Ivan Reitman

Kindergarten Cop (1990)

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The 1990 comedy “Kindergarten Cop,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is set in Los Angeles, California and Astoria, Oregon, which is where the production likewise took place. Early in the film, a witness to a murder is taken to this police station, located in Van Nuys, California. While the entrance seen in the film faces Erwin St, it is a section only accessible to pedestrian traffic. The same building appeared in another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “Twins.”

LOCATION: 14400 Erwin St, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Detective John Kimble, played by Schwarzenegger, forces his way into a club and persuades a witness to ID a criminal in a police line-up.

LOCATION: 532 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Kimble stays at this motel throughout the film with his partner Phoebe, played by Pamela Reed. The property can be found in Astoria.

LOCATION: 783 Nehalem Hwy, Astoria, OR 97103

The most famous location is of course the elementary school, where Kimble goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher. The exterior of the school is located in Astoria, where numerous other films shot, including “Free Willy” and “Short Circuit.” The school is located just a couple blocks away from the house from “The Goonies.”

LOCATION: 3550 Franklin Ave, Astoria, OR 97103

Most of the interior classroom scenes were filmed on a set in Los Angeles, while the exterior shots were in Astoria.

This side of the school is featured in one scene where Kimble confronts an abusive father to one of the students.

Joyce, played by Penelope Ann Miller, lives at this home with her son, which can also be found in Astoria.

LOCATION: 414 Exchange St, Astoria, OR 97103

The school fair scenes were shot at Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach, located about 40 minutes south of Astoria. The area is located on Ecola Park Rd, near the Indian Beach Trail and Ecola Point.

LOCATION: Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 (GPS coordinates: 45.919673, -123.974976)

The park, which offers beautiful views, is a frequent filming location, having also appeared in such movies as “The Goonies,” “Free Willy,” “Twilight,” “Point Break” and more.

There’s even a sign there mentioning it as a filming location of “Kindergarten Cop,” although the sign primarily focuses on “The Goonies.” It’s a long and winding road through the woods to reach this area, but it is a location well worth visiting.

Twins (1988)

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In the 1988 Ivan Reitman comedy “Twins,” Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger play two long-lost brothers who reconnect. The film was shot in California, New Mexico and Texas. Julius (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent (DeVito) first encounter each other in front of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, although they don’t realize it. The theater has appeared in countless films, such as “Valley Girl,’ “The Aviator,” “Iron Man 3” and many more.

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LOCATION: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Julius visits an orphanage seeking information on Vincent. The actual building isn’t an orphanage, rather an apartment building. This same building has appeared in the films ”The Cable Guy,” “American Pie 2,” “Changeling,” “Annabelle: Creation,” “Ouija,” “Oujia: Origin of Evil,” “The Ring 2,” “Puppet Master II,” “Truth or Dare,” “Where Sleeping Dogs Lie,” “Species III” and many more. It has also appeared in numerous TV shows, such as “Westworld,” “You,” “American Crime Story,” “Teen Wolf,” “Bosch: Legacy” and more.

LOCATION: 306 Loma Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Julius bails Vincent out of jail from this police station, located in Van Nuys. While the entrance seen in the film faces Erwin St, it is a section only accessible to pedestrian traffic. The same building appeared in another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “Kindergarten Cop.”

LOCATION: 14400 Erwin St, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Vincent’s office can be found in Hollywood at the Hollywood First National Bank Building. The same building appeared in the films “The Retrievers” and “The Atomic City,” as well as briefly appearing in the background in “Reservoir Dogs.”

LOCATION: 6777 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Webster, played by Marshall Bell, goes to meet his clients at the Japanese Garden of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, after a car he was supposed to pick up isn’t in a parking garage.  The location has been used in countless TV shows and films, notably serving as the “Starfleet Academy” in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”  Other TV shows to film there include the original “Knight Rider,” “Murder She Wrote” and the original “Charmed.”  Films such as “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Bio-Dome,” “Rising Sun,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Zoombies” and “Most Wanted” also filmed at the location.

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LOCATION: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406

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Vincent lives at this Santa Monica house.  The house has since been remodeled from how it appeared in the film, but does still bear some resemblance.

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LOCATION: 323 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Julius walks up this Pasadena driveway in search of their father.

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LOCATION: 1126 Hillcrest Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Vincent and Julius embark on a trip to New Mexico, accompanied by Linda (Chloe Webb) and Marnie (Kelly Preston). They are seen crossing the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable. The same bridge appeared in the films “Natural Born Killers,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.” It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.

LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529

At the end of the film, Vincent and Julius pose for family photos in front of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. It has appeared in many other films, including “The Prestige,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Beautiful” and “Destroyer,” as well as such TV shows as “Alias,” “CSI: NY” and the TV series adaptation of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” It also famously served as an inspiration to Walt Disney in his decision to create Disneyland.

LOCATION: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Ghostbusters (1984)

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One of the most famous movie locations in the world, the fire station that served as the headquarters for the Ghostbusters in the original 1984 film can be found in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City.  The building was chosen because the screenwriters imagined the Ghostbusters as a public service, much like firemen.  Cast member Dan Aykroyd knew the neighborhood well and suggested the building.  Still an active firehouse, the location draws countless visitors each year.

LOCATION: 14 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013

Not quite as well known is the Los Angeles fire station location used in the film.  While the Hook & Ladder Company 8 building in Tribeca was used for exterior shots, interiors were 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.  Perhaps someday the interior will be restored to resemble the film, but it sits in a pretty bad area not far from skid row, so a restoration seems unlikely at this time. The same building also appeared in such films as “The Mask,” “Lost Highway,” “Flatliners,” “Set It Off,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and more.

LOCATION: 225 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The Ghostbusters capture their first ghost at the fictional Sedgewick Hotel.  These scenes were filmed inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.  The hotel is a staple of film, having appeared in such movies as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Independence Day,” “Fight Club,” “Blonde” and dozens more.  Here is the lobby where they first enter.

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LOCATION: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

They try to capture Slimer in the hotel’s lobby.

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Over at the Sony lot in Culver City, California, there was even at attempt to build a replica of the Hook & Ladder 8 building.

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LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

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Also on the lot is the Ecto 1 car, which can be seen on the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.

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