The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

June 15, 2017March 17, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Unlike the first two installments of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy, which used Chicago to double as Gotham City, the third and final installment, “The Dark Knight Rises” used an amalgam of cities, which included Pittsburgh, New York City and Los Angeles. Here we take a look at some of these locations.

Bane robs the Gotham City Stock Exchange, which was filmed in the heart of New York’s financial district on Wall Street. However, the production used the JP Morgan building, located directly across the street from the New York Stock Exchange.

LOCATION: 23 Wall St, New York, NY 10005

As Bane unleashes an explosion at the Gotham football stadium, as well as all across Gotham, Blake, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is rocked by one of the explosives and his car flips over as he drives down this alley. While many of these shots were filmed in Pittsburgh, this particular alley can be found in downtown Los Angeles. It’s located on Terminal Street, which intersects with 7th Street, just past Alameda Street.

LOCATION: Terminal St, Los Angeles, CA 90021 (a nearby address to arrive around the alley would be 1371 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021)

The police get trapped in a tunnel under the 6th Street Bridge, also in Downtown L.A. The bridge has been seen in countless films over the years, including “Grease,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds,” “Drive” and many more. The original bridge was demolished in 2016, with a new bridge built in its place in 2022. The area where the scene took place has changed quite a bit.

LOCATION: Under the 6th St Bridge, at the intersection of lower E 6th St / Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (heavily remodeled)

The scenes of Scarecrow sentencing people to punishment was filmed at Union Station, a train station in downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films, such as “Blade Runner,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Over at the 3rd Street Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles is where Catwoman, played by Anne Hathaway, uses the Batpod to blow up some cars, which have been piled up to obstruct the entrance. The view seen in the film is on the side of the tunnel that faces Flower Street. The same tunnel was also seen in “Darkman.”

LOCATION: W 3rd St., at the entrance facing S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90810

The Batpod Catwoman rides can be seen on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum, also in Los Angeles.

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

Moving over to Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Mellon University was used for a couple key sequences, near the film’s climax. Bane released the prisoners from Blackgate Prison, which was shot at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute. The building’s address is on Fifth Ave., but you’ll actually have to turn the corner to the side of the building facing Dirthridge St. to see the spot used in the film.

LOCATION: Software Engineering Institute, 4500 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (facing Dirthridge St)

The Mellon Institute, which is located right beside the Software Engineering Institute, served as Gotham City Hall, where Bane and Batman do battle on the steps of the building.

LOCATION: Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Lastly, we leave you with a shot of the Batmobile Tumbler from the film, which is on display at Warner Bros. Studios, as part of their tour.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

The Bad News Bears (1976)

June 13, 2017November 4, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The original version of “The Bad News Bears” shot at Mason Park in Chatsworth, California. The field was mostly unchanged for the production, with the biggest addition being a fence. The field still exists today, though it has been heavily remodeled. Curiously, there isn’t even so much as a sign denoting the field’s connection with the film. You would think the parks and recreation would better embrace their history.

Los Angeles appears to better acknowledge their film history. There is a field in the city actually named The Bad News Bears Field (1411 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025). While no filming took place at the L.A. field, it also has a connection with the film. Screenwriter Bill Lancaster enrolled his son in little league at the field. He drew upon the experiences as the basis for the film’s screenplay.

Below is a photo of the Chatsworth field, where the film was shot. Note that there are two baseball fields at the park. The one used in the film is the one nearest to Mason Ave, not the one near Fullbright Ave. The field also appeared in parts of the sequel “Bad News Bears in Breaking Training.”

LOCATION: 10500 Mason Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311

There Will Be Blood (2007)

June 12, 2017January 3, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

While the majority of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film “There Will Be Blood” was shot on location at McGuire Ranch in Marfa, Texas, the film’s third act was shot mostly in Beverly Hills, California. However, the brief establishing shot of Daniel Plainview’s mansion was shot at Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, Washington. Completed in 1911, the property is located within a private, gated community. However, the estate currently serves as an event space and bed and breakfast. The Stephen King miniseries “Rose Red” also filmed at Thornwood, as well as the prequel film “The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer” and the 1927 silent film “The Eyes of the Totem.”

