The Best Movies Set in Boston, Ranked

There are few American cities more cinematic than Boston, which also has rich culture that lends itself to so many incredible stories. Bostonians like Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Dennis Lehane—among others—are responsible for making Boston a permanent fixture in Hollywood. For decades, some of the biggest and most noteworthy films have been set in Beantown, and this list ranks several of the very best. If you've never been to Boston, these ten films can give you a totally immersive, Bostonian experience rich with the history, sports, and heart that make Boston natives so proud to call the city their home.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting is arguably the best film ever made in Boston. Written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the Oscar-winning movie tells the story of a janitor, Will, who captures the attention of an M.I.T. professor when he's discovered to be solving complex math problems left on lecture hall whiteboards. The professor calls on an old psychologist friend, played by Robin Williams, who helps Will recover from deep rooted trauma. The film, set in Boston, is rich with scenes set in locations all around the city.

The Departed (2006)

A tale of the complicated, corrupt relationship between the Irish mob and Boston's police department, The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on a true story. Scorsese and his crew spent six weeks filming all around the Boston area to maintain authenticity. Some would even go so far as to argue that The Departed deserves the top spot on this list.

Spotlight (2015)

Based on a true story, Spotlight follows Boston Globe investigative reporters as they unearth a shocking cover-up of sexual abuse of children within the local Catholic church. The film's director Tom McCarthy attended Boston College and later appeared in the hit television series Boston Public as an actor, making him the ideal person to bring the script to life in Beantown. The film earned two Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Shutter Island (2010)

The second Martin Scorsese film to make this list, Shutter Island is based on the bestselling book by Dennis Lehane of the same name. Shutter Island, located in Boston Harbor, is home to the Ashecliffe Hospital hospital for the criminally insane. When a U.S. Marshall heads to the island to investigate a disappearance, he realizes that nothing is quite as it seems.

Mystic River (2003)

Mystic River, based on another novel by Dennis Lehane and directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of a trio of lifelong friends in the aftermath of the death of one of their daughters—as well as their complicated past. Lehane, a Boston native, was born and raised in Dorchester and brings a rich authenticity to the film's source material that did it tons of favors.

The Social Network (2010)

The Social Network chronicles the life of Mark Zuckerberg throughout his days at Harvard, the birthplace of Facebook. While Harvard wouldn't allow filming on campus, other universities opened their doors to the production crew, so while the film is set in Boston's neighboring city Cambridge, it wasn't filmed entirely in the Beantown area. Directed by David Fincher, the movie won three Academy Awards.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Yet another Dennis Lehane novel adaptation to make the list, Gone Baby Gone tells the story of two private investigators hot on the trail of a four year-old girl who was abducted Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The film, co-written and directed by Boston native Ben Affleck, was nominated for a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and a Critics' Choice Award.

The Town (2010)

Based on the Chuck Hogan novel Prince of Thieves, Ben Affleck's The Town is a tale of a career criminal torn between love and and a life of crime. Affleck's adaptation of the story makes Boston a centerpiece of the film, and many of the locations used are actually in Boston.

Black Mass (2015)

Black Mass tells the story of the Notorious Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger and his attempt to thwart the Italian mafia by becoming an FBI informant. Bulger, a native of South Boston, was not a fan of the film, but director Scott Cooper was determined to keep it realistic, filming a number of scenes in locations where real-life events occurred, including several murders.

Fever Pitch (2005)

No list of films set in Boston would be complete without Fever Pitch. Even though it isn't the greatest film of all time, it's funny and charming, and pays homage to Boston's beloved Red Sox. Fever Pitch was filmed in a number of iconic Boston locations, not the least of which was the iconic Fenway Park.

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