The 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America” was primarily filmed in New York, with some additional filming in Los Angeles, California. The McDowell house can be found in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, quite a few trees and shrubs have since been planted and almost completely obscure all visibility of the home. The same home appears in the film “Jawbreaker.”
LOCATION: 555 S Muirfield Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90020
The fictional McDowell’s fast food restaurant, an obvious riff on McDonald’s, from the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming To America,” came to life for a short stint as a pop-up exhibition in Los Angeles in 2017. It’s not the first time this has been done. Previously another McDowell’s pop up surfaced in Chicago in 2015. The “Home of the Big Mick” could be found at Fat Sal’s Hollywood, which converted their establishment for just 48 hours. The pop-up has long since closed, but you can find pictures below of the event. For those wondering, Samuel L. Jackson did not make any surprise appearance to stage a robbery, as depicted in the film.
The 1989 Joe Dante film “The ‘Burbs” is set in the fictional town of Hinkley Hills, which, judging by the opening zoom, would place it somewhere in Iowa. The story unfolds on Mayfield Place, a cul-de-sac road in Hinkley Hills. In reality, the entire neighborhood was a facade, filmed on a studio backlot.
Known as Colonial Street at Universal Studios, the houses and streets have changed significantly over the years. Once used for television classics such as “The Munsters” and “Leave It To Beaver,” the neighborhood was significantly remodeled in 1988 for the production of “The ‘Burbs.”
In the years that followed, as new productions came along, the neighborhood and the homes began to resemble the film less and less. Some houses were relocated, others heavily redesigned, while others still were demolished altogether. Eventually the neighborhood became known as Wisteria Lane on the TV drama “Desperate Housewives.”
To complicate matters further, several of the houses in “The ‘Burbs” were deliberately shot in close-ups, rarely seen in wide shots. Combined with all of the changes over the years, it makes piecing the neighborhood back together a difficult endeavor.
The centerpiece of the film is of course the Klopek house, which is owned by a creepy family that rarely shows themselves, much to the intrigue of all of the surrounding neighbors. Sadly, the home no longer exists. Portions, however, were said to have been reused and incorporated in the design of this house, which later became Bree Van de Kamp’s house on “Desperate Housewives.”
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
The Peterson house, where Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher live, was also unfortunately demolished and replaced with a different facade.
The house that most closely resembles how it appeared in the film is that of Walter, the old man with the small, white dog. Aside from a paint job and some stairs being added, the house looks pretty much the same.
Ricky Butler, played by Corey Feldman, lives at this house, which was once the home used for “The Munsters,” though it has since been heavily remodeled from how it appeared on the TV series. Likely looking to avoid comparisons to the show, this house was only ever seen in close-up shots of the porch in “The ‘Burbs.”
Colonial Street can be seen as part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour and even though the neighborhood has significantly changed and continues to change, movie and television lovers are still sure to appreciate a look around the historic, fictional neighborhood.
Ridley Scott’s 1991 film about two women on the run from the law, “Thelma & Louise,” is set all across the country. In reality, however, the film shot mostly in Southern California and Utah, with a few shots in Colorado. The film features one of the most famous endings of the 1990s.
The girls set off on their adventure when Louise, played by Susan Sarandon, picks up Thelma, played by Geena Davis, at her house, supposedly located in Arkansas. The actual house can be found in Tarzana, California.
LOCATION: 18633 Palomino Dr, Tarzana, CA 91356
The girls make their way to the the Silver Bullet Saloon for a night of drinking and dancing, before things take a dark turn, as a man tries to rape Thelma in the parking lot. Louise intervenes and things take a violent turn, as the women’s would-be getaway trip becomes a run from the law. The Silver Bullet Saloon really is a country-western themed night club, located in Long Beach, California. However, it is now known as the Cowboy Country Saloon.
LOCATION: 3321 E South St, Long Beach, CA 90805
Louise’s vintage Thunderbird convertible is another central character in the film, as it carries them through their outlaw road adventure, into the film’s famous ending. Several identical Thunderbirds were used throughout the production. Located at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, this particular one was featured extensively, primarily being used for close-up shots in the film.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Dominic Toretto’s house in the action franchise “The Fast and the Furious” can be found perched on a hillside in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Almost directly across the street is Lady Gaga’s character’s house from the 2018 remake of “A Star Is Born.”
LOCATION: 722 E Kensington Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Not far from the house is “Toretto’s Market and Diner,” which is actually “Bob’s Market,” a long-standing local business. It can also be seen in the films “L.A. Confidential,” “The Salton Sea” and “Nightcrawler.”
