(500) Days Of Summer (2009)

June 30, 2018February 15, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Marc Webb’s 2009 romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer” was filmed all around Southern California. Summer, played by Zooey Deschanel, lives at this apartment, known as The Barclay. The same building was featured in another Zooey Deschanel film, “Yes Man,” co-starring Jim Carrey, who is seen talking a suicidal jumper off a ledge around the corner from this entrance.

LOCATION: 706 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is seen walking along Normandie Ave in front of Summer’s apartment. The filmmakers actually composited a skyline view of downtown L.A. into the horizon, which is not actually visible from the street.

Tom and Summer break up at the former Quality Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles. The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Seven,” “Training Day,” “Ghost World,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and dozens more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming. Sadly, it ceased to function as a filming location and was completely renovated in 2014. The interior of the property no longer bears any resemblance inside to how it appeared in so many films.

LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (now closed and remodeled)

Tom and Summer rent an adult movie from this building in Downtown Los Angeles. The same building was used as the bank in “Spider-Man 3” and “Killing Zoe.”

LOCATION: 401 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The fountain where Tom begins to dance is the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain in Grand Park in Downtown L.A. The same fountain was seen in “Pretty Woman.”

LOCATION: Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The bench where the couple sits and looks over the city is another sad story of a film location soon to be lost. The bench was located in a small park area once known as Angels Knoll in Los Angeles, California, now called Angels Landing. Located directly beside Angels Flight from “La La Land,” the bench attracted many visitors after the release of the film, who enjoyed recreating the famous shot.

Sadly in 2013, the City of Los Angeles permanently closed the park, blocking it off with fencing and no trespassing signs. Many years passed while the area sat unused and inaccessible to the public. During this time, the Angels Flight was thankfully restored at put back into operation, so film lovers can at least rejoice that fact. The fate of the “500 Days” bench and the Angels Knoll park in general was less optimistic, however. While the area can still be seen, either through the fencing, or from the restaurant area overlooking the park, it is no longer possible to get an up close shot like seen in the film.

Plans have since been announced for a high rise to be built in place of the park, but for now, the area still remains vacant and fenced off. There was even a plaque on the bench commemorating the film, which read “Tom’s favorite place becomes one of Summer’s too.” While the bench is still there (for now), the plaque has been removed.

LOCATION: 356 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (since closed)

Tom points out the architecture that can be found around the city, such as the Eastern Columbia Building. The same building has appeared in the films “Predator 2,” “Ghost Dad,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “The Last Hour” and more.

LOCATION: 849 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Tom’s apartment can be found in Downtown Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 432 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Rachel, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, lives at this house in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, seen briefly in the film. It sits directly next door to the house of Dave Chappelle’s character in “A Star Is Born.”

LOCATION: 5231 Shearin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Tom attends Millie’s wedding at the Point Fermin Lighthouse in San Pedro. The same lighthouse can be seen in the film “Freeway,” as well as the TV shows “MacGyver” and “Amazing Stories.” It is also located near the Korean Bell of Friendship from “The Usual Suspects.”

LOCATION: 807 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731

Near the end of the film, Tom has an interview at the Bradbury Building in Downtown L.A., famous of course for it’s use in “Blade Runner.”

LOCATION: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Down And Out In Beverly Hills (1986)

June 27, 2018October 15, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1986 Nick Nolte film “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” the life of a wealthy Beverly Hills family is turned upside down by the arrival of a homeless man. In the film, the house is clearly visible from the road. That is not the case today, as it is now surrounded by plants and trees, making it difficult to get a clear view. Other than that, however, the house still closely resembles how it appeared in the film. The home really is located in Beverly Hills, which is somewhat rare, due to the high cost of filming in the exclusive neighborhood, which causes most productions to find more affordable areas to stand in instead.

LOCATION: 802 N Bedford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Spider-Man (2002)

June 24, 2018December 22, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In Sam Raimi’s original 2002 “Spider-Man” film, Peter Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, works at the Daily Bugle as a freelance photographer who has an uncanny ability to capture photos of Spider-Man. Famous for it’s triangular shape, the Flatiron Building in Manhattan is one of the more iconic skyscrapers in New York City. The building has appeared in countless films, such as “The Usual Suspects,” “As Good As It Gets,” “I Am Legend” and many more.

