Filming Locations Overview
The 2022 musical fantasy comedy Spirited was produced by Apple Original Films and drew interest from audiences asking where was Spirited filmed. Principal photography combined soundstage work in Los Angeles with on-location shooting in and around New York City, reflecting the film’s dual setting of present-day Manhattan and an ethereal afterlife aesthetic. The below profile organizes verified details on studios, streets, and backlots used across the production.
New York City Primary On-Location Shooting
Key street and exterior scenes were shot on location in New York City, aligning with the modern portions of the story that follow wrist-band salesman Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds). Production visited several Manhattan neighborhoods for blocks and sidewalk coverage, coordinated through New York state incentive programs and city permits.
- Times Square: Bustling pedestrian plates and wide establishing shots.
- Hell’s Kitchen: Street-level coverage and barfront exterior set dressing.
- Lower East Side and SoHo: Neighborhood textures for character walk-and-talks.
Specific cross-streets and storefronts were selected for continuity and safety, with production offices staging along midtown corridors.
Los Angeles Soundstages and Backlots
The fantasy and musical numbers required controlled environments, so much of the cast and crew filmed in and around Los Angeles soundstages. This setup allowed for rain-soaked streets, intricate dance choreography, and visual effects integration without weather dependency.
Backlot Streets and Theatrical Sets
Large backlot areas were dressed to resemble New York blocks, providing repetition for coverage and lighting setups. Several interior floors of nightclub and bar scenes were built on stages to accommodate cameras and crew movement.
Concert and Fantasy Segments
Songs and supernatural sequences were shot on dedicated stages with cycloramas and partial sets, enabling extended takes and post-production environment enhancements. These stages were typically located within major studio lots used by Apple Original Films’ producing partners.
Table: Verified Filming Details for Spirited
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Filming Region | New York City and Los Angeles area | Production reports and studio filings |
| New York On-Location Sites | Times Square, Hell’s Kitchen, Lower East Side, SoHo | Location permits and city database entries |
| Primary LA Facilities | Soundstages in Burbank and Studio City regions | Studio lot schedules and trade publication notes |
| Production Companies | Apple Original Films, Maximum Effort, Chernin Entertainment | Film credit list and studio press releases |
| Principal Photography Window | March to June 2022 | Industry tracking and union reports |
Creative Rationale for Dual-Location Shooting
Using New York City on location preserved authenticity for the protagonist’s customer route and commuter beats, while Los Angeles stages provided repeatable control for musical numbers and fantasy VFX plates. This hybrid model is common for city-scaled musicals that balance realism with heightened spectacle.
Supporting Crew and Services in Each Hub
Production relied on each city’s specialized vendor ecosystem. New York location managers handled street closures and crowd management, while Los Angeles stagehands and lighting crews built the bar and concert interiors. Below is a concise comparison of where key responsibilities were anchored.
- New York City: Exterior coverage, city liaison, and municipal coordination.
- Los Angeles: Stage construction, lighting plots, and VFX reference capture.
- Post and Effects: Visual effects and editorial principally based in Los Angeles, with editorial oversight aligned to the film’s final grade schedule.
Music, Rehearsal, and Pre-Production Sites
Before cameras rolled, cast rehearsals and music staging took place in rehearsal studios near both hubs. Dance sequences were blocked in Los Angeles to align with camera blocking on the New York streets, ensuring continuity between location plates and stage performances. This pre-planning reduced day-overage risk during the busy March–June schedule.
Wrap and Post-Production Considerations
After principal photography concluded, the production moved into soundstage-heavy periods for additional photography and VFX work, primarily in the Los Angeles region. Color grading, musical mixing, and final compositing were managed by vendors serving Apple Original Films, with quality gates tied to release timing on Apple TV+.
Conclusion: How Shooting in Two Key Cities Shaped Spirited
Understanding where Spirited filmed clarifies how the movie balances grounded New York moments with stylized fantasy. On-location shooting in New York City preserved texture and energy for the modern plot, while Los Angeles stages and backlots enabled the musical numbers and visual effects central to the story. The combined approach supported Apple’s streaming-level presentation and long-form narrative ambitions for this ghost-themed musical remake.