Best and Worst Movies Shot in Miami Beach, From Scarface to Sly Stallone's The Specialist

The Specialist is one of the worst movies ever made on Miami Beach

For years, wealthy Miami Beach residents -- including celebs like Alex Rodriguez -- have pimped out their mansions as movie studios. Now, however, it seems locals are finally getting pissed off over the scenic island getting turned into a giant film set.

Is the neighborhood nuisance worth it? Well, it injects nearly $90 million per year into the Miami Beach economy. But the product is hit or miss.

We decided to rank some of the best and worst flicks filmed on Miami Beach, from the coke-fueled classic Scarface to Sly Stallone's superbad The Specialist.

See Also:
- As A-Rod Battles His Neighbor, Miami Beach's Film Industry Hangs in the Balance

Starting with the best movies Miami Beach has played host to...



Scarface (1983)
By now, everyone in Miami knows by heart the story of Tony Montana, a murderous Marielito who snorts and shoots his way to the top of the city's crime scene. Mostly filmed south of Fifth Street on the Beach, the movie is much more than Pacino's icon snarl. It's a meditation on soul-destroying pursuit of power.



Goldfinger (1964)
Gold-coated corpses, killer hats, Sean Connery as 007, and Pussy Galore. As close to movie perfection as you can get. Its opening sequence was filmed at The Fontainebleau.



The Birdcage (1996)
Nathan Lane and Robin Williams drive this comedy, filmed on Española Way in South Beach. A box-office hit, The Birdcage lovingly pokes fun at South Florida's gay culture while taking serious shots at Antisemitism, homophobia, and close-minded conservatism.