To Live And Die In L.A. (1985)

The 1985 William Friedkin film “To Live and Die in L.A.” was shot, as the title suggests, in Los Angeles, California The film made use of nearly every corner of L.A. County. In the opening scenes of the film, the Secret Service escort the President down Santa Monica Blvd in Century City, as they make their way to a hotel.

LOCATION: Century Park E / Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

The convoy arrives at The Beverly Hilton hotel, where Agent Richard Chance, played by William Peterson, stops a terrorist assassination attempt. Many films have shot scenes at the hotel, including “Frost/Nixon,” “Coffy” and “Micki + Maude.”

LOCATION: 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe, lives at this home in Santa Monica. Most of the property is not visible from the street. Eric burns a piece of art on the balcony on the left. The same home as appeared in such films as “Cafe Society” and “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.”

LOCATION: 757 Kingman Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Chance is seen bungee jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The bridge has appeared in countless films, such as “Gone In 60 Seconds,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “City of Angels,” “Knight of Cups,” “Blind Rage,” “Charlie’s Angels” and more. It has likewise appeared in such TV shows as “Mission: Impossible,” “CHiPs,” “Columbo” and more. It it also where director Tony Scott tragically ended his life.

LOCATION: Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, CA 90731

Masters runs a counterfeit cash operation out of this building in Lancaster. Despite the address being on 170th St E, this area is on the back side of the building, closer to the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave.

LOCATION: 40038 170th St E, Palmdale, CA 93591 (near the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave)

Masters is seen speeding off in his car down this area to the right of the building.

To the left is where the dumpster and trailer were located and the murder scene takes place.

Chance’s house can be found in Malibu. There is a Public Beach Access Point that runs directly beside the property, located at 22664 Beach Access Path, Malibu, CA 90265, which makes it relatively easy to access from Pacific Coast Hwy, unlike many of the properties in Malibu.

LOCATION: 22664 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Chance runs a stakeout from this church in Pasadena. The home he surveillances was located around 445 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101, but it has since been demolished. The church, however, still stands.

LOCATION: 464 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101

Chance drives down N Pacific Ave in San Pedro to his girlfriend Ruth’s house. The route he takes in the film is geographically accurate.

LOCATION: 981 N Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731

Chance continues up Knoll Hill, with the Vincent Thomas Bridge visible in the distance.

LOCATION: N Center St / Knoll Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90731

Ruth’s house has long since been demolished, with a baseball field now in its place. Here is the approximate area where it stood.

LOCATION: 255 Viewland Pl, San Pedro, CA 90731 (now demolished)

The start of the foot chase scene begins at this building, which is located across the street from the prison from “Wild At Heart.”

LOCATION: 1701 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Masters walks with Jeff Rice, played by Steve James, where they make plans to kill a man in prison. This same location appeared in the film “Wassup Rockers.”

LOCATION: 11231 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (on W 113th St)

Jeff Rice’s house is located in Wilmington.

LOCATION: 1442 W F St, Wilmington, CA 90744

The walk to the judge’s office passes through the Citigroup Center in Downtown Los Angeles.  The same area appeared in such films as “Heat,” “Fight Club,” “The Hidden” and more.

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LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The hospital scenes were filmed at this building.

LOCATION: 610 S St Louis St Los Angeles, CA 90023

The strip club, which was located in Wilmington, has since been demolished. It’s now just some empty land at the corner of S Figueroa St and W Harry Bridges Blvd. Prior to being demolished, the same building appeared in the films “Fight Club” and “Blood In, Blood Out.”

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LOCATION: S Figueroa St / W Harry Bridges Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731 (now demolished – original address was 1331 W B Street, Wilmington, CA 90731, but that address no longer exists)

The train station scenes were filmed at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.  It has been featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.

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

Chance tracks down Carl Cody, played by John Turturro, at this apartment in Sherman Oaks.

LOCATION: 5050 Woodman Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Chance and Vukovich, played by John Pankow, meet with Masters to make an exchange at this building.

