One of the most iconic movie locations in the world, the “Rocky Steps,” which Sylvester Stallone famously ascends in the original “Rocky” film, can be found at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
LOCATION: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (the actual steps face Spring Garden St)
Related articles: Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985)
In the 1990 romantic comedy “Pretty Woman,” Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, lives at this Hollywood hotel. The real hotel is located right off of Hollywood Blvd, exactly as depicted in the film. At the end of the movie, Edward, played by Richard Gere, climbs the fire escape with roses and the two passionately kiss.
LOCATION: 1738 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Vivan stays at a luxurious hotel in Beverly Hills.
LOCATION: 9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Vivian and Edward walk past the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain at Grand Park in Downtown L.A. The same fountain was seen in “(500) Days Of Summer.”
LOCATION: Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Edward’s office can be found in Downtown Los Angeles. The same building can be seen in such films as “Barbie,” “Night Of The Comet,” “Cutter’s Way” and “The Muppets.”
LOCATION: 333 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The opera house was a composite of three locations. The exterior, supposedly located in San Francisco, is actually the Carnegie Museum & Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The same building appears in the films “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Flashdance.” In fact, this film used the actual footage from “Flashdance” as their establishing shot after their planned location fell through. The interior lobby was filmed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (900 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007), while the theatre was filmed at Walt Disney Studios (500 S Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA 91521).
LOCATION: 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
The Christopher Nolan film “Memento” mostly shot around the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. The opening and closing scenes of the film, as well as the scenes of Leonard burning his wife’s mementos, were all shot at the Fletcher Oil Refinery in Carson, California (24721 S Main St, Carson, CA 90745), which has since been demolished.
Teddy, played by Joe Pantoliano, takes Leonard, played by Guy Pearce, out to lunch at this diner in Sylmar. The same coffee shop has appeared in the films “Over The Top” and “Every Which Way But Loose,” as well as such TV series as “Too Old To Die Young,” “Bosch” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Across the street is also another notable filming location, the motel from “The Addams Family.”
LOCATION: 12192 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342
Throughout most of the film, Leonard stays at the Discount Inn motel. It’s actually the Travel Inn in Tujunga, California. Both the motel and the surrounding area have seen better days, so use caution if visiting.
LOCATION: 7254 Foothill Blvd, Tujunga, CA 91042
The motel manager takes advantage of Leonard’s condition and secretly charges him for two rooms.
Later in the film, Leonard visits Natalie’s house, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, where she deceives him into believing that Dodd has beat her. The house, which as since been renovated a bit, can be found in Burbank.
LOCATION: 919 E Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91501
Leonard finds himself at another motel, the Mountcrest Inn, where he ambushes Dodd and ties him up. This motel is the Hill Crest Inn in North Hills.
LOCATION: 9111 Sepulveda Blvd, North Hills, CA 91343
Leonard visits Natalie at “Ferdy’s Bar,” where she spits in his beer to test his memory. This was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank. The interior of the bar is shown in the film. The same location appears in “Heat” and the 1997 film “Touch.”
LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502
Related articles: The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The classic 1997 James Cameron film “Titanic” was of course filmed primarily on a recreated set of the famous ship, which was built at Fox Baja Studios in Mexico. In 2017, however, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California held a unique exhibition on the ship, where it combined real artifacts from the sunken ship alongside props and sets from the film. It was the largest collection of artifacts from passengers of the ship since the fateful night it collided with an iceberg a century before.
The exhibit has unfortunately since closed, but here we’ll take a look at some of the props, costumes and sets from the film that were on display.
This is the set of the famous scene where Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, draws a nude Rose, played by Kate Winslet.
Here are some props from the scene, including Rose’s mirror, butterfly hairpin and comb, as well as her “Heart of the Ocean” necklace.
Here is Jack’s sketchbook and pencil case. On top of the sketchbook is also the note Rose leaves for Cal, played by Billy Zane. She places the note inside his safe, along with the necklace. Her note reads, “Darling – Now you can keep us both locked up inside your safe. Rose.”
This is the set of Jack and his friend Fabrizio’s cabin, designed for third class passengers.
