The 1984 film “The Last Starfighter” primarily takes place at a trailer park and general store. These scenes were filmed in Santa Clarita, California. The trailer park area to the left is now gated off and private, but the store on the right remains open to the public.
LOCATION: 9411 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The same location appeared in the film “The Devil’s Rejects.”
The 1991 comedy “Drop Dead Fred,” starring Phoebe Cates and Rik Mayall, was filmed in Minnesota. In the film, Elizabeth, played by Cates, lives at this home, located in Minneapolis.
LOCATION: 2018 Humboldt Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
The 1992 feature film version of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was shot around Los Angeles, California. Buffy, played by Kristy Swanson, attends 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,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Bachelor Party,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Grease,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” as well as such TV shows as “Boy Meets World,” “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
The vampire Amilyn, played by Paul Reubens, stalks Grueller, played by Sasha Jenson at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. It has appeared in many other films, including “The Prestige,” “Destroyer,” “Beautiful” and “Twins,” as well as such TV shows as “Alias,” “CSI: NY” and the television adaptation of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” It also famously served as an inspiration to Walt Disney in his decision to create Disneyland.
LOCATION: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Lothos, played by Rutger Hauer, has a base of operations at the Tower Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. It has since been converted into a retail store and is open to the public. The same building appeared in the films “Mullholland Drive,” “The Omega Man,” “Fight Club,” “The Prestige,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Last Action Hero,” “Transformers,” “Ed Wood,” “End of Days,” “Inland Empire,” “She’s So Lovely,” “The Replacement Killers,” “The Good German,” “Dark Streets” and “The Mambo King,” as well as such TV shows as “Twin Peaks: The Return” and “Alias.”
LOCATION: 800 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Pike, played by Luke Perry, lives in an apartment unit above a mechanic’s shop. He is visited in the night by Benny, played by David Arquette, who floats outside his window.
LOCATION: 5657 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Buffy’s training sequences with Merrick, played by Donald Sutherland, were filmed inside the MacArthur in Los Angeles, 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. However, it is under renovation with apparent plans to open a portion up once again as a hotel sometime in 2022 or 2023. It has been featured in many films, such as “Wild At Heart,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Drive,” “Bobby,” “Gangster Squad,” “Tango & Cash” and many more.
LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Buffy chases Grueller from a basketball game. Grueller runs outside past a group of bikers. Buffy takes one of the motorcycles and continues pursuit. These scenes were filmed in Sherman Oaks, but the building has since been remodeled. This is how it appears now.
LOCATION: 14612 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Related articles: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Much like its predecessor, “Breaking Bad,” the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico is so ingrained as a backdrop for the spin-off series, “Better Call Saul,” it takes on the life a character on the show. In the early seasons, Jimmy McGill, played by Bob Odenkirk, cares for his brother Chuck, played by Michael McKean. Chuck is housebound with a mental illness that causes a strong aversion to electricity and electric devices, with his house featured prominently in the series.
LOCATION: 1607 San Cristobal Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Gus Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito, plays a recurring character in the show and we see his infamous Los Pollos Hermanos many times. The restaurant is actually named “Twisters” and still operates today. There are a few of these restaurants in the area, so be sure to go to the one on Isleta Blvd in order to see the location used in the show. The restaurant was of course also featured heavily on “Breaking Bad.”
LOCATION: 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105
By season six, Saul has set up his office in the same location featured in “Breaking Bad.”
LOCATION: 9800 Montgomery Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87111
A few businesses have come and gone from the location, but the current restaurant actually has their front door made up to look like Saul’s office.
A pop-up replica of Los Pollos Hermanos was built on an open parking lot space in Los Angeles for just a few short days in 2017, in promotion of “Better Call Saul.” For the event, they featured Jimmy’s car from the show, which he is seen driving throughout the early seasons.
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The 1985 William Friedkin film “To Live and Die in L.A.” was shot, as the title suggests, in Los Angeles, California The film made use of nearly every corner of L.A. County. In the opening scenes of the film, the Secret Service escort the President down Santa Monica Blvd in Century City, as they make their way to a hotel.
LOCATION: Century Park E / Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The convoy arrives at The Beverly Hilton hotel, where Agent Richard Chance, played by William Peterson, stops a terrorist assassination attempt. Many films have shot scenes at the hotel, including “Frost/Nixon,” “Coffy” and “Micki + Maude.”
LOCATION: 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe, lives at this home in Santa Monica. Most of the property is not visible from the street. Eric burns a piece of art on the balcony on the left. The same home as appeared in such films as “Cafe Society” and “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.”