LOCATION: 8051 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (on N Laurel Ave)

Related articles: The Exorcist (1973)

Last Action Hero (1993)

The 1993 film “Last Action Hero” was shot mostly in Southern California, with a few additional scenes filmed in New York City.  Early in the film, Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, faces off against his nemesis, The Ripper, played by Tom Noonan.  These scenes were filmed at the Culver Hotel in Culver City.

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LOCATION: 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

A magic ticket enters Danny, played by Austin O’Brien, into the movie. He proceeds to try to convince Slater, unsuccessfully, that he too is in a movie. Danny takes Slater to a video store in an attempt to point out other movies Arnold Schwarzenegger has appeared in. After coming across a standee for “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” Danny is shocked to see Sylvester Stallone on the image instead. These scenes were filmed at the Malibu Colony Plaza in Malibu. The two continue arguing out front after they leave the video store.

LOCATION: 23705 Malibu Rd, Malibu, CA 90265

Tony Vivaldi, played by Anthony Quinn, lives at this Mailbu estate.

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LOCATION: 28824 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

Jack Slater’s house can be found in Sherman Oaks.  A large gate has been built around the front, obscuring most of the view.

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LOCATION: 3831 Oakfield Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

This angle of the back of the home, also seen in the film, remains a bit more visible.

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Late in the film, a mob funeral is held at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

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LOCATION: 200 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Reacher can be seen driving his car across the water here.

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Here is the entrance to the hotel, where Benedict, played by Charles Dance, is seen.

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Hannah Montana

The beach house from the TV show “Hannah Montana,” where Hannah, played by Miley Cyrus, lives with her father, can be found in Malibu, California.  The property sits near Zuma Beach and can be seen from the beach.  The house has since been remodeled a bit.

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LOCATION: 30760 Broad Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265

Iron Man (2008)

The 2008 film “Iron Man” famously launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is regarded not only as one of the finest Marvel films, but one of the best superhero films ever made.  Early in the film, Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey, Jr., demonstrates his latest weapon, the “Jericho” missile.  Supposedly set in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan, these scenes were actually filmed at Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California.  Many classic western films have also filmed there over the years, along with more recent films, such as Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” and “Gladiator.”

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LOCATION: Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA 93545

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Tony’s iconic Malibu house doesn’t actually exist, it is rather a CGI creation.  However, the land where it’s located is very much real.  Point Dume in Malibu is a public park that is thankfully devoid of any homes.  Instead there is a foot trail and biking path which leads to a beautiful ocean view.  The closest actual home, located directly across the street, is the “Circles on the Point” mansion, another property frequently featured in film and television productions, such as “Color Of Night,” “Glow” and more.  The CGI design of the Stark home is rumored to have been inspired by another mansion; the The Razor House in La Jolla (9826 La Jolla Farms Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037), near San Diego.  The gated access and high cliff walls do not make for convenient photography of the Razor House, however.

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LOCATION: Point Dume, Cliffside Dr / Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265

More CGI trickery was used with the Stark Industries building.  The main building is the Masimo headquarters, formerly known as the Nikken Building, in Irvine.  However, the wider shot is a composite of other streets and buildings, including portions of Shoreline Drive in Long Beach.  The Masimo building has been used in many other productions, including “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” “You, Me And Dupree” and “All About Steve.”

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LOCATION: 52 Discovery, Irvine, CA 92618

Tony attends a charity ball at the Walt Disney Concert Hall near downtown Los Angeles.  The same building appears in the film “Fracture.” The unmistakable design is the work of legendary architect Frank Gehry.

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LOCATION: 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tony first conceives the Iron Man suit after he is captured by terrorists.  Once he escapes and builds the suit, he returns to do battle with the Gulmira terrorists.  The bombed out ruins where he makes short work of his enemies was actually a set located on the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in Santa Clarita.  As is always the case with movie ranches, the sets are often changed around to meet the needs of the latest productions, but several portions of the Iron Man set still remain recognizable.

