License To Drive (1988)

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The 1988 comedy “License to Drive,” starring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, was filmed in Southern California. The high school where Les Anderson, played by Haim, sees Mercedes Lane, played by Heather Graham, being picked up by her boyfriend is Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood.  This same school was seen in the films “Role Models,” “Death Valley” and “Accepted,” as well as the TV shows “Malcolm in the Middle” and “7th Heaven.”

LOCATION: 4525 Irvine Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602

Here is the house where Les lives with his family.

LOCATION: 536 Dalehurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Les falls asleep during driver’s ed class and dreams about speeding around in the alley behind this building in Downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in countless films and television series, including “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Divergent,” “The Muppets,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Unlawful Entry,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Child’s Play 2,” “Enough” and dozens more.

LOCATION: 635 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Here his the home where a friend of Mercedes lives.

LOCATION: 661 Woodruff Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

This his the house where Mercedes lives.

LOCATION: 485 Loring Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Wes takes Mercedes on a date to the El Rey Theatre, which was also seen in such films as “Night Of The Comet” and “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back.”

LOCATION: 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Archie’s Atomic Drive-in restaurant, where Les and Dean, played by Corey Feldman, flee after denting the door of a nearby car was filmed at Johnie’s Broiler in Downey.  The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “The Game,” “Short Cuts,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “One Hour Photo” and many more.  In 2007, the building was 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.

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LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

Dean’s house has been completely remodeled and no longer appears anything like how it did in the film.

LOCATION: 6313 Riggs Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Cobra Kai

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While set in the San Fernando Valley, much of the TV series “Cobra Kai,” which continues the story of “The Karate Kid” films, is actually filmed in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. There are occasional shots that do take place in California, however. One key location found in the Valley is the apartment of Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka.

LOCATION: 18555 Burbank Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356

In season 1, episode 9, Johnny and Daniel Larusso, played by Ralph Macchio, visit Daniel’s former apartment, seen in the original film. The same location was used for the scene.

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LOCATION: 19223 Saticoy St, Reseda, CA 91335

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Related articles: The Karate Kid (1984)

Prometheus (2012)

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In the 2012 Ridley Scott film “Prometheus,” a prequel to his 1979 film “Alien,” this RT01 Transport vehicle was intended for use exploring “LV-223,” a moon thought to be home to humankind’s alien ancestors. This was one of three RTs built for the film and the only one with a fully outfitted interior for filming. The vehicle could be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, which ran an exhibit entitled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles Of Science Fiction and Fantasy” from May 2019 through May 2020.

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

Safe (1995)

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The house from the 1995 drama “Safe,” starring Julianne Moore and directed by Todd Haynes, can be found in Encino, California.

LOCATION: 3736 Alonzo Ave, Encino, CA 91316

The house is located on the same street as Ali’s house from “The Karate Kid.”

Carol, played by Moore, visits her friend’s home.

LOCATION: 17922 Medley Dr, Encino, CA 91316

The dry cleaners can be found in Valley Village.

LOCATION: 4806 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607

Elf (2003)

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The 2003 Christmas comedy “Elf” was primarily filmed in New York City. After discovering he’s actually human, Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, seeks out his father Walter, played by James Caan, in New York. Walter’s office is located in the famed Empire State Building.

LOCATION: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001

When Buddy takes Jovie, played by Zooey Deschanel, on a date, she shows him the Christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Center. The two then ice skate there.

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LOCATION: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

Later in the film, Buddy helps Santa get his sleigh back into the air. The sleigh passes through Central Park at Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.  The terrace is another famous New York landmark seen in countless films.

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LOCATION: 72 Terrace Dr, New York, NY 10021 (inside Central Park)

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The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)

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For the 1993 movie adaptation of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” the Clampett family lives in this house, which is not located in Beverly Hills, rather in Pasadena. The property has appeared in many productions, such as “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” as well as the television shows “Charlie’s Angels,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Knight Rider” and many more.

LOCATION: 1288 S Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

While part of the home can be seen from the street, it is only a side of the house and doesn’t give you a proper perspective of just how large it really is.

Related articles: The Beverly Hillbillies

Short Cuts (1993)

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The 1993 Robert Altman film “Short Cuts” is based on short stories by author Raymond Carver. Originally set in the Pacific Northwest, for Altman’s film adaptation, he switched the setting to Los Angeles. The film features intersecting stories performed by an ensemble cast.

The house of Ann and Howard Finnegan, played by Andie MacDowell and Bruce Davidson respectively, can be found in North Hollywood.

LOCATION: 4950 Bellaire Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91607

The house next door is where Zoe, played by Lori Singer, lives with her mother Tess, played by Annie Ross. After being injured by a car, the Finnegan’s son Casey returns home. Zoe is playing basketball with some friends in front of the garage and asks Casey why he’s not in school, but he does not answer.

LOCATION: 4946 Bellaire Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91607

The restaurant where Doreen, played by Lily Tomlin, works is the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey.  She is visited there by her husband Earl, played by Tom Waits. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “The Game,” “License To Drive,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “One Hour Photo” and many more.  In 2007, the building was 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.

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LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

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