7 Design and Architecture Movies, Shows, and Documentaries to Stream Now

Betty Draper in her kitchen on the Mad Men set — Mad Men’s Mid-Century Modern sets—complete with American Colonial Revival kitchen—were dubbed by the L.A. Times as a “Period-perfect recreation of the past, colored by the emerging trends of the present.” Image: Alamy

Proof that you need not head to the movies for your architecture and design fix, Mad Men has all the hallmarks of a Mid-Century Modern masterpiece—think everything from Herman Miller office chairs to a bar cart stocked for midday martinis. The show had enormous influence on interior design while it was on air, and the buzz has yet to wear off. In fact, many designers report that they still field requests for offices and lairs in the spirit of Don Draper—whose sharp TV penthouse features exact replicas of the Danish modern design style made famous by designers like Knoll, Miller, and Thayer Coggin.

Even the home Draper shares with his wife Betty is a marvel to behold, with its American Colonial Revival-meets-French provincial aesthetic. If you’re a sucker for modern anything, shake up a cocktail and watch this “mad” series.

**4. Eames: The Architect and the Painter (Amazon Prime)**

A woman views examples of Eames chairs at The World of Charles and Ray Eames exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery at Barbican Centre on October 20, 2015 in London, England. — Four years after the release of Eames: The Architect and the Painter, an exhibition at London’s Barbican center showcased the design duo’s iconic furniture pieces alongside their sculptures, paintings, and visual communications. Image: Getty Images

This documentary captures the extraordinary collaboration of husband-and-wife designers Charles and Ray Eames, the pair behind the Eames chair—a seat so impressive that Time magazine deemed it “the greatest design of the 20th century.” Thanks to Ray’s talents as an artist and Charles’s training as an architect, the couple married striking design and impeccable craftsmanship, creating everything from furniture to housewares, and films and artistic exhibitions.

In just under an hour and a half, this fascinating portrait explores the eccentric couple’s lasting influence on the world of design, as well as the sexism that existed in the industry at the time—examining why, for instance, Charles’s name alone appeared on every project. For design enthusiasts, the film does a fantastic job of celebrating both the beauty and the heart underpinning the design duo’s impressive accomplishments.

**5. Amélie (Amazon Prime, iTunes)**

A still from Amelie, one of the top architecture movies set in Paris — With its unique architecture and long artistic history—Renoir and Picasso, among other artists, once resided here—the Paris district of Montmartre serves as a breathtaking backdrop in almost every scene of Amélie. Image: Alamy

Shot in 80 scene-stealing locations throughout Paris, this quirky visual masterpiece was named the one of the best shot movies of the decade by American Cinematographer magazine, and offers a chance to revel in the architecture of the French capital. The plot centers on a young woman, played by Audrey Tautou, who is determined to bring happiness and cheer to whomever she meets, despite her rocky past, and predominantly takes place in the Montmartre neighborhood. Look out for Rue Lepic—a picture-perfect, ancient street filled with butcher shops, flower stands, and quintessential French brasseries—which features as Amélie’s daily runway.

From the centuries-old Gothic masterpiece Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (before it was damaged by fire in 2019) to the white-domed hilltop Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, with its astonishing views, the City of Light’s architectural landmarks shine throughout this film.

6. The Birdcage (Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes)

The exterior of The Carlyle Hotel in South Beach, Miami — **As well as The Birdcage, The Carlyle’s instantly recognizable Art-Deco architecture has appeared in movies such as Scarface, Pronto, and Bad Boys II. Image: Alamy**

In 1996, The Birdcage—starring Nathan Lane and the late Robin Williams, who plays an eccentric, gay cabaret owner—drew as much attention for its portrayal of the Art Deco Historic District in South Beach as for its plot about a gay couple pretending to be straight to appease their son’s future in-laws.

With nearly 800 pastel-colored buildings, the Florida district has the largest concentration of Art Deco-style buildings in America, many of which serve as secondary characters in the film. In fact, the movie’s Birdcage Club is actually The Carlyle hotel. With a 1939 façade that is still virtually untouched, this building is one of the most celebrated Art Deco landmarks on Ocean Drive, South Beach’s main thoroughfare. Today, socially distanced walking tours are led by the Miami Design Preservation League for those who want to take a closer look.

**7. Philip Mould: Art in Isolation (YouTube)**

Art dealer Philip Mould pictured in front of a painting — Pictured here with a portrait by British painter Gerald Leslie Brockhurst, Philip Mould shares design and architecture inspiration along with a dose of fascinating art history throughout his series of short films. Image: Philip Mould & Company

One of the world’s most respected art dealers, Philip Mould is perhaps best known for being the star of BBC’s Fake or Fortune?, the most-watched arts program in the U.K. But in this series of short movies, he takes viewers on a tour of the glorious architecture of Duck End—the restored 17th-century manor house in Oxfordshire, England, which he shares with his wife Catherine.

As the owner of London’s famous Philip Mould & Company gallery, it’s no surprise that he also takes great delight in showing off the exquisite artworks on display, including masterpieces by Cedric Morris and Vanessa Bell. But the home itself offers just as much a reason to watch: the stone building is a rare and near-perfect example of the compact gentry houses of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and the Moulds have gone to great lengths to restore it. Overall, the home—and these short snippets, which allow you to explore it—are a visual feast of antiques and treasures.

Banner image: A digital display at The World of Ray and Charles Eames exhibition at the Barbican arts center in London, 2015. Getty Images