In the 1986 Rutger Hauer film “The Hitcher,” a dust storm sweeps through the town. This was filmed at Death Valley Junction, a remote, desert town located near the California / Nevada border. The same building and town would actually show up once again on screens just over a decade later, in David Lynch’s “Lost Highway.”
LOCATION: Near the intersection of State Line Rd / CA-127, Death Valley Junction, CA 92328 (nearest address is 608 CA-127, Death Valley Junction, CA 92328)
The ending of the Academy Award winning “Moonlight” was filmed at Jimmy’s Eastside Diner in Miami, Florida.
LOCATION: 7201 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
In Joel Schumacher’s 1993 film “Falling Down,” Michael Douglas plays the central character, referred to only as “D-Fens,” which is his license plate number. The film follows D-Fens as he makes his was from Los Angeles to Venice Beach. For the most part, the locations actually do follow this path, with a few exceptions.
The opening traffic jam is set at the 101 interchange of the 110 freeway. The traffic pileup is in the southbound lane to the left, while D-Fens abandons his car and takes the northbound lane to the right on foot.
LOCATION: Interchange of I-110 / I-101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Beth, the estranged wife of D-Fens, played by Barbara Hershey, lives just off the Venice boardwalk. This view next to her house, facing towards the beach, is seen multiple times in the film.
LOCATION: 201 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Beth’s house was unfortunately completely remodeled and looks nothing like it did in the film.
LOCATION: 18 Ozone Ave, Venice, CA 90291
The police station where Detective Prendergast, played by Robert Duvall, works was a set built at Warner Bros. Studios (4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522).
D-Fens makes his was to the market of Mr. Lee, where the first outburst of violence occurs over an overpriced can of soda. This location is right next to the 101 freeway, making it a logical stop along the path of D-Fens. The market has since been demolished and a park (Madison West Park) now exists in it’s place.
LOCATION: 458 N Madison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Later in the film, Prendergast makes his way to the market and climbs this embankment. After spotting a billboard, he correctly places the proximity to the abandoned car and identifies D-Fens as his suspect. A note to those interested in visiting, this dead end next to the park is not a very safe area, serving as a makeshift homeless community.
As D-Fens makes his way through East L.A., he sits to rest and is approached by two gang members demanding his briefcase. D-Fens refuses and things quickly turn violent. The hilltop where the scene was shot has been converted in to a park, Vista Hermosa Natural Park, but the skyline of downtown Los Angeles still matches up.
LOCATION: 100 N Toluca St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Looking for retribution, the gang members spot D-Fens in front of a theater, where they attempt to ambush him with a drive-by shooting. The theater has since been demolished, but the surrounding buildings where the car rolls up still match.
LOCATION: 2524 East Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (looking down from N Fickett St)
After hitting everyone in sight except D-Fens, their car turns off East Ceasar E Chavez Ave onto N Ficket St and crashes in front of this building. D-Fens walks up and takes their bag of weapons.
LOCATION: 2600 East Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (at N Fickett St)
D-Fens is standing next to a children’s playground in MacArthur Park, when a beggar starts asking him for a handout. The playground has since been moved to another section of the park, but the structure to the left, seen in the film, still stands at the original spot.
LOCATION: 2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
The beggar follows D-Fens through this tunnel, making up a sob story, which is quickly exposed as a lie. MacArthur Park is not the safest of areas in general. We wouldn’t recommend tourism here. This pedestrian walkway is one of several locations rumored to be the bridge that served as the inspiration for the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Under the Bridge,” but singer Anthony Kiedis has never confirmed the true location.
On the other side of the tunnel, the D-Fens gives the beggar his briefcase. The lake in the background is also seen in the movie “Drive,” where Ryan Gosling’s character makes a deal with some criminals.
After discovering the briefcase only contains some lunch food, the disappointed beggar throws the apple at D-Fens, who kicks the apple and continues up the stairs to the left.
The “Whammyburger” in the film is the biggest departure from the true path of Los Angeles to Venice Beach. The restaurant, Angelo’s Burgers, is located much further south in Lynwood, California. It still bears a strong resemblance to how it appeared in the film, aside from the fictitious Whammyburger set dressing. Angelo’s was in fact the same restaurant at the time of filming. It has not changed ownership. The burgers there are quite good as well.
LOCATION: 10990 Atlantic Ave, Lynwood, CA 90262
A view inside the Whammyburger.