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LOCATION: 20019 Blue Cloud Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390

Some additional views of the area where Iron Man battles the terrorists.

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Here is the spot where Iron Man blows up the tank and walks away, as famously featured in the film’s trailer.  It was dressed heavily by the production to look more war-torn.

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In 2019, the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles held a limited exhibition called “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” which featured Tony’s 1932 Ford Flathead Roadster from the film.

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LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Not far from Alabama Hills in Lone Pine is the excellent Lone Pine Film History Museum.  Props and memorabilia from the many films shot in Lone Pine can be found there, with their primary focus on classic westerns.  They even have a small section of the museum dedicated to Iron Man.  Here are some of the items on display.

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LOCATION: 701 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA 93545

Some merchandise promoting the film.

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Some posters and prop recreations.

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This is the suit worn by Robert Downey, Jr. during his “Jericho” missile scenes, filmed in Lone Pine.

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Point Break (1991)

The 1991 action film “Point Break,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, was filmed mostly around Southern California, with a few late scenes filmed in Oregon and Hawaii.

Early in the film, the FBI agent Pappas, played by Gary Busey encourages his new partner Johnny Utah, played by Keanu Reeves, to learn to surf.  Believing the bank robbers they are pursuing to be surfers, they discuss the need to infiltrate the tight-knit surfer community in order to gain leads as to the thieves’ identities.  These scenes were filmed at the Manhattan Beach Pier.

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LOCATION: 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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While surfing, Johnny meets Tyler, played by Lori Petty and the two strike up a romance.  Johnny visits her at her work, which was filmed at Neptune’s Net in Malibu.  A famous biker and surfer restaurant, the same place was also seen in “The Fast And The Furious.”

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LOCATION: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Utah begins frequenting a variety of beaches, in hopes of identifying the robbers, who call themselves the Ex-Presidents.  One of the beaches he checks out is Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey.  Utah can be seen near the El Segundo Power Plant, just past W Grand Ave.

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LOCATION: 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293

Johnny is washing off after surfing, when another crew approaches and attacks him.  Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze, intervenes as the two fight off the rival crew.  These scenes were filmed at Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu.

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LOCATION: 35000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Later in the film, Utah is ordering sandwiches when the Ex-Presidents pull up right behind him and proceed to rob a a bank.  This was filmed in Culver City, with the Culver Hotel seen in the distance (where the opening of “Last Action Hero” was filmed).

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LOCATION: Main St, Culver City, CA 90232 (facing toward Culver Blvd)

The building where the bank was located has been remodeled and is now separated into several business spaces.

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LOCATION: 3849 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232

After the robbery, Utah and Pappas pursue the Ex-Presidents in a car chase.  The chase continues into the Westfield Shopping Plaza in Culver City, as the cars enter from Slauson Ave towards what is now a Macy’s department store.

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LOCATION: 6200 Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

They hook a left in the parking lot and drive past what is now a Trader Joe’s.

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LOCATION: 6150 Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The cars race up and down the aisles of the parking lot, which is located beneath the Marina Fwy (CA-90).

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LOCATION: 6000 S Hannum Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The cars then drive down Westfield Dr and head towards S Hannum Ave, where Pappas crashes into a security gate, stalling out the car.  Utah exits the car and continues on foot.

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LOCATION: Westfield Dr / S Hannum Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

The thieves blow out a tire as they turn right onto S Hannum Ave.

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While made to look only a short distance away, the Ex-Presidents pull off into a gas station, which was actually located in Redondo Beach.  Bodhi torches the car by lighting a gas pump and using it as a flame thrower.  Now on foot, Utah catches up and tackles him.   The gas station is no longer there, replaced by a surf shop on N Catalina Ave.  This can be slightly confusing, as the same surf shop uses a multiple buildings along the block, including across the street on N Broadway.  The correct location of the former gas station is at the intersection of Beryl St and N Catalina Ave.

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LOCATION: 600 N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Most of the buildings seen in the background of the gas station, such as the Crowne Plaza, are still there and match up with the film.

