Point Break (1991)

April 2, 2019October 19, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

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.

Beaches (1988)

March 28, 2019October 9, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1988 Garry Marshall film “Beaches” filmed at Cottage 13 at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. The cottage looks a bit different now than how it appeared back then, but there is still some resemblance.

Parking is tricky in this area. While you can drop off and pick up fairly close to the beach, the closest proper parking lot (the Los Trancos Parking Lot) is across the street and charges a fee. You’ll have to walk the rest of the way or wait for a shuttle, which also charges a fee. There’s no exact address to the cottage, but some GPS systems do identify it as the “Beaches Film & Media Center.” It’s the last cottage at the end, past The Beachcomber restaurant.

LOCATION: Beaches Film & Media Center, Newport Beach, CA 92657 (just past The Beachcomber restaurant at 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, CA 92657)

Crystal Cove kindly honors their film history with a sign marking it as the cottage from the movie. There a film museum inside, celebrating not only “Beaches,” but many other productions at the beach, which date all the way back to the silent era.

The cottage is owned by the State of California and is completely open to the public.

The Birdcage (1996)

March 26, 2019October 9, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The titular “Birdcage Club” in the 1996 comedy “The Birdcage,” starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman and Nathan Lane, can be found along the famous Ocean Dr in Miami Beach. The real building is actually known as “The Carlyle” and is also seen in the film “Scarface,” as well as the TV shows “The Golden Palace” and “Miami Vice.”

LOCATION: 1250 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Lethal Weapon (1987)

March 22, 2019October 17, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The tower where the woman falls to her death in the opening of the 1987’s “Lethal Weapon” was filmed at the International Tower Condos in Long Beach, California.

LOCATION: 700 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, shows up in front of the same tower to investigate. The Villa Riviera condos can be seen in the distance.

Murtaugh’s house, seen in much of the film, was not a real house. It was a set on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California. The ranch was offsite from the main Warner Studio lot and not available for public tours. The house had been used in countless productions, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “American Beauty,” “Hook, Line and Sinker,” “WandaVision” and many, many more. It had the most complete interiors of any set on the ranch, much of which was seen in the film. The entire ranch was demolished in 2023, with sound stages taking over the space.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished)

The building where Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson, uses his unique methods to neutralize a potential suicide jumper was filmed at the Emser Tile building in West Hollywood.

LOCATION: 8431 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Riggs and Murtaugh grab hotdogs at the corner of Western Ave and Wilshire Blvd, with The Wiltern music venue in the background.

LOCATION: Western Ave / Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010

Color Of Night (1994)

March 19, 2019May 5, 2023 / filmoblivion / 1 Comment

Much of the 1994 film “Color of Night” takes place at a mansion belonging to Bob, played by Scott Bakula, but which is occupied by Bill, played by Bruce Willis, for the majority of the film. The house is known as the Circles on the Point mansion and can be found directly across from Point Dume in Malibu, California.

The mansion has appeared in several other productions, including the TV series “GLOW” and “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” as well as the low-budget 2000 drama “Ritual.” It is also worth noting that the house of Tony Stark in the “Iron Man” films, while a CGI creation, was superimposed to be located at Point Dume, which is directly across the street from this home, making it the closest actual residence Stark’s fictional home.

Here is the driveway to the house, which is seen several times in the film, including when Bill opens the mailbox to discover a rattlesnake inside. It’s no longer the same mailbox, as the one seen in the film was built into a rock, but it’s located in the same area.

LOCATION: 29377 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

Here is a view of the front of the house. The circular opening on the left is where arguably the most famous scene from the film takes place; Bill’s sex scene with Rose, played by Jane March. The camera pulls back through the opening as the two fall into the pool. The pool is the same one shown in the film, but is not visible from the street.

Point Dume is directly across the street, which is also seen in the film, when Bill and Bob ride their bikes up the trail.

LOCATION: Point Dume, Cliffside Dr / Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265

Bill meets Anderson, played by Eriq La Salle, as the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles. A popular eating spot, Grand Central Market has appeared in many films, including “La La Land,” “Busting,” “National Treasure,” “Midnight Run” and many more.