Here is the Marconi Room, another set from the film, where the ship sent out it’s distress calls and communicated with other ships. Without it, no one would’ve known why or where the ship had sunk.
Jack Dawson’s suit as he boards the ship.
Rose wears this dress while the ship is sinking.
Molly Brown, played by Kathy Bates, wears this dress.
Bruce Ismay, played by Jonathan Hyde, wears these pajamas and overcoat.
Here is a dress worn by one of the first class passengers in the film.
Moving on to more props from the film, here is the clock and cherub from the grand staircase of the ship, where Jack greets Rose.
Some scale miniatures were also built for the film, including a 45 foot long model of the ship. Here are some pieces from the miniature.
The ax Rose uses to free Jack, who is handcuffed in his cabin.
While the exhibit closed down in 2018, due to the enduring popularity of both the film and the history of the ship itself, these artifacts are bound to find their way into another, future exhibition.
We leave you with one last prop from the film, which was not part of the Reagan Library exhibit. Rather, it can be found at Planet Hollywood in Florida. It’s the piece of wood that Rose floats on at the end of the film.
LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
In the 2001 film “Donnie Darko,” a jet engine crashes into the bedroom of the Darko residence. While set in the town of Middlesex, Virginia, the house can actually be found in Long Beach, California.
LOCATION: 4225 Country Club Dr, Long Beach, CA 90807
Just up the same road, the house of Jim Cunningham, played by Patrick Swayze, can also be found.
LOCATION: 4252 Country Club Dr, Long Beach, CA 90807
The high school seen in the film is Layola High School in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 1901 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Donnie goes to a movie at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, one of the best revival houses in the Los Angeles area. The theater regularly shows classic films, often featuring Q&A’s with the filmmakers and cast. It has been featured in many films, including “Get Shorty” and “Sleepwalkers.”
LOCATION: 1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Related articles: Southland Tales (2006)
The house from the 1999 comedy “American Pie” can be found in Long Beach, California. In the film, Jim, played by Jason Biggs, makes a pact with his friends to lose their virginity. Jim lives with his family at this home, where many famous scenes take place, including a memorable encounter with a sexy foreign exchange student, played by Shannon Elizabeth, as well as the infamous pie scene.
LOCATION: 4153 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
The house where Michelle, played by Alyson Hannigan, lives can also be found on the same road.
LOCATION: 3925 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
Kevin’s home can be found in Pasadena.
LOCATION: 3689 San Pasqual St, Pasadena, CA 91107
The high school used in the film is Millikan High School in Long Beach.
LOCATION: 2800 Snowden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815
The boys frequent this restaurant, located in Monrovia.
LOCATION: 402 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016
The exterior of Stifler’s house can also be found in Pasadena.
LOCATION: 3644 Lombardy Rd, Pasadena, CA 91107
The interiors of Stifler’s house, however, used this house in Altadena. The house has been used in many productions, including “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Bye Bye Love,” “American Pie 2,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Cheaper By The Dozen,” “Crazy On The Outside” and “I Know Who Killed Me,” as well as such TV shows as “The Mentalist,” “This Is Us,” “7th Heaven,” “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Desperate Housewives” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
LOCATION: 1090 Rubio St, Altadena, CA 91001
Related articles: American Pie 2 (2001)
Much of the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy “The Mask” filmed around the Warner Bros. Studio Lot in Burbank, California. After Stanley Ipkiss, played by Carrey first tries on the mask, a startled neighbor pulls a gun on him and he leaps out of a window from this building on the Warner Lot, where he falls to the street and like a cartoon character, flattens like a pancake, before peeling himself back up. The same building was featured in an action sequence in the Steven Spielberg film “Minority Report.”
LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
The bank where Stanley works 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” “Seven,” “The Prestige,” “Ghost,” “Bridesmaids,” “13 Going On 30” and many more. This area cannot normally be accessed by pedestrians. However, portions are still visible from the street in a couple areas through the windows.
