Where Was ‘Play Dirty’ Filmed? Take An Intense Trip Through Sydney, Australia

If you’re the kind of moviegoer who can’t pass up a good heist film, you’ll surely want to tune into Amazon Prime Video‘s “Play Dirty.” The brand new movie, which stars Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield and Rosa Salazar, centers on a multi-billion-dollar heist pulled off by a crack team of extraordinary thieves. “Play Dirty” was written and directed by legendary action-thriller filmmaker Shane Black, who is best known for helming such projects as “Iron Man 3,” “The Nice Guys” and “The Predator.” Though much of the narrative takes place in New York City, “Play Dirty” was actually filmed entirely in and around Sydney, Australia. This should come as no major surprise to the native New Yorker, as much of the film showcases exotic environments, crystal blue waters and clear skies devoid of skyscrapers.

Whether you’ve been meaning to check out Sydney for some time now, or you’re just interested in walking in the footsteps of Parker and his band of thieves, now seems like the perfect time to lock in your ideal itinerary. We’ll briefly run through a few key filming locations for “Play Dirty” and offer suggestions for tourist attractions, restaurants and hotel stays along the way. With any luck, you might even stumble upon a treasure of your own. Hopefully, it won’t require any gunfights or double-crossing to make your trip highly memorable.

Tips For Exploring Sydney – Without The Drama Of ‘Play Dirty’

Key Scenes: As Decider reports, New South Wales’ capital city of Sydney served as the home for the entire production of “Play Dirty.” To utilize this space in the land down under, Shane Black and his crew constructed a series of elaborate indoor and outdoor sets. While some of the film’s material was captured on soundstages, many of the key sequences were shot on location, with massive background dressing to make the area look and feel more like New York City.

Best Time To Visit: Though Sydney is a stunning destination year-round, it’s generally recommended that first-time visitors make their pilgrimage during the shoulder seasons of spring or autumn. The Australian summer can bring blistering heat, while winter leaves little room for outdoor activities. The spring and fall provide some of the mildest weather, most gorgeous views and access to outdoor events.

Transportation Options: Since Sydney is a bustling cultural hub and one of Australia’s largest cities, you should have no difficulty navigating their comprehensive public transit grid. Buses, trains, light rails, ferries and more can be found in and around the city. If you’re looking to really branch out and explore the more rural portions of New South Wales, you’ll likely need to charter a vehicle or rent a car of your own. Even still, most tourist-friendly excursions provide their own transportation, so you shouldn’t have to worry about this expense unless you’ve got some very specific plans.

According to Sportskeeda, outdoor scenes in “Play Dirty” required the production to shut down large blocks in order to drive cars on the opposite side of the road. Meanwhile, set decorators needed to constantly pepper the streets and sidewalks with fake snow and slush to get that Christmas in New York feel. Key filming locations include sequences shot in the Sydney Harbor, as well as those captured in the Ku-ring-gai Council and the Hills District.

Since so much of the scenery needed to be adjusted for “Play Dirty’s” production, it’s unlikely that you’ll recognize most of the backgrounds with the naked eye. While visiting Sydney, you might notice a few specific street corners and local businesses featured in the movie’s backdrop, but the signage, scenery and surroundings likely won’t lend themselves to many scene recreations.

Even still, Sydney is loaded with plenty of fun adventures for all who wish to have them, with museums, outdoor markets and gorgeous beaches around every corner. When you first arrive in town, be sure to take advantage of some of the local tours, which will help you get your bearings before you settle in.

Things to Do: “Play Dirty” super-fans will surely appreciate tours of the Sydney Harbor by both boat and helicopter, offering alternate cinematic views of some of their favorite scenes. Nature lovers will want to take advantage of the many opportunities to get up close and personal with animals during a trip to emerald city, with whale watching excursions, kangaroo and wombat encounters and tickets to the Taronga Zoo. A hiking tour of the Blue Mountains is also a must-try experience, offering stunning views of waterfalls, wildlife and some of the region’s most incredible rock formations. For those looking to stay local, be sure to check out tours of the Sydney Opera House, or explore Australia’s local wine and cheese harvest.

Where to Eat: When you’ve finished kitesurfing, whale watching and hiking through the mountains, you may want to strap in for some upscale cuisine. Luckily, Sydney is a thriving cultural hub with access to tons of distinct regional flavors. A few of our favorite restaurants in the area include Infinity at Sydney Tower, The Ternary and the ultra-messy Boiling Crab Sydney. If you struggle to land a reservation at any of these hip and happening joints, don’t stress it. There are tons of local mom and pop joints worth checking out in the heart of the city, as well as a litany of seafood businesses lining the coast.

Where to Stay: Sydney has a wide array of hotel accommodations available, with a vast margin in pricing. If you’re looking to save some money on your trip, you can always book at a budget hotel such as The Dunkirk, The Strand or the Kith Hotel at Darling Harbour. If money is no object for you, and you’re looking to truly live large during your experience, you can always check on vacancies at QT Sydney, the Adina Apartment Hotel or the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. Just be mindful to look out for thieves when you’re setting the combination to your room safe, since you never know when Parker and his crew will be in town for another major score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Play Dirty” based on?

The film is based on a series of crime novels authored by Donald E. Westlake. These novels are labelled under the umbrella of the “Parker” series. They include 1962’s “The Hunter,” all the way through to Parker’s final adventure in 2008’s “Dirty Money.” The novels span 24 total adventures, leaving plenty of material for Shane Black and similar filmmakers to tackle.

Is “Play Dirty” on Prime?

“Play Dirty” was released exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Oct. 1. The film is currently available to stream for fans of action, adventure and high-stakes heists.

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