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LOCATION: Beryl St / N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Bodhi runs from Utah and the foot chase begins as the two race across N Broadway, located behind the former gas station.  This triangular rooftop building can be seen in the background, which is another property of the surf shop.  The other side of the street, where the two begin running down the narrow, residential corridors, has been remodeled.

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LOCATION: N Broadway / N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

The ending of the foot chase, with a conflicted Utah reluctantly passing on the opportunity to shoot at Bodhi, was filmed over at Ballona Creek, a concrete water channel and bike path, which runs through Culver City.

Related articles: Strange Days (1995)

Color Of Night (1994)

Much of the 1994 film “Color of Night” takes place at a mansion belonging to Bob, played by Scott Bakula, but which is occupied by Bill, played by Bruce Willis, for the majority of the film.  The house is known as the Circles on the Point mansion and can be found directly across from Point Dume in Malibu, California.

The mansion has appeared in several other productions, including the TV series “GLOW” and “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” as well as the low-budget 2000 drama “Ritual.”  It is also worth noting that the house of Tony Stark in the “Iron Man” films, while a CGI creation, was superimposed to be located at Point Dume, which is directly across the street from this home, making it the closest actual residence Stark’s fictional home.

Here is the driveway to the house, which is seen several times in the film, including when Bill opens the mailbox to discover a rattlesnake inside.  It’s no longer the same mailbox, as the one seen in the film was built into a rock, but it’s located in the same area.

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LOCATION: 29377 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

Here is a view of the front of the house.  The circular opening on the left is where arguably the most famous scene from the film takes place; Bill’s sex scene with Rose, played by Jane March.  The camera pulls back through the opening as the two fall into the pool.  The pool is the same one shown in the film, but is not visible from the street.

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Point Dume is directly across the street, which is also seen in the film, when Bill and Bob ride their bikes up the trail.

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LOCATION: Point Dume, Cliffside Dr / Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265

Bill meets Anderson, played by Eriq La Salle, as the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles.  A popular eating spot, Grand Central Market has appeared in many films, including “La La Land,” “Busting,” “National Treasure,” “Midnight Run” and many more.

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LOCATION: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Bill visits Casey and climbs the fire escape to enter this building.  It is perhaps most famously know and the location of Paddy’s Pub from “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” although the view on that show is from Palmetto St and the angle seen here is from Mateo St.

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LOCATION: 544 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron’s iconic sci-fi action sequel, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” shot all around California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Fremont areas.  Here we’ll take a look at some of these spots.

The T-1000 travels back in time and arrives underneath the 6th St bridge in Downtown Los Angeles, where he kills a police officer and takes his car, beginning his search for John Conner.  The 6th St Bridge has been used in countless films.  The original bridge was demolished in 2016, with a new bridge built in its place in 2022. The area where the scene took place has changed quite a bit.

LOCATION: Under the 6th St. Bridge, at the intersection of lower E 6th St / Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (heavily remodeled)

John Conner lives at this house in Canoga Park with his foster parents.  The T-1000 later arrives searching for John.

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LOCATION: 19828 Valerio St, Canoga Park, CA 91306

John Conner and a friend rob an ATM at this former bank in Van Nuys, California.  The building is now a pharmacy and is fenced off from the street, with no trespassing signs.  It’s still fairly easy to photograph from the sidewalk, however.

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LOCATION: 14400 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

After the T-1000 spots John Conner, he begins to pursue him, as John flees down the stairwell of a parking garage.  This is a garage at the Santa Monica Place shopping center.  Despite appearances, it’s actually not too difficult to match up the areas used in the film.

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LOCATION: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

John races over to his bike.

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The T-1000 chases him at an inhuman speed.

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A look at some other shots seen during the bike chase…

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In one of the most famous scenes in the film, after thinking he’s finally escaped the T-1000, due to some help from the T-800, John is surprised when the T-1000 drives a semi truck through the overpass wall of Bull Creek, a flood control channel located in North Hills.

