Best Hotel Films: A Cinematic Journey

Description: This classic film, set in Berlin's Grand Hotel, intertwines the lives of various guests, offering a snapshot of life during the Weimar Republic.

Fact: It was one of the first films to feature an ensemble cast and won the Academy Award for Best Picture in

Description: Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel uses the Overlook Hotel as a character in its own right, where isolation and supernatural forces drive the plot.

Fact: The film was shot at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, but the interior scenes were filmed at Elstree Studios in England. The iconic maze was added for the film and does not exist at the real Timberline Lodge.

Description: Based on John Irving's novel, this film follows the eccentric Berry family as they manage a series of hotels, each with its own unique character and challenges.

Fact: The film features a young Rob Lowe in one of his early roles, and the story spans multiple countries and hotels, reflecting the novel's episodic nature.

Description: This Coen Brothers' film features a struggling playwright who checks into a mysterious hotel, where he encounters bizarre events and characters, all set against the backdrop of Hollywood's golden age.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The eerie hotel room was inspired by the real-life Hotel Earle in New York.

Description: A Georgia cook, believing she has only weeks to live, decides to live out her dreams at a luxurious European hotel, leading to unexpected adventures and self-discovery.

Fact: The film was shot at the Grand Hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, which has also been featured in other films like "Casino Royale."

Description: This heartwarming comedy-drama follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to a seemingly luxurious hotel in India, which turns out to be quite different from what they expected.

Fact: The film was inspired by the book "These Foolish Things" by Deborah Moggach. The hotel in the film, though fictional, was based on several real hotels in India.

Description: This whimsical film by Wes Anderson captures the essence of a bygone era, with its story revolving around the adventures of a legendary concierge and his lobby boy at a renowned European hotel.

Fact: The film features a pastel color palette inspired by the works of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt. The hotel itself is a fictional creation, but its design was influenced by several real-life European hotels.

Description: Although a TV series, its anthology format and focus on the guests and staff of a luxurious Hawaiian resort make it a compelling addition to this list, exploring themes of privilege, class, and human behavior.

Fact: The series was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, which was temporarily renamed The White Lotus for the production.

Description: Set in Vienna, this controversial film explores the complex relationship between a former SS officer working as a night porter in a hotel and a concentration camp survivor.

Fact: The film was banned in Italy for its explicit content and was heavily criticized for its portrayal of the Holocaust.

Description: This poignant drama is set during the Rwandan genocide, where a hotel manager uses his position to shelter over a thousand refugees, showcasing the hotel as a sanctuary amidst chaos.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Kigali, Rwanda, and the hotel depicted is the real Hotel des Mille Collines.