Lethal Weapon (1987)

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The tower where the woman falls to her death in the opening of the 1987’s “Lethal Weapon” was filmed at the International Tower Condos in Long Beach, California.

LOCATION: 700 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, shows up in front of the same tower to investigate. The Villa Riviera condos can be seen in the distance.

Murtaugh’s house, seen in much of the film, is not a real house. It’s a set on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California. The ranch is offsite from the main Warner Studio lot and is unfortunately not available for public tours. The house has been used in countless productions, including the home of the Griswold’s angry neighbors in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the Colonel’s house in “American Beauty” and many, many more. It has the most complete interiors of any set on the ranch, much of which was seen in the film.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505

The building where Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson, uses his unique methods to neutralize a potential suicide jumper was filmed at the Emser Tile building in West Hollywood.

LOCATION: 8431 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (some GPS systems alternately list the location as 8431 CA-2, Los Angeles, CA 90069)

Color Of Night (1994)

March 19, 2019March 19, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

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.

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.

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

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

Natural Born Killers (1994)

March 16, 2019March 16, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Oliver Stone’s 1994 film “Natural Born Killers” was filmed in quite a few different locations, including Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois and Indiana, as the story depicts two killers on a cross-country mass murder spree.

Micky and Mallory, played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis respectively, are finally captured at the “Drug Zone” after being bitten by rattlesnakes and in need of medicine. The building is currently a crafts store and can be found in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from the sign and some changes to the front entrance, the building otherwise still resembles how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 9350 Eagle Ranch Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114

A standoff between Micky and the cops ensues out front and after surrendering, Micky is then beaten by the police, as they try to prevent a film crew from capturing it.

Here’s a look from inside the store, in the general area where Micky exits and surrenders.

Seven (1995)

March 15, 2019March 19, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

David Fincher’s 1995 thriller “Seven” filmed primarily in downtown Los Angeles, against muted color tones and an onslaught of rain towers. Detective Mills, played by Brad Pitt, first meets Detective Somerset, played by Morgan Freeman, at a murder scene in the Flower District of downtown. As they exit the building, Somerset invites Mills for a drink, but is promptly declined. The two walk along the building as they continue talking.

LOCATION: 746 1/2 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The pair are introduced to the seven deadly sin killings with the “Gluttony” murder scene, filmed in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 720 Beacon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

They make their way across a then-vacant lot, along the side of the property to a rear entrance.

Somerset researches the seven deadly sins at the city library. This was filmed at the A.G. Bartlett Building in downtown Los Angeles. The building is currently used for a variety of businesses and lofts. The property has been seen in countless other films, including “The Mask,” “The Prestige,” “Ghost,” “Bridesmaids” and many more. This area cannot normally be accessed by pedestrians. However, it is still visible from the street in a couple areas through the windows.

LOCATION: 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Mills runs across the street in the rain to his car, parked across from this ramp to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on S Grand Ave. Lady Gaga walks up the same ramp in the opening of “A Star Is Born” and it can also be seen in “Chinatown.”

LOCATION: 530 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Thinking they’ve located the killer, the police raid leads instead to the discovery of the “Sloth” victim at the former Pan American Building, now known as the Pan American Lofts. The building had a distinctive “Giant Penny Store” sign along the bottom, which is now gone. However, much of the architecture otherwise remains the same. The shots seen in the film are actually from the side of the building on W 3rd St.

LOCATION: 253 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tracy asks Somerset to meet her at a diner, which was the former Quality Cafe in downtown. The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Training Day,” “Ghost World,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Million Dollar Baby” and dozens more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming (much like Johnie’s Coffee Shop in mid-town L.A.). Unless the building was being set up for a production, most of the time it was closed up and locked by a large metal door covering the front windows. So catching a glimpse of it was rare.

LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (now closed and heavily remodeled)

Sadly, it ceased to function as a filming location and was completely renovated in 2014. The property no longer bears any resemblance to how it appeared in so many films.

Later in the film, Somerset emerges from this doorway of Chester Williams Building.

LOCATION: 215 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The fictitious Wild Bill’s Leather could be found on E 6th St in downtown Los Angeles, next to the Nite Owl from “L.A. Confidential” and across the street from where Forrest and Lieutenant Dan celebrate New Year’s in “Forrest Gump.”

LOCATION: 123 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The police station was a composite of a few different buildings, but the exterior can be found on Mateo St.

LOCATION: 673 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

The film’s infamous ending was shot in Lancaster. While there are quite a few electrical towers out there, it’s not as dense as what’s seen in the film, indicating some use of visual effects.

LOCATION: 10482 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536

Casino (1995)

March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Much of the 1995 Martin Scorsese film “Casino” was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, as you might imagine. The house where Ace, played by Robert De Niro, lives can be found in the Paradise Palms neighborhood. A real casino owner did at one time live in the home and once was even targeted for attack by a car bomb. However, it is not the same man De Niro’s character is based on in the film. Former rap mogul Suge Knight is also said to have owned the house at one time.

LOCATION: 3515 Cochise Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89169

This Is 40 (2012)

March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2012 comedy “This Is 40,” a spin-off of “Knocked Up,” the story follows the life of a married couple, Pete and Debbie, played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. The same house was used for the couple in both films and can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The property is gated, with a long wall running along the front, so visibility is difficult. From the right angle, however, it can still be seen.

LOCATION: 531 N Bristol Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Pete’s father Larry, played by Albert Brooks, lives at this Studio City home.

LOCATION: 12718 Valley Spring Ln, Studio City, CA 91604

Insidious (2010)

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The house from the 2010 horror film “Insidious,” starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, can be found in midtown Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 4350 Victoria Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Ghost Dad (1990)

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The house from the 1990 Bill Cosby comedy “Ghost Dad” can be found in South Pasadena, California. Located on Bushnell Ave, the road is famous for many iconic movie homes, from such films as “Back To The Future” and “Teen Wolf.”

LOCATION: 1621 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Magic Mike (2012)

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2012 Steven Soderbergh film “Magic Mike” depicts the behind the scenes life of a stripper played by Channing Tatum, loosely based on the actor’s own experiences in the world of male stripping.

The film was shot mostly in the Tampa, Florida area. The group performs at Club Xquisite, where they are led by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey). The club was actually a composite of two separate buildings. The exterior was filmed at Wilson’s Sports Lounge in St. Petersburg.

LOCATION: 3030 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704

The interiors were filmed across the country at the former Platinum Live in Studio City, California (11345 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604), which shut down not long after the film was shot.

Top Gun (1986)

February 14, 2019February 14, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the town of Oceanside, California, about 40 miles north of San Diego, you’ll find the iconic house from the 1986 hit “Top Gun.” Charlie, played by Kelly McGillis, lives at this beachfront cottage, where she is visited by Maverick, played by Tom Cruise. The two make love while Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” plays, in one of the most famous love scenes of the 1980s.

The house now sits vacant and boarded up, having fallen into a state of disrepair, with fencing erected around it in an effort to minimize vandalism. At the time of filming, several other houses existed along the block, but all have been demolished except for this one. Hotel development is reportedly planned for the block, but the “Top Gun” house drives tourism to Oceanside, so rather than demolition, the house is set for relocation and restoration (much like what happened with the Michael Myers house from the original “Halloween“). While the restoration is much needed, we wanted to capture it at it’s original site while it still remains there.