LOCATION: 8601 N Thorne Ln SW, Lakewood, WA 98498

All of the interiors of the Plainview mansion were shot at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. While the outside of the Greystone grounds is open daily and free to the public, getting inside is a bit more challenging. The property is owned by the City of Beverly Hills and regularly accommodates productions and private events. Therefore, only a few times a year is access to the inside of the estate possible. Planning ahead is required if you’d like to see inside.

Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day Lewis, can be seen firing his gun in his house from this hallway.

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

The objects he is shooting at, which his son later steps over when arriving to visit, is seen from the reverse perspective.

Daniel Plainview can be seen writing checks at this kitchen counter.

Plainview’s son comes to visit Daniel in his office, which is lit much darker in the film. This same room can also be seen in “The Big Lebowski,” when The Dude visits The Big Lebowski, as well as in the films “Air Force One” and “Flowers In The Attic.” This room can actually be seen without gaining entry inside the building. Just left of the main windows at the front of the mansion, you can usually look through the windows and see this room, unless curtains are blocking it.

Daniel sits at his desk in front of this window, which again is much darker in the film.

A drunken Daniel Plainview is seen stumbling down these stairs, as the film approaches it’s final scenes.

Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano, pays Daniel a visit and fixes himself a drink at this bar.

In this corner of the bowling alley is where Eli Sunday and Daniel Plainview sit and talk, with Plainview seated on the bowling ball rack. Daniel demands Eli declare himself a false profit and delivers the famous “I drink your milkshake” speech. The bowling alley was completely restored by the production and the room remains identical to how it appeared in the film.

The film’s violent ending takes place on these bowling lanes. “I’m finished.”

Halloween (2007)

June 11, 2017October 1, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

For Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of “Halloween,” the fictional town of Haddonfield is actually South Pasadena, where the original film likewise shot. In fact, just a few blocks down from the Myers house from the John Carpenter original, you’ll find the Michael Myers home from Rob Zombie’s remake. The house was also notably used in the TV series “My So-Called Life.”

LOCATION: 1110 Glendon Way, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The interior of young Michael Meyers’ bedroom and bathroom was a completely different location, found in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. Known as The Beckett Mansion, the property actually operates as an event space and filming location year round. The same house has been featured in “True Romance,” “Neighbors,” “No Strings Attached” and many more. It’s also located directly across the street from the house from “The People Under The Stairs.”

LOCATION: 2218 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Here is the house of Laurie Strode. The same home was featured in the films “Space Jam” and “Sky High.”

LOCATION: 1002 Highland St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Here is the Wallace house. The same house was featured in the film “The Battle Of Shaker Heights.”

LOCATION: 1937 La France Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The Doyle house can be found on the same street as the Wallace house. The same house can also be seen in several other films, including “She’s Out Of Control,” “Flowers In The Attic,” “Little Fockers,” “Bruce Almighty” and “Star Kid.”

LOCATION: 1960 La France Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Young Michael Myers attends school at this building, which is actually an administration building for the South Pasadena Unified School District.

LOCATION: 1020 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Directly across the street is Laurie’s school, which is actually the entrance of the Community Room of the South Pasadena Public Library. The same library was featured in a deleted scene in the film “Say Anything…“

LOCATION: 1115 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, where Michael Meyers is housed later in the film, is actually a Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills. There are quite a number of buildings and roads on the premises, so it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it. The same building was also featured in the films “Step Brothers,” “Argo,” and “Accepted.”

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

The Rock (1996)

June 10, 2017June 24, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The majority of Micheal Bay’s 1996 action film “The Rock” was shot on location at Alcatraz Island. You can read our separate article on Alcatraz here, which has many more photos.

