In the 2018 Transformers spin-off film “Bumblebee,” this 1967 Beetle, an Autobot, is discovered by a teenager named Charlie Watson, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The car could be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, which ran an exhibit entitled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles Of Science Fiction and Fantasy” from May 2019 through May 2020. Also on display was a statue of Bumblebee.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The 2006 Richard Kelly film “Southland Tales” tells the story of an alternate timeline in the near future where the United States is descending into chaos and ultimately the end of the world. The film features an ensemble cast with interconnecting stories set against the backdrop of Southern California. The film is largely set along the beach fronts of Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. However, the film also shot brief scenes in Abilene, Texas and Primm, Nevada. This article contains some spoilers for the film.
In the opening scene of the movie, a nuclear attack is shown in the town of Abilene, Texas, through the perspective of home video footage at a children’s party. These scenes really were filmed in Abilene. These house shots are provided courtesy of Christian Hernandez at Boogie Sights.
LOCATION: 2143 S 10th St, Abilene, TX 79605
Throughout the film, Private Pilot Abilene, played by Justin Timeberlake, sits perched at the end of the Santa Monica Pier on the rooftop of Maria Sol restaurant, armed with a military grade gun, which is aimed inland at citizens.
LOCATION: 401 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Here’s closer view of the building, from the pier itself.
Boxer Santaros, played by Dwayne Johnson, awakens on the beach, unable to remember the events prior to the start of the film (those events are told in a graphic novel). He is seen walking up these stairs, which connect Palisades Park to the Santa Monica Beach parking area, as he is monitored by USIDent, which is something of an mock up and extreme version of the Department of Homeland Security. The same location appears in the film “Cisco Pike.”
LOCATION: Near Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (GPS coordinates: 34°00’47.5″N, 118°29’51.6″W)
In Downtown Los Angeles, protesters demonstrate outside of the USIDent headquarters, which was filmed at the Caltrans building. The same building was featured in the film “Hancock.”
LOCATION: 100 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Boxer Santaros and Krysta Now, a porn star with psychic abilities played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, hide out with Fortunio Balducci, played by Will Sasso, at this home in Manhattan Beach. It is also under surveillance from USIDent.
LOCATION: 132 3rd St, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Later in the film, Officer Ronald Taverner, played by Seann William Scott, stands in front of the home and looks out toward the beach.
The Sidewalk Cafe in Venice is featured multiple times throughout the film, as several characters meet and discuss various matters. It is connected to Small World Books, which is another location seen later in the film.
LOCATION: 1401 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
The entrance is seen briefly in the film.
USIDent surveillance shows that Boxer was first found at the California / Nevada state line, with images showing Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino in Primm, Nevada. These shots of Buffalo Bill’s are provided courtesy of Christian Hernandez at Boogie Sights.
LOCATION: 31700 S Las Vegas Blvd, Primm, NV 89019
Neo-Marxist Cyndi Pinziki, played by Nora Dunn, lives at this apartment above a storefront in Venice Beach, which has been slightly remodeled since filming.
LOCATION: 1307 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
The Neo-Marxist compound, where Roland Taverner, also played by Seann William Scott, awakens can also be found on Venice Beach.
LOCATION: 909 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Later in the film, Roland escapes the Neo-Marxist compound by jumping off the rooftop of the same building. The dumpster jump was a visual effect, but the location is otherwise geographically accurate. In fact, most of the film is geographically accurate in the ways the characters move from one location to the next. This side of the building faces Speedway / Breeze Ave.
Ronald and Boxer go on a drive together as Ronald makes a racist remark, which is captured on camera by Boxer, who is recording for research for an upcoming movie role. The two drive along Culver Blvd, past Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Playa Del Rey.
A political ad plays on the USIDent screens, with a little girl standing in front of a church. This was filmed back in Abilene, Texas. This church shot is provided courtesy of Christian Hernandez at Boogie Sights.
LOCATION: 518 N 6th St, Abilene, TX 79601
Boxer follows the mysterious Serpentine, played by Bai Ling, into a book store. This was filmed at the aforementioned Small World Books, which is connected to the beach front restaurant featured multiple times throughout the film. Both the interior and exterior of the store were featured in the film.
