Suburban Commando (1991)

In the 1991 comedy “Suburban Commando,” Hulk Hogan plays a warrior from outer space named Shep Ramsey, who finds himself stranded on Earth after crash-landing. Ordered by his commander to use the time to take a vacation, Shep takes up residence with a suburban family.

The film was shot entirely in Southern California. Early in the movie, after Shep leaves his space craft hidden away to recharge, he first encounters Earthlings walking down this strip of storefronts, located in Pacific Palisades. The storefronts have changed very little from the time filming took place and much of it is still easily recognizable. He turns this corner from the parking area to see a cop writing a ticket and a man holding a broom, shouting at him.

LOCATION: 16618 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

As Shep continues walking, a group of women notice him and comment to themselves in front of this store.

LOCATION: 16636 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

In the same general area to the right of the doors, a woman is standing in front of a soda machine, angry because it took her money. Shep hits the machine and all the coins spill out, causing a group of kids to run over and collect them.

As he continues walking past this store, a couple pedestrians pass and comment on his unusual fashion.

LOCATION: 16642 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Shep notices a dog locked in a vehicle in the blistering heat in front of this restaurant, where the owner sits and eats a meal and yells at the dog. Shep grabs the man, locks him in the vehicle and lets the dog finish the owner’s meal.

LOCATION: 16646 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Shep reaches the end of the block, rounding the corner onto Bollinger Dr, where he notices a telephone pole with a posting advertising an apartment for rent. The phone pole has since been removed.

LOCATION: 16650 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

The scene ends with Shep taking the advertisement and walking down Bollinger Dr, implying the Wilcox property is located just down the road. The real location, however, is located nowhere near Pacific Palisades.

The same location appears again later in the film, when Shep encounters a mime, who he believes is actually stuck in an invisible force field.

LOCATION: Bollinger Dr / Marquez Ave Los Angeles, CA 90272

The apartment ad eventually leads Shep to Jenny Wilcox, played by Shelley Duvall, who posted the rental as a means to help bring in extra income for her husband Charlie, played by Christoper Lloyd. The Wilcox family home can be found in Tarzana.

LOCATION: 19106 Sylvan St, Tarzana, CA 91335

The house is mostly seen in tight shots, or facing out towards the street. There are, however, a couple brief views of the entire home in wide shots.

The neighboring homes to the left and right of the Wilcox house are also featured in the film. This is the home where Charlie’s neighbor is working on cars in the driveway throughout the film. He keeps leaving vehicles on the street, blocking Charlie from accessing his own driveway, until Shep takes matters into his own hands.

LOCATION: 19100 Sylvan St, Tarzana, CA 91335

On the other side of the Wilcox house is where the eccentric veteran neighbor sits out in the front lawn and strikes up a friendship with Shep, sharing battle stories.

LOCATION: 19112 Sylvan St, Tarzana, CA 91335

The traffic light Charlie keeps getting stuck at throughout the film can be found at the intersection of Burbank Blvd and Woodley Ave, near Encino Village in the San Fernando Valley.

LOCATION: Burbank Blvd / Woodley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91411

Friday The 13th Part III (1982)

Higgins Haven from “Friday The 13th Part III” can be found at the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot in Santa Clarita, California.  Many people know the lot as the Veluzat Movie Ranch and it is still commonly referred to by that name.  However, the ranch has since changed its name to the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot.  If you make it to the ranch in person, you’ll see a sign at the gates, referring to it as such.  The lot is owned by the Veluzats, who also own Melody Ranch in Newhall, California.  To make matters more confusing, right next to it sits the Diamond V Movie Ranch.  This is owned by other members of the Velutats, but not the same ones as those who own Melody Ranch and the Melody Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch).  People often mistake Diamond V and Veluzat Ranch as being one in the same, or Melody Ranch and Melody Backlot, but they are separate properties.

While perhaps not quite as well known as Melody Ranch in Newhall, the Melody Backlot is actually larger.  To get to the ranch, you make a turn from Copper Hill Drive.  There is a very unassuming dirt road there (GPS coordinates: 34°27’36.5″N 118°30’32.0″W).  You would never guess from that road what lies at the end of that dirt road, but if you follow the long dirt road, you’ll sure enough arrive at the ranches.  However, a locked fence is at the entrance and you can proceed no further without permission of the owners.  The good news, however, is that the ranch is available for public tours.  You must book by appointment only and if productions are in active progress, that may inhibit their availability, but the Melody Ranch owners are very generous in that they offer tours in the first place, as most Southern California movie ranches do not.