LOCATION: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

Norman Osborn’s Manhattan rooftop home isn’t in Manhattan, or New York at all. It’s the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.

LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The scene where Mary Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst, kisses an upside down Spider-Man in the rain wasn’t filmed in New York City either. It was filmed on the Warner Bros. Lot in Burbank, California. Designed to look like New York alley, this facade can be seen as part of their studio tour.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

The bike Peter rides in the film can be found on display at Sony Pictures Studio.

LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

The Great Gatsby (2013)

June 23, 2018December 21, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

For 2013 adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel “The Great Gatsby,” director Baz Luhrmann strayed a bit from the book. While Fitgerald described Gatsby as driving a 1922 Rolls-Royce, Luhrmann elected to go with a 1934 Duesenberg. The car is actually a Duesenberg II, a modern reproduction of the original. The reproduction was used for financial and practical reasons. This model can be seen being driven by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film. The car can be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

June 15, 2018March 5, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…” was filmed in New York City, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. After driving across the country together, Sally, played by Meg Ryan, drops off Harry, played by Billy Crystal in front of Washington Square Park in New York City. The park has been seen in countless films, including “Kids,” “Chasing Amy,” “I Am Legend,” “Ghostbusters II,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Serpico” and many more.

LOCATION: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012

The most famous scene in in the film is of course when Sally fakes an orgasm for Harry while sitting in the middle of a deli. The deli in question would be Katz’s Delicatessen, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Opened in 1888, the deli is wildly popular for it’s sandwiches, consistently ranking among the highest rated in New York City. The restaurant has been seen in many films, including “Enchanted,” “Across The Universe,” “Donnie Brasco,” “We Own the Night” and many more, but it remains most synonymous with “When Harry Met Sally…”

LOCATION: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

This plaque can be found on the sidewalk in front of the building.

The inside still heavily resembles how it appeared in the film. The walls are completely covered with photos of endless celebrities who have visited over the years. Here is a shot of the backdrop behind Harry and Sally’s table.

Here is the exact spot where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal filmed their famous scene.

The deli makes the table quite easy to identify by hanging this sign above it, which references the scene’s famous punchline, stating, “Where Harry met Sally… Hope you have what she had! Enjoy!”

If you find yourself in Manhattan and you’re looking for a good sandwich, you can’t go wrong with Katz’s. The prices aren’t cheap, but the portions are large and the deli itself is just as much of an attraction as the food itself.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

June 13, 2018January 22, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1992 Quentin Tarantino film “Reservoir Dogs,” like much of his work, was filmed around Los Angeles, California, with many of the locations found in close proximity to one another around the Eagle Rock neighborhood of East L.A. The opening restaurant scene, which establishes all of the characters, was filmed at Pat And Lorraine’s in Eagle Rock. The restaurant is still alive and well and more or less looks the same as when it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 4720 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Here is the general area where the guys sat. The circular table was added by the production.

The restaurant is very welcoming to fans of the film and has a still photo from the movie on their wall.

They also have a poster for the film on another wall.

The parking lot where the cast walks in the opening credits does still exist. However, the brick wall is no more. It is part of a bowling alley and has been remodeled a bit. This is what the wall looks like now, in the approximate area where the cast walked.

What can be matched up better is the ending shot of the opening credits sequence. The buildings across the street still appear identical. However, a fence and gate have since been added along the street.

LOCATION: 4459 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

The most famous location from the film was the warehouse where the men rendezvous after the heist. The majority of the film takes place there, but sadly, it no longer exists. The property was formerly a mortuary, which was incorporated into the production design, with upright caskets visible and a hearse under a tarp. The area where Mr. White, played by Harvey Keitel, talks to Mr. Pink, played by Steve Buscemi, was intended to look like an embalming room.

Once located at 59th Ave and Figueroa St in Highland Park, the building sustained damage from an earthquake and was later demolished. The apartment of Mr. Orange, played by Tim Roth, was also located above the warehouse in the same building, so that too is gone. Here is what the area looks like today, with a different building and parking lot now occupying the space.

