Certain impressive, usually distinctive, buildings are famous all over the world. In many cases these well-known pieces of architecture become synonymous with the town city or nation in which they are situated – the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York or the Opera House in Sydney.
These instantly recognizable structures act as a focal point for tourism and business, a demonstration of the achievements of the place in which they are located. These, often iconic, structures are ideal tools for filmmakers who want to make the viewer aware of where the action in a movie takes place. So it is no surprise that many of the world’s most famous buildings have been prominently featured in films – the Petronas Towers in Entrapment or the Empire State in King Kong.
Becoming a location indicator in a film is therefore an honor, a testament to the fame the building has achieved. In disaster films the desire to demonstrate the power of nature, or invaders, across the world has led to much of the planet’s most famous architecture being destroyed - and perhaps this is the greatest honor.
Building Destroyed in Movies in New York
New York is home to some of the world’s most famous buildings so it is no surprise that the city has formed the backdrop to numerous disasters and alien invasions that have left the city in ruins.
- Empire State Building – America’s most famous building has featured in over one hundred films. None, however, was more spectacular than its appearance its destruction by aliens in Independence Day.
- Chrysler Building – 1998 was a bad year for this former world’s tallest building. It was accidentally blown up by the US military in Godzilla before being hit by a meteor strike in Armageddon.
- Met Life Building – This building narrowly avoids a meteor in the film Armageddon but cannot escape destruction as Godzilla walks straight through it.
Other American Buildings Destroyed in Films
- The White House – The most important building in the US was dramatically and memorably blown to pieces in Independence Day.
- US Bank Tower – A popular West Coast target, this building had the honor of being the site of the first alien attack in Independence Day. It also fell victim to a tornado in the Day After Tomorrow and an earthquake in 2012.
- Capital Records – This distinctive building is another moviemaker’s favorite, featuring in both the Day after Tomorrow and the Independence Day.
- Golden Gate Bridge – Since the tragic attack on the World Trade Center this bridge has become a favorite target. The best of these appearances came in X-Men 3 when the bridge was picked up and thrown at Alcatraz.
Buildings Outside of America Destroyed in Films
- Eiffel Tower – The symbol of Paris is a popular choice for filmmakers, another victim of Armageddon the tower was memorably felled in GI Joe.
- The Houses of Parliament –V achieves what Guy Faulkes failed to do by spectacularly blowing up the seat of the English government in V for Vendetta.
- Millennium Bridge- Stirling Prize winner Norman Foster’s bridge is destroyed by Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters in Harry Potter Half-Blood Prince.
There is no better way for a movie to demonstrate just how serious a situation is, or how powerful an enemy is, than destroying a well-known, large-scale landmark. The buildings chosen for this task need to be globally recognizable. Thus playing a starring role in a disaster film is a incredible honor that recognizes the fame certain buildings have achieved,
Tom Ravenscroft - Tom Ravenscroft is a freelance journalist and academic who currently resides in the UK. Though he feels particularly educated in ...
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