LOCATION: 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The mechanic’s shop where Stanley gets a loaner car was filmed at Fire Station No. 23 in Downtown L.A. The fire station was closed in 1960 and has currently fallen into quite a state of disrepair. Currently the building is boarded up, covered in graffiti and prohibited from entry. It sits in a pretty bad area, not far from skid row. The same building was featuring in such films as “Ghostbusters,” “Lost Highway,” “Flatliners,” “Set It Off,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and more.
LOCATION: 225 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Coco Bongo nightclub scenes were filmed at the former Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, which has long since been demolished. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “True Romance,” “Seven,” “Forrest Gump,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Calendar Girl” and dozens more. Only this post and statue from the original building remain at the location.
LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)
Found in the Angelino Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles is the house from the TV series “Charmed,” starring Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowen and Shannen Doherty. It’s located in on a popular street for filming. The same house appeared in the films “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” and “Earthquake.” Just a couple doors down is the house from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video and right across the street is the house from “Grandma’s Boy.”
LOCATION: 1329 Carroll Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Dan’s house can be found next door.
LOCATION: 1337 Carroll Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
The opening of David Fincher’s 2010 Facebook drama, “The Social Network,” takes place at the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville, Massachusetts, just north of Cambridge, where Harvard University is located.
LOCATION: Thirsty Scholar Pub, 70 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143
In the opening scene, Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is dumped by Erica Albright, played by Rooney Mara, helping set forth the events of the film. The layout inside of the pub looks slightly different than how it appeared in the film, but the back windows remain the same.
A poster for the film, signed by some of the cast and crew, can be seen above one of the restroom doors inside the pub.
After the 1970 film “Love Story,” Harvard University banned nearly all commercial production on the grounds, due to disruption to students and damage to property. Their anti-filming policy still remains today, thus the majority of the Harvard scenes for “The Social Network” were instead filmed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. However, a few shots of the real Harvard and surrounding Harvard Square can be seen in the opening credits of the film. The producers sidestepped Harvard’s policy by filming on top of the Cambridge Savings Bank at Harvard Square (the bank was also used for a robbery scene in the 2010 Ben Affleck film “The Town”). Portions of the Dudley House at Harvard Square can be seen in these opening credit shots.
LOCATION: 1351-1443 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Mark walks past the Out Of Town News, located at the real Harvard Square, before the scene seamlessly shifts to him walking through John Hopkins University in Baltimore for the remainder of the opening credits.
LOCATION: 18 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Later in the film, Eduardo, played by Andrew Garfield, is seen being initiated into the prestigious Phoenix Society, citing the three lies about the John Harvard statue. Once again, the real Harvard University was not cooperative in allowing any filming at the real statue. This scene was instead filmed at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA (180 Main St, Andover, MA 01810), about 25 miles north of Boston. Below is the real John Harvard statue at Harvard University, which was recreated for the film.
LOCATION: 1 Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA 02138
Several scenes in the film were actually shot around the Los Angeles area, far away from the grounds of Harvard. Once such sequence involved the Winkelvoss twins discovering Facebook has begun allowing registration in the UK, which finally prompts the twins, played by Armie Hammer, to sue Mark Zuckerberg. While this scene is supposedly set in England, it was actually shot at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. The scenes were shot inside the Breakfast Room, which was also seen from the opposite side in “The Big Lebowski,” when The Dude looks at photos of the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers.
LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Mark shows up to a business meeting with prospective advertisers wearing a robe (seen below) on the steps of the Aon Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The same steps show up in “Inception,” where Leonardo DiCaprio picks up a man in a taxi and kidnaps him.
LOCATION: 707 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017
We leave you with one of the robes worn by Jesse Eisenberg, which can be found on display as part of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.
LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Some props from the film could also be found on display at Sony Pictures Studio.
Related articles: Seven (1995), The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), Zodiac (2007), The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008), Mindhunter, Mank (2020)
Not to be confused with the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy, the 1985 film “Mask,” directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Eric Stoltz, Cher and Sam Elliot, was a drama about a teenager with a facial deformity and his mom, struggling to live a normal life. The house where Rocky and his mother live in the film can be found in Monrovia, California.
LOCATION: 138 Grand Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016
Film Oblivion 