LOCATION: 5860 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042 (now demolished)

One element from the original film can still be matched up at the location. This building across from the parking lot can be seen as Mr. White first brings Mr. Orange into the warehouse. It can be seen again as Mr. Blonde walks to his car outside.

The film cuts in non-linear form to a jewelry store robbery gone wrong. Mr. Pink is seen running along the north side of York Blvd, with police chasing close behind him.

LOCATION: 5025 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

He drops his briefcase right in this area, then picks it up and continues running.

In a bit of movie magic, Mr. Pink suddenly switches sides of the street, running on the south side of York Blvd to the intersection of N Avenue 50, where a car hits him. In reality, he would’ve been running back the direction he began. In the film, a gas station is seen at the intersection, but it is now a small park.

LOCATION: Intersection of N Avenue 50 and York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042 (nearest address is 5000 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042)

The police catch up and Mr. Pink opens fire on them at this same corner. Mr. Pink is standing on N Avenue 50, firing towards York Blvd.

Mr. Pink escapes by vehicle up N Avenue 50, with a cop shooting at him from behind in the intersection. Overall, while this area has changed some since filming, a lot of it is still recognizable from how it appeared in the film

The office of Joe, played by Lawrence Tierney, could be found in an upstairs office space at Chapman Market, located in Koreatown. There’s a few different second floor sections of the plaza, but here’s a look at the general area. The office is of course only seen from interior views in the film.

LOCATION: 3465 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

The restaurant where Mr. Orange tells another officer all of the intel he’s collected is Johnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant in midtown Los Angeles. The restaurant closed many years ago, but still operates as a filming location. It has appeared in “The Big Lebowski,” “American History X,” “Miracle Mile,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and many more.

LOCATION: 6099 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Mr. Orange rehearses “the commode story,” about being stuck in side a bathroom with a group of police officers and an aggressive dog, while in possession of drugs. Several locations appear as he rehearses and then tells the story. He is first seen rehearsing on the rooftop of this building in Hollywood, with the top of the Hollywood First National Bank Building visible behind him (which itself also appears in the films “The Nice Guys” and “Twins“). The roof area has changed a bit since filming took place.

LOCATION: 6751 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

He continues telling the story in front of a graffiti covered wall. This was a platform that was part of the city’s original metro train line. The area has since been cleaned up and the structure seen in the film still stands. However, it is now located in the rear courtyard of an apartment complex named Belmont Station Apartments and can be seen from the street facing S Toluca St. The same location appears in such films “The Running Man,” “Colors,” “Predator 2,” “Point of No Return,” “The Replacement Killers” “The One” and more. It also appeared in the television series “V.”

LOCATION: 1304 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (facing S Toluca St)

The scene then jumps to Mr. Orange actually telling Joe, Nice Guy Eddie and Mr. White the story inside a club. These scenes were filmed inside a former club located in North Hollywood. While the building is still there, the interior is now completely changed from how it appeared in the film. The same building appeared in the TV show “Pam & Tommy.”

LOCATION: 4923 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Finally, the scene ends up with the rehearsed scenario actually playing out inside a bathroom. This was filmed in the men’s bathroom on the ground floor of the MacArthur, formerly known as the Park Plaza Hotel. No longer a functioning hotel, the MacArthur today serves primarily as a property for hosting filming and special events. David Lynch’s “Wild At Heart” and the Coen Brothers’ “Barton Fink” also filmed in this exact restroom, which as since been remodeled a bit, but remains largely recognizable.

LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Mr. Orange leaves his apartment and gets in a car with Nice Guy Eddie, Mr. White and Mr. Pink at the intersection of S Ave 59 and Figueroa St. This is accurate to where his apartment was formerly located, just out of frame to the left.

LOCATION: S Ave 59 / Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

The jewelry store exterior can be found in Burbank. Mr. White and Mr. Orange go over the robbery plans as they are parked outside.

LOCATION: 2612 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Mr. Brown, played by Quentin Tarantino, crashes his car in this alley. It is located near Marmion Way, but it’s actually at the intersection of two unnamed alleys. We’ve provides the exact GPS coordinates below.

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34.109187, -118.195118, near 5522 1/2 Marmion Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

This house can be seen in the background behind the crashed car.

As the police arrive, Mr. White opens fire on them from here, with this building visible behind him.