LOCATION: 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Dr. Soberin Exx, played by Curtis Armstrong, picks up Boxer Santaros in front of this restaurant in Marina Del Rey.
LOCATION: 311 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Bing Zinneman, played by Todd Berger, gets hit by car at this intersection in Venice.
LOCATION: Market St / Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90291
The actual close-up stunt of the impact, however, was filmed in an alley near Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles, around 337 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
On the same street where Bing Zinneman is hit, Ronald Taverner is injected with Fluid Karma, a drug with a variety of effects, depending on which color is taken. Ronald passes out in the street in this area.
LOCATION: 74 Market St, Venice, CA 90291
After Roland awakens from the dumpster he jumped into, he arrives at this area, where he finds Walter Mung, played by Christopher Lambert, parked in an ice cream truck.
LOCATION: 1313 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Dozens of caskets draped in American flags are unloaded onto the Santa Monica Pier.
LOCATION: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
One of the bodies is transported on a tram to Treer Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. The tram was a CGI creation, but the surrounding buildings are once again geographically accurate, placing the location at W 7th St / Francisco St. As you can see in the photo, however, new buildings are going up as the skyline continues to change.
LOCATION: W 7th St / Francisco St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (partial CGI used for the location)
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is Pilot Abilene’s Fluid Karma hallucination, where an impromptu musical sequence ensues to “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers. This was filmed at the Playland Arcade on the Santa Monica Pier, which was renamed the “Fire Arcade” in the film, as a nod to the band Arcade Fire. Both the interior and exterior of the arcade are seen and it still looks largely similar to how it appeared in the film
LOCATION: 350 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Late into the film, the MegaZeppelin prepares to launch in Downtown Los Angeles. This was another CGI creation. However, it is depicted as being located beside the Staples Center, placing it where L.A. Live stands now.
LOCATION: 777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (partial CGI used for the location)
Zora Charmichaels, played by Cheri Oteri and Bart Bookman, played by Jon Lovitz, track down Krysta Now in Hermosa Beach. They exit the Municipal Parking Structure, where armed military are present. This same building appears later in the film, as gunfire erupts.
LOCATION: Municipal Parking Structure, 13th St, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Krysta Now enters the former Poop Deck, which was a real bar and restaurant in Hermosa Beach. It is now known simply as The Deck. Both the exterior and interiors of the restaurant were featured in the film. However, the bathroom scene where Krysta delivers a tape was filmed on a set.
LOCATION: 1272 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Back at the Municipal Parking Structure, which is just around the corner, a military gunman opens fire on Zora and Bart from the top deck.
Krysta Now escapes the scene.
The interior of the MegaZeppelin was a composite of two different locations. It starts inside a restaurant at the Pacific Design Center (8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069), before seamlessly transitioning (via a hidden edit in an unbroken shot) into the ballroom, which was filmed at Skirball Cultural Center (2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049).
A Los Angeles freeway is seen, with more CGI elements added. This was filmed at W 7th St, overlooking the CA-110 freeway, facing Southbound. Again, the surrounding buildings are geographically accurate.
LOCATION: 34°03’01.0″N 118°15’45.3″W (partial CGI used for the location)
Walter Mung drives his ice cream truck, with Roland inside, towards the erupting riots in the city. A car is burning next to the “Uptown Rocker” public art piece in Downtown Los Angeles, which also appears in such films as “Double Dragon” and “The Hidden.”
LOCATION: W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (GPS coordinates: 34°03’06.3″N 118°15’10.2″W)
The ice cream truck crashes at S Hill St / W 4th St, where there are riots in the streets.
LOCATION: S Hill St / W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
As Roland and Ronald Taverner meet one another, the ice cream truck ascends into the sky in front of the US Bank Tower in Downtown Los Angeles. The building has appeared in countless films, including “Independence Day,” “Fracture,” “Darkman,” “The Thirteenth Floor” and more.
LOCATION: 633 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
To see our “Southland Tales” location page, click here.
The house from the Eddie Murphy comedy “A Thousand Words” can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The house is seen near the end of the film when Jack, played by Murphy, purchases a home for Caroline, played by Kerry Washington.