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LOCATION: Bull Creek, SW corner of Plummer St, near Hayvenhurst Ave, North Hills, CA, 91343

Here is a view of the Bull Creek channel, where John Conner is chased on his dirt bike by the T-1000.

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After The Terminator saves John Conner, Conner asks him to stop the bike at this alley in Van Nuys, where he questions him on his mission.  The alley is located very close to the bank where John Conner robs the ATM.

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LOCATION: Alley on Wakefield Ave, between Burton St and Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

Sarah Conner, played by Linda Hamilton, is being held at the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.  These scenes were shot at the Phoenix House for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation.  We did not replicate the exact angles seen of the building in the film, as those sections are now entirely obscured by a row of trees.

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LOCATION: 11600 Eldridge Ave, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Sarah has a dream in which she approaches a playground as Judgment Day begins.  This was filmed at Elysian Park, overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles.  The park has changed quite a bit and the chain link fence is long gone, but the city skyline can still be matched up.  This area is near Elysian Fields on Park Road, where it ends in a cul-de-sac.  The playground has been moved up closer to the road and the area seen in the film is now a lookout point.

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LOCATION: Near Elysian Fields, Park Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’56.8″N, 118°14’23.4″W)

The T-800, Sarah and John stop off at this desert market and gas station, as they make their way to the Salceda ranch.  Although long since closed, the property is still recognizable from the film. However, a fence has since been erected around it, blocking some of the views. The same building was featured in the film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

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LOCATION: 46551 140th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535

The house of Miles Dyson, played by Joe Morton, can be found in Malibu. The home sits up a long, gated driveway, so the only views are looking up from Pacific Coast Highway. The same home appeared in the film “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”

LOCATION: 30068 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Later in the film, the Terminator, John and Sarah Conner all break into the Cyberdine Headquarters, where Skynet will be created, launching Judgment Day.  The real building is located in Northern California in the city of Fremont.  Ironically, the building actually belongs to a real tech company, Mattson Technology.

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LOCATION: 47131 Bayside Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538

A closer look at the entrance, where the SWAT truck crashes through.

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The exterior of the factory where the ending takes place can be found in Long Beach. The same building appeared in the film “Child’s Play 2.”

LOCATION: 118 Pier S Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

We leave you with some props from the film.  The T-1000’s crowbar arms, stabbing finger and liquid metal bullet wound can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.

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LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Related articles: The Terminator (1984), Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009), True Lies (1994)

Heat (1995)

As time has passed, appreciation for Michael Mann’s crime saga masterpiece “Heat” has continued to grow.  Few films have ever captured Los Angeles so magnificently as Mann did here.  Even after all of these years, a few locations remain secret, but most have surfaced.

The opening shots of the film show Neil McCauley, played by Robert DeNiro on the Metro Green Line, arriving at the Redondo Beach Station.  Director Michael Mann would return to this same station for the closing scenes of “Collateral.”  If you plan to visit this station, the only way to access the platform is by purchasing a fare.

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LOCATION: 2406 Marine Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Neil steals an ambulance from the St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach.  The same hospital shows up again later in the film, when Vincent Hanna, played by Al Pacino, rushes his step-daughter Lauren, played by Natalie Portman, to the emergency room.

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LOCATION: 1050 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Chris, played by Val Kilmer, purchases explosives from a company in Whittier.  However, the building seen in the film was later demolished. Here is how the area appears now.

LOCATION: 10006 Rose Hills Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (demolished)

Vincent and his wife Justine live in what is known as the “Sixth Street House” in Santa Monica. A famous architectural piece, the house has the designation of historical landmark. Much of the front of the home is obscured by a wall and shrubs, making it a bit inconspicuous. The side of the home offers better visibility. In the film itself, only the interiors of the house are seen.

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LOCATION: 2634 6th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The Mexican food stand where Waingro gets picked up has since been demolished. This is what the area looks like now.