Mr. White and Mr. Orange walk up the alley toward Marmion Way.

They hijack a car right where the alley meets Marmion Way. While not obvious in the film, in person it is very noticeable that the lanes of the road are split down the center by a railway track, so the car in the scene would’ve been driving along the wrong side of the street. We’ve again provided exact GPS coordinates, as it can be slightly confusing if you don’t know the area.

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34.109680, -118.195474, near 5522 Marmion Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

To see our “Reservoir Dogs” location page, click here.

Ghostbusters (1984)

June 9, 2018July 23, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

One of the most famous movie locations in the world, the fire station that served as the headquarters for the Ghostbusters in the original 1984 film can be found in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. The building was chosen because the screenwriters imagined the Ghostbusters as a public service, much like firemen. Cast member Dan Aykroyd knew the neighborhood well and suggested the building. Still an active firehouse, the location draws countless visitors each year.

LOCATION: 14 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013

Not quite as well known is the Los Angeles fire station location used in the film. While the Hook & Ladder Company 8 building in Tribeca was used for exterior shots, interiors were filmed at Fire Station No. 23 in downtown L.A. The fire station was closed in 1960 and has currently fallen into quite a state of disrepair. Currently the building is boarded up, covered in graffiti and prohibited from entry. Perhaps someday the interior will be restored to resemble the film, but it sits in a pretty bad area not far from skid row, so a restoration seems unlikely at this time. The same building also appeared in such films as “The Mask,” “Lost Highway,” “Flatliners,” “Set It Off,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and more.

LOCATION: 225 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The Ghostbusters capture their first ghost at the fictional Sedgewick Hotel. These scenes were filmed inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The hotel is a staple of film, having appeared in such movies as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Independence Day,” “Fight Club,” “Blonde,” “Oppenheimer” and dozens more. Here is the lobby where they first enter.

LOCATION: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

They try to capture Slimer in the hotel’s lobby.

Over at the Sony lot in Culver City, California, there was even at attempt to build a replica of the Hook & Ladder 8 building.

LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Also on the lot is the Ecto 1 car, which can be seen on the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.

Boy Meets World

June 9, 2018December 13, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

While set in Philadelphia, the house from the TV series “Boy Meets World” can actually be found in Studio City, California. The house is obscured by a lot of greens and overgrowth along fencing surrounding the property and it’s not easily visible from the street. This is the view if you make your way up to the front gate.

LOCATION: 4196 Colfax Ave, Studio City, CA 91604

The high school seen in the show is John Marshall High School. A regular location in film and television, it has also appeared in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “A Nightmare On Elm Street,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Bachelor Party,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Grease” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” as well as such TV shows as “Growing Pains,” “Boston Public” and many more. It was even used in the Van Halen music video for “Hot For Teacher.”

LOCATION: 3939 Tracy St, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Eye Of The Storm (1991)

June 4, 2018March 10, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1991 film “Eye of the Storm,” starring Dennis Hopper, was filmed almost entirely at the Club Ed movie set in Lancaster, California. The building is not an actual running business and was built specifically for this film. After the production, it remained standing and continues to be used for filming purposes today. It is private property and closed to the public. However, it can be seen quite easily from the road.

LOCATION: 42848 150th St, Lancaster, CA 93535

Club Ed has since been in many films, including “The Devil’s Rejects,” “Nothing To Lose” and “Rubber.”

To see our “Eye of the Storm” location page, click here.

Panic Room (2002)

June 3, 2018October 18, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The apartment from David Fincher’s 2002 home invasion thriller “Panic Room” is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near Central Park. The apartment was only used for exterior shots in the film.

LOCATION: 38 W 94th St, New York, NY 10025

Here is a view of the entire building, although it’s never seen from this angle in the film.

The apartment interiors were filmed entirely on a custom built set in Manhattan Beach, California at Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios (1600 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266). That set has of course long since been removed.

The ending scene of the film shows Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart sitting on a park bench. They are seated in an area known as The Mall in Central Park, a tree-covered pedestrian walkway that leads to Bethesda Terrace. The two are seated near the Robert Burns statue. The benches have slightly changed from how they appeared in the film.

LOCATION: The Mall, Central Park, New York, NY 10022

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Month: June 2018