Batman (1966)

The classic 1966 “Batman” TV series, starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, remains as popular now as ever.  Even decades later, some of the locations can still be seen.

Bronson Cave, also known as the “Bat Cave,” can be found in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California.  A very popular hiking spot, simply take the Bronson Cave Trail for about a quarter of a mile and the caves are on the left.  Although the walk is uphill, it’s so short that anyone without medical issues should be able to handle it with ease.  The cave is a bit larger than it appears here.  Those who walk through it will also be treated to a nice view of the Hollywood sign on the other side.

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LOCATION: 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (the trailhead can be found at 2950 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)

The Gotham City Police Headquarters was a set and still stands on the Warner Bros. backlot.  It can be seen as part of their studio tour.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

This “Batcycle,” a 1966 Yamaha, was seen in the 1966 “Batman” feature film based on the TV series.  It can be seen at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

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

In 2019, the same museum held a limited exhibition called “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” which featured some additional vehicles from the show.  Here is the Catmobile, which appeared in the third season of the show.

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Here is the Jokermobile from the show, a 1966 Mongrel T.

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Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

Several costumes and props from the 2016 film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” can be found on display at Warner Bros. Studios, as part of their studio tour.  First up is Ben Affleck’s take on The Caped Crusader.

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Here is Henry Cavill’s Superman costume.

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Arguably general audiences’ favorite character in the film; Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman.

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Batman’s desert strike outfit.

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The Batmobile from the film.

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Some kryptonite from Lex Luthor’s Lexcorp.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Batman (1989)

While Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” film was originally considered to be shot at Warner Bros. Studios, the film instead primarily shot at Pinewood Studios, just outside of London, England.  However, the Batmobile from the original film can today be seen at the Warner Bros. lot, as part of their studio tour.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

In 2019, the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles held a limited exhibition called “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” which featured one of the original, screen-used costumes worn by Michael Keaton in the film.

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

A couple models of the Batmobile can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.

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LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Related articles: Frankenweenie (1984), Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), Ed Wood (1994), Big Fish (2003), Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

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.

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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.

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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: Judgement 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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Related articles: Memento (2000), The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010)

The Dark Knight (2008)

“The Dark Knight” famously used the streets of Chicago to double as Gotham City.  Here we’ll take a closer look at the locations of Christopher Nolan’s classic crime drama, as well as a few iconic props from the film.

This is the street corner where The Joker stands at the opening of the film, holding his mask in his hand.

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LOCATION: Southwest corner of S Franklin St. and W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60607

The bank from the opening bank robbery was shot at the Old Chicago Post Office.

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LOCATION: 433 W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60607 (NOTE: the film shot from the northern corner of W Van Buren St. and Canal St.)

The spot where The Joker’s crew ascend onto the bank’s rooftop.

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LOCATION: 420 W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60606

The station where Batman rides his Batpod in pursuit of The Joker is part of Chicago’s Metra rail.

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LOCATION: Mellennium Station, 151 E Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601 (Note: This cannot be seen from the street, you must head below into the station.)

Here is a look at the Batpod used in the film.  You can see it on display as part of the Warner Bros. Studio tour.

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One of the film’s most famous locations is where the Batman / Joker confrontation takes place on the streets, with the semi truck flip.  (Note: This same location was also used in Brian De Palma’s film, “The Untouchables.”)

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LOCATION: S La Salle St., facing the Chicago Board of Trade Building, 141 W Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604

Here’s a look at the Batmobile Tumbler, used in both “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”  It is also on display at Warner Bros. Studios, as part of their tour.

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You can also see Christian Bale’s Batman costume from “The Dark Knight” on display on the studio tour.

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Last but not least, the Bat Signal, also on display on the Warner Bros. Studio tour.

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Related articles: Memento (2000), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)