The 1983 film “Star 80,” starring Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts, was filmed in Los Angeles, Vancouver and New York. The film tells the true story of model and actress Dorothy Stratten, played by Hemingway, and her husband, played by Roberts. Stratten was tragically killed by her husband in 1980 after she proceeded with plans to divorce him. The moved filmed at the same home where the actual crime took place.
LOCATION: 10881 Clarkson Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
The 1994 comedy “Monkey Trouble,” starring Thora Birch, was filmed in Southern California. In the early scenes of the film, Azro, played by Harvey Keitel, can be seen at Venice Beach performing for the crowd with Dodger the Monkey. This same area was seen in the films “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Cisco Pike,” “Xanadu” and “Harry and Tonto.”
LOCATION: Dudley Ave / Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Eva, played by Birch, lives at this apartment building with her family.
LOCATION: 109 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Dodger can be seen running up this ramp into the building.
Here is the location of the pet store Eva visits in the film.
LOCATION: 12112 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
In the 2002 Mark Romanek film, “One Hour Photo,” Robin Williams plays a mentally unstable photo developer who becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he develops. The home of the Yorkin family can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the film, Sy, played by Williams, sits on the street and watches the home. In reality, however, the property sits tucked away behind a fence and trees and is not visible from the street. Here is an aerial view of the home, which was also featured in the film “Cruel Intentions,” as well as the TV shows “Californication” and “Ray Donovan.”
LOCATION: 136 S Canyon View Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Sy’s aparttment can be found in Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. It is located just a few buildings over from one of the murder scenes in the film “The Little Things.” It’s not the safest of areas, so use caution if you visit.
LOCATION: 534 Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Sy sits at a diner, looking a duplicates he made of the Yorkins’ family photos. This was filmed at the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien” and many more. In 2007, the building was demolished. However, Bob’s Big Boy purchased the property years later and rebuilt it based on the original blueprints and even some of the same materials. So what stands now closely resembles what was seen in the film.
LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
Sy follows Will Yorkin, played by Michael Vartan, to a hotel in Torrance. The real building is not a hotel, but a business area and medical center.
In the James Bond film, “Die Another Day,” starring Pierce Brosnan, this 2002 Jaguar XKR was driven by the henchman Tang Lin Zao, played by Rick Yune. The vehicle was equipped with grille-mounted missiles, rocket launchers on the door and a Gatling gun. The car was featured in a chase seen with Bond over a frozen lagoon, as he escapes an ice palace. It could be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, which ran an exhibit entitled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles Of Science Fiction and Fantasy” from May 2019 through May 2020.
LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The 1983 Brian De Palma film “Scarface,” starring Al Pacino, is set in the underworld of Miami, telling the story of the rise and fall of Tony Montana. While Miami was used for several locations, Los Angeles also stood in for the city for quite a bit of the film, due to the fact that the Miami Tourist Board declined the producers several filming requests, fearing the subject matter would deter tourism. Some later scenes in the film were also shot in New York.
When they first arrive in Miami by way of Cuba, Tony Montana, played by Pacino, stays in a detention center with his friend Manny Ribera, played by Steven Bauer. The detention center scenes were filmed under the I-10 Freeway, near the I-110 interchange in Los Angeles. In the film, Tony and Manny are mostly seen beneath the Eastbound lanes, near W 17th St and Georgia St. However, that area is within a fenced off, gated parking lot. The Westbound lanes on the opposite side, while not seen from that angle in the film, run over Venice Blvd and offer a bit easier photography and general view of the area. This area is located very close to the opening robbery scene from “Heat.”
LOCATION: Beneath I-10, near W 17th St & Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (GPS coordinates: 34.037791, -118.273057)
As Tony and Manny arrive in Miami Beach for a drug deal, the pull up next to “The Carlyle.” The same hotel was famously featured in the film “The Birdcage,” as well as the TV shows “The Golden Palace” and “Miami Vice.”
LOCATION: 1250 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
On the same street is the location of the infamous hotel where Tony’s drug deal goes bad and one of his crew is killed with a chainsaw. The building has since been remodeled and is now a drug store. However, the facade out front, as well as the staircase, remain in tact.
LOCATION: 728 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The drug deal takes place on the top floor.