LOCATION: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA 94133

The film also shot some scenes in Southern California. The house of Jade Angelou, played by Claire Forlani, can be found in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 611 W 37th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Near the end of the film, Sean Connery’s character is apprehended at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The same location appears in many films, such as “Vertigo,” “The Room,” “So I Married an Axe Murder,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Big Eyes” and more.

LOCATION: 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Step Brothers (2008)

June 7, 2017December 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers,” Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly famously waged war on the front lawn to this house in Altadena, where their characters find themselves suddenly living together.

LOCATION: 1987 Midwick Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

The spot where Brennan and Dale, played by Ferrell and Reilly respectively, get beat up by child bullies was filmed at Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills. There are quite a number of buildings and roads on the premises, so it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it. The same building was also featured in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” as well as such films as “Argo” and “Accepted.”

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

The Rules Of Attraction (2002)

June 6, 2017November 9, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Roger Avary’s 2002 adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel “The Rules of Attraction” was set in the fictional Camden College in New Hampshire, but it was actually filmed at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. In order to achieve this, the filmmakers had to be very careful in blocking their shots, as to avoid the mountains and palm trees that surround the area. Below, we’ll cover many shots seen in the film from around the campus.

This location also appeared in the film “Hell Night.”

LOCATION: 1200 E Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92374

Sean Bateman, played by James Van Der Beek, sits on these seats towards the end of the film.

The “End of the World” party takes place at this building.

One of the final shots of the movie, where the character of Sean rides away on his bike, was filmed here.

The home of Rupert, played by Clifton Collins Jr., can be found near Koreatown in L.A.

LOCATION: 858 3rd Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Paul and his friends drop off a classmate at a hospital in Downey, although it is never seen from this angle in the film.

LOCATION: 12750 Erickson Ave, Downey, CA 90242

The angle seen in the film faces this way, toward the street.

Sean Bateman drops of Paul at a bus station, which was on the grounds of the former Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California. Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center was founded back in the late 1800s. The hospital upgraded to a newer facility located nearby and abandoned a lot of their older buildings, with ownership transferred to the county. The buildings sat vacant for years. The buildings featured as the bus station could be found at Erickson Ave / Flores St, Downey, CA 90242, but have since been demolished.

During an extended montage, Victor, played by Kip Pardue, is seen traveling all over Europe, with many different locations seen in quick cuts, including Big Ben in London.

LOCATION: Big Ben, London SW1A 0AA, UK

The Eiffel Tower is Paris is also quickly seen.

LOCATION: Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

Victor is also seen at the Arc de Triomphe, which also briefly appears in Roger Avary’s previous film, “Killing Zoe.”

LOCATION: Arc de Triomphe, Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Victor eats with Sean and Mitchell, played by Thomas Ian Nicholas, at the former Quality Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles. The diner was a one-time staple of film, appearing in “Seven,” “Training Day,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Ghost World,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “(500) Days Of Summer” “Million Dollar Baby,” “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. 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)

The Game (1997)

June 5, 2017February 24, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

David Fincher’s 1997 thriller “The Game” mostly shot around the San Francisco area. However, the home of Nicholas van Orton, played by Michael Douglas, is tucked away in Woodside, California. The house is known as the “Filoli Mansion.” The house has also been seen in the films “Heaven Can Wait,” “Dying Young,” “George of the Jungle,” “The Joy Luck Club” and the 1980s TV drama “Dynasty.”

It is not a private residence and tours of the property are open to the public. There are a couple things to keep in mind, however, if you do plan a visit. First of all, the house can be tricky to locate if you’re using GPS. The property is not visible at all from Cañada Road. All you’ll see is land and trees. Also, most GPS systems do not show the driveway to the property, which is off to the side a short drive, so it’ll appear on most maps as having no access. This is not the case of course. Simply head past the house until you see an opening to the north. This driveway will lead you up to the guard house. The second thing to keep in mind is the property is intermittently closed. Anything from special events to seasonal closings may prevent you from visiting, so be sure to schedule in advance and verify the place is open when you plan on stopping.

