Pearl Harbor (2001)

November 5, 2023November 9, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2001 Michael Bay film “Pearl Harbor” was primarily filmed in Hawaii, Southern California and England. In the film, Rafe McCawley, played by Ben Affleck, is accompanied by Danny Walker, played by Josh Hartnett, as he departs a train station to join the front lines of the war in England. These scenes were filmed at Union Station, a train station in Downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films, such as “Blade Runner” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “Bugsy,” “Nick of Time,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Mike’s Murder,” “The Way We Were,” “Union Station,” “Under the Rainbow” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The scenes where Doolittle, played by Alec Baldwin, prepares his pilots to fly short takeoffs were filmed at the north hangar of the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (72-7 Tustin Ranch Rd, Irvine, CA 92606). There are two hangers located at the air station, which closed back in 1999 and has since been used in many productions, such as the 2009 version of “Star Trek,” “The Hindenburg,” “The Man’s Navy” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” It also appeared in Michael Jackson’s music video for “Hold My Hand,” as well as countless commercials. In 2023, a fire destroyed the north hanger. However, the south hanger, which has been seen in such TV shows as “The X-Files” and “From the Earth to the Moon,” was unaffected by the fire and remains standing.

Evelyn Johnson, played by Kate Beckinsale, leaves a movie theater after she is upset by one of the newsreels. This scene was filmed at the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro, California. The same theater also appeared in many other films, including “Zodiac,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Babylon,” “Seabiscut,” “Remote Control,” “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton,” “It’s Pat: The Movie,” “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

Evelyn and Danny talk next door to the theater at the fictional Black Cat Diner.

LOCATION: 470 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Japanese planes are seen approaching Hawaii near Kualoa Regional Park, with a small island known as Mokolii seen on the right. It is a popular photo spot for tourists and very close to the house from “50 First Dates.”

LOCATION: Near Kualoa Regional Park, 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

A man is seen riding a motorcycle towards a bunker, where the planes are first detected by American radar. This scene was filmed at Kualoa Ranch in O’ahu. The ranch offers tours and this area can be seen on their film tour. Inside are many props and displays showcasing the many filmed shot at the ranch over the years.

LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

The Japanese planes are also seen passing this area, which is also part of Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch has been featured in dozens of films, such as “Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic World,” “Triple Frontier” and many more, as well as the television show “Lost.”

U Turn (1997)

April 1, 2020August 31, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1997 Oliver Stone film “U Turn” is set in the small town of Superior, Arizona and that’s exactly where production mostly took place as well. In the film, Superior is depicted as a strange, sometimes hostile town. In reality, the town is quite welcoming to tourists, offering a variety of shops and antique stores. “U Turn” is not the only production to film scenes in Superior. “The Prophecy” and “Eight Legged Freaks” have as well.

Early in the film, Bobby, played by Sean Penn, is driving a desert road when his car breaks down. He takes his car to Harlin’s Garage, where he meets Darrell, played by Billy Bob Thorton. These scenes were filmed on E Magma Heights Dr, however the house and garage seen in the film are long gone. In fact, a copper company now owns the land and it is completely inaccessible to the public.

When Bobby first reached the Main St of Superior, he looks over and sees the sheriff’s station, quickly turning the other direction. The building seen in the film is the Superior Kearny Justice Court.

LOCATION: 60 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby encounters blind man, played by Jon Voight, at the train station. Bobby tries to pet the man’s dog, only to be told it’s dead.

LOCATION: 100 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby first sees Grace, played by Jennifer Lopez, walking by the building.

Later in the film, Bobby purchases a bus ticket at the same building.

Grace takes Bobby to her home, where she lives with Jake McKenna, played by Nick Nolte. Jake’s house is known as the Castle On The Rock. The house is located on N Picket Post Rd, Superior, AZ 85173. There are tours of the building on occasion, but most of the time the property and even the road are completely closed to the public.

Jake drops Bobby off back in town at this grocery store, where Bobby immediately finds himself in a robbery.

LOCATION: 50 N Pinal Ave, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby uses a payphone to try to get money at the corner of this building.

LOCATION: 222 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby calls the gangsters he owes money at the corner of this building. This same street was featured in the film “Eight Legged Freaks.”

LOCATION: 160 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby visits this diner, where he is approached by Jenny, played by Claire Danes. Misreading the situation, Toby N. Tucker (“T.N.T.”), played by Joaquin Phoenix, has a confrontation with Bobby.

LOCATION: 149 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

This building served as the realty office of Jake McKenna.

LOCATION: 271 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby encounters the old, blind man once again in front of this building. Later in the film, this is also where he fights T.N.T.

LOCATION: 71 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby passes Jenny’s house and the two walk past this church talking.

LOCATION: 94 N San Pedro St, Superior, AZ 85173

If you do make it to Superior, Arizona, most of these locations are quite a short distance from one another. Most of them, you can walk on foot from one location to the next.

Related articles: JFK (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994)

Transformers (2007)

March 16, 2020November 5, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2007 film “Transformers,” Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky. The Witwicky residence can be found in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: 2187 W 24th St, Los Angeles, CA 90018

The car lot where Sam shops for cars with his dad can be found in Altadena. It was actually a composite of two locations on opposite sides of the street from one another. The location at 2012 Lake Ave still stands, but the other location at 2000 Lake Ave has since been demolished.

LOCATION: 2012 Lake Ave, Altadena, CA 91001

Bobby Bolivia, played by Bernie Mac, points down the street to where his mother lives.

Bumblebee gives himself an updated look inside the Second Street Tunnel in Downtown L.A. This is a popular filming location, appearing in such films as “Kill Bill,” “Demolition Man,” “Blade Runner,” “Con Air,” “Independence Day” and many more.

LOCATION: 620 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The police station seen in the film can be found in Highland Park. The building is no longer an active police station and operates today as a police museum. The building has been featured in countless films, including “Clerks 2,” “Gangster Squad” and “National Security,” as well as the TV series “Twin Peaks: The Return.”

LOCATION: 6043 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Sam and Mikaela, played by Megan Fox, watch a meteor shower at the iconic Griffith Observatory. The location is another staple of film, appearing in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “La La Land,” “The Terminator” and dozens more.

LOCATION: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam and Mikaela are taken into custody near this railway bridge, only for the Transformers to rescue them.

LOCATION: N Henry Ford Ave / Pier A Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90744

Sam and Mikaela are taken to the Hoover Dam in Nevada, which houses Megatron inside a bunker.

LOCATION: Hoover Dam, Boulder City, NV 89005

Ironhide lands in the pool of the Byrdview house in Chatsworth (also known as the Farralone Estate and Fox House). It has appeared in many films, including “Swordfish,” “Lords Of Dogtown,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “The Salton Sea,” “Bewitched,” “Tomcats” and “Dreamgirls.” It has also appeared in such TV series as “Six Feet Under,” “Mad Men,” “Californication,” “The Last Man on Earth,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Aquarius,” “Moonlight” and “Good Girls Revolt.”