films that Philadelphia has to offer, you can take in new films at Philadelphia's premier art theater. The Ritz presents the best independent, foreign and documentary films to keep you current on those movies that might not be blockbusters. Who knows, maybe a film you see here will someday be featured on the Philadelphia Movie Sites Tour! Plan a fun night out with some great entertainment at the Ritz East.

Related: Top Acting Studios in Philadelphia

Katherine Ernst is a full-time novelist and freelance writer in Montgomery County. Follow her activity on her blog at katherineernstwrites.com. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.