California

Under The Silver Lake (2018)

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The David Robert Mitchell film “Under the Silver Lake” was released to mixed reviews in 2018. While the film ventures into many bizarre events, it’s depiction of the mundane aimlessness and isolation of Los Angeles during the 2010s is spot on. The film opens at this coffee shop in Los Feliz, where the words “beware the dog killer” have been written across the front window.

LOCATION: 1948 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam, played by Andrew Garfield, lives on the second floor at this apartment complex, located in Studio City.

LOCATION: 11966 Laurelwood Dr, Studio City, CA 91604

Sam watches his neighbors with binoculars, including a woman who walks around topless on the balcony of the second floor unit on the left.

LOCATION: 11940 Laurelwood Dr, Studio City, CA 91604

Sam also watches Sarah, played by Riley Keough, at the pool.

Here’s a view from the pool, looking back towards Sam’s apartment.

The street view of Sam’s apartment is a completely different location in Los Feliz. Despite the building address, this view is from the cul-de-sac on Veselich Ave.

LOCATION: 3205 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 (at the cul-de-sac on Veselich Ave)

Sam makes inquiries about a local comic book writer at The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles. The book store also appeared in the film “Gone Girl.”

LOCATION: 453 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

After Sam discovers Sarah’s apartment empty, he follows one of her friends whom he observed gather the last of Sarah’s belongings. Sam hides behind this tree as he follows her, which is located on Veselich Ave, just up from his Los Feliz apartment exterior.

LOCATION: Garden Ave / Veselich Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Sam continues following Sarah’s friends to Echo Park Lake, where he hides behind another tree.

LOCATION: Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Sam continues following the girls down the Second Street Tunnel in Downtown Los Angeles.  The tunnel is a popular filming location, appearing in such films as “Kill Bill,” “Blade Runner,” “Con Air,” “Independence Day” and many more.

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

Sam tracks down the author of the comic books at this home in Los Feliz.

LOCATION: 1977 N New Hampshire Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam visits his friend, played by Topher Grace, at a house perched on a hillside in Angelino Heights in East L.A.  The same house was seen in the films “Seven Psychopaths” and “Crazy/Beautiful” and is located just around the corner from Jake Gyllenhaal’s apartment in the film “Nightcrawler.”  The home has since been demolished.

LOCATION: 1016 White Knoll Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (now demolished)

The shot of Sam walking up White Knoll Dr to the home can still be matched up.

Sam follows a series of clues leading him to the iconic Griffith Observatory.  The location is a staple of film, appearing in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “La La Land,” “The Terminator,” “Devil In A Blue Dress” and dozens more. Sam appraches from this path behind the observatory.

LOCATION: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam is specifically searching for this statue of James Dean.

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Sam then sits at the Astronomers Monument and waits, until he is approached by a mysterious man.

Late in the film, Sam follows more mysterious clues to the back of Bronson Cave, also known as the “Bat Cave,” which can be found in Griffith Park. 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. The caves have appeared in hundreds of productions, perhaps most famously in the 1966 TV series “Batman.”

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

Sam finds a a man and three women living in a small hut behind the Bronson Cave.

Sam is held captive at the Old Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. The zoo permanently closed in 1966, but the enclosures remain in tact and visitors can freely explore inside. The zoo has appeared in many films, including “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “The First Power” and “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment”

LOCATION: 4801 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam is seen climbing near Bee Rock, which can be seen easily from the Old Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. There is a trail from the zoo leading to Bee Rock.

LOCATION: Bee Rock, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Mildred Pierce (1945)

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The house from the 1945 film “Mildred Pierce,” starring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson and Zachary Scott, can be found in Glendale, California.

LOCATION: 1143 N Jackson St, Glendale, CA 91207

The dress suit worn by Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce in the film can be found on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Swingers (1996)

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The 1996 film “Swingers” is set in Hollywood and loosely based around writer / actor Jon Favreau’s personal experiences. The film was shot primarily around Hollywood, with some additional filming in Las Vegas. The title of the film itself comes from the Swingers diner (8020 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048), which director Doug Liman and many of the crew frequented. It was intentionally not featured in the film, however, as the filmmakers wanted to use a lesser known location. They landed at what was then known as the Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop, just off the 101 freeway in Hollywood. The Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop was renovated and bought out, later becoming the 101 Coffee Shop in 2001. The changes completely altered the interior from how it appeared in the film, including removal of the booth where the characters sat. However, the coffee shop became synonymous with the film until its closure in 2020. Today, the building has once again changed owners and now operates as the Clark Street Diner. The restaurant has also appeared in the films “The Brady Bunch Movie” and “In the Land of Women,” as well as the TV shows “Entourage,” “Gilmore Girls” and “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”

LOCATION: 6145 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Mike, played by Jon Favreau, lives just up the road from the coffee shop at this apartment building. The apartment was Favreau’s actual home for a time.

LOCATION: 5870 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Mike and his crew attend a party, located at this home in the Hollywood Hills.

LOCATION: 6161 Temple Hill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

After struggling to build up his confidence, Mike gets the number of a woman at the Dresden Restaurant. The restaurant has also appeared in the films “That Thing You Do,” “Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy,” “The Two Jakes,” “What Women Want” and more.

LOCATION: 1760 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

The boys get into a confrontation with another group at what is supposed to be the back of the Dresden. These scenes were actually filmed in the parking lot of Musso & Frank Grill, the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, founded over 100 years ago.  The restaurant has popped up in numerous films, including “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Blonde” and “Ed Wood,” as well as the TV shows “Mad Men” and “Bosch.”