LOCATION: 1233 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006 (demolished)

What matches up better is the plaza across the street, seen in the background as Waingro walks to the truck.

The robbery of the armored truck takes place on Venice Blvd, exactly as Hanna states in the film.  It’s near the Los Angeles Convention Center, just underneath the interchange of the 10 and 110 freeways. The detention center scenes from “Scarface” were filmed nearby as well.

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LOCATION:  Venice Blvd / Convention Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90015

The robbers emerge from underneath this split overpass for the collision.

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This is where Vincent arrives to investigate the aftermath.

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McCauley’s crew torches the ambulance here.

LOCATION: W 22nd St / Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007

McCauley meets with Nate, played by Jon Voight, at a parking garage in Downtown L.A. They are seen on the ninth level, which is now private and monitored by a security guard. Here is a view of the same area a couple levels down, which is public.

LOCATION: 333 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

McCauley’s crew takes Waingro to the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey, where they attempt to kill him in the parking lot, but he ultimately escapes.  The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “One Hour Photo,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” 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.

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LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

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The location of Neil’s oceanfront home, where Chris sleeps off a domestic spat, has long been subject to debate.  The house most commonly believed to be the correct location can be found on Malibu Cove Colony Drive, a private road just off the Pacific Coast Highway.  Old real estate listings showing the interior of the home match closely with what was seen in the film, down to fixtures and appliances.  The same house was also featured in the film “Less Than Zero,” where Jami Gertz tells Andrew McCarthy she’s not going to college.  However, since then portions of the home have been remodeled, making it a difficult task to match up in person.

The entrance to Malibu Cove Colony Drive has a gate and guard on duty, preventing any public access (most beachfront roads in this area are likewise private).  On the opposite side, however, are the outskirts of Escondido Beach, which is open to the public, but also presents its own challenges.  First and foremost, the houses sit very close to the water.  All of them are perched on stilts, as the tides can reach all the way up to the base of the properties.  Visitors should use caution if they walk these narrow shores, as the high tides can leave you little room to cross.  It also makes photography a challenge, unless you plan to take a swim.  The next challenge is simply identifying the correct home.  Many of these beachfront homes have been heavily remodeled.  If you attempt to match them to satellite views, many details won’t align in person, due to remodeling.  Some of the homes also resemble one another, particularly their patios, making it even more confusing.  It’s easy to see why, after decades, the location has remained subject to debate.  To be certain we found the correct home we were seeking, we used a combination satellite imagery and GPS.  A drone (or jet ski) is likely a better method to view the house, but if you do attempt it on foot, use caution and do your research.

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LOCATION: 26940 Malibu Cove Colony Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

The home of Chris Shiherlis can be found in Northridge. The house has since been remodeled some.

LOCATION: 19514 Romar St, Northridge, CA 91324 (remodeled)

This view, seen as Chris drives away, still matches up.

The bookstore where Eady, played by Amy Brenneman, works is located at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. The entire area, an outdoor pedestrian mall, was heavily renovated and the bookstore is long since gone.

LOCATION: 1254 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)

The cafe where Eady gets to know Neil was likewise part of the 3rd Street Promenade. Much like the bookstore, the cafe is long since gone and the building has been remodeled.

LOCATION: 1457 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)

Eady’s house sits perched on stilts in the hills of West Hollywood, offering a magnificent view over the city. There’s not much to see from the front of the house itself on Blue Heights Dr. Signs declare the cul-de-sac where it sits to be private property, but you can still see it well from the public section of the road. The floor to ceiling windows and patio area are much better seen from lower streets, such as Viewmont Dr (near the 1600 block, just before it reaches a dead end). The house found renewed interest in 2014 with the TV series “Bosch,” where it serves as the home of the titular detective.

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LOCATION: 1870 Blue Heights Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (best seen from around the 1600 block of Viewmont Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069, just before the road hits a dead end)

Here is a view of the city, as seen from Blue Heights Dr, just before you reach Eady’s house, closely resembling what you’d see from the home.

