Beautiful and strange locations made famous by movies -

It’s recently been announced that Thailand's Maya Bay, better known as the gorgeous secret cove from the 2000 film 'The Beach,' has been closed to tourists indefinitely. People traveled around the globe to press their toes into the pristine white-sand beach and dive into the crystalline waters where a young Leonardo DiCaprio once acted, and why shouldn't they?

Films take great care in choosing their locations, selecting places with profound character and a lasting visual impact. So, take advantage of all that effort and check out this gallery to start compiling your travel itinerary of endlessly interesting places made famous by films.

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Maya Bay, Thailand - The beach is closed in order to revive the area's marine ecosystem, so travelers hoping to visit the famous creamy white sand beach and towering cliffs are going to have to wait a while longer.

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Matamata, New Zealand - New Zealand's breathtaking landscapes, like Mount Ngauruhoe, made the perfect backdrop for 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' Plus, some of the Hobbiton sets are still intact!

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Petra, Jordan - Also known as the Canyon City from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' this city carved into rock isn't a Hollywood set. Its popularity has shot through the roof since the film, with people flocking from around the world to see the timeless wonder.

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The park bench in Savannah, Georgia - Probably the most famous bench in the world rests in the historic Chippewa Square, all because of 'Forrest Gump.'

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Hotel Sidi Driss, Tunisia - Located in the underground village of Matmata, this area was used as Luke Skywalker's home in 'Star Wars: A New Hope.'

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Café des 2 Moulins, France - The French cult film 'Amélie' was a dreamlike celebration of happiness which charmed people of all languages and continues to draw tourists to the café where Amélie worked.

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Griffith Park Observatory, USA - This Los Angeles landmark was made famous first with 'Rebel Without a Cause,' and then again with 'La La Land.' It's a popular spot for people to feel the presence of stars, and not just the ones in the sky!

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Napali Coast, USA - This surreal Hawaiian stretch of rugged coast, or the first sights of the fictional Isla Nublar, was essential to creating a whole new world in 'Jurassic Park.'

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Katz's Delicatessen, USA - This New York City staple was where the famous scene from 'When Harry Met Sally' was filmed. They're still open today, and they're probably still used to hearing "I'll have what she's having" regularly.

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Barcelona, Spain - Gaudi's Park Güell and the rest of the colorful Catalan city took a front seat in the quirky rom-com 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' which had many people booking tickets.

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Portobello Road Market, London - The classic rom-com 'Notting Hill' was filmed in one of London's prettiest locations, Notting Hill, and the famous bookshop that inspired the movie is still a popular tourist spot.

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Skopelos, Greece - The feel-good film 'Mamma Mia!' was shot almost completely on this stunning Greek island, specifically around Kastani Beach on the southeast coast.

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King's Cross railway station, England - The place where you can find Platform 9 ¾, where Harry Potter first crossed over into the magical realm "at a bit of a run," is now a hot spot for tourists at any hour of the day.

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Ouarzazate, Morocco - Located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, this sandstone town and its stunning Taourirt Kasbah have stolen scenes in films like 'Gladiator,' 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'The Mummy.'

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Görlitz Warenhaus, Germany -

The opulence of 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' has this German department store to thank. 

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Montauk, USA - This beautiful coastal New York getaway was made famous by the Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.'

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Cypress Gardens, USA - You can rent a boat and paddle among graceful swans just as Noah and Allie did in the famed romance 'The Notebook,' which was largely filmed in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Iceland - When Walter Mitty of 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' finally trades his desk for the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, he sparked a trend of tourists perhaps hoping for that same life-changing experience.

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Hatley Castle, Canada - The British Columbia castle was used as the exterior for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the 'X-Men' movies, as well as in the 'Smallville' television series as Luthor Mansion. Now you can get married on the premises. 

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Tikal National Park, Guatemala - Also known as the Massassi Outpost rebel base on the fourth moon of Yavin in the original 'Star Wars,' the real-life location is at the Mayan temple ruins, which George Lucas reportedly chose after he saw a picture at a travel agency while shooting in London.

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Marriott Marquis Hotel, USA - In Atlanta, Georgia, you'll find the opulent Tributes' quarters and training center from 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' in this hotel, chosen for its enormous futuristic atrium and glass elevator. 

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Cornwall, England - The sentimental rom-com 'About Time' shows off the best of the sweeping landscapes and craggy UK coast, and the scenery alone is reason to re-watch it.

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Bruges, Belgium - While 'In Bruges' is a dark comedy, it has inspired travelers to see the city, and all its lovely canals and squares, for themselves. 

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Soca River Valley, Slovenia - Back when 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' was a big hit, the film's striking locations highlighted the natural wonders of Slovenia's wild side, and the hungry travelers in the audience took note. 

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Kananaskis Country, Canada - The third main character in 'Brokeback Mountain,' this Alberta landscape stands in for Wyoming in the film, but its snow-capped mountains and flowing rivers are incomparable. 

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Oregon, USA - Reese Witherspoon's role in 'Wild,' and the true story behind it, inspired many women to take their own hikes in lush Oregon. You can also take the same shots of Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, and Newberry National Volcanic Monument that were in the film, in addition to visiting the quirky town of Ashland.

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Vienna, Austria -

The entire plot of 'Before Sunrise' was basically two people exploring the city from afternoon until early morning, kissing in the Prater and hanging out in bars, parks, and cobble-stoned streets.

See also: Man-made marvels: The world's largest artificial islands

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