Movies Filmed On The USS Midway
Hollywood Movies That Are Shot In The USS Midway
The US Navy’s aircraft carrier is located on San Diego Bay and has been converted into an attraction for tourists that offers tours, dining, shopping and more. The ship was commissioned in 1945 and served during World War II before being decommissioned in 1991. It reopened as an attraction to the public ten years later where it can now be seen by visitors coming from all over California to see attractions like these. As a matter of fact, a number of Hollywood movies have took place at the USS Midway. It’s no wonder why; its structure is absolutely stunning.
The movies listed below are some of the most memorable ones to take place on or near the USS Midway aircraft carrier. You can check out where you can watch them, too!
1) Castaway (2000)
Castaway is a story about a man (Tom Hanks) who is stranded on an island for four years after his plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean. He manages to make fire, catch fish and create golf clubs out of materials that washed ashore with him. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when his character gets picked up and taken to a military hospital after being rescued.
2) K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
K-19: The Widowmaker is about the first nuclear ballistic missile submarine set during the Cold War. Harrison Ford stars as Captain Alexei Vostrikov and Liam Neeson as his crew doctor, Dr. Sergei Gradski. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the submarine gets towed out to sea for a test run.
3) Pearl Harbor (2001)
Pearl Harbor is an action film about two best friends (Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck) who both become fighter pilots during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Kate Beckinsale plays Evelyn, nurse for the torpedo squad, and Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller, an African-American sailor at Pearl Harbor who becomes a hero after rescuing his fellow sailors. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when a Japanese plane gets shot down and crashes into the ship.
4) Top Gun (1986)
Top Gun is an action film that stars Tom Cruise as a hotshot Navy pilot named Maverick who is recruited to join an elite squadron of TOPGUN fighter pilots whose mission is to take on the best of the best in the world. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when his character flies into a carrier to start training as a fighter pilot.
5) Under Siege (1992)
Under Siege is an action film about a former Navy SEAL named Casey Ryback played by Steven Seagal, who must take down a group of terrorist. Tommy Lee Jones plays Col. James ‘Doug’ Masterson and Gary Busey plays William ‘Bigfoot’ Haynes, both of whom are part of the terrorist group. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when Ryback takes the terrorists to an island where they’re supposed to meet and they end up taking over a ship instead.
6) The Final Countdown (1980)
The Final Countdown is a sci-fi/drama about the USS Nimitz that gets hit by a time warp while on its way to Pearl Harbor for exercises. They end up in Dec. 6, 1941 just before the Japanese attack where they must decide whether or not they should try to save it themselves. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the protagonists jump back in time to Dec. 6, 1941 and film the attack on Pearl Harbor from above.
7) Stalag 17 (1953)
Stalag 17 is a war-themed comedy about World War II prisoners of war who are held in Stalag 17, a fictional German POW camp. William Holden plays Sefton, a prisoner who becomes the leader of the barracks and tries to avoid trouble for himself while trying to get others into it instead. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the protagonist hides from German guards on top of one of its wings after taking their uniforms and tries to fly away.
8) Transformers (2007)
Transformers is about a war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, two factions of alien robots from another planet who can disguise themselves as cars, planes, trucks etc., depending on their form. Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, an 18-year old high school senior who finds an hidden truth about the Transformers, with them helping humans throughout history. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the Autobots are on their mission to find one of their own and they arrive at a military airbase where they fight Decepticons.
9) A Few Good Men (1992)
A Few Good Men is a drama about two marines at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base who are accused of murder. Tom Cruise plays Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a lawyer who takes on the case and defends them in court while Demi Moore plays Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway, another lawyer from the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s office that helps him. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the protagonist goes to see Colonel Nathan Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, on base and they’re talking at the far end of its flight deck.
10) Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man is an action/sci-fi film about Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a billionaire industrialist, genius inventor who runs a weapons manufacturing company called Stark Industries. He ends up being captured by terrorists and builds himself an armored suit to escape with it. The USS Midway can be seen in this movie when the heroes end up on its deck while Iron Man’s house is getting attacked by helicopters.
Those are some of the famous Hollywood movies filmed at The USS Midway. Do you think there are more out there? We’d love to hear about it! Leave us a comment below.
Visiting USS Midway
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California, is a popular tourist attraction that offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore a historic aircraft carrier and learn about naval aviation and maritime history. The museum is located in downtown San Diego along the Embarcadero and has been a significant cultural and educational landmark since its opening in 2004.
Visitors to the USS Midway Museum can embark on a self-guided audio tour of the ship, which includes access to the flight deck, hangar deck, mess deck, and numerous other areas of the carrier. The museum’s collection features over 30 restored aircraft from various eras of naval aviation, including fighter jets, helicopters, and reconnaissance planes.
In addition to the aircraft and exhibits, the USS Midway Museum offers interactive experiences and activities for visitors of all ages. These include flight simulators, guided tours led by knowledgeable docents (many veterans who served aboard the Midway), and special events and programs highlighting the history and significance of the aircraft carrier and its crew.
The USS Midway Museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the life and operations aboard an aircraft carrier, the evolution of naval aviation, and the U.S. Navy’s role in shaping world history. It is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, military buffs, and families looking for an educational and engaging experience in San Diego.
History
Certainly! The USS Midway (CV-41) is one of the most famous aircraft carriers in U.S. naval history. Commissioned a week after the end of World War II, the Midway was the lead ship of her class and the largest ship in the world until 1955. She was named after the Battle of Midway, a crucial naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
The USS Midway served with distinction for 47 years, playing significant roles in the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm. In the post-World War II era, the Midway was involved in numerous operations and exercises, showcasing aircraft carriers’ versatility and power projection capabilities.
In 1992, the USS Midway was decommissioned and became a museum ship in San Diego, California. Today, the USS Midway Museum is one of San Diego’s most popular tourist attractions, offering visitors an immersive experience of life aboard an aircraft carrier and showcasing a vast collection of aircraft and exhibits related to naval aviation and maritime history.
The USS Midway’s legacy continues to be celebrated for its historic military service and its ongoing role as an educational and cultural landmark.