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Vincent and Drucker visit Albert’s chop shop in Wilmington. At the time of filming, the area was rumored to host an actual chop shop, though now it’s just a train maintenance area. The distinct, yellow sulpher pile still remains and there is a very strong smell in person.

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LOCATION: 1017 Foote Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (near the railroad tracks)

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Plans for the bank heist are first offered to Neil and Nate when they visit Kelso, played by Tom Noonan. The house was filmed on Dodds Circle in Los Angeles, which is also where Trejo’s house is located in the film. Neil and Nate first park here, overlooking the 10 freeway.

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LOCATION:  Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063 (just off Dickson Ave)

McCauley then discusses the plan with Kelso at his house, which is fenced off around the entire perimeter.

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LOCATION:  1235 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063

The restaurant where Donald, played by Dennis Haysbert, begins working under the abuse of a crooked manager is Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank (not to be confused with the Downey location covered earlier in this article).

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LOCATION: 4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505

Later in the film, Neil happens to be dining inside with his crew and spots Donald cooking and immediately recognizes him as a former prison buddy.

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Neil speaks to his driver, Trejo, from a phone at the restaurant, where he is informed Trejo is being tailed by cops and cannot join their heist.  In need of a last-minute, replacement driver, Neil offers Donald a job on the spot.

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McCauley follows Charlene, played by Ashley Judd, to this hotel in Burbank.

LOCATION: 3901 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505

Vincent later meets up with Albert at a club to speak with another informant.

LOCATION: 3548 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005

The drive-in theater where a deal goes wrong was demolished not long after filming took place. The area has since been redeveloped. This is how it appears now.

LOCATION: 5700 W Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (demolished)

The restaurant where Neil’s crew dines can be found in Santa Monica, near the pier.

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LOCATION: 1535 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

The motel where Hanna investigates a crime scene linked to Waingro has long since been demolished. A parking lot now stands at the site, but many of the buildings seen in the background still match up.

LOCATION: 944 Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (demolished)

Lauren is sitting on a bus bench in Santa Monica when she sees Hanna passing by in a car.

LOCATION: Hollister Ave / Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The police car u-turns and picks up Lauren.

McCauley’s crew proceed to take down a metals repository, only to abandon the job midway, after McCauley hears a noise and correctly surmises the police are watching.

LOCATION: Near 1309 Factory Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Vincent stands in this general area after the failed operation.

After realizing the police are on to them, McCauley’s crew considers splitting up at this power station in Torrance. Here is a view of the general area.

LOCATION: 17680 Yukon Ave, Torrance, CA 90504

Neil’s crew stages a fake scout of an industrial area, where they are surveilled by the police, only to discover Neil’s true intent is actually surveilling the LAPD back. Hanna’s crew can be seen exiting down the stairs of this large drum, located in Wilmington.

LOCATION: 841 S La Paloma Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (facing S Fries Ave)

The police stand in this area at Terminal Island in San Pedro, as Hanna realizes they’ve been tricked. The area they stand is just past the fencing of this parking lot. To get here, you travel down New Dock Street. There is a checkpoint to the right for trucks, but if you keep left, the road bypasses the checkpoint for passenger vehicles. You can reach this parking lot, which is as close as you can get to the exact spot. If you plan to visit, we recommend doing so on a weekend, as weekdays the road can be backed up with long lines of trucks arriving to the port.

LOCATION: Near 700 New Dock St, San Pedro, CA 90731 (GPS coordinates: 33°45’18.5″N, 118°15’21.6″W)

You can see this building in the background of the shots.

You can also see the right side of this building, confirming they would have been standing directly to the right beyond the fencing.

Hanna is seen landing in a helicopter in this area, which is actually a church parking lot.

LOCATION: 1430 Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047

Hanna drives down the 110 freeway, connecting to the 105 freeway, in pursuit of McCauley.  The express ramp to the left was also where the opening of “La La Land” was filmed.  The bus jump from “Speed” was likewise filmed on the same interchange, when it was still under construction.

