New Orleans: Movie and TV Show Tour

New Orleans has played itself, and plenty of other places, on screen. On this two-hour French Quarter walk, you’ll connect familiar films and TV shows to real streets, buildings, and courtyards, with local context along the way.

I like two things in particular: the guide asks what you watch, so the route can focus on your favorites, and the film talk is paired with New Orleans history, architecture, and neighborhood details. Trevor McQueen, a local guide named often on this tour, has a reputation for researching locations closely and making room for questions.

One consideration: this is a walking tour, not a ride between sets. Some of the older walkways may be uneven, and if you want to compare locations with on-screen images, the tour does not promise photos or a shared visual guide.

At a glance

• Screen stories come quickly: The opening stretch can touch on NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, and even The Simpsons.
• The route stays in the French Quarter: Start on Royal Street, pass Napoleon House and Jackson Square, reach the Old Ursuline Convent, then loop back to St. Louis Cathedral.
• Your favorites help shape the walk: Tell the guide which films or shows matter to you, including if you want to avoid spoilers.
• Trevor McQueen is a named guide: He is praised for film-location research, a lively manner, and adding local history and practical recommendations.
• Expect two hours on foot: Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and allow extra time to reach the meeting point.
• The price is $30 per person: That buys a guided walk and a halfway break, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Start at the courthouse on Royal Street

Meet on the steps of the courthouse at 400 Royal Street, across from Brennan’s Restaurant. French Quarter traffic can be unpredictable, so plan to arrive about 15 minutes early rather than trying to cut it close.

The first part of the tour sets the tone. In the opening fifteen minutes, the guide may already have mentioned NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, and The Simpsons. That quick run through titles shows how many different productions have used the city, but it is also a useful reminder that the tour is broad. You do not need to know every show to follow along.

Tell the guide what you are most keen to see. Fans of The Originals or Interview with the Vampire can ask about those productions; someone more interested in classic films can name King Creole, Live and Let Die, or The Cincinnati Kid. The guide may adjust the emphasis to fit the group, rather than delivering the same list in the same order every time.

If you follow a series with plot twists, say where you are in it. A guide has checked with fans about whether they had finished a show before discussing particular locations, which is a small but thoughtful way to avoid spoilers.

From Chartres Street to Jackson Square

From the meeting point, the walk heads down Chartres Street, starting near Napoleon House, then crosses Jackson Square. The landmarks give the tour a clear shape, and the walk between them is part of the experience, not dead time between film stops.

Here, you get two kinds of information at once. The guide can point out production locations and explain how the historic streets and buildings have figured in film and television, then add stories about New Orleans’s history and architecture. Past groups have also heard about the challenges production teams face when filming in the French Quarter. That practical angle helps explain why a location may appear on screen in a different way than it looks on an ordinary afternoon.

You will hear about productions spanning different eras and genres. The list includes The Pelican Brief, JFK, The Big Easy, Chef, Now You See Me, Girls Trip, and The First 48, alongside older titles such as King Creole and Live and Let Die. There are also New Orleans connections to The Princess and the Frog and The Simpsons. Not every stop will mean a dramatic, unmistakable set piece. Sometimes the pleasure is learning how a familiar façade or street corner was used, or noticing architectural details that helped identify a location.

A practical limitation: if you have a hard time recalling scenes from memory, a street address alone may not make a location click. One visitor wished for film stills to compare with the places on the walk. If visual matching is central to your enjoyment, consider saving a few favorite scenes on your phone before you go, but do not count on the guide to provide a photo set.

The Old Ursuline Convent and the loop back

The route reaches the Old Ursuline Convent before turning back toward Royal Street. It is one of the French Quarter’s historic landmarks on the walk, and a useful pause from the steady sequence of film names. The guide’s local perspective can help connect the built environment to the city beyond the screen.

This is also where a customized tour can pay off. A fan who came hoping to track down The Originals locations may get more out of the walk when the guide knows which places matter to that series. Other groups have focused on vampire stories, classic movies, celebrity homes, or a mix of all of them. You can still enjoy the city even if your particular favorite is not the central theme, but it is worth naming your interests at the start.

The tour’s full production roster includes Interview with the Vampire, Renfield, Haunted Mansion, Runaway Jury, The Pelican Brief, and many others. Celebrity homes and sightings may come up, too, as can ghost stories. These are added threads rather than a promise that every stop will be a film set or that a celebrity home can be viewed up close.

LaLaurie Mansion and the Royal Street return

The group loops back up Royal Street past the LaLaurie Mansion, described as the city’s most haunted house. This stop brings a darker strand to the walk, alongside the film-location material and city history. If you enjoy ghost stories, it adds another New Orleans subject to the mix; if you came strictly for production trivia, it is still a landmark on the route.