LOCATION: 757 Kingman Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Chance is seen bungee jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The bridge has appeared in countless films, such as “Gone In 60 Seconds,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “City of Angels,” “Knight of Cups,” “Charlie’s Angels” and more. It has likewise appeared in such TV shows as “Mission: Impossible,” “CHiPs,” “Columbo” and more. It it also where director Tony Scott tragically ended his life.
LOCATION: Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, CA 90731
Masters runs a counterfeit cash operation out of this building in Lancaster. Despite the address being on 170th St E, this area is on the back side of the building, closer to the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave.
LOCATION: 40038 170th St E, Palmdale, CA 93591 (near the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave)
Masters is seen speeding off in his car down this area to the right of the building.
To the left is where the dumpster and trailer were located and the murder scene takes place.
Chance’s house can be found in Malibu. There is a Public Beach Access Point that runs directly beside the property, located at 22664 Beach Access Path, Malibu, CA 90265, which makes it relatively easy to access from Pacific Coast Hwy, unlike many of the properties in Malibu.
LOCATION: 22664 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Chance runs a stakeout from this church in Pasadena. The home he surveillances was located around 445 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101, but it has since been demolished. The church, however, still stands.
LOCATION: 464 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101
Chance drives down N Pacific Ave in San Pedro to his girlfriend Ruth’s house. The route he takes in the film is geographically accurate.
LOCATION: 981 N Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
Chance continues up Knoll Hill, with the Vincent Thomas Bridge visible in the distance.
LOCATION: N Center St / Knoll Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90731
Ruth’s house has long since been demolished, with a baseball field now in its place. Here is the approximate area where it stood.
LOCATION: 255 Viewland Pl, San Pedro, CA 90731 (now demolished)
The start of the foot chase scene begins at this building, which is located across the street from the prison from “Wild At Heart.”
LOCATION: 1701 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Masters walks with Jeff Rice, played by Steve James, where they make plans to kill a man in prison. This same location appeared in the film “Wassup Rockers.”
LOCATION: 11231 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (on W 113th St)
Jeff Rice’s house is located in Wilmington.
LOCATION: 1442 W F St, Wilmington, CA 90744
The walk to the judge’s office passes through the Citigroup Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The same area appeared in the films “Heat” and “Fight Club.”
LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The hospital scenes were filmed at this building.
LOCATION: 610 S St Louis St Los Angeles, CA 90023
The strip club, which was located in Wilmington, has since been demolished. It’s now just some empty land at the corner of S Figueroa St and W Harry Bridges Blvd. Prior to being demolished, the same building appeared in the films “Fight Club” and “Blood In, Blood Out.”
LOCATION: S Figueroa St / W Harry Bridges Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731 (now demolished – original address was 1331 W B Street, Wilmington, CA 90731, but that address no longer exists)
The train station scenes were filmed at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.
LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Chance tracks down Carl Cody, played by John Turturro, at this apartment in Sherman Oaks.
LOCATION: 5050 Woodman Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Chance and Vukovich, played by John Pankow, meet with Masters to make an exchange at this building.
LOCATION: 8051 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (on N Laurel Ave)
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The 1999 live action adaptation of “Inspector Gadget,” starring Matthew Broderick, is set in the fictional town of Riverton, Ohio, but was filmed in primarily in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California. The Bradford Robotics Industry, where the Gadget Program is developed, was filmed at this building in Los Angeles. It has been featured in countless films and television series, including “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Divergent,” “The Muppets,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “License To Drive,” “Unlawful Entry,” “The Negotiator,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Child’s Play 2” and dozens more.
LOCATION: 635 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
The headquarters of Claw, played by Rupert Everett, was filmed at PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh. The same building appeared in the film “Fire Down Below.”
LOCATION: 1 PPG Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Inspector Gadget tests out his new body at Fort Duquesne, overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline (Fort Duquesne, 3 Rivers Heritage Trail System, Downtown, Pittsburgh, PA 15222).
Inspector Gadget’s distinctive, narrow house can also be found in Pittsburgh in the South Side Slopes neighborhood.
LOCATION: 7 Roscoe St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
The Riverton Police Station was filmed at the Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles. The same building has been featured in countless films, such as “Flashdance,” “Back To School,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” “Stand And Deliver” and more.
LOCATION: 1816 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The bridge where Inspector Gadget battles Robo-Gadget is the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh.
