While not a critical success or as big of a blockbuster as it was expected, the "Miami Vice" movie in 2006 was instantly recognizable as a film version of one of television's most popular series. This film, directed by Michael Mann, tells the story of Ricardo Tubbs, portrayed by Jamie Foxx, and Sonny Crockett, portrayed by Colin Farrell, as two familiar characters from the television show. They are involved in romances that are threatened by their work on a case involving drug trafficking into South Florida. Miami is as much of a movie star as the lead actors in this detective thriller. From the opening scene that includes the Miami skyline, there is never a doubt where this movie is set.
"Any Given Sunday" was a film directed by Oliver Stone in 1999 about a professional football team in Miami and its coach Tony D'Amato, portrayed by Al Pacino. While the football team, called the Sharks, and the league they play in throughout the movie are fictitious, the story is a revealing look at life in professional football in the city of Miami. The team president, portrayed by Cameron Diaz, is considering moving the team and there are scenes involving the local officials of Miami, as discussions of the team's plans become a topic of concern for all characters involved.
Perhaps the best-known Miami-based comedy film of all time is Jim Carrey's breakout movie, 1994's "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." The people of Miami love their Dolphins football team, and when someone swipes the mascot and kidnaps Dolphins quarterback legend Dan Marino, who else can they call besides a pet detective? As the movie tagline reads, he's the best one there is ... actually, he's the only one there is!"
Throughout this film, Ace Ventura runs around the city trying to get to the bottom of the ridiculous case before the Super Bowl. He goes toe to toe with villains---and animals---and always manages to get his man, woman or whatever species.
No movie is associated more with the South Florida drug trade than the 1983 crime drama "Scarface," starring Al Pacino. This Brian De Palma directed film is a remake of a 1932 movie and is written by Oliver Stone. The movie follows Cuban immigrant Tony Montana, who is among the thousands allowed to leave Cuba by Fidel Castro to reunite with their families in America. Tony is driven and determined to become successful and build a drug empire in Miami. As cocaine begins to make Tony paranoid and edgy with an ever-growing self-confidence, something eventually has to give. In the late stages of this classic Miami-based film, Tony makes a stand with the famous words, "Say hello to my little friend."