The 1993 action comedy “Surf Ninjas” was filmed primarily in Southern California, with some additional filming in Hawaii and Thailand. The home of Johnny and Adam, played by Ernie Reyes Jr. and Nicolas Cowan, can be found in Hermosa Beach.
LOCATION: 2400 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Early in the film, Iggy, played by Rob Schneider, is seen driving the boys around the city. They drive past the Santa Monica Pier.
LOCATION: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
They also drive down Windward Ave in Venice Beach. The portion they are seen driving down is actually now closed to vehicular traffic and is a pedestrian only pathway.
LOCATION: Near Windward Ave / Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Zatch, played by Ernie Reyes Sr., takes the boys to the Imperial Palace restaurant, where they meet Ro-May, played by Kelly Hu. The exterior scenes were filmed at Hop Louie in Chinatown. The restaurant has since closed, but the facade still remains. The same restaurant was also seen in the films “I Love You, Man,” “Beverly Hills Ninja” and “Mystery Men.”
The 1999 South Korean crime drama “Nowhere to Hide” tells the story of a detective on the hunt for a mysterious assassin. In an early, key scene in the film, Chang Sung-min, played by Ahn Sung-ki, attacks a man in the rain at the 40-stairs in Busan, South Korea. Also known as the 40-step stairway, the stairs are a tourist destination with cultural significance to the area. The 40-stairs was a place for family reunions during the evacuation period of the Korean War. It was also a scene of the frustrated lives of refugees. The refugees who lived there formed shantytowns on the mountain and climbed the 40-stairs every day to go to work or to raise water. The 40-stairs lost its original shape after the great fire in front of Busan Station on November 27, 1953. It was then rebuilt 25 meters to the south of its original location.
LOCATION: 40-step stairway, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea (GPS coordinates: 35°06’14.1″N, 129°02’04.5″E)
The area to the right overlooking the stairs is where the attack first takes place in the film. There are many statues and sculptures in the area, such as the one of the left. It is also not far from the Busan Museum of Movies, which we recommend if you are in the area.
The 1994 comedy “Airheads,” starring Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler, was filmed around Los Angeles, California. The exterior of the KPPX Rebel Radio station, where much of the film takes place is actually located on the grounds of Fox Plaza, more famously known for it’s appearance as Nakatomi Plaza in “Die Hard.” This building sits opposite the back entrance of the main building and connects to a parking structure, in an area typically off limits to the general public.
LOCATION: 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067
The main Fox Plaza building in also seen many times in the film, such as when the band first arrives at the radio station.
Chazz, played by Brendan Fraser, unsuccessfully tries to submit a demo to Palatine Records.
LOCATION: 10635 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
The apartment of Kayla, played by Amy Locane, can be found in Hollywood. There are limited views from the street.
LOCATION: 1600 N Bronson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The Lone Rangers band lives in this apartment building overlooking Hollywood.
LOCATION: 6326 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The address is listed as Franklin Ave, which is deceptive. The road is atop a hillside, separating it from the main road of Franklin Ave. You actually need to take Yucca St to Ivar Ave to access it.
The band catches a show at the famous Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood. The venue pops up again later in the film when Officer Wilson, played by Chris Farley, goes looking for Kayla.
LOCATION: 8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
The 1994 film “Double Dragon,” based on the popular 1987 video game, was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio and Los Angeles, California. Billy and Jimmy Lee, played by Scott Wolf and Mark Decascos, get chased around the streets of “New Angeles” by Bo Abobo. Part of the chase was filmed at Grand Lower in Downtown L.A. This is a popular area for both filming and photography. It has been featured in countless films, including “The Terminator,” “Robocop,” “Demolition Man,” “Cobra,” “Batman Forever,” “Repo Man,” “The Hidden,” “Whore” and many more. It was also featured in the TV series “Westworld.”
The chase continues down the ramp on the left, past the “Uptown Rocker” public art piece in Downtown Los Angeles, which also appears in such films as “Southland Tales” and “The Hidden.”
LOCATION: W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (GPS coordinates: 34°03’06.3″N 118°15’10.2″W)
Billy and Jimmy walk beneath the Detroit-Superior Bridge in Cleveland (Detroit-Superior Bridge, Cleveland, OH 44113), where they talk about needing help to get the other half of a medallion.
