Sometimes, the abode in which a film is set is so important, it's like another character. And, let's face it, any movie is improved by incorporating leopardprint cushions, a retractable roof and a helipad, right? Right.
We present to you the coolest movie homes in the history of cinema.
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Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Kicking off our list is this astonishing piece of architecture, which featured prominently in the classic Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. Designed in 1968 by John Lautner as the ultimate decadent party home for Hollywood interior designer Arthur Elrod, it boasts an array of cool features: sliding doors cut to fit the contours of the rock on which it's built, a domed roof, a desert ridge-side swimming pool, motorised glass walls and a 220 degree view of the deserts and mountains of Palm Springs. And why else is it cool? Well, of course, it was home to billionaire recluse Willard Whyte, and featured as the backdrop for 007's battle with Bambi and Thumper, two henchwomen dressed in - naturally - bikinis. Well, it was probably pretty warm in there with those glass doors right?
(Image: AllStar)
Blade Runner (1982)
The iconic Ennis house in Los Angeles was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1924. Its distinctive, textile block, 'Mayan Revival', style instantly made it attractive to filmmakers looking for a futuristic-style location and so it was soon used for House on Haunted Hill and The Day of the Locust, before the movie which really utilised it to its fullest: Blade Runner. In addition, it provided the backdrop to S Club 7 in their video for the classic Have You Ever. Dystopian classics and cheesy pop bands: is there nothing this place can't cope with?
(Image: WikiCommons)
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Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Such a beautiful machine deserves a beautiful place for it to live, non? And so Mr Frye's pride and joy, his 1961 Ferrari GT California, was kept in this extremely cool house. Located in Highland, Illinois, with the official title of 'The Ben Rose House', it was designed in 1953 by A. James Speyer and David Haid. In 2009, it was put on the market for $2.3m, but remained unsold after 2 years, despite a drop to $1.8m. It's since been undergoing renovations and should be available again soon - surely a Ferris fan out there with a few quid can jump in and live the dream for us all. And keep an eye on any quick-witted friends their son starts hanging around with.
(Image: YouTube)
Home Alone (1990)
For a start, it's absolutely massive, hosting the numerous McCallister family members, including his four older siblings. But, as we all know, it's not the structure that makes a home great: it's what you do with it. And when young Kevin is left alone to fend for himself, he turns it into a fearsome fortified castle, with an assortment of booby traps to foil the notorious Wet Bandits. No prop is left unused, and no Bandit bone is left unbroken. The real house is located in Winnetka, Illinois and sold for $1.58m in 2012; sadly much of the decor has changed (the festive red has been replaced by white), but we'd still move there in a heartbeat.
(Image: Wikipedia)
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The Big Lebowski (1998)
Like Oakley Court and Ennis House, the unique Sheats Goldstein Residence has featured in a host of famous movies including Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Bandits and, of course, The Big Lebowski. Built between 1961 and 1963 by US architect John Lautner, it boats 5 bedrooms, 5 baths and a coffered ceiling living room boasting 750 skylights. Naturally, such an opulent creation made it the perfect setting for Lebowski pornographer Jackie Treenhorn and thus, its place in cinematic history was secured.
(Image: WikiCommons)
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
This magnificent Victorian manor, Oakley Court, was originally built in 1859 and, after a series of owners, was left empty in 1965. Cue the legendary Hammer Films stepping in to start using it for what it was born for: a scary setting for a host of horror movies. The House in Nightmare Park, The Curse of Frankenstein, Brides of Dracula and Plague of the Zombies have all used this abode, as well as, perhaps most famously, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's since been renovated and now operates as a hotel - we can't imagine you'll have a peaceful night's sleep though.
(Image: geograph.org.uk)
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Thunderbirds (2004)
It doesn't get much cooler than this. It's in the South Pacific Ocean, it's the secret base of the International Rescue organisation, it's got a retractable swimming pool, a runway and hidden aircraft hangars. Reportedly inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright - creator of Ennis House, elsewhere on this list - it's an architectural masterpiece. Plus, if you want your own one, you can just grab some sticky-backed plastic and toilet roll holders, and follow the Blue Peter instructions.
