Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Movies

 › 

The Best Movies Set in a Single Location

The Best Movies Set in a Single Location

Published: by

Most of the time, filmmakers use multiple backdrops for various projects. Since it makes sense to have the characters in multiple environments, that’s usually how movie production goes.

Movies tend to run for around two hours, which means character development is accelerated compared to television shows. Varied backdrops often help with that acceleration. However, there are some instances where movies can showcase character development while only being filmed in one place. The ‘80s classic “The Breakfast Club” is a perfect example. The film focuses on a group of teenagers who have nothing in common. After getting stuck in detention together, they discover they’re more than compatible as friends. At first, the group refuses to say anything to each other, but by the movie’s end, they understand each other better than ever.

Another movie that was only filmed in one location is “127 Hours.” Unlike “The Breakfast Club,” it was based on a true story. Aron Ralston went on a solo adventure in Utah, where his arm got stuck in a rock while he was canyoneering. With no one around to help him, Ralston decided to cut his arm off to escape and survive. The dire choice ultimately saved his life because he was extremely dehydrated by the time the slice was completed. His character growth happened completely alone, unlike “The Breakfast Club.”

Both movies risked audiences getting bored with the same surrounding area as the backdrop the entire time. Somehow, the benefit of filming in one location only added to the allure and drama. Both films and others that have followed this pattern have become memorable in their own right. For more movie content, read about the most legendary tough guys in movies.

To determine the best movies set in a single location, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb.

40. Non-Stop (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (257,012 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (63 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 62% (228 reviews)
  • Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra

39. Phone Booth (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (258,482 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (64 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 72% (188 reviews)
  • Directed by: Joel Schumacher

38. Panic Room (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (268,940 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (64 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (187 reviews)
  • Directed by: David Fincher

37. The Mist (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (290,993 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (65 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (146 reviews)
  • Directed by: Frank Darabont

36. Carnage (2011)

Carnage (2011) | Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz in Carnage (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (123,414 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (66 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (198 reviews)
  • Directed by: Roman Polanski

35. The Terminal (2004)

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (427,304 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (74 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 61% (207 reviews)
  • Directed by: Steven Spielberg

34. Saw (2004)

Saw (2004) | Leigh Whannell in Saw (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (396,891 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 51% (188 reviews)
  • Directed by: James Wan

33. Disturbia (2007)

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks
  • IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (228,985 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (175 reviews)
  • Directed by: D.J. Caruso

32. Separate Tables (1958)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (7,281 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (76 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 65% (17 reviews)
  • Directed by: Delbert Mann

31. Hard Candy (2005)

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (157,552 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (147 reviews)
  • Directed by: David Slade

30. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (138,203 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (73 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (255 reviews)
  • Directed by: Drew Goddard

29. Buried (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (154,967 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (65 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (157 reviews)
  • Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés

28. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (550,683 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (76 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (337 reviews)
  • Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

27. Locke (2013)

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (142,605 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (72 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (218 reviews)
  • Directed by: Steven Knight

26. Death and the Maiden (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
  • IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (25,990 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (51 reviews)
  • Directed by: Roman Polanski

25. Gosford Park (2001)

Gosford Park (2001) | Maggie Smith in Gosford Park (2001)
Source: Courtesy of USA Films

N/A

  • IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (83,856 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (160 reviews)
  • Directed by: Robert Altman

24. The Lighthouse (2019)

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (221,259 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (72 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (381 reviews)
  • Directed by: Robert Eggers

23. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) | John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr., and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (305,179 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (315 reviews)
  • Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg

22. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (58,639 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (39 reviews)
  • Directed by: Sidney Lumet

21. 127 Hours (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (380,308 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (238 reviews)
  • Directed by: Danny Boyle

20. Clerks (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (216,399 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (57 reviews)
  • Directed by: Kevin Smith

19. Ex Machina (2015)

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (566,787 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (287 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alex Garland

18. My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Source: Courtesy of New Yorker Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (19,925 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (24 reviews)
  • Directed by: Louis Malle

16. Moon (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (345,533 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (194 reviews)
  • Directed by: Duncan Jones

15. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (372,267 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (65 reviews)
  • Directed by: John Hughes

14. The Thing (1982)

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (391,164 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (69 reviews)
  • Directed by: John Carpenter

13. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (100,832 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (55 reviews)
  • Directed by: James Foley

12. A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (7,907 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (18 reviews)
  • Directed by: Daniel Petrie

11. Dial M for Murder (1954)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (166,706 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (47 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

10. The Man from Earth (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (180,871 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (5 reviews)
  • Directed by: Richard Schenkman

9. Rope (1948)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (136,102 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (50 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

8. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (259,430 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (48 reviews)
  • Directed by: Sidney Lumet

6. Sleuth (1972)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (46,421 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (25 reviews)
  • Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

5. Room (2015)

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (392,959 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (317 reviews)
  • Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson

4. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (958,136 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (71 reviews)
  • Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

3. Das Boot (1982)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (257,726 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (96 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (56 reviews)
  • Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

2. Rear Window (1954)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (465,467 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (122 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

1. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (702,293 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (97 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (55 reviews)
  • Directed by: Sidney Lumet
To top