LOCATION: 1234 Bellevue Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Brian and Torretto stop off at Neptune’s Net in Malibu, a staple for bikers and surfers on the Pacific Coast Highway. The restaurant was also notably featured in the original version of “Point Break.”
LOCATION: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
The Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic locations in Hollywood, perched atop the Hollywood Hills. It offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and even the ocean. The building opened in 1935 and has remained free and open to the public every since. It has been seen in so many films, we felt it deserved an entire article unto itself.
The observatory is perhaps most famously know for it’s use in the 1955 James Dean film, “Rebel Without A Cause.” However, the grounds have also been seen in such films as “The Terminator,” “La La Land,” “Back To The Future” and dozens more. It has also appeared in countless television shows, such as “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The Wonder Years,” “24” and even “The Simpsons” (as the “Springfield Observatory”). The observatory has also appeared in music videos, such as Paula Abdul’s “Rush, Rush,” video games, such as “Grand Theft Auto V” and on album covers, for bands such as The Byrds.
Here we’ll take a look at some of the sights of Griffith Observatory.
LOCATION: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Arnold Schwarzenegger could be seen walking nude in the original “The Terminator” film on the sidewalk to the right. He is approached by some street thugs, including one played by Bill Paxton, before the Terminator makes short work of them. The scene has also been recreated in some of the film’s sequels.
Ryan Gosling drives his convertible, with Emma Stone in tow, down the sidewalk on the right in “La La Land.”
A bust of James Dean can be found at the observatory, in honor of Deen’s classic performance in “Rebel Without A Cause,” where the film shot a memorable knife fight scene.
The best views of the observatory are of course at night.
The inside of the observatory has several interesting sights as well. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone can be seen dancing around this pendulum in “La La Land.”
In the same film, the two gaze up at this mural on the ceiling of the observatory.
The two also pause and look at this Tesla Coil.
Overall, whether you’re a movie lover, a tourist, a science fan, or someone who simply enjoys beautiful views, the Observatory has something to offer almost anyone.
The 1985 Robert Zemeckis classic “Back To The Future” is among the most famous of all Los Angeles area films. Countless fans continue to flock to these locations.
Doc Brown’s house can be found in Pasadena. It’s the Gamble House, a National Historic Landmark and museum, which is open to public tours. However, only the exterior was used for Doc’s house in the film. The interior was shot at 1777 Hillcrest Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106, which is a private residence.
LOCATION: 4 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA 91103
Doc’s garage, located on the same property, is now a bookstore.
The street leading up to Marty’s house in 1984 is at the intersection of Sandusky Ave and Kagel Canyon St, not on Roslyndale Ave, where the McFly house is located.
LOCATION: Sandusky Ave / Kagel Canyon St, Los Angeles, CA 91331
Marty McFly’s house can be found in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles, in the town of Pacoima, California.
LOCATION: 9303 Roslyndale Ave, Pacoima, CA 91331
The Burger King where Mary hitches a ride on his skateboard, grabbing onto the back of a truck, is still operational and going strong. You can find it in Burbank, California.
LOCATION: 535 N Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502
Hill Valley High School is actually Whittier High School.
LOCATION: 12417 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601
The Twin Pines Mall is actually the Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry. The mall occasionally hosts events in celebration of the film.
LOCATION: Puente Hills Mall, 1600 S Azusa Ave, City of Industry, CA 91748
Inside the mall, you can even find this replica sign for the Twin Pines Mall. Sometimes when there are special events surrounding the film, they will place this sign outside, as it appeared in the film.
When Marty travels back in time to 1955, he discovers his neighborhood, the Lyon Estates, has yet to be built. This spot can be found near Chino. To reach it, you take Chino Corona Rd, which passes a women’s prison. The road becomes Cucamonga Ave and there are signs posted that the road is not maintained. Just ahead you’ll find the spot, which actually has an address. We’ve also included GPS coordinates. The area hasn’t changed much since filming and it’s easily the most remote location featured in the film.
George McFly’s house can be found in South Pasadena.
LOCATION: 1711 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Marty’s mother Lorainne lives at this house, located on the same street, just a few doors down from George’s house. It was used only for exterior shots. This house was also used in another Michael J. Fox film, “Teen Wolf.”
LOCATION: 1727 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
The interiors of Lorainne’s house were filmed at another property on the same road.