LOCATION: Roberto Clemente Bridge, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Claw captures Brenda, played by Joely Fisher, at this building in Los Angeles, which is actually part of Los Angeles Center Studios in Downtown Los Angeles. This area, in spite of certainly appearing to be a public street, is actually behind gates and part of the studio. The address of the studio itself is on S Bixel St, but this particular area is near S Beaudry Ave. You can see the area from some public spots, such as near the intersection of W 6th St / S Beaudry Ave, but it only offers a side view from a distance. The studio has been used in hundreds of productions, with this particular area appearing in the films “Frailty,” “Constantine,” “Grandma’s Boy,” and “Wrath Of Man,” just to name a few.
LOCATION: 450 S Bixel St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (the address of the studio complex is S Bixel St, but this spot is closer to 451 S Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017)
The 1993 Hughes Brothers film “Menace II Society” takes place in South Central Los Angeles, where much of the film was likewise shot. In the opening scene of the film, Caine and O-Dog, played by Tyrin Turner and Larenz Tate, get into a confrontation with the owner of a liquor store and things take a violent turn. The location remains a liquor store today.
LOCATION: 5121 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
The Watts Towers can be seen in an early establishing shot of the film. The Watts Towers have appeared in many films, including “Colors,” “La La Land,” “Ricochet,” “CB4,” “Good Times,” and “Melinda,” as well as the TV shows “Six Feet Under,” “Dragnet,” “Southland,” “Dark Skies” and more.
LOCATION: 1727 E 107th St, Los Angeles, CA 90002
Caine attends Jordan High School, which is located near the home of his grandparents in the film.
LOCATION: 2265 E 103rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90002
Ronnie, played by Jada Pinkett Smith, lives in this home. The film’s climactic scenes take place here.
LOCATION: 2809 7th Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90018
Caine lives with his grandparents at the Jordan Downs Housing Community in Watts. Jordan Downs was a low-income housing community known for poverty and crime. The area is currently under major redevelopment, with many of the original buildings already demolished. New, mixed-income housing and retail stores are being built in its place. This isn’t the exact building featured in the film, but a very similar one that was still standing at the time of our visit. The whole area is marked private and heavily patrolled by security, so we don’t encourage visiting.
LOCATION: 9800 Grape St, Los Angeles, CA 90002 (soon to be demolished)
The graduation party scenes were filmed at this home.
LOCATION: 2181 Cambridge St, Los Angeles, CA 90006
The gas station where the car jacking scene takes place still stands, but it has long since been shuttered and abandoned.
LOCATION: 4200 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
The intersection where the car jacking takes place is made to appear right near the gas station, but it’s actually just down the road.
LOCATION: 3423 W 43rd Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Caine is injured from the car jacking and winds up in Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, which has been heavily remodeled since filming took place.
LOCATION: 1680 E 120th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Caine and his crew seek revenge for the car jacking at the Jungle Chicken restaurant. The building is actually located in San Fernando and somewhat surprisingly still stands today, albeit fenced off and abandoned.
LOCATION: 107 S Huntington St, San Fernando, CA 91340
A-Wax, Caine and O-Dog attempt to steal a car from an underground parking garage in Hollywood. When attempting to exit, they’re met by police officers.
LOCATION: 1800 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (facing Franklin Pl)
Caine hooks up with Ilena, played by Erin LeShawn Wiley, ultimately impregnating her. After Caine blows off taking any responsibility, it prompts Ilena’s cousin to intervene, ultimately leading to the film’s violent climax. Ilena lives at this house.
LOCATION: 4920 11th Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043
The 1995 film “The Bridges of Madison County” takes place in Iowa, where the film was likewise shot. The farmhouse where Francesca Johnson, played by Meryl Streep, lives can be found in Cumming, Iowa. Here Fransesca meets Robert Kincaid, a photojournalist from National Geographic visiting the area of photograph the covered bridges of Madison County.
The house was built in 1870 by an Argentinian sea captain named Nicholas Thompson, who later sold the house and surrounding land to Joseph Mead. The home has remained with his family since that time. After searching over 150 properties for the perfect farmhouse, on the final day of scouting, the filmmakers discovered the home by helicopter. By the time Eastwood and his crew found the home, it had sat vacant for over thirty years in disrepair. The production completely restored the property and made use of both the interiors and exteriors for the film.
After the success of the film, the owners opened up the home to tours. Much like another famous filming location in Iowa, the house and baseball field from “Field Of Dreams,” the home attracted many tourists, who could visit inside and outside the grounds. This ended on October 6, 2003, when arsonists destroyed part of the home. The northwest corner was largely destroyed, which contained memorabilia for the film, including photos and scripts, many of which were lost forever.