Perhaps the most widely known location among horror fans at the property is Higgins Haven.  This is where the house was located, which was destroyed by a fire.  The chimney and parts of the foundation still remain.

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LOCATION: Melody Ranch Studio Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch), Forest Rte 5N28, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’32.0″N 118°29’46.4″W)

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Here is the famous barn from the film, which sits right across from the above location.

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Here is a look inside the barn.

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Here is the second level, where Jason attacks.

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If you get a chance to visit the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot, we highly encourage it.  Please do so by booking a tour, to support the owners who have preserved these sets for decades.

Inception (2010)

The 2010 Christopher Nolan film “Inception” shot in a variety of locations around the world, including France, England, Japan, Morocco, Canada and the United States.  Ariadne, played by Ellen Page, explains the dream world to Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, by changing the landscapes. These scenes were filmed at Pont de Bir-Hakeim in Paris. Ariadne appears to make these steps elevate. In reality, the way she alters it is how it actually appears.

LOCATION: Pont de Bir-Hakeim, 75015 Paris, France

Cobb watches from this direction.

They cross this area over the street as people representing Cobb’s subconscious start bumping into Ariadne.

Ariadne then starts moving mirrors in this area.

Here is the spot where Ariadne shatters the mirror and changes the landscape. Once again, the way it looks after she changes it is how it actually appears. Pont de Bir-Hakeim, a bridge that crosses the Seine, has been featured in many films, such as “Last Tango In Paris,” “Elevator to the Gallows,” “Ronin,” “Forget Paris,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “The Conformist” and more.

It is seen one more time from this angle as Cobb starts to remember being there with his wife Mal, played by Marion Cotillard.

Quite a few scenes were filmed around Southern California. At this intersection in Downtown Los Angeles, Cobb goes over plans with his team to execute a mission within a dream.

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LOCATION: Wilshire Blvd / Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Directly across the street are the corner steps where Cobb picks up a man in a taxi and kidnaps him.  The same steps were used in “The Social Network,” when Jesse Eisenberg shows up to a business meeting wearing a robe.

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LOCATION: 707 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Yusuf’s van falls from the Schuyler F. Heim Bridge, a vertical lift bridge in Long Beach. This area has since changed some. The exact stretch of the liftspan seen in the film has since been removed and a fixed stretch of bridge now exists in it’s place. Construction on the remodeled bridge began in 2011 and was completed in 2020.

LOCATION: Schuyler F. Heim Bridge, Terminal Island Fwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

Cobb walks with Mal through a deep dream state called “limbo,” where the dreamers risk being unable to awaken.  This area is part of The Music Center building in Downtown Los Angeles, facing toward The John Ferraro Building.  Cobb also walks with Ariadne through the same area.

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LOCATION: 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Cobb and Ariadne continue walking through the surreal landscape, where old houses are seen partially submerged in water.  This was filmed at The John Ferraro Building, which has been featured in countless films and television shows, such as “The Nice Guys,” “Hancock,” “The Omega Man” and more.  The buildings submerged in water were CGI, replacing the L.A. skyline on the left, but the section of the Ferraro Building on the right side is the real location seen in the film.

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LOCATION: 111 N Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mal, believing she’s trapped in a dream and will only awaken by leaping to her death, sits on the ledge of this building.

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LOCATION: 215 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Some props from the film could be found on display on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Related articles: Memento (2000), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

The 1971 road movie “Two-Lane Blacktop,” directed by Monte Hellman, was filmed across many states, including North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.  In the film, The Driver, played by James Taylor and The Mechanic, played by Dennis Wilson, stop off at this cafe located in Flagstaff, Arizona for a meal.  The classic ’55 Chevy from the film was parked out front in the scene.

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LOCATION: 7136 US-89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Much like the previous installments, the 2018 sequel “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” filmed largely in Hawaii, with some additional filming in England.  After the events of “Jurassic World,” the island of Isla Nulabar is heavily damaged and mostly abandoned.  A team of mercenaries arrive on the island to collect DNA as a volcano nears eruption.

Ken Wheatley, played by Ted Levine, leads a team on an expedition back into Jurassic World.  Owen, played by Chris Pratt, and Claire, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, join the expedition to track down the dinosaurs, in hopes of relocating them to a new sanctuary.  The convoy travels across this valley, which is seen in both “Jurassic Park” during the gallimimus stampede and in “Jurassic World,” when the boys ride a train out to the Gyrosphere area.  This area can be found on Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii.

LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Much like in “Jurassic World,” the mountains seen here have a railway added via CGI.

The team arrives at this bunker, where they are able to get inside and activate the dinosaur tracking system.  The set from the film remains in tact at Kualoa Ranch.

