U Turn (1997)

April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 / 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.

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.

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Clerks II (2006)

March 29, 2020March 29, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

While the original “Clerks” film was famously shot in New Jersey, the 2006 sequel, “Clerks II” was largely filmed in Southern California. Much of the film takes place at the fictional Mooby’s fast food restaurant, which was located in Buena Park. The restaurant was vacant and slated for demolition at the time of filming. It has sadly since been demolished and replaced by a housing development.

LOCATION: 8572 Stanton Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620 (demolished)

One behind the scenes remnant of the film which is still standing is the hotel next door. The production offices were set up within the rooms.

The police station seen near the end of 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 “Transformers,” “Gangster Squad” and “National Security,” as well as the TV series “Twin Peaks: The Return.”

LOCATION: 6043 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Minority Report (2002)

March 28, 2020March 28, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Filming for the 2002 Steven Spielberg sci-fi film “Minority Report,” starring Tom Cruise, took place mostly around Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Virginia. In one action scene, a chase on rocket-packs occurs in front of this building. This is actually part of the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, California. The same building was seen in the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy, “The Mask.”

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

The Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California ran an exhibit entitled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles Of Science Fiction and Fantasy” from May 2019 through May 2020. Included on display were some vehicles from the film.

As a manhunt ensues for John Anderton, played by Tom Cruise, as he is chased by Agent Danny Witwer, played by Colin Farrell. As the chase enters a car factory, Witwer watches as this “2054” Lexus Coupe is assembled around Anderton, who immediately drives it off and escapes.

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

As Anderton drives this “2054” Lexus Maglev Pod, a computer controlled iris recognition system spots him and stops the vehicle. As police pursue, Anderton escapes out the window.

As Anderton tries to evade police in a mall, an advertisement plays for this “2054” Lexus Roadster.

Here is a closer look at the interior of the car.

Related articles: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

The Bling Ring (2013)

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2013 Sofia Coppola film “The Bling Ring,” a group of teenagers begin robbing celebrity homes. One of the homes targeted by the characters in the film is that of reality television star Audrina Patridge. Rebecca and Marc, played by Katie Chang and Israel Broussard respectively, locate the home by search engine. The address seen in the film is only slightly altered from the actual address where the scene was shot.

The house can be found on St Ives Pl, but the view from the film is actually looking down from Cordell Dr. The entire robbery is shown in a single shot from this road. However, since filming completed, remodeling to the homes on Cordell Dr has caused the view to become more obscured.

LOCATION: 1267 St Ives Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (seen from around 9126 Cordell Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069)

Transformers (2007)

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 / 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

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 to the Hoover Dam in Nevada, which houses Megatron inside a bunker.

LOCATION: Hoover Dam, Boulder City, NV 89005

I Love You, Man (2009)

March 14, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2009 comedy “I Love You, Man” was filmed in and around Los Angeles, California. In the film, Peter, played by Paul Rudd, resides at this house.

LOCATION: 3959 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Peter’s friend Sydney, played by Jason Segel, lives at this house in Venice. While the home was completely visible in the film, the owners have since planted large shrubs in front yard, making the property increasingly difficult to see.

LOCATION: 26 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Peter and Zooey, played by Rashida Jones, have an engagement celebration at Hop Louie in Chinatown. The restaurant has since closed, but the facade still remains. The same restaurant was also seen in 1990s comedies “Beverly Hills Ninja” and “Mystery Men.”

LOCATION: 950 Mei Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Peter and Sydney meet up for food and drinks at this restaurant in Venice.

LOCATION: 60 N Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)

March 10, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the third Austin Powers film, “Austin Powers In Goldmember,” there is a flashback to Austin’s graduation from the British Intelligence Agency. These scenes were filmed at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. While the outside of the Greystone grounds is open daily and free to the public, opportunities to tour inside are somewhat rare. The property is owned by the City of Beverly Hills and regularly accommodates productions and private events. Therefore, only a few times a year is access to the inside of the estate possible. Planning ahead is required if you’d like to see inside.

LOCATION: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The interior is also seen in the film, where Austin is in bed with a woman. The same mansion has been featured in countless films, such as “The Big Lebowski,” “There Will Be Blood,” “The Social Network” and dozens more.

New Nightmare (1994)

March 8, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1994 sequel to “A Nightmare On Elm Street,” Wes Craven’s “New Nightmare,” Heather Langenkamp, playing herself, lives at this home in Tarzana.

LOCATION: 5132 Calvin Ave, Tarzana, CA 91356

Related articles: A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

Fletch (1985)

February 28, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1985 comedy “Fletch,” the titular character, played by Chevy Chase, lives at this apartment building, located in Santa Monica, California. The building is known as the El Cortez Apartments.

LOCATION: 827 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Everything Must Go (2010)

February 25, 2020February 28, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2010 film “Everything Must Go,” starring Will Ferrell, was filmed around several cities in Arizona. Ferrell plays Nick Hasley, a man who holds a yard sale on his front lawn as a means to begin his life anew. The house can be found in Scottsdale.