(Image: AllStar)
Sleeper (1973)
An unbelievably cool place to live, this clamshell-style house on the shores of Genesse Mountain was built by Charles Deaton in 1963. Ten years later it sealed its place on the silver screen, featuring prominently in Woody Allen's sci-fi comedy hit Sleeper. Chief amongst its features is a cylindrical elevator with sliding doors, used in the movie as a device called the 'Orgasmatron'. The house was sold as recently as November 2010 for a cool $1.5m - probably worth it simply to casually mention that aforementioned device to any potential love interests: you can't fail.
(Image: WikiCommons)
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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
Any self-respecting lothario needs a seduction pad, and for a man as charismatic, groovy and debonair as Mr Austin Powers, it becomes essential. Even more when it's been 30 years since you saw any action. Fortunately, Austin has this lovenest, complete with rotating bed, leopardprint covers and funky wallpaper.
The Incredibles (2004)
Like many of the homes featured on the list, the coolest ones tend to be occupied by the ne'er-do-wells of cinema. For some reason the bad guys just have great taste in home furnishing and neat gadgets. Syndrome's lair from The Incredibles reads like a 'must-have' of boy toys: it's got a monorail (the coolest of all transport systems), it's got a waterfall that opens like a pair of curtains, it's got a giant computer protected by molten-hot lava, it's got a rocket base, and it's protected by a lethal robot. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, it's on its own tropical island. Incredible(s).
(2nd image: AllStar)
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Iron Man (2008)
It doesn't get much cooler than being Tony Stark, so it stands to reason that Mr Stark would live in a pretty cool abode. And so he does. Located in Malibu, microcontrolled by a computer called Jarvis, it lists the following in its armoury: a gym, a bar, a huge bed, a pool, a helipad and - oh yes - a garage, containing an assortment of classic automobiles and gadgets including a rather tasty armoured flying suit. It's better than a one bed flat in Southwark, it has to be said.
(Image: AllStar)
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American Psycho (2000)
Yes, its primary resident is a little, ahem, unhinged, but this Manhattan residence is sleek, modern, stylish and pretty darned cool. In addition, it's got Huey Lewis & The News CDs aplenty. Being all white does mean it's a bit of a challenge keeping the place clean though; blood does have a tiresome tendency to stain.
(Image: AllStar)
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Richie Rich (1994)
Macaulay Culkin really got to act in some impressive homes before the drugs (allegedly) kicked in, didn't he? The setting for Richie Rich was this beautiful residence, the Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, North Carolina. Covering 8,000 acres, it even has a river running through it - now that's pretty cool. It's appeared in a host of famous movies, including Hannibal, Forrest Gump, The Last of the Mohicans and The Clearing, but perhaps its best use was in Richie Rich, where its natural size and beauty was augmented by an actual personal McDonalds. Genuinely, we'd never leave.
(Image: J.C.Pollock/YouTube)
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Batman (Various)
Wayne Manor - or rather, as it was referred to in the 60s, Stately Wayne Manor - is a place that befits a superhero crimefighter such as Batman. Located just outside Gotham City and maintained by the ever-loyal Alfred Pennyworth, it is an impressive building, but of course, the real glory lies beneath, with the Batcave: a series of subterranean caves where Batman's various toys and gadgets are kept. In the various Batman movies, Wayne Manor has been represented by a series of real-life stately homes, including (top-to-bottom, below) Knebworth House in Hertforshire for 1989's Batman, Mentmore Towers, in Buckinghamshire, for 2005's Batman Begins and, most recently, in 2012, Nottingham's Wollaton Hall in The Dark Knight Rises - all claiming a small piece of Bathistory.
(Image: AllStar/Wikipedia)
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Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This is a frightfully cool house. 1428 Elm Street, Los Angeles, California will forever be associated with Mr Freddy Krueger and his 'naughty' antics, but the house itself is now perfectly pleasant - as the images below show - selling for $2.1m in early 2013. As nice as it is, we're not sure we'd ever quite feel comfortable drifting off into the land of nod...
(Image: fridaythe13th.wikia.com)
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