LOCATION: 86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062

The office of Nicholas van Orton is seen through the alleyway of Leidesdorff Street in San Francisco.

LOCATION: 465 California St, San Francisco, CA 94104 (view seen in the film is from Leidesdorff St)

As Nicholas and Christine, played by Deborah Kara Unger, walk away from the hospital, they pass this building, with the Los Angeles Stock Exchange engraving seen in the shot. A security vehicle approaches and they take a quick left at this corner and begin running. In the film, it cuts to an alley, but in reality, this corner is actually just an entrance into the building.

LOCATION: 618 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Nick’s brother Conrad, played by Sean Penn, becomes paranoid and accuses Nick of conspiring with the creators of the game. He runs from Nicholas down these stairs.

LOCATION: Joice St Steps, Joice St, San Francisco, CA 94108 (located between 740 and 750 Joice St, San Francisco, CA 94108)

Later in the film, Nicholas visits the home of Christine, played by Deborah Kara Unger, where they soon finds themselves under attack. This location can actually be found in Los Angeles, not far from Dodger Stadium.

LOCATION: 439 Savoy St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Nicholas and Christine speed away from gunfire, first driving past the intersection of Laguna Ave / Laveta Terrace, Los Angeles, CA 90026. They continue down this unnamed alley between Laguna Ave and Echo Park Ave, where they lose the van tailing them.

LOCATION: Near 1109 Laguna Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’33.6″N, 118°15’25.5″W)

Nicholas kicks Christine out of his car on N Ave 19, before quickly changing his mind and letting her back in. The overpass has since changed some with wider lanes.

LOCATION: N Ave 19, Los Angeles, CA 90065 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’53.2″N, 118°13’35.8″W)

After escaping from Mexico, Nicholas visits the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey, where he attempts to get a ride back to San Francisco. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “One Hour Photo,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien” and many more. In 2007, the building was unfortunately demolished. However, Bob’s Big Boy purchased the property years later and rebuilt it based on the original blueprints and even some of the same materials. So what stands now closely resembles what was seen in the film.

LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

The Deer Hunter (1978)

June 4, 2017August 19, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Michael Cimino’s classic film “The Deer Hunter” is often remembered for it’s harrowing scenes set in the Vietnam War, which were actually shot in Thailand. However, the first half of the film is set in a blue-collar town in Pennsylvania. The town was a composite of quite a few different locations, including Mingo Junction and Cleveland, Ohio, Weirton, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rockport and Deming, Washington.

Among the many towns featured in the film, Mingo Junction is the one that most celebrates the film. This area is seen in one of the opening shots of the film, showing the steel factory. The factory has mostly been demolished, but some remnants are still standing.

LOCATION: 438 Commercial St, Mingo Junction, OH 43938

Just behind the above location, you’ll find this mural honoring the film’s history in Mingo Junction.

LOCATION: 448 Commercial St, Mingo Junction, OH 43938

Here is a closer look at the mural showing various scenes filmed around Mingo Junction.

Just across the street from the above mural, you’ll find another mural for the documentary “Michael Cimino, God Bless America” about this film’s director, which also shot scenes around Mingo Junction. For those interested, there is a third film mural in Mingo Junction, for the 1984 movie “Reckless,” located at 456 Commercial St, Mingo Junction, OH 43938.

This plaque is located beside the mural.

The location of Welsh’s Lounge has since been demolished. It could be found just across the street from the building on the right, in what is now empty land. The guys can be seen racing past a truck from this view.

LOCATION: Near 904 Commercial St, Mingo Junction, OH 43938 (GPS coordinates: 40°19’03.9″N, 80°36’29.2″W)

Some women are seen carrying the wedding cake in this area in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of the buildings have since been demolished and replaced with different buildings, including the grocery store.