A poster for the film can be found inside, noting that filming took place on May 12, 1992.
Celebrating his last day, Prendergast eats lunch at a Mexican restaurant.
LOCATION: 4067 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
In one of the more poignant scenes in the film, D-Fens sees a man protesting, because he has been denied a loan and was determined to be “not economically viable.” The building is now a post office.
LOCATION: 5350 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The scene where D-Fens shoots up a phone booth was shot over on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, right along the iconic Sunset Strip. While the El Pollo Loco restaurant to the left was seen in the film, most of the other businesses in the plaza had changed since filming. The entire plaza has since been demolished.
LOCATION: 8148 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (now demolished)
The army surplus store where D-Fens meets a Nazi store owner could be found back towards East L.A. The building really was a surplus store and still operated decades after filming, including at the time of our visit. It has since closed and been renovated, however.
LOCATION: 3828 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Here is a view of the front counter when it was still in business, which was brimming with quite a bit more merchandise than seen in the film.
Some of the rocket mortar props seen in the film were found in the store, albeit a bit tucked away.
The back of the surplus store, where more violence occurs, was actually a set constructed at Warner Bros. Studios (4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522).
The construction scene, where D-Fens fires a bazooka, faces towards the 110 and 105 freeway interchange. The same interchange can be seen in the films “Speed” and “La La Land,” the latter of which also opens with a traffic jam, albeit to much different results.
LOCATION: Intersection of S Broadway / W 112th St, Los Angeles, CA 90061
This church can be seen in the background of a few shots during the construction scene.
Near the end of the film, D-Fens finally finds his family at the Venice Fishing Pier. The pier had long been closed at the time of filming and was once set for demolition, but after community backlash, was ultimately saved and restored. The building at the end of the pier is no longer there, but otherwise the area looks the same for the most part.
LOCATION: Venice Fishing Pier, Los Angeles, CA 90292
Prendergast approaches and finally meets D-Fens.
Prendergast and D-Fens have a standoff in the film’s climactic scene.
There are quite a few locations to this film, some demolished or remodeled, others still standing. Other than a few slightly unsafe areas, if you’re a fan of visiting filming locations, most of them are worth a visit. “Falling Down” has grown in stature in the years since the film’s release and it has rightly taken it’s place among the the most iconic Los Angeles-based films.
In the 1995 comedy “Friday,” Craig, played by Ice Cube, lives at this Los Angeles house. He hangs out with Smokey, played by Chris Tucker, on the front porch.
LOCATION: 1418 W 126th St, Los Angeles, CA 90047
Across the street is Miss Parker’s house.
LOCATION: 1423 W 126th St, Los Angeles, CA 90047
In 1927, Paramount Pictures purchased land in Agoura Hills, California in the Santa Monica Mountains, where they constructed the original movie sets of Paramount Ranch, which were known for representing everything from colonial Massachusetts to ancient China, becoming widely used in a number of classic films, such as “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Gunfight at the OK Corral.” The legendary TV series “Gunsmoke” also filmed at the ranch.
In the 1950s, William Hertz purchased the ranch from Paramount (although their name stuck) and brought in sets from RKO Pictures’ former Encino Ranch, which would become the basis of the “Western Town” at Paramount Ranch. This opened up the property to a new generation of Westerns and the ranch flourished.
With Hertz’s health in decline, he would sell the ranch to an auto racing company. However, after two fatal crashed in 1957, the racing company folded.
In 1980, the ranch was adopted as Paramount Ranch Park, part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Due to this change, the ranch became open to the public and free of charge, which is a very unique quality for movie ranches in Southern California, as most those remaining are privately owned and closed to the public.
While many of the buildings did change over the years, the National Parks Service restored the “Western Town” to it’s former glory and resumed using it as a filming location, including notable appearances on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “The X-Files,” “Carnivàle” and “Westworld.” Countless films also shot at the ranch, including “Reds,” “The Flintsones in Viva Rock Vegas,” “Bone Tomahawk,” “The Great Outdoors,” “American Sniper,” “House II: The Second Story” and many more. Even when filming was taking place at the ranch, it still remained open for public visitation.
Unfortunately in November 2018, the ranch fell victim to wildfires and nearly every building was burnt to the ground. The same fires damaged some of the “M*A*S*H*” set at Malibu Creek State Park. This has actually happened to several sets around Southern California over the years, with many often being rebuilt. Paramount Ranch is no exception. Plans have been announced to rebuild the sets, with a target to re-open around late 2020.
