The 1991 action film “Point Break,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, was filmed mostly around Southern California, with a few late scenes filmed in Oregon and Hawaii.

Early in the film, the FBI agent Pappas, played by Gary Busey encourages his new partner Johnny Utah, played by Keanu Reeves, to learn to surf.  Believing the bank robbers they are pursuing to be surfers, they discuss the need to infiltrate the tight-knit surfer community in order to gain leads as to the thieves’ identities.  These scenes were filmed at the Manhattan Beach Pier.

LOCATION: 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

While surfing, Johnny meets Tyler, played by Lori Petty and the two strike up a romance.  Johnny visits her at her work, which was filmed at Neptune’s Net in Malibu.  A famous biker and surfer restaurant, the same place was also seen in “The Fast And The Furious.”

LOCATION: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Utah begins frequenting a variety of beaches, in hopes of identifying the robbers, who call themselves the Ex-Presidents.  One of the beaches he checks out is Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey.  Utah can be seen near the El Segundo Power Plant, just past W Grand Ave.

LOCATION: 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293

Johnny is washing off after surfing, when another crew approaches and attacks him.  Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze, intervenes as the two fight off the rival crew.  These scenes were filmed at Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu.

LOCATION: 35000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Later in the film, Utah is ordering sandwiches when the Ex-Presidents pull up right behind him and proceed to rob a a bank.  This was filmed in Culver City, with the Culver Hotel seen in the distance (where the opening of “Last Action Hero” was filmed).

LOCATION: Main St, Culver City, CA 90232 (facing toward Culver Blvd)

The building where the bank was located has been remodeled and is now separated into several business spaces.

LOCATION: 3849 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232

After the robbery, Utah and Pappas pursue the Ex-Presidents in a car chase.  The chase continues into the Westfield Shopping Plaza in Culver City, as the cars enter from Slauson Ave towards what is now a Macy’s department store.

LOCATION: 6200 Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

They hook a left in the parking lot and drive past what is now a Trader Joe’s.

LOCATION: 6150 Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The cars race up and down the aisles of the parking lot, which is located beneath the Marina Fwy (CA-90).

LOCATION: 6000 S Hannum Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The cars then drive down Westfield Dr and head towards S Hannum Ave, where Pappas crashes into a security gate, stalling out the car.  Utah exits the car and continues on foot.

LOCATION: Westfield Dr / S Hannum Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The thieves blow out a tire as they turn right onto S Hannum Ave.

While made to look only a short distance away, the Ex-Presidents pull off into a gas station, which was actually located in Redondo Beach.  Bodhi torches the car by lighting a gas pump and using it as a flame thrower.  Now on foot, Utah catches up and tackles him.   The gas station is no longer there, replaced by a surf shop on N Catalina Ave.  This can be slightly confusing, as the same surf shop uses a multiple buildings along the block, including across the street on N Broadway.  The correct location of the former gas station is at the intersection of Beryl St and N Catalina Ave.

LOCATION: 600 N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Most of the buildings seen in the background of the gas station, such as the Crowne Plaza, are still there and match up with the film.

LOCATION: Beryl St / N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Bodhi runs from Utah and the foot chase begins as the two race across N Broadway, located behind the former gas station.  This triangular rooftop building can be seen in the background, which is another property of the surf shop.  The other side of the street, where the two begin running down the narrow, residential corridors, has been remodeled.

LOCATION: N Broadway / N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

The ending of the foot chase, with a conflicted Utah reluctantly passing on the opportunity to shoot at Bodhi, was filmed over at Ballona Creek, a concrete water channel and bike path, which runs through Culver City.

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