The 2014 Dan Gilroy film “Nightcrawler,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, was filmed around Los Angeles, California. The film tells the story of a Louis Bloom, an ambitious freelance photojournalist, who increasingly crosses moral boundaries to obtain captivating footage to sell to news stations. The production made use of locations all around the city. During the opening credits, the Griffith Observatory is seen. The Observatory is of course a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Terminator,” “Rebel Without A Cause,” “La La Land” and dozens more.
LOCATION: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Capitol Records building also makes an appearance during the opening credits. It can also be seen in countless films, including “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” “Get Him to the Greek,” “Rush Hour” and many more.
LOCATION: 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Lou’s apartment can be found in Angelino Heights, near Dodger Stadium.
LOCATION: 1045 Figueroa Terrace, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Lou sits parked near Bob’s Market, listening to the police radio. The same market can be seen in such films “The Fast And The Furious,” “L.A. Confidential” and “The Salton Sea.”
LOCATION: 1234 Bellevue Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Lou starts filming a police arrest in front of this building in Echo Park, prompting the officers to threaten him with arrest.
LOCATION: 1123 Laveta Terrace, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Over in Koreatown, Lou arrives at the aftermath of a car jacking, where a man has been injured. He once again oversteps his bounds, causing him and another photojournalist to be kicked out of the crime scene. In the film, the characters state the location as 1st and Western, which is accurate.
LOCATION: S Western Ave / W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
After eavesdropping on a call of another photojournalist selling his footage, Lou heads to a news station, where he successfully sells his footage as well. This was filmed at 5808 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, but the building has since been demolished. The corporate offices for Netflix now stand in its place.
Later in the film, Lou rejects an offer to work for Joe Loder, played by Bill Paxton, in front of another TV station just down the road, which still stands.
LOCATION: 5800 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Lou interviews Rick for a job as his assistant at Dinah’s Cafe in Culver City. The same restaurant has also appeared in such films as “The Big Lebowski” and “The Limey.”
LOCATION: 6521 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Lou attempts to interview a witnesses next door to another crime scene in front of this home.
LOCATION: 1415 N Coronado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
He then enters the home of the crime scene, which is one house to the left, to get more footage.
LOCATION: 1411 N Coronado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
After Rick, played by Riz Ahmed, spills some gas on his car at this gas station in Studio City, Lou threatens to fire him.
LOCATION: 12007 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Joe Loder lives at this home, located in Venice.
LOCATION: 808 Royal Ct, Venice, CA 90291
Royal Ct is a very narrow road, but there is a pedestrian walkway from Pacific Ave, which offers easier access and parking.
Joe Loder’s van crashes into a light pole at this intersection in Studio City.
LOCATION: Ventura Pl / Laurel Canyon Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Lou captures an active crime scene where a shooting is taking place in Tarzana. The home sits down a long drive and cannot be seen from the street.
LOCATION: 4808 Topeka Dr, Tarzana, CA 91356
Out front on Topeka Dr, however, the area where he parks on the street can easily be seen.
Lou uses his video footage to track down the shooting suspects. He follows them after they leave their apartment, located in Echo Park.
LOCATION: 1701 Clinton St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
The shooting suspects stop at this Chinese restaurant, where Lou sets up to videotape their capture, before calling the police to report them.
LOCATION: 252 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
The 2007 David Fincher film “Zodiac” is primarily set in the San Francisco Bay area. However, production was split between Northern and Southern California, with quite a few scenes shot in the Greater Los Angeles area. The opening scenes show a young Mike Mageau, played by Lee Norris, being picked up for a date by Darlene Ferrine, played by Ciara Moriarty on July 4, 1969. While set in Vallejo, California, the scene was actually filmed in Long Beach. The camera rolls past a series of houses on Gundry Ave, beginning around 3938 Gundry Ave and stopping five houses down at Mike’s place.
LOCATION: 3964 Gundry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
The couple drives to this diner, also located in Long Beach, where Darlene says it’s too crowded and decides to go some place quiet. The same diner has also appeared in the films “Corrina, Corrina,” “The Real McCoy” and “A Cinderella Story.”
LOCATION: 4390 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
Robert Graysmith, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, lives in a house that is only seen from interior views in the film. However, a couple shots help pinpoint the neighborhood to Angelino Heights in Los Angeles. For example, the street outside of his home can be seen here when he takes his son to school early in the film.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Douglas St / Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (approximately in front of 1406 Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026)
Robert drops his son off at for school at Roosevelt Middle School in San Francisco (460 Arguello Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118).
Robert works as a cartoonist at the San Francisco Chronicle. For exterior shots, the real newspaper building was used.