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LOCATION: I-110, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (GPS coordinates 33°55’58.1″N, 118°16’50.6″W)

Hanna is then seen driving down Interstate 105 past these signs, in pursuit of McCauley.

LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’58.2″N, 118°21’32.4″W)

Just slightly further ahead, Hanna pulls McCauley over in this area and invites him for a cup of coffee.

LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’54.7″N, 118°21’44.6″W)

One of the film’s famous scenes is of course the face to face meeting between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.  The conversation took place at the excellent Kate Mantilini, an institution of Beverly Hills which closed in 2014 after the restaurant could not afford a rental increase by the building owners.  We managed to capture some photos from when the place was still open.

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LOCATION: 9101 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (now closed)

Above the entrance to the restaurant, this image from the iconic scene was hung.

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After meeting Neil, Vincent returns to a hotel where he’s staying, only to discover his step-daughter Lauren has attempted suicide in his bathroom.  This was filmed at the Hotel Angeleno, just off the 405 freeway.  The hotel was mostly seen from interior views in the film, aside from a shot of Vincent looking down at the freeway from his balcony.

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LOCATION: 170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049

The exterior of the famous bank robbery scene is set in downtown Los Angeles at the Citigroup Center.  This same location was also featured in such films as “Fight Club,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “The Hidden” and more.

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LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The bank interiors were filmed at this building, also located in Downtown L.A.

LOCATION: 350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The robbery then spills out onto the streets, in what many consider one of the greatest shootouts ever filmed.

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LOCATION: Intersection of W 5th St / S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

McCauley and Chris attempt to escape in the parking lot of a grocery store. At the time of filming, this was just a parking garage, dressed to appear as a grocery store. The entire area has since been redeveloped and a large building now stands in it’s place. However, you can still match up some of the buildings seen in the background.

LOCATION: Near 831 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’45.9″N, 118°15’36.8″W)

Cheritto, played by Tom Sizemore, takes a hostage in this area, which is actually the rooftop of a small parking garage. There is a walking path directly onto the rooftop from 4th St.

LOCATION: 445 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Trejo’s house, much like Eady’s, sits on stilts over a hillside of L.A., where he is discovered by McCauley near the end of the film.  It sits on the same small road as Kelso’s house from earlier in the film, which was discovered as a result of finding this home for the film.

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LOCATION: 1219 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063

The home of Van Zant, played by William Fichtner, can be found near West Hollywood, not far from Eady’s house. The back area where McCauley approaches is not visible from the street.

LOCATION: 9024 Thrasher Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Nate’s bar was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank.  The same location appears in “Memento” and the 1997 film “Touch.”

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LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

Neil talks with Eady as the two look out over the ocean next to this tree.  It’s located next to a popular park in Pacific Palisades known as The Point at the Bluffs, which has a beautiful view over the water.

LOCATION: Via de Las Olas, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’08.0″N, 118°31’53.5″W)

After the robbery, the police try to bait in Chris by setting up a meeting with his wife Charlene.  After she tips him off with a subtle gesture (on a patio at 119 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291), he leaves the scene.  He’s stopped next to Venice Beach by the police, where he presents false identification and escapes.

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LOCATION: Navy St / Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90405

Thinking Neil is gone for good, Hanna leaves the police station and kicks a TV out of his car onto the street at this intersection. This same intersection has appeared in such films as “Speed” and the 2001 remake of “Ocean’s Eleven.”

LOCATION: W 5th St / S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The hotel where Neil tracks down Waingo can be found right next to LAX airport, just as depicted in the film.  Neil parks in this alley next to the hotel.

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LOCATION: 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

McCauley flees from Hanna into LAX airport.

LOCATION: Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045

The final standoff between Hanna and McCauley actually takes place in a field just across the street from the end of the LAX runway. You can see some similar structures still standing there.

LOCATION: Near Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (GPS coordinates: 33°56’21.0″N, 118°22’36.7″W)

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Related articles: Collateral (2004)