LOCATION: 761 Starkweather Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

The wedding of Steven and Angela was shot at the Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland, seen in the same image above. The building considered to be one of the finest examples of Russian architecture in the United States. The same location briefly appears in the films “American Splendor” and “Major League.” The building suffered a fire in 2024 and is being repaired.

LOCATION: 733 Starkweather Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

The reception hall exterior was filmed at Lemko Hall in Cleveland.

LOCATION: Lemko Hall, 1046 Literary Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113

After Michael, played by Robert De Niro, returns from the war, he is seen walking with Linda, played by Meryl Streep down the stairs on the right. The buildings on the right side have since been demolished, but the stairs, as well as the buildings in the background, all still match up.

LOCATION: Near 601 Commercial St, Mingo Junction, OH 43938 (GPS coordinates: 40°19’17.4″N, 80°36’23.3″W)

To see our “The Deer Hunter” location page, click here.

Blade Runner (1982)

June 3, 2017August 16, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The events of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” depict a futuristic Los Angeles. Present day has caught up and while the city may not look exactly as it did it the film, even decades later, the locations of “Blade Runner” still stand out as unique and interesting. While most of these locations have been featured in many other productions, they remain most widely recognized for “Blade Runner.” Here, we’ll walk through many of these locations.

Deckard’s apartment is a famous house in Los Angeles, located in the Los Feliz area, known as the “Ennis House.” Only exteriors of the house are seen in the film, the interiors were built on a stage inside Warner Bros. Studio. The house has been used in countless productions, including the original “House On Haunted Hill,” “The Day of the Locust,” “The Karate Kid Part III,” “Black Rain” (also directed by Ridley Scott), “The Glimmer Man,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Rush Hour,” “Female,” “A Passion to Kill,” “Timestalkers,” “Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf,” “The Terminal Man” and “The Thirteenth Floor.” It has also been recreated on studio stages for movies such as “Predator 2,” “The Rocketeer” and “Mullholland Drive” It’s been seen in the TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Twin Peaks,” as well as countless other music videos and commercials.

LOCATION: 2607 Glendower Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sebastion’s apartment is another very well known filming location, called The Bradbury Building. Located in downtown Los Angeles, visitors are welcome to explore from the lobby area. It’s well worth seeing, as the architecture is very unique and still clearly resembles how it appeared in the film. Much like the “Ennis House,” the interiors of Sebastion’s apartment were shot on the stages of Warner Bros. Studios. Also likewise, The Bradbury Building has been seen in countless other films, such as “Chinatown,” “Wolf,” “Disclosure,” “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Pay It Forward,” “Murder In the First,” “China Girl,” “The White Cliffs of Dover, ” “D.O.A.,” “Indestructible Man,” “Marlowe,” and “(500) Days of Summer.” It’s also been seen in the television series “The Outer Limits,” “Quantum Leap,” “Mission: Impossible,” “CSI: NY” and many more, as well as several music videos and commercials.

LOCATION: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

This poster that hangs in the lobby of the Bradbury.

The tunnel Deckard drives through is the 2nd Street Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles, located between Figueroa St. and Hill St., beneath Bunker Hill. The tunnel has been seen in many productions, such as “The Terminator,” “Demolition Man,” “Independence Day,” “Con Air,” “Kill Bill,” “Double Dragon” and many more.

LOCATION: 620 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The police station is actually Union Station, a train station in downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films as well, such as “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “Bugsy,” “Nick of Time,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Mike’s Murder,” “The Way We Were,” “Union Station,” “Under the Rainbow” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

We leave you with some props from the film. First, Deckard’s blaster, which was used in both the original film, as well as the “Blade Runner 2049” sequel. The gun was on display as part of Warner Bros. “Blade Runner 2049 Experience” at the San Diego Comic-Con.

Some memory spheres from the original film, used to store Voight Kampff tests to determine if one was a replicant or not. These were also seen on the “Blade Runner 2049 Experience.”