LOCATION: 901 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Interiors for the San Francisco Chronicle were filmed at the old United States Post Office – Los Angeles Terminal Annex in Downtown Los Angeles. The building has also been used in such films as “City of Angels” and “Dear God,” as well as such TV shows as “Southland,” “EZ Streets” and “No Ordinary Family.”
LOCATION: 900 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Zodiac kills a taxi driver at the corner of Washington and Cherry in San Francisco. This film shot at the real location where the murder took place, however their access was limited, as the neighborhood did not want the production there or the attention it would draw. The location is revisited several times in the film, as the characters hope the killer might return to the site on the anniversary of his crimes. For the night scenes, the Presidio Heights neighborhood was actually recreated on a studio lot at the former Downey Studios (12214 Lakewood Blvd, Downey, CA 90242), with blue screens used to add further backgrounds to the practical sets. Downey Studios has since been demolished.
LOCATION: 3893 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Robert stops his son from getting on the school bus at this location. This is again in the Angelino Heights neighborhood, just around the corner from the spot where he drives his son to school early in the film.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Douglas St / Kellam Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (approximately in front of 908 Douglas St, Los Angeles, CA 90026)
Detectives visit the house of Melvin Belli, played by Brian Cox, after the Zodiac writes him a letter. Later in the film, Robert also visits the home. Belli’s house is located in Hancock Park at Fremont Place, which is one of the few gated communities in Los Angeles and therefore inaccessible to the public. A popular filming location, many productions have shot inside Fremont Place, such as “Taken,” “The War Of The Roses” and “Rocky III.” Fincher himself returned to the same neighborhood for “Gone Girl,” where the house of Desi Collings can also be found.
LOCATION: 72 Fremont Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Paul Avery, played by Robert Downey Jr., has an argument with Inspector David Toschi, played by Mark Ruffalo, outside of the Riverside Police Department. The building used in the scene is actually located in Culver City. The same location was also featured in the film “The Lincoln Lawyer.”
LOCATION: 4130 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230
Toschi shares a sandwhich with his partner William Armstrong, played by Anthony Edwards, at the former Callahan’s Diner in Santa Monica. The location actually appears in three separate scenes in the film, with the latter two featuring Toschi meeting with Robert. According to information online, some shots were done on a set. Callahan’s Diner, formerly located at 1213 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, has long since closed and a different restaurant now operates there.
A time lapse is shown of the construction of the Transamerica Pyramid building. This was of course a CGI creation.
LOCATION: 600 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Toschi catches a screening of “Dirty Harry,” where he is unimpressed with the depiction of the Zodiac inspired villain “Scorpio.” The exterior of the building still exists (295 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94133). However, the interior scenes were filmed at the former National Westwood Theatre in Los Angeles, which was demolished in 2008. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 10925 Lindbrook Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The Golden Gate Bridge is briefly seen in a transition shot when Robert makes his way to the Vallejo Police Department. The bridge is one of the most often seen locations in film, having appeared in “Vertigo,” “The Rock,” “Pacific Rim,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Terminator: Genisys,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Superman: The Movie,” “San Andreas,” “A View To A Kill,” “Dirty Harry,” “Hulk,” “Lords Of Dogtown,” “The Bridge” and many more.
LOCATION: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
The Vallejo Police Department, where Robert obtains more information on the case, could be found in Hawthorne. It was a real police building, also featured in the TV series “True Blood” and the second season of “True Detective.” The building has since been demolished. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 4440 W 126th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (now demolished)
Robert meets up with Toschi at the Wilshire Collonade to tell him about the progress of his own personal investigation. Toschi encourages Robert to keep investigating and directs him to seek out Melvin Belli. The same location was featured in numerous films, such as “Wrath Of Man,” “Stealing Harvard” and “Earthquake,” as well as such TV series as “Californication,” “American Crime Story: Impeachment” and more.
LOCATION: 3701 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Robert calls Toschi from a payphone in front of San Francisco City Hall, following a lead on Zodiac’s birthday.
LOCATION: 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl., San Francisco, CA 94102
Robert approaches Inspector Toschi again at the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco, seeking more information on the case. Toschi lets Robert know the case is unlikely to ever be solved at that point and tells him to not disturb him anymore.
LOCATION: 350 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
The building is located next to City Hall, which can once again be seen in the background of some shots.
Robert is picked up by Bob Vaughn in front of the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro. The same theater also appeared in many other films, including “Pearl Harbor,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Seabiscut,” “Remote Control,” “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton,” “Ghosts Of Mississippi,” “Boys And Girls,” “Live By Night,” “Worth Winning,” “Mark Of Love,” “Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here” and “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks.” It has also appeared in such television series as “The O.C.,” “Party Of Five,” “Melrose Place,” “T.J.Hooker,” “7th Heaven” and “Cousin Skeeter.”