The tour then finishes at St. Louis Cathedral, in the middle of the French Quarter. Ending here makes it easy to continue exploring on your own, though the activity does not include additional visits inside the places you pass. Think of it as a guided outdoor look at locations and landmarks, not a set of interior tours.

Groups can be quite small. Some outings have had just a couple of people, while others have included a handful. That makes conversation easier and gives you more room to ask questions, though the precise group size can vary. The guide’s willingness to adapt is a particular strength: you can steer the conversation toward your favorite productions, and you may also pick up suggestions for places to visit later in your New Orleans stay.

What the guide adds beyond film trivia

The central draw is not simply a list of addresses. A good guide helps you connect a present-day street to what a production needed from it, and puts the filming stories beside local history and architecture. Trevor McQueen is often associated with the tour and is described as having done detailed research to identify locations through architectural clues. He also grew up in New Orleans and brings a personal connection to the city.

His style is part of the appeal. He is known for keeping the pace comfortable, answering questions, and sharing recommendations for the rest of your trip. If the group is small, the walk can feel more like a conversation than a lecture. That is especially useful if you want to ask about an obscure scene or how a production worked around the French Quarter’s streets.

Still, the quality of a walking tour depends on the guide and the group’s interests. The experience is strongest when you enjoy talking about film and television, and when you are willing to hear about titles outside your personal watchlist. A guest who had less interest in vampire stories found that theme took up more of the tour than desired. Speak up early about the kinds of productions you want to hear about, and the guide can try to balance the focus.

Is two hours and $30 good value?

At $30 per person, this is a modestly priced way to add structure to a French Quarter visit. You get a live English-speaking guide for two hours, a route through several major landmarks, film and TV location stories, local history, and a halfway break. The value is best if you want more than a self-guided stroll and enjoy asking questions as you go.

It is less compelling if you want transport between widely separated locations, inside access to filming sites, or a visual presentation with production stills. This is a walking tour through the French Quarter, and the route is concentrated there. The productions range widely, but the walk does not mean you will visit every location associated with every title.

A halfway pause is included. A past group appreciated having a restroom break at that point, but the tour description promises a break rather than a particular facility, so ask the guide if you need to confirm restroom access. At two hours, the walk is manageable for many people, but it still calls for comfortable shoes and clothes.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, yet it is also marked as not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and some walkways may be old or unstable. Those details do not fully explain how the route works for different needs. If you have mobility concerns, contact the provider before booking rather than relying on the accessibility label alone.

Weather does not cancel the walk: it operates rain or shine. Check the forecast, dress for the conditions, and take care around traffic and uneven paving. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours ahead, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a spot without paying at once.

Who should book this French Quarter film walk?

Book it if you like screen stories and want to see the French Quarter with a local guide who can connect productions to the city around them. It is particularly well suited to fans of The Originals, NCIS: New Orleans, Interview with the Vampire, and other productions filmed in or associated with New Orleans, as well as people who enjoy a mix of film trivia, architecture, ghost stories, and local recommendations.

It can also work for a curious visitor who is not a film buff. You will still get a two-hour walk through the Quarter with history and neighborhood context. But if you want a tour devoted only to one movie, guaranteed images from every scene, or a ride out to locations beyond the Quarter, this may not be the right fit.

At $30, the price is fair for a personalized, question-friendly walking tour, especially if the guide can focus on the shows you love. Arrive early, wear shoes made for uneven old walkways, and tell the guide your interests before the route gets going. If that sounds like your kind of city walk, it is a good way to see familiar New Orleans streets with fresh eyes.

FAQ

How long is the New Orleans Movie and TV Show Tour?

The tour lasts two hours and takes place on foot in the French Quarter.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins on the steps of the courthouse at 400 Royal Street, across from Brennan’s Restaurant. The walk ends at St. Louis Cathedral.

Which movies and TV shows are included?

The productions named include NCIS: New Orleans, The Originals, Your Honor, Runaway Jury, The Big Easy, The Simpsons, Interview with the Vampire, Chef, Now You See Me, The Princess and the Frog, Live and Let Die, King Creole, Girls Trip, The Pelican Brief, JFK, Haunted Mansion, The Cincinnati Kid, Renfield, and The First 48.

Is the tour suitable for someone who uses a wheelchair?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it is also marked as not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Some walkways may be old or unstable, so contact the provider before booking to check whether the route suits your needs.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. The tour takes place rain or shine, so check the weather and dress accordingly.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also offered, so you do not need to pay when booking.