LOCATION: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Bill visits Casey and climbs the fire escape to enter this building. It is perhaps most famously know and the location of Paddy’s Pub from “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” although the view on that show is from Palmetto St and the angle seen here is from Mateo St.

LOCATION: 544 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Natural Born Killers (1994)

March 16, 2019November 1, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Oliver Stone’s 1994 film “Natural Born Killers” was shot in quite a few different locations, including Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois and Indiana, as the story depicts two killers on a cross-country mass murder spree. In the opening scenes of the film, Micky and Mallory, played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis respectively, visit a restaurant on a desert road known as the “5 To 2 Cafe.” After some unwanted advances and rude remarks from some locals, things quickly turn violent.

The building used in the scene was vacant at the time of filming and dressed to appear like a working establishment by the filmmakers. It still remains standing all these years later, although it is closed down and long since boarded up. The former diner can be found on AZ-99, along an isolated stretch on the outskirts of Winslow, Arizona. To visit in person, it feels quite remote. However, in reality, it’s only a few miles from Interstate 40, between the highway and the town of Leupp. The exact location of the building is 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W.

LOCATION: AZ-99, Winslow, AZ 86047 (between Interstate 40 and Indian Rte 15, Leupp) (GPS coordinates: 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W)

The property is fenced off from the sides and there is a residence next door, so be careful not to trespass or disturb the tenants.

These distinct circular windows can still be seen on the sides of the building. The windows are seen in the film behind Juliette Lewis, as she dances in front of the jukebox.

The overheating truck pulls up in front.

For those wondering, the “5 To 2 Cafe” sign out front near the road is long since gone.

Micky and Mallory get married at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable.

LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529

The same bridge appeared in the films “Twins,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “This Must Be The Place,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.”

Here is where the doll falls at the beginning of the scene and where Micky and Mallory cut their hands, hold them together and drop their blood into the river below.

Here is where the loud truck passengers drive by and momentarily irritate Micky and Mallory.

The gorge is a very sheer drop, so the surrounding land is mostly fenced off, preventing you from getting too close to the edges. Here is about as close as you can get, with this view taken through the wire fencing.

Here is a view standing on the middle of the bridge looking out at the road. It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.

This side of the gorge isn’t seen in the film, but here is the view from the opposite side of the bridge.

Here are some landmarks and signs for the bridge. You can see some of the fencing in the background, which is taller than it may appear here.

While it is permissible to fly drones at the bridge, the area is so windy, you’ll almost certainly lose your drone immediately if you attempt to fly one. We don’t recommend trying it. There is a parking lot available on one side of the bridge and a rest area on the other side, making it easy to access on foot. The drive to get there is the hardest part.

Later in the film, Micky and Mallory are finally captured at the “Drug Zone” after being bitten by rattlesnakes and in need of medicine. The building is currently a crafts store and can be found in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from the sign and some changes to the front entrance, the building otherwise still resembles how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 9350 Eagle Ranch Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114

A standoff between Micky and the cops ensues out front and after surrendering, Micky is then beaten by the police, as they try to prevent a film crew from capturing it.

Here’s a look from inside the store, in the general area where Micky exits and surrenders.

The exterior courthouse scene, where the large crowd is gathered, was filmed in Chicago. The interior court scenes were filmed at Hammond City Hall in Hammond, Indiana (5925 Calumet Ave, Hammond, IN 46320).

LOCATION: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

The prison scenes were filmed at Stateville Correctional Center, a real, operating prison in Crest Hill, about 45 minutes south of Chicago. The same prison appeared in the 1983 film “Bad Boys,” as well as the 1987 film “Weeds.” While images of the facility are widely available online, we were quickly told by prison guards not to take photographs. So we do not recommend attempting them here.

LOCATION: 16830 IL-53, Crest Hill, IL 60403

To see our “Natural Born Killers” location page, click here.