LOCATION: 478 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Near the end of the film, Robert tracks down a suspect he believes may be the Zodiac working inside this hardware store in South Gate. The building is only seen from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 3948 Tweedy Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280
In the closing scenes of the film, an older Mike Mageau is brought in at the Ontario Airport to look at photos of potential suspects. The airport has appeared in many other films, including “Catch Me If You Can,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Blow,” “Argo” and more.
The 2013 Denis Villeneuve film “Prisoners” is set in suburban Pennsylvania, but the film was actually shot in the surrounding towns of the Greater Atlanta area in Georgia. Keller Dover, played by Hugh Jackman, lives at this house, located in in the town of Conyers.
LOCATION: 700 Deering Rd SE, Conyers, GA 30094
Keller’s family visits their friends Nancy and Franklin Birch, played by Viola Davis and Terrence Howard respectively, at this house for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s located one block away from the Dover house. The trees in the front yard have since been cut down.
LOCATION: 2903 High Brook Way SE, Conyers, GA 30094
Detective Loki, played by Jake Gyllenhall, spots an RV belonging to Alex Jones, played by Paul Dano, at this gas station in Monroe. The RV matches the one spotted near where the girls were last seen, making Jones a primary suspect.
LOCATION: 1605 Troy Smith Rd, Monroe, GA 30656
The police station can be found in the town of Tucker.
LOCATION: 4916 N Royal Atlanta Dr, Tucker, GA 30084
Alex Jones lives at his aunt’s house in Lithonia. It should be noted that this house sits on a somewhat busy road, with no shoulders to park on.
LOCATION: 1634 Phillips Rd, Lithonia, GA 30058
Keller brings Franklin to this apartment where he used to live, located in Atlanta. The production added an extension to the front of the building for filming.
LOCATION: 651 James P Brawley Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Dan Gilroy’s 2019 thriller “Velvet Buzzsaw” is set in the Los Angeles art scene. Morf, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, lives at this house, which would appear to be located in Hollywood, with the famous sign visible in the background. However, this was digitally added. The home, a famous architectural landmark known as the Case Study House, can actually be found in Altadena.
LOCATION: 2275 Santa Rosa Ave, Altadena, CA 91001
Josephina, played by Zawe Ashton, lives in this apartment building, located in Koreatown.
LOCATION: 620 S Ardmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
The offices of Rhodora Haze, played by Rene Russo, can be found in Downtown Los Angeles, near the Staples Center. The same location appears in the film “Malignant” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” as well as the TV show “Supergirl.”
LOCATION: 1200 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Morf meets Josephina at the Colburn Cafe. While the address is on S Grand Ave, it’s not visible from that street. It’s actually located directly behind another location in the film; the “LAMA” museum, covered later in this article. There are walkways on either side of the building from S Grand Ave to access this area.
LOCATION: 201 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Gretchen, played by Toni Collette, visits the LAMA museum, which is actually the Colburn School. Directly behind this building is the Colburn Cafe previously mentioned.
LOCATION: 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Across the street is The Broad museum, with the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the distance. Both of these are seen as Gretchen visits LAMA.
LOCATION: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The art studio of Piers, played by John Malkovich is the H.D. Buttercup building in Downtown Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 2118 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
This is the view seen whenever Dondon pays Piers a visit at the same location.
Bryson is transporting some art to storage when a fire starts inside his vehicle, causing him to crash in front of this gas station. The same building, which is not an active business, has been seen in many films, such as “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Family Plot,” as well as the television show “Quincy M.E.”
LOCATION: 22124 Sierra Hwy, Sylmar, CA 91342
Rhodora and Josephina examine the wreckage of Bryson’s vehicle near the Arts District of Downtown L.A. This area is very popular for filming, with the bar exterior from “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” notably located at the end of the street.
LOCATION: 1326 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Later in the film, Josephina has upgraded to a new apartment in Downtown L.A. Morf can briefly be seen exiting out front.
LOCATION: 1100 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Josephina can be seen at a bar located at this building. This exterior is just a few buildings away from the art studio of Piers.
In the 2001 film “Donnie Darko,” a jet engine crashes into the bedroom of the Darko residence. While set in the town of Middlesex, Virginia, the house can actually be found in Long Beach, California.
LOCATION: 4225 Country Club Dr, Long Beach, CA 90807
Just up the same road, the house of Jim Cunningham, played by Patrick Swayze, can also be found.
LOCATION: 4252 Country Club Dr, Long Beach, CA 90807
The high school seen in the film is Layola High School in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 1901 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Donnie goes to a movie at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, one of the best revival houses in the Los Angeles area. The theater regularly shows classic films, often featuring Q&A’s with the filmmakers and cast. It has been featured in many films, including “Get Shorty” and “Sleepwalkers.”
LOCATION: 1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
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