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Just as depicted in the film, right next to the bunker is the mountain top where the volcano threatens to blow throughout the film.  If you’re facing the bunker set, it is located directly on the left.

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There are a wide variety of tours available at Kualoa Ranch, more than one of which is film related. We recommend the Premier Movie Site Tour, as it takes you to many filming locations exclusively featured on that particular tour.  If you make it out to Hawaii, it is a highly recommended place to visit.

Related articles: Jurassic World (2015), Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001)

Erin Brockovich (2000)

The 2000 film “Erin Brockovich,” starring Julia Roberts and directed by Steven Soderbergh, tells the story of a woman who uncovers a water contamination case in the town of Hinkley, California.  Based on true events, the production did indeed shoot in the actual town, which is commendable for its efforts at location accuracy, since there are areas closer to Los Angeles that could’ve stood in.

Erin’s house can be found in Ventura, California.

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LOCATION: 545 Emma Ave, Ventura, CA 93003

Erin picks up her kids from the babysitter next door.  The house really is directly next door to Erin’s house.  After the babysitter moves out, George, played by Aaron Eckhart, moves in and begins babysitting Erin’s kids.

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LOCATION: 555 Emma Ave, Ventura, CA 93003

Erin takes her kids to this restaurant, where she makes an excuse for not eating, in order to cover up the fact she doesn’t have enough money to cover a meal for herself.

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LOCATION: 3159 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93003

Erin gets a job a Ed Masry’s office, which can be found in Reseda.

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LOCATION: 18645 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335

After deciding to research the case further, Erin makes her way to the town of Hinkley, California, passing by the gas and electric company.

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LOCATION: 35863 Fairview Rd, Hinkley, CA 92347

Located just past the gas company is the house of Donna Jensen, played by Marg Helgenberger.  There’s not much to see from the road, as the properties are obscured by trees.

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LOCATION: Fairview Rd, Hinkley, CA 92347 (just after the gas buildings)

Erin visits the water board in an attempt to find incriminating records.

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LOCATION: 26949 Cote St, Boron, CA 93516

Erin interviews more possible victims of toxic water at this home, located in Boron.

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LOCATION: 26821 John St, Boron, CA 93516

She encounters a woman who initially refuses to participate in the case at this home.

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LOCATION: 12130 Kostopolous Ave, Boron, CA 93516

A judge decides the case merits going to trial at the Barstow Superior Court.

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LOCATION: 235 E Mountain View St, Barstow, CA 92311

Ed Masry holds a meeting with a group of upset plaintiffs at this building, located in Boron.

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LOCATION: Near the intersection of Boron Ave / John St, Boron, CA 93516 (GPS coordinates: 34°59’47.3″N 117°39’00.6″W)

Ed Masry upgrades to a new office, located in Glendale.

LOCATION: 505 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

Late in the film, Erin meets with George at this motel.

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LOCATION: 24147 Twenty Mule Team Rd, Boron, CA 93516

Related articles: The Limey (1999), Traffic (2000), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Magic Mike (2012), The Laundromat (2019)

Black Sheep (1996)

The 1996 comedy “Black Sheep,” starring Chris Farley and David Spade, takes place in Washington.  However, much of the film actually shot in Southern California.  The house of Mike Donnelly, played by Chris Farley, can be found in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles.

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LOCATION: 5158 Highland View Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Sky High (2005)

The 2005 adventure film “Sky High” was filmed primarily in Southern California.  The Stronghold residence can be found in South Pasadena.  The same home was featured in the films “Space Jam” and the 2007 remake of “Halloween.”  Located on a popular street for filming, the home sits directly next door to the house from “Liar Liar.”

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LOCATION: 1002 Highland St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Gwen, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, lives at this home, also located in South Pasadena.

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LOCATION: 410 Prospect Cir, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The Net (1995)

The 1995 Sandra Bullock film “The Net” was shot mostly around Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.  In the film, Angela Bennett, played by Bullock, lives in this house in Venice.

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LOCATION: 407 28th Ave, Venice, CA 90291

The homeowners built a large fence around the property, obscuring much of the view.

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The U.S. Embassy seen in the film is actually the Pasadena City Hall.  It has been featured in numerous productions, such as “American Pie 2,” “Beverly Hills Cop II” and “S1m0ne,” as well as the TV series “Parks And Recreation.”

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LOCATION: 100 Garfield Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Angela attempts to meet a fellow hacker named CyberBob at the carousel at the Santa Monica Pier.  The same carousel was featured in the opening credits of the TV series “Three’s Company.”

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LOCATION: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401