Related articles: JFK (1991), U Turn (1997)

Seven (1995)

March 15, 2019September 14, 2025 / filmoblivion / 1 Comment

David Fincher’s 1995 thriller “Seven” filmed primarily in downtown Los Angeles, against muted color tones and an onslaught of rain towers. Detective Mills, played by Brad Pitt, first meets Detective Somerset, played by Morgan Freeman, at a murder scene in the Flower District of downtown. As they exit the building, Somerset invites Mills for a drink, but is promptly declined. The two walk along the building as they continue talking.

LOCATION: 746 1/2 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The pair are introduced to the seven deadly sin killings with the “Gluttony” murder scene, filmed in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 720 Beacon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

They make their way across a then-vacant lot, along the side of the property to a rear entrance.

Somerset researches the seven deadly sins at the city library. This was filmed at the A.G. Bartlett Building in downtown Los Angeles. The building is currently used for a variety of businesses and lofts. The property has been seen in countless other films, including “They Live” “The Mask,” “The Wedding Singer,” “L.A. Story,” “The Prestige,” “Ghost,” “Bridesmaids,” “13 Going On 30” and many more. This area cannot normally be accessed by pedestrians. However, portions are visible from the street in a couple areas through the windows.

LOCATION: 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Mills runs across the street in the rain to his car, parked across from this ramp to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on S Grand Ave. Lady Gaga walks up the same ramp in the opening of “A Star Is Born” and it can also be seen from the opposite view on S Olive St in the film “Chinatown.”

LOCATION: 530 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

After the “greed” crime, Mills and Somerset speak with Mrs. Gould at the at the former Ambassador Hotel, where she notices a painting is upside down in one of the crime scene photos. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “True Romance,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Mask,” “Calendar Girl” and dozens more. The hotel has since been demolished, with only this post and statue from the original building remaining.

LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)

Thinking they’ve located the killer, the police raid leads instead to the discovery of the “Sloth” victim at the former Pan American Building, now known as the Pan American Lofts. The building had a distinctive “Giant Penny Store” sign along the bottom, which is now gone. However, much of the architecture otherwise remains the same. The shots seen in the film are actually from the side of the building on W 3rd St.

LOCATION: 253 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tracy asks Somerset to meet her at a diner, which was the former Quality Cafe in downtown. The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Training Day,” “Ghost World,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “(500) Days Of Summer” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Rules Of Attraction,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and many more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming (much like Johnie’s Coffee Shop in mid-town L.A.). Unless the building was being set up for a production, most of the time it was closed up and locked by a large metal door covering the front windows. So catching a glimpse of it was rare. 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 (since closed and remodeled)

Later in the film, Somerset emerges from this doorway of the Chester Williams Building.

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

The fictitious Wild Bill’s Leather could be found on E 6th St in downtown Los Angeles, next to the Nite Owl from “L.A. Confidential” and across the street from where Forrest and Lieutenant Dan celebrate New Year’s in “Forrest Gump.”

LOCATION: 123 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The police station was a composite of a few different buildings, but the exterior can be found on Mateo St.

LOCATION: 673 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

The film’s infamous ending was shot in Lancaster. While there are quite a few electrical towers out there, it’s not as dense as what’s seen in the film, indicating some use of visual effects.

LOCATION: 10482 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536

Casino (1995)

March 11, 2019January 2, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Much of the 1995 Martin Scorsese film “Casino” was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, as you might imagine. The house where Ace, played by Robert De Niro, lives can be found in the Paradise Palms neighborhood. A real casino owner did at one time live in the home and once was even targeted for attack by a car bomb. However, it is not the same man De Niro’s character is based on in the film. Former rap mogul Suge Knight is also said to have owned the house at one time.

LOCATION: 3515 Cochise Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89169

This Is 40 (2012)

March 3, 2019December 11, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2012 comedy “This Is 40,” a spin-off of “Knocked Up,” the story follows the life of a married couple, Pete and Debbie, played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. The same house was used for the couple in both films and can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The property is gated, with a long wall running along the front, so visibility is difficult. From the right angle, however, it can still be seen.