LOCATION: 6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

While some of the signage was dressed for the film to make it appear to be the Dresden, the door and brick work all clearly match Musso & Frank Grill and even portions of their iconic “Oldest in Hollywood” sign appears in a few shots, confirming the location.

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Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986)

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The 1986 Penny Marshall film “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” starring Whoopi Goldberg, was filmed in New York City and Los Angeles. In the film, Terry Doolittle, played by Goldberg, lives in this apartment, located in New York. Only the exteriors were filmed at this location.

LOCATION: 65 W 73rd St, New York, NY 10023

The house of Liz Carlson, played by Annie Potts, can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 515 N Bundy Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049

The exterior of the British Consulate was filmed in New York (2 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128), while the interiors were shot at the oft-filmed Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. While the outside of the Greystone grounds is open daily and free to the public, opportunities to tour inside are somewhat rare. 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. The mansion has been featured in countless films, such as “The Big Lebowski,” “There Will Be Blood,” “The Social Network” and dozens more.

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

Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

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The 2000 film “Gone In 60 Seconds,” a remake of the 1974 film, was shot primarily in Southern California, with some additional filming in Canada. In the film, Memphis Raines, played by Nicolas Cage, lives in this home, located in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 714 W 32nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Mirror Man, played by T.J. cross, steals a car at the famous Yamashiro Hollywood restaurant. Originally constructed as a private residence in 1914, it was sold just ten years later. After becoming a boys military school, it wasn’t until 1948 that the building began to be restored to its original appearance. The restaurant has appeared in countless productions, such as “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Breezy,” “Nocturnal Animals”, “Blind Date,” “Playing God,” “Death Wish II,” “Sayonara” and many more . It also appeared in such TV shows as “Perry Mason,” “I Spy,” “Route 66,” “My Three Sons” and more. The restaurant is famous for its views overlooking Hollywood.

LOCATION: 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Memphis jumps a tow truck on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The bridge has appeared in countless films, such as “Wrath Of Man,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “To Live And Die In L.A.” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “City of Angels,” “Knight of Cups,” “Blind Rage,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Outfit” and more. It has likewise appeared in such TV shows as “Mission: Impossible,” “CHiPs,” “Columbo” and more. It it also where director Tony Scott tragically ended his life.

LOCATION: Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, CA 90731

Poison Ivy (1992)

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The 1992 film “Poison Ivy,” starring Drew Barrymore, was filmed in Southern California. In the film, the Cooper Family lives in this home, which can be found in Los Feliz. The same home appeared in the TV series “Law & Order: LA.”

LOCATION: 2208 W Live Oak Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Lights Out (2016)

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The house from the 2016 horror film “Lights Out” can be found in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the film, Sophie, played by Maria Bello, lives at the home with her son Martin, played by Gabriel Bateman. Only portions of the property are visible from the street, which is lined with tall hedges. The same home also appeared in the films “Chez Upshaw,” “Ouija” and “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” although interiors were used for the latter two films.

LOCATION: 140 S Ave 59, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Rebecca, played by Teresa Palmer, lives in an apartment at this building, also located in Highland Park. The same building has appeared in the TV shows “Too Old To Die Young,” “Leverage” and “Battle Creek.”

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LOCATION: 5601 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Red State (2011)

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The 2011 Kevin Smith film “Red State” was shot in Southern California. In the opening scene of the film, Travis and his mother, played by Michael Angarano and Anna Gunn, drive past this fire station, located in Whittier.

LOCATION: 10630 Mills Ave, Whittier, CA 90604

They then pull up in front of Trinity Lutheran Church of Whittier, where they see a group protesting at a funeral. The church has since been remodeled and the buildings in the background have been demolished.

LOCATION: 11716 Floral Dr, Whittier, CA 90601

The home of Travis could be found on the grounds of The Fred C. Nelles School, a former juvenile corrections center in Whittier. The building seen in the film is the Superintendent’s Residence. Despite heavy redevelopment in this area, with new homes and shopping plazas, the building still stands. This property also appears in the films “Suburban Gothic” and “L.A. Paranormal.” Smith later filmed elsewhere on these grounds for “Yoga Hosers.”

LOCATION: 7008 Walnut Grove Dr, Whittier, CA 90601 (GPS coordinates: 33°58’38″N, 118°02’57″W)

Much of the film takes place at the Five Points Trinity Church, which is headed by the fanatical Pastor Abin Cooper, played by Michael Parks. The Five Points Trinity Church exterior scenes were filmed at Firestone Ranch in Santa Clarita. The property is located down a long strech of dirt road near the Sierra Pelona Mountains. The Spanish style property was once owned by mobster Bugsy Siegel from 1911 until 1932. The same ranch appeared in the film “Nope.”

LOCATION: 35100 Anthony Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390

Related articles: Clerks (1994), Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Jersey Girl (2004), Clerks II (2006), Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008), Yoga Hosers (2016), Jay And Silent Bob Reboot (2019)

What We Do In The Shadows

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The TV series “What We Do in the Shadows” is set in Staten Island, New York, but primarily filmed around Toronto, Canada. However, the house featured frequently as the establishing shot of the vampire estate can be found in South Pasadena, California. The home has also appeared in such TV shows as “The Mentalist,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Bones.”

LOCATION: 929 Buena Vista St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The South Pasadena home was featured prominently in the pilot, before the production moved to Toronto and a different home, located at 450 Pape Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 3P7, Canada, was used instead. After that location was later sold, a facade was built instead at Eastern Ave / Heward Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 1C8, Canada.