LOCATION: 1705 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
The courthouse square and clock tower can be found on the Universal Studios Lot in Hollywood (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608). The building has been used in countless other films, including “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Gremlins” and “Bruce Almighty.” In 2008, a fire destroyed much of the building, but Universal restored and reopened it in 2009. Today, it can be seen once again as part of the Universal Studios Tour, but be warned, this area frequently hosts productions and the site is routinely closed off from the tours. If you’re adamant about seeing the tower, it’s perhaps best to call ahead and find out if it’s showing on a given day.
Few movie cars are as famous than the Delorean, with many fans building their own replicas. There were in fact seven vehicles built for use in the original trilogy, with only three still known to exist. Below is the first of those three, which appeared throughout the original film and in both sequels. After spending 25 years as part of Universal Studio’s Hollywood Tour, the car had begun showing signs of wearing and many key pieces had been removed, including the famed flux capacitor. A team was hired to meticulously restore the car back to it’s original form and the vehicle is now on permanent display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The second Delorean is on display at Universal Studios Florida, while the third is privately owned.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
A look inside the restored vehicle.
Here is the restored flux capacitor.
One vehicle from the original film which can still be seen on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour is Biff Tannen’s 1946 Ford Convertible. Some vehicles from the sequels can also be seen there, but here we’ll strictly focus on the first film.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Tim Burton’s 1985 film “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” introduced the world to Paul Rubens’ classic character, Pee-Wee Herman. In the film, Pee-Wee lives at this South Pasadena home.
LOCATION: 1848 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Later in the film, Pee Wee is chased around the Cabazon Dinosaurs. The dinosaurs are a roadside attraction in Cabazon, California and can be seen from the 10 freeway. Originally built by a sculptor and theme park artist as a way to attract customers to his nearby restaurant, the dinosaurs now operate as a small museum and gift shop. The dinosaurs were also seen in the 1984 film “Paris, Texas” and the 1989 film “The Wizard.”
LOCATION: 50700 Seminole Dr., Cabazon, CA 92230
Pee-Wee gets chased by some kids on bikes at this park in North Hollywood. The same park was famously featured in the film “Say Anything…“
LOCATION: North Hollywood Park, 11430 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Francis lives at this house. The homeowners have since added a lot of shrubs along the front of the property, obscuring the view a bit.
LOCATION: 401 S Hudson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
The bike from the film can be seen at the Hollywood Museum in Hollywood, California.
LOCATION: Hollywood Museum, 1660 Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028
They also have one of Pee Wee’s costumes, though it is said to be from the TV show, not the film.
John Hughes’ 80s classic, “The Breakfast Club,” was filmed at the former Maine North High School, in Des Plaines, Illinois. The filmmakers converted the high school gymnasium into the famous library set. Today, the building is no longer a high school at all. It’s used as an Illinois State Police Station.
LOCATION: 9511 Harrison St, Des Plaines, IL 60016
One of the most highly disputed film locations you’re ever likely to encounter is the football field, where Judd Nelson does his famous fist pump at the end. Some insisted it was filmed at the same high school as the rest of the production; Maine North. Others insisted it was filmed at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, where John Hughes himself was an alumni. The majority of the arguments centered between these two locations, with former students from each school disputing which field was used. Others still have claimed it was filmed at Maine South High School in Park Ridge or Maine West in Des Plaines. The argument persisted until 2015, when the cinematographer of the film, Thomas Del Ruth, confirmed to the Chicago Tribune it was indeed the now-defunct Main North High School football field; the same location where principle production took place. The field has since been demolished, but the confusion remains so strong, many people to this day still recreate the fist pump photograph at Glenbrook North.
Widely regarded as one of the finest Stephen King adaptations, “Stand By Me” was set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. However, the film was actually shot around Oregon. The boys set about their adventure at this bridge in the small community of Walden. To find it, you will need to follow the Row River Trail up to Mosby Creek.
LOCATION: Row River Trail at Mosby Creek, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
The Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic “Psycho” filmed largely in California, but some of the early scenes shot in Phoenix, Arizona. Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, takes her lunch break to meet a man she’s having an affair with at this hotel.
LOCATION: 101 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
The car dealership where Marion changes her vehicle can be found in North Hollywood, California.
LOCATION: 4270 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602
The iconic house from the film can be found on the Universal Studios lot, as part of their studio tour. It is indeed the actual house from the film, although the back part of the house, not seen on camera in the film, was added later on by the studio, after the film had been released. There is also a Bates Motel set on the tour, but that set is actually from the sequel film, not the original.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Another view of the side of the house.
This was Alfred Hitchcock’s office on the Universal lot, which is commemorated with a drawing of the director’s famous silhouette.
Film Oblivion 