This sign is posted at the front of the building to the right of the stairs, noting it as the filming location. There are also a few photos from the film inside, behind the cash registers.
Here is the area across the street where Manny waits.
The violence spills out onto the streets as Tony executes the man with the chainsaw in front of the hotel next door.
LOCATION: 720 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tony meets with drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa at his home in Bolivia. The real location is actually in Montecito, California. The house sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. This estate is located just minutes away from Tony’s mansion in the film.
LOCATION: 656 Park Ln, Montecito, CA 93108
Frank Lopez, played by Robert Loggia, owns this auto dealership, where he yells at Tony for making a deal without consulting him beforehand.
LOCATION: 8825 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
As he rises in power, a montage is shown of Tony expanding his empire. He and his crew deposit large amounts of money at this bank, located in Encino.
LOCATION: 16000 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436
Tony is shown emerging from this building, which has the name “Montana Management Co.” in the film. The building can be found in West Hollywood, California.
LOCATION: 8623 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
This building has the name “Montana Travel Co.” in the film. It is located directly across the street from the above location. Despite the addresses on Sunset Blvd, both buildings actually face Sunset Plaza Dr. This same area has also been featured in the films “Armed and Dangerous” and “Model Shop.”
LOCATION: 8619 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
In the same montage, Tony is seen opening a beauty salon for his sister Gina, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. This is again located next to the above two locations in West Hollywood, on the opposite side of the street on Sunset Blvd. All three locations are in very close proximity to one another.
LOCATION: 8648 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
The exterior used as Tony Montana’s house can be found in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara. Tony marries Elvira, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, at the home, which added a second story facade for the production. Known as El Fureidis, the property sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. Many Miami-based tour guides tell tourists the home is located in Miami, which is incorrect. El Fureidis hosts over 100 species of palm trees and is famous for being the source of the rare species of palm trees found in Disneyland’s Adventureland and Jungle Cruise ride. Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill are among the many famous guests said to have visited the estate.
LOCATION: 631 Parra Grande Ln, Montecito, CA 93108
Manny’s home can be found in the Mt Olympus neighborhood of Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 2271 Hercules Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Thanks to Phil Savenick for contributing a note on El Fureidis.
The 2008 action thriller “Taken,” starring Liam Neeson, was largely filmed in France. Some early scenes in the film, however, are set in Los Angeles, California. Bryan Mills, played by Neesan, visits the home of his ex-wife several times in the film to see his daughter. The home can be found at Fremont Place in Hancock Park. Despite being a popular neighborhood for filming, Fremont Place is one of the few gated communities in Los Angeles, making it inaccessible to the general public. Other films showcasing locations inside Fremont Place include “The War Of The Roses,” “Zodiac,” “Rocky III” and more. This home is a popular filming location, also appearing in such films as “Taken 2,” “Rocky IV,” “The Artist” and “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills,” as well as such TV shows as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Paper Dolls,” “CHiPs,” “CSI: Miami,” “Cold Case,” “Beverly Hills, 90210” and many more.
LOCATION: 56 Fremont Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Bryan Mills lives at this apartment, which is located in Sherman Oaks. The apartment appears once again in the sequel, “Taken 2.”
In the 2008 comedy “The House Bunny,” a former Playboy model Shelley, played by Anna Faris begins staying at a house full of sorority girls. The film was shot around Los Angeles, California. Early in the film, Shelly is seen living at the Playboy Mansion. This was filmed at the real former Playboy Mansion. The property sits in a residential neighborhood and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, it would be very easy to drive past without any idea. It should be noted from the street you can mostly just see the front gate. Since the passing of Hugh Hefner, the property has transitioned over to new owners, into a place for corporate functions, private events and film and television production, as well as undergoing substantial renovations.
LOCATION: 10236 Charing Cross Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The mansion has appeared in countless films, such as “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” the 2014 version of “The Gambler,” “The Phantom” and many more.
The first sorority house Shelley visits, where she gets turned away, can be found in Hancock Park. The same home appeared in the films “Bugsy” and “Hollywoodland.”
LOCATION: 425 S Plymouth Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90020
The Zeta sorority house, where Shelley lands a job, can be found in the West Adams neighborhood.
Film Oblivion 