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
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
In the 2014 film “The Gambler,” Jim Bennett, played by Mark Wahlberg, lives in this home, located in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles. The house is slightly tricky to find. N Beverly Glen Blvd is a very busy street and there’s no immediate spot to turn once you reach the house. Instead, you actually turn near 795 N Beverly Glen Blvd, which looks like a private driveway, but actually has a path that leads up to several other homes, including this one. There’s also a foot path that leads up. The other homes tucked away in this little area are also very interesting.
LOCATION: 821 N Beverly Glen Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90077
The 1990 comedy thriller “Arachnophobia” is set in the fictional Central California town of Canaima. In reality, much of the film was shot in the similarly named town of Cambria.
The house of the Jennings, which was featured heavily in the film, was a set and no longer stands.
The funeral home where the spider first escapes is located on Main St. However, the building seen in the film actually faces around the corner on Arlington St. It currently operates as an antique store.
LOCATION: 755 Main St Unit C, Cambria, CA 93428 (facing Arlington St)
The doctor’s office where Ross Jennings, played by Jeff Daniels, works can be found about a mile away from the funeral home location.
LOCATION: 4090 Burton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428
The house of Margaret Hollins can be found about thrity miles away from Cambia, in the town of Paso Robles. The house is part of the Halter Ranch Vineyard, which is a large property, but this house sits close to the road. Adelaida Rd is a long and winding road, passing countless vineyards. Cell phone reception is very spotty through this area, so be sure you plan your directions well if you do visit.
The 1987 Coen Brothers film “Raising Arizona” was, as you might have guessed, filmed in Arizona. Early in the film, the recently paroled H.I. McDunnough, played by Nicolas Cage, robs a convenience store, winding up back in jail. The store has since been remodeled, but still remains standing in Phoenix.
LOCATION: 2311 W Deer Valley Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027
The trailer where H.I. and his new wife Ed, played by Holly Hunter, first move after getting married can be found in Scottsdale. In reality, it’s just an empty plot of land, which can be found on the left side where N 136th St dead ends into E Del Timbre Dr.
LOCATION: N 136th St / E Del Timbre Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85259
After discovering they’re unable to have children, H.I. and Ed hear news of a family named Arizona having five children and decide to steal one of them to raise as their own. The home of the Arizonas is a slight challenge to locate and photograph. It is found on the grounds of a luxury resort called The Phoenician. If you travel just briefly up N Phoenician Blvd from E Camelback Rd, you’ll see it on your left. The building, known as the Jokake Inn, has no unique address separate from the large resort grounds, but the GPS coordinates are 33°30’14.1″N 111°57’04.5″W. As you can see in the photo, there is a spot there to u turn out of the property. If you proceed any further, there is a security checkpoint immediately ahead and no other place to turn around without passing through the checkpoint.
LOCATION: Jokake Inn at The Phoenician, N Phoenician Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 (GPS coordinates: 33°30’14.1″N 111°57’04.5″W)
After trying to rob a store for some diapers, H.I. is chased by the police. After he is ejected through the front window of a truck, he runs through this house, located in Scottsdate.
LOCATION: 8620 E Malcomb Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Near the end of the film, H.I. battles the bounty hunter Leonard Smalls near this water tower in Scottsdale. Directly across the street was the bank location that Gale and Evelle rob, but it has since been demolished. The buildings and water tower on the opposite side of the road still remain standing, however.
LOCATION: 27400 N Alma School Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
The 2017 film “Kong: Skull Island” filmed at a variety of locations around the world, including Australia, Vietnam and Hawaii. Over at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, there are a couple interesting set pieces from the film.
First up is the bone graveyard. These props made by the production were unfortunately not built to last. As they remain exposed to the elements year round, they are slowly deteriorating. The props will not likely be displayed in this manor long term, but for now they can be seen on the ranch’s movie tours.
LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744
In the Jungle area of the ranch, there is one more location from the film; the site of the helicopter crash.
A few more bone props are stored in the prop building at the ranch.
If you’re a fan of filming locations and make it to Hawaii, Kuloa Ranch is an oasis, hosting dozens of memorable films. There are a wide variety of tours available at the ranch, more than one of which are film related. We recommend the Premier Movie Site Tour, as it takes you to many locations that are only seen on that particular tour. The Hollywood tour, while cheaper, skips many locations around the ranch.
Joe Dante’s 1993 film “Matinee,” starring John Goodman, is set in Key West, Florida. Much of the film centers around a movie theater known as The Strand. There is a real, historic theater by that name in Key West, the exteriors of which still stand, but the interior is now a pharmacy store. It also was not the theater used in the film.
The building which served as The Strand for filming wasn’t in Key West at all. It’s the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, which can be found in the town of Cocoa, Florida. While the theater does still show films on a limited basis, it primarily serves as a playhouse. Only the playhouse exteriors were used in the film. The interior theater scenes were filmed at Universal Studios Florida.
The 1994 live action adaptation of “The Flintstones” was filmed in California and Utah. Early in the film, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, played by John Goodman and Rick Moranis, are seen driving through the Bronson Cave, which can be found in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California. A very popular hiking spot, to reach it, 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 with ease. The cave is a bit larger than it appears here. Those who walk through it will also be treated to a nice view of the Hollywood sign on the other side. The cave has been featured in countless productions, most famously as the “Bat Cave” in the 1966 “Batman” TV series.
