Scarface (1983)

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.”

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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.

Related articles: Carrie (1976), Body Double (1984)

Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)

Much like the original “Ant-Man,” the 2018 sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp” divided filming between Georgia and San Francisco, California.  The house of Dr. Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas, once again pops up, located not far from the famous Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

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LOCATION: 601 Buena Vista Ave W, San Francisco, CA 94117

Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, lives under house arrest at this home, where he spends time with his daughter.

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LOCATION: 1400 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Scott, Hank and Hope visit Dr. Bill Foster, played by Laurence Fishburne, passing through the famous Sather Gate at the UC Berkeley campus.

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LOCATION: Sather Gate, Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720

Later in the film, an action sequence takes place on Lombard St, a popular tourist destination due to it’s winding, downhill curves.  The famous stretch runs between Hyde St and Leavenworth St.

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LOCATION: Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94133 (between Hyde St and Leavenworth St)

Near the end of the film, Scott once again visits the house of his ex-wife Maggie, played by Judy Greer.  Maggie’s house is located in Atlanta.

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LOCATION: 840 Clemont Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Related articles: Ant-Man (2015)

Batman Returns (1992)

One of the original Catwoman costumes, worn by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton’s 1992 sequel “Batman Returns” can be found at the Batman exhibit as part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

A prop of one of The Penguin’s armed penguin soldiers can be found on display at Planet Hollywood, Florida.

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

Related articles: Frankenweenie (1984), Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Big Fish (2003), Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)