After the fire, the tours ceased and the home was never restored. The area in back damaged most heavily by the fire remains completely open and exposed to the elements. The area is now fenced off from visitors and the home is in poor condition. You can in fact clearly see the home from the gravel road out front, which is public. However, it sits a short distance back from the road. The long driveway up to the home is private and closed to the public. With the home empty, fire damaged and completely exposed for decades, we’re not sure how long it will remain standing. For now, however, it remains somewhat in tact for anyone willing to make their way out to see it.
LOCATION: 3255 130th St, Cumming, IA 50061 (GPS coordinates: 41°28’03.1″N 93°49’43.9″W)
Several covered bridges are featured in the film. The Roseman Covered Bridge plays a key role in the film, when Fransesca first navigates Robert to it in the early part of the story. Roseman Covered Bridge was built in 1883. One of the final two covered bridges ever built in Madison County, it carried motorists for nearly one hundred years before being decommissioned. While most other covered bridges in the area have since been demolished, Roseman Covered Bridge remains standing and is open to the public.
LOCATION: 2451 Elderberry Ave, Winterset, IA 50273
When Robert first arrives with Fransesca, he heads down to this area to set up his camera.
Here is the view Robert was scouting to photograph. This view is also seen on the theatrical poster.
Fransesca walks around this area of the bridge while Robert works.
After getting a drink from the truck, Fransesca comes to the opposite side of the bridge to find Robert picking flowers for her in this area. Fransesca teases Robert that the flowers are poisonous.
The bridge is featured again in the closing scenes of the film.
The locations for “The Bridges of Madison County” are unique in that many of them are old and historic, yet remain standing today. Tucked away from the destination locations of America, they remain a hidden treasure for film lovers, as well as anyone who can appreciate nature or history.
Related articles: Breezy (1973), Million Dollar Baby (2004), American Sniper (2014)
The 2021 film “King Richard” tells the story of the rise of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and their father Richard, who trained them from an early age. The Williams home, featured in numerous scenes throughout the film, can be found in Compton, California. Only the exterior scenes were filmed here, the interiors were filmed inside a different home.
LOCATION: 2114 E Piru St, Compton, CA 90222
The production made several modifications to the exterior of the home, including the windows, stairs, door frame and posts on the front porch.
A subplot involving a neighbor who doesn’t get along with the Williams family takes place at the home directly across the street.
LOCATION: 2117 E Piru St, Compton, CA 90222
The tennis courts where Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, trains his daughters is located at Leon H Washington Park near the neighborhood of Watts.
LOCATION: 8908 Maie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90002
The Williams family parks their van in this area.
One of the most famous filming locations in the world is the Corleone house from the 1972 classic “The Godfather,” located in Staten Island, New York. The property itself appears much larger on film than it is in person. The stone wall that lines the perimeter was built higher for the film, to give it more of an appearance of a compound. A large entrance gate was also built on the street by the filmmakers and subsequently removed after filming. The large yard where the wedding was hosted was actually shot on the yards of several homes on the same street. The interiors of the home were built on a set.
LOCATION: 110 Longfellow Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301
The stone wall and shrubs partially obscure the home in person, but it is still very identifiable and mostly visible.
Here is an aerial view of the property.
Jack Woltz, played by John Marley, lives at this home, located in Beverly Hills. The famous scene where he awakens to discover a horse’s severed head in his bed was a composite of two locations. The exterior establishing shots were filmed at this home, while the interior scenes were filmed at Falaise, which is part of the Sands Point Preserve and open to the public (127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050). The famous bedroom scene was actually filmed in the dining room.
LOCATION: 1011 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The Beverly Hills home is known as the Hearst Estate, for once having belonged to William Randolph Hearst. While not quite as famous as his San Simeon estate, Hearst moved to this home in 1947, where he remained until his death. The home today is a private estate not visible from the road. The estate also appears in the films “The Bodyguard,” “Fletch,” “The Jerk,” “Into the Night” and “Harper.” Many TV shows have also shot here, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “Columbo,” “Mod Squad” and “The Colbys,” as well as Beyoncé’s video “Black Is King.”
Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is exiting the Radio City Music Hall with Kay, played by Diane Keaton, when he learns his father has been shot. The landmark concert hall has appeared in countless productions, such as “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Annie,” “Rocky III,” “Radio Days” and many more.
LOCATION: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
Film Oblivion 