LOCATION: 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (the trailhead can be found at 2950 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)
Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, California are featured prominently in the film as the town of Bedrock. Fred Flintstone’s house is featured as a set directly in front of the rocks. Countless films have also shot scenes at Vasquez Rocks, including “Dante’s Peak,” “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Jingle All The Way,” “Hail, Caesar!,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Paul,” “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Hell Comes to Frogtown” and dozens more. Television shows which featured Vasquez Rocks in episodes include “The Fugutive,” “The A-Team,” “MacGuyver” and perhaps most famous of all, the original “Star Trek” series, where the rocks were seen in numerous episodes, serving as multiple different planets. The rocks have also been seen in music videos for Michael Jackson, 311 and many more, as well as countless commercials. The rocks are part of a Natural Area Park and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. They receive a steady amount of visitors, many of whom attempt to climb the steep rocks, which are larger than they might appear in the photograph.
LOCATION: 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350
Fred Flintstone’s car from the film could be seen on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Barney Rubble’s car was also on display on the tour.
“The Big Lebowski,” one of the great comedies of the Coen Brothers, shot all around the greater Los Angeles area. Several of the movie locations are surprisingly difficult to gain access to however, so if you’re a fan of the film and want to check out the places where it was shot, just be aware it may be a more difficult process than you’d expect.
First, we start with the apartment of The Dude, played famously by Jeff Bridges. The exterior apartment complex can be found in Venice, while the interiors were shot on a sound stage. The complex has since been renovated, but still bears some resemblance to how it appeared in the film. The entrance is gated with a tall hedges along the street, making views difficult.
LOCATION: 606 Venezia Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Here is a wider view of the apartment from the street.
The apartment complex across the street can also be seen in the film. This complex is frequently mistaken as being The Dude’s.
LOCATION: 609 Venezia Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Just outside of the apartments on Venezia Ave, looking down toward Zeno Pl, you’ll see where The Dude confronts Da Fino, the brother shamus.
LOCATION: Venezia Ave, Venice, CA 90291 (in front of The Dude’s apartment)
The famous bowling alley in the film no longer exists. It was the Hollywood Star Lanes, formerly located at 5227 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029. The building was torn down in 2002 to make way for a children’s elementary school.
The Big Lebowski’s mansion consisted of two locations. The exterior was shot at 10231 Charing Cross Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90024. It is a private, gated property, not visible from the street and has since been completely remodeled. The interior of the mansion is the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. The City of Beverly Hills actually owns the property, which is routinely used for filming. The outside grounds are open to the public, but getting inside is more difficult. Due to hosting productions and private events on a regular basis, only a few times a year does the city open the inside up for public viewing. It can be done if you are patient and keep an eye out for these select dates, however.
Inside the Greystone Mansion, this wall is where The Dude talks with Brandt, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and looks at all of The Big Lebowski’s awards and achievements, including his “Little Lebowski Urban Achievers.” It’s known as the “Breakfast Room” inside the mansion.
LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Brandt is seen walking these hallways of Greystone Mansion several times in the film, as are The Dude and Walter, played by John Goodman.
Another famous location inside of Greystone Mansion; The Dude talks to the distraught Big Lebowski in front of this fireplace, where The Dude is hired to find the kidnapped Bunny Lebowski.
The very same room was used in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” as Daniel Plainview’s office, where his son visits him late in the film. It was also seen in “Air Force One” and “Flowers In The Attic.” A little tip for Lebowski fans, this room can usually be seen without access inside the Greystone Mansion. If you go to the front of the building and look through the windows, usually there are no curtains and this room, which is on the ground level, left of the main windows, can be seen. The hallway Brandt walks down can also be seen through a doorway window, just around the corner to the left of this room, near the fish pond. Only the Urban Achievers room truly requires access inside the mansion to be seen.
Walter accompanies The Dude on a money drop at this bridge, but things don’t go as planned. It is portrayed as a wooden bridge in the film, but this was set decoration added by the production.
LOCATION: Torrey Rd, Fillmore, CA 93015 (GPS coordinates: 34°23’40.9″N, 118°47’55.3″W
The coffee shop where Walter tells dude he can “get you a toe by 3 o’clock… with nail polish” is Johnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant in midtown Los Angeles. The restaurant actually closed many years ago, but still operates as a filming location. It has appeared in “Reservoir Dogs,” “American History X,” “Miracle Mile,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and many more.
LOCATION:6099 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
The Dude, Walter and Donny pay a visit to Larry Sellers’ house, “near the In-N-Out Burger.” It’s in front of this home that Walter destroys the red corvette. Today, the home is partially obscured by trees.
LOCATION: 1824 Stearns Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Late in the film, The Dude pays a visit to Jackie Treehorn’s house. In the film, the property is shown as being right on the beach. Those beach scenes were filmed at Point Dume in Malibu. In reality, however, the house is located in the hills of Benedict Canyon, nowhere near the beach. It’s the Sheats-Goldstein House, one of the most unique and famous houses in Los Angeles. It’s actually located just above Cielo Dr, where the Manson Family’s infamous murder of Sharon Tate and four others took place. The house regularly hosts photo shoots for models and at one time even allowed porn shoots. In 2016, the property was donated to LACMA, which hosts occasional events there. The house is tucked away at the end of a cul-de-sac, down a long, private drive and is not visible from the street. Unless you are a professional photographer or model, the only way to get onto the property is most likely, similar to Greystone Mansion, to keep your eyes peeled for a rare, public invitation.
LOCATION: 10104 Angelo View Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The German nihilists order pancakes at Dinah’s Cafe in Culver City, where it is revealed the woman, played by Aimee Mann, has severed her toe. The same restaurant has also appeared in such films as “Nightcrawler” and “The Limey.”
LOCATION: 6521 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Film Oblivion 