The 15 Best Traditional Movie Houses

The silver screen isn't just a place where we can get lost in a sweeping drama or intellectual indie flick, but one that keeps our mental roster of dream homes well-stocked. In the spirit of award show season, we've compiled the big screen's best traditional exteriors, from Gilded Age estates to rom-com townhouses, all of which deserve two thumbs up.

The Royal Tenenbaums

Director Wes Anderson may be as well known for his impeccably designed movie interiors as he is for his idiosyncratic directing style. But Anderson also deserves kudos for scouting some truly amazing exteriors, like the towering townhouse that played a major role in the cult classic The Royal Tenenbaums.

Home Alone

He may have been left behind as his family embarked on a transatlantic Christmas vacation, but at least Kevin McCallister was able to enjoy his new found independence in this classic brick Chicago home. We breathed a sigh of relief when his hijinks left it miraculously unscathed.

Father of the Bride

Located in a quiet enclave of Los Angeles, this picture-perfect residence was home to the fictional Banks family. From the white picket fence to the ivy-accented facade, this California abode hits all the right notes for a timeless trad exterior.

You've Got Mail

In her on-screen reunion with Tom Hanks in 1998's You've Got Mail, Meg Ryan plays a hopeless romantic bookshop owner who just so happens to live in an utterly perfect brownstone apartment on New York City's Upper West Side.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

We would fake a sick day too, if it meant spending some time on the Bueller's charmingly manicured front porch. While the characters famously reside outside Chicago, this picturesque home is actually located in Long Beach, California.

The Holiday

Rom-com enthusiasts will recognize this facade in a heart beat as the pre-Airbnb getaway of Cameron Diaz's heartbroken character from The Holiday. The sagging roof, garden wall, and stone chimneys make for a picturesque English country scene.

Forrest Gump

The Deep South is known for its sweeping, antebellum estates, surrounded by wide porches and centuries-old moss-covered trees. The Alabama home of Forrest Gump checks all these boxes, and becomes something of a character in the Oscar-winning film.

Stepmom

When Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts share the leading lady role, it's hard to imagine that anything else could steal the spotlight. The one exception may be the envy-inducing Victorian beauty from the 1998 tearjerker, Stepmom.

Marley & Me

If you could see through your tears during this 2008 film, you may have noticed a gorgeous, 19th-century stone farmhouse was involved. Timeless East Coast architecture defines the rambling structure that's clearly been modified in different styles over the years.

Evening

The 2007 film Evening boasts an impressive cast, including Meryl Streep and Claire Danes. But arguably the most important character in the film has to be the stick-style mansion, The Ledges, one of Newport, Rhode Island's iconic summer 'cottages.'

Annie

Little orphan Annie says goodbye to her dumpy digs when she moves into Daddy Warbucks's rambling neoclassical French-style estate, complete with a grand facade and bubbling cherub fountain.

Wedding Crashers

While Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson schmoozed their way through wedding season in search of pretty ladies, we were taken with eye candy of another sort. The setting, Maryland's The Inn at Perry Cabin, features a stately Greek Revival portico overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

The Parent Trap

The 1997 remake features a London home in the exclusive Knightsbridge neighborhood just south of Hyde Park. Like most English creations, this particular Georgian-style residence will be timeless for decades to come.

Something's Gotta Give

A shingled facade, a spacious terrace, blooming flower beds—it sounds like a recipe for a stunning Hamptons hideaway. Or, the making of another perfectly designed Nancy Meyer's movie set. (See how we played set director for Ms. Meyers next hit.)

Practical Magic

Not leaving anything to chance, the producers of Practical Magic had a spooky residence specially erected for the film. The Victorian home seems like a perfect fit for a family of witches, with its gingerbread details, stained glass windows, and unsettling landscaping.