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
The 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” much like the original film, shot all around Southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles. This article contains some minor spoilers for those who haven’t seen the film.
The movie made use of numerous Military Operating Areas (MOAs), closed off from the general public, including Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California, Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon in Nevada, NAS Lemoore in Central Valley, California, Naval Air Facility (NAF) in El Centro, California, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake near Ridgecrest, California and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island near Oak Harbor, Washington. The film’s third act was largely filmed in the Cascade Mountain Range.
Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, tests high-hypersonic speed and destroys a prototype jet. Afterwards, he roams into a roadside cafe. These scenes were filmed at the Halfway House Cafe in Santa Clarita, California. The same location has appeared in many productions, such as “Waitress,” “Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny,” “Space Cowboys,” “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” and “Westworld.” The cafe also appeared in a famous commercial starring Cindy Crawford.
LOCATION: 15564 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The Hard Deck Bar where Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly, works was a set, built at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California. It was dismantled at the end of filming.
The private hanger of Marverick was filmed at Inyokern Airport in Inyokern, California (1669 Airport Rd, Inyokern, CA 93527).
The home of Penny can be found in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 391 W 40th St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Here is a wider view of Penny’s house.
Maverick is seen approaching on his motorcycle with Penny from Bluff Pl and turning right onto W 40th St. The production altered several elements of the neighborhood, such as swapping out the street sign for a lamp post and adding numerous palm trees.
The scene where Maverick meets with Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson, played by Jon Hamm, was filmed inside the First Baptist Church Pasadena. The building is only see from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 75 N Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
The home of Admiral Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, played by Val Kilmer, was filmed at Wattles Mansion and Gardens in Los Angeles. The home is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is open to the public, regularly hosting special events. It is only seen from interior views in the film. The mansion has appeared in many films, including “Troop Beverly Hills,” “Rain Man,” “Babylon,” “Queen of the Damned,” “My Family” (“Mi Familia”), “Ghoulies,” “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” “The Lost Empire,” “A Better Life,” “Knock Knock 2” and many more. It has also appeared in the TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The O.C.” and “Scandal,” as well as the Diana Ross music video for “Eaten Alive”.
LOCATION: 1824 N Curson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
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.
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.
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.
The 1984 Jim Jarmusch film “Stranger Than Paradise” was shot in New Jersey, Ohio and Florida. Willie, played by John Lurie, is visited by Eva, played by Eszter Balint, his cousin from Hungary. Willie’s apartment can be found in Hoboken, New Jersey, but it has since been extensively remodeled.
LOCATION: 464 Newark St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
The story jumps ahead one year, after Eva has gone to Cleveland to be with her mother. Willie and Eddie, played by Richard Edson, decide to take a road trip and head to Cleveland, passing this bus station.
LOCATION: 1465 Chester Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114
Willie and Eddie visit Eva at her workplace, a burger stand.
LOCATION: 6240 Pearl Rd, Parma Heights, OH 44130
The characters visit the Lake Erie Dock, which is covered in snow. The buildings seen in the background have since changed some and the skyline is also heavily obscured by fog in the film. This area is located just behind the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
LOCATION: Near 1050 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44114 (GPS coordinates: 41°30’40.9″N, 81°41’47.5″W)
They stand in this corner overlooking the water. The steel rail seen in the film is no longer there.
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
Film Oblivion 