We had the good fortune of visiting the ranch on multiple occasions before the fire, so here we’ll take a look at pretty much everything that could be seen around the Western Town set.
LOCATION: 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (now demolished)
Here is entrance the entrance to the ranch.
A map of the grounds.
The “Chins” building, seen on the TV series “Carnivàle.”
The church, seen on the TV series “Westworld.” It was the sole building to survive the wildfire.
A look inside the church.
The general store.
The Trapper.
A house at the ranch, which was actually used as a residence by staff.
The saloon and gazebo, where the climax of Season 1 of “Westworld” takes place, with Dr. Robert Ford, played by Anthony Hopkins and Dolores, played by Evan Rachel Wood, causing a dramatic scene.
The hotel, seen on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”
A glimpse inside.
The barber shop.
The bank.
Another general store.
The jail.
The stable.
The train depot, seen on “The X-Files.”
A covered cafeteria area with picnic tables, where film crews could eat their meals.
We are hopeful that the sets will be reconstructed in time, but until then, we hope this article serves as a document of what was.
The house from the 1992 comedy “Beethoven,” as well as the sequel, “Beethoven’s 2nd,” can be found in South Pasadena, California. The house still largely resembles how it appeared in the films. On the same road, you can find the houses from the film “The Girl Next Door.”
LOCATION: 1405 Milan Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
The Avengers headquarters in “Captain America: Civil War” is the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta, with a bit of CGI added over the building.
LOCATION: One Porsche Dr, Atlanta, GA 30354
Related articles: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The 1996 film “Bio-Dome,” starring Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin, filmed at the Japanese Garden of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, California. The location has been used in countless TV shows and films, notably serving as the “Starfleet Academy” in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Other TV shows to film there include the original “Knight Rider,” “Murder She Wrote” and the original “Charmed.” Films such as “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Twins,” “Ghost In The Machine,” “Rising Sun,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Nowhere,” “Zoombies,” “Cyber Tracker” and “Most Wanted” also filmed at the location.
The Japanese Garden is well worth a visit, even if you’re not a movie buff. There’s lots of beautiful greens and a pond not shown in this article.
LOCATION: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
In the 1988 Ivan Reitman comedy “Twins,” Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger play two long-lost brothers who reconnect. The film was shot in California, New Mexico and Texas. Julius (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent (DeVito) first encounter each other in front of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, although they don’t realize it. The theater has appeared in countless films, such as “Valley Girl,” “Rush Hour,” “Calendar Girl,” “The Aviator,” “Iron Man 3” and many more.
LOCATION: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Julius visits an orphanage seeking information on Vincent. The actual building isn’t an orphanage, rather an apartment building. This same building has appeared in the films ”The Cable Guy,” “American Pie 2,” “Changeling,” “Annabelle: Creation,” “Ouija,” “Oujia: Origin of Evil,” “The Ring 2,” “Puppet Master II,” “Truth or Dare,” “Where Sleeping Dogs Lie,” “Species III” and many more. It has also appeared in numerous TV shows, such as “Westworld,” “You,” “American Crime Story,” “Teen Wolf,” “Bosch: Legacy” and more.
LOCATION: 306 Loma Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Julius bails Vincent out of jail from this police station, located in Van Nuys. While the entrance seen in the film faces Erwin St, it is a section only accessible to pedestrian traffic. The same building appeared in another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “Kindergarten Cop.”
LOCATION: 14400 Erwin St, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Vincent’s office can be found in Hollywood at the Hollywood First National Bank Building. The same building appeared in the films “The Nice Guys,” “The Retrievers” and “The Atomic City,” as well as briefly appearing in the background in “Reservoir Dogs.”
LOCATION: 6777 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Webster, played by Marshall Bell, goes to meet his clients at the Japanese Garden of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, after a car he was supposed to pick up isn’t in a parking garage. The location has been used in countless TV shows and films, notably serving as the “Starfleet Academy” in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Other TV shows to film there include the original “Knight Rider,” “Murder She Wrote” and the original “Charmed.” Films such as “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Bio-Dome,” “Ghost In The Machine,” “Rising Sun,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Nowhere,” “Zoombies,” “Cyber Tracker” and “Most Wanted” also filmed at the location.
LOCATION: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Vincent lives at this Santa Monica house. The house has since been remodeled from how it appeared in the film, but does still bear some resemblance.
LOCATION: 323