As seen in: Ex Machina (2014)

It’s little surprise the uber-clean, minimalist Juvet was picked as the setting for robot thriller Ex Machina starring Mr Oscar Isaacs and Ms Alicia Vikander: it’s exactly where you might suspect billionaire tech geniuses would go to decamp, and for perfect reason. Located in Valldal, Norway, the hotel is a Zen, 24-bed architectural gem surrounded by scenic vistas in a birch forest and designed for the sole purpose of getting away. Guests can choose between the Landscape Rooms (seven rooms on stilts with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow complete immersion with nature), the smaller Bird Houses, or the Writer’s Lodge, a 70sq m private chalet. Spend those tranquil days rejuvenating in the bath house, meditating while watching the river float by or borrowing a book from the Barn’s library and finding a secluded spot on the grounds for some private quiet time. (Thankfully, sentient robots don’t come as part of the package.)

As seen in: Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Mr Stanley Kubrick’s erotic psychological drama, starring Mr Tom Cruise as a doctor who joins an inescapable sex cult, is full of grandiose settings, with the director hiring out the entire second floor of The Lanesborough and shooting a final scene in the ornately decorated Royal Suite. First opened in 1991, the iconic Regency-style hotel is centrally located near London’s Hyde Park and the main commercial thoroughfare, but it is known to be a peaceful respite from the city. Though the capital has no shortage of grand dames, the Lanesborough is the only one in the city that offers round-the-clock dedicated butler service, and its dark-panelled, portrait-lined halls are like slipping into a warm bath. As British as high tea or a Sir PG Wodehouse novel, it’s the ultimate pick for those who seek cosiness and old-world elegance married with all the contemporary amenities you could ever need.

As seen in: North By Northwest (1959)

New York’s The Plaza is one of the most filmed hotels in all of cinema, featuring in everything from Funny Girl to Home Alone 2. However, its most iconic appearance is no doubt in Mr Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest – it’s in the hotel’s panelled Oak Bar that Mr Cary Grant’s character is kidnapped, setting the film’s plot in motion. Little has changed since then in terms of its continental decor. It remains a New York institution, a castle on Central Park South preserving a unique Beaux Arts charm that seems to be sadly fading in the modern metropolis. World leaders, stars, dignitaries, and all other exemplary types have chosen to rest their heads here. And the great Hollywood filmmakers and actors are no different, admiring the Plaza for its unchanging old-world character. To quote one of its most famous guests, Mr Frank Sinatra, The Plaza is quintessential New York, New York.

As seen in: Casanova (2005)

If you’ve ever seen the sorely underrated Casanova starring Mr Heath Ledger, you’ll be familiar with the opulence of the Palazzetto Pisani, which has all the Venetian splendour of a building in a Canaletto painting. Several scenes were shot here, including the dance sequences, with the more regal suites providing the backdrop for… Well, you can guess in a movie about Casanova. The Royal Grand Canal View Suite is among the superior rooms here, with views of the Chiesa della Salute and Accademia Bridge and antique furniture upholstered in Venetian fabrics. Or you can opt for something even more opulent with Double Prestige del Doge, a high-ceilinged suite that’s adorned with gold.

As seen in: Some Like It Hot (1959)

Mr Billy Wilder’s original gender-swapping comedy, starring Mr Jack Lemmon, Mr Tony Curtis and Ms Marilyn Monroe, is famously set in the beachfront Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. All three actors checked in for a period while shooting the film, and the hotel has since become a pilgrimage site for fans – in particular, its pyramid-roofed exterior, which is seen throughout. These days, guests can book into the iconic Victorian building, with no two rooms the same, hunker down in one of the Cabanas or enjoy the seclusion of exclusive Beach Village, with its oceanfront cottages and villas. The hotel also offers everything from outdoor ice skating to beach-side roast dinners, as well as an idyllic seaside spa.

As seen in: A Bigger Splash (2015)

Mr Luca Guadagnino’s sun-soaked drama sees rock star Ms Tilda Swinton enter a tense love triangle when her ex-partner Mr Ralph Fiennes interrupts an Italian getaway with her new, much younger boyfriend, Mr Matthias Schoenaerts. Tragedy ensues when their relationships are brought to surface, mostly taking place in one of the Tenuta Borgia’s ancient dammusi – traditional Sicilian houses that are unique to the island of Pantelleria. Tenuta Borgia offers up to seven charmingly rustic and uniquely designed dammusi for guests to relax in, some with private plunge pools, others with Mediterranean gardens. You can even rent out the entirety of the farmland retreat, making it the perfect location to escape to with a group of friends. Just perhaps not a third-party romance.

As seen in: Somewhere (2010)

The Chateau Marmont is among the most famous hotels on Earth, and for more than a century, stars such as Ms Katharine Hepburn and Sir Mick Jagger have sought privacy in the confines of its castle-like walls. Plenty of films have been shot here, naturally, but Ms Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, which sees a successful yet troubled actor decamp to the Chateau, only to be surprised by the arrival of his 11-year-old daughter, is set almost entirely in the hotel, offering a glimpse into its colourful constellation of characters. Aside from its exclusive suites and bungalows, the hotel is home to an equally iconic restaurant, which serves an eclectic range of globally influenced dishes and is a prime location for star-spotting. And being a Hollywood bolthole, almost anything can be arranged for you, from personal trainers to in-room spa services. No wonder people never leave.