Benjamin Button, born in 1918 with the physical state of an elderly man, ages in reverse. He experiences love and break-ups, ecstasy and sorrow, and timelessness by the time he dies in 2003 as a baby.
David Fincher’s tale of a man ageing backwards is steeped in the faded grandeur of New Orleans – filming across Louisiana in the years just before Hurricane Katrina reshaped the city – with a globe-spanning war thread reaching to Montreal and the ghats of India.
Where was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button filmed?
Benjamin Button was filmed mainly in New Orleans and Louisiana, with additional work in Montreal, India (Varanasi) and Los Angeles.
Every Benjamin Button location, explained
1
New Orleans – the heart of the film
The story’s home used New Orleans and towns across Louisiana, including the historic Saenger Theatre.
2
Montreal – the studio work
Large sets and effects work used studios in Montreal, Canada.
3
India – the Ganges
Benjamin’s travels used the riverside ghats of Varanasi on the Ganges.
4
Los Angeles – additional scenes
Some sequences used Los Angeles, from City Hall to Burbank.
Planning a visit
New Orleans – the film’s soulful heart, captured just before Katrina – is a wonderfully atmospheric, accessible city, and the ghats of Varanasi are one of India’s most extraordinary sights.
Benjamin Button Fun Facts
1
A New Orleans film Most of the movie was shot in and around New Orleans and Louisiana.
2
Filmed before Katrina Much of the New Orleans footage was captured shortly before Hurricane Katrina.
3
Groundbreaking effects Pitt’s reverse-ageing was achieved with pioneering visual effects.
4
Based on Fitzgerald It expands a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
5
Three Oscars The film won three Academy Awards, including for its visual effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button filmed?
Mainly in New Orleans and Louisiana, with work in Montreal, India and Los Angeles.
Is it set in New Orleans?
Yes – and it was filmed there too, just before Hurricane Katrina.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – New Orleans and the ghats of Varanasi are both accessible.