Marian Delario, played by Alyssa Milano, sends a group of skaters into the Shuko Center shopping plaza to create a diversion with security as they enter the building. These scenes were filmed inside the Tower City Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The same shopping mall was seen in the film “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
LOCATION: 230 W Huron Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113
The closing scenes were filmed at the Sixth Street Viaduct in Downtown Los Angeles. The original bridge was demolished in 2016, due to a flaw in the original concrete used to build the bridge, which gave it a high likelihood of eventual collapse. A new bridge was built in it’s place and opened in 2022. The original bridge appeared in countless films, including “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Ghost World,” “Drive,” “Repo Man,” “Grease,” “Blade,” “Swordfish,” and dozens more.
LOCATION: Sixth Street Viaduct, E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The flower dress worn by Florence Pugh as the May Queen in the 2019 film “Midsommar” can be found on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California.
LOCATION: 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The 1996 Coen Brothers film “Fargo” is set in North Dakota and Minnesota and while some filming did occur in both states, none took place in the titular city of Fargo, North Dakota. The majority of the film was shot around the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, but due to some unusually low snowfall in the winter of 1995 when filming took place, some shots were done in Northern Minnesota and North Dakota.
Jerry Lundegaard, played by William H. Macy, meets with Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud, played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, at The King of Clubs, supposedly located in Fargo. The real building was located near 929 NE Central Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55413, but was demolished in 2003.
The home of Jerry Lundegaard is supposedly located in Minneapolis. The real home is located nearby in Eden Prairie.
LOCATION: 6358 Ginger Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
The Blue Ox Motel, where Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud have sex with two prostitutes, was actually a truck stop in South St Paul, which was dressed to look like a motel for the film
LOCATION: 501 Farwell Ave, South St Paul, MN 55075
Police chief Marge Gunderson, played by Frances McDormand, interviews the two prostitutes at the Lakeside Club in Mahtomedi. The building looked nearly identical to how it appeared in the film, but was demolished in 2022. However, we were able to visit while it still stood.
LOCATION: 10 Old Wildwood Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 (now demolished)
According to several sources online, the interior kitchen of the Gunderson house was located at 2215 Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404. There are real estate listings online and while the garage seen through the kitchen window appears to match up to the current property.
The 2002 Alexander Payne film “About Schmidt,” like much of the director’s work, was primarily filmed in Nebraska, with additional filming in Iowa and Colorado. In the film, Warren Schmidt, played by Jack Nicholson, begins retirement from working for an insurance company. The building featured as Schmidt’s workplace, Woodmen Tower, can be found in Omaha.
LOCATION: 1700 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68102
Schmidt lives with his wife Helen, played by June Squibb, at this home, also located in Omaha.
LOCATION: 5402 Izard St, Omaha, NE 68132
Schmidt embarks on a journey to Denver for his daughter’s wedding. Along the way he decides to stop off and visit his childhood home, only to discover it has been razed and a tire shop now stands in it’s place. This scene was filmed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is just over the state border from Nebraska.
LOCATION: 2103 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Schmidt arrives at the home of Roberta, played by Kathy Bates, which is supposedly located in Denver, Colorado. The real home can actually be found back in Omaha.
LOCATION: 3215 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, NE 68105
To see our “About Schmidt” location page, click here.
The found footage horror film “Paranormal Activity” takes place in a single setting, at a house in San Diego. The front of the home, however, is never seen in the film.
The 1988 sequel “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” was filmed in Utah. The Carruthers house can be found in Salt Lake City. The same house appeared in the next installment, “Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers.”
LOCATION: 509 3rd Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Over in the town of Midvale, you’ll find Vincent Drug, which served as the exterior of the drug store. Vincent Drug has long since closed, but the signage and decor largely remain in tact. The trees out front have grown considerably since filming took place, so it’s a bit difficult to see from across the street. The same location was also featured in “Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers,” “The Sandlot” and the Stephen King mini-series “The Stand.”
LOCATION: 7696 Main St W, Midvale, UT 84047
Jamie Lloyd, played by Danielle Harris, goes trick or treating at this home, also located in Salt Lake City.
LOCATION: 282 N Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Jaime also visits the house next door trick or treating.
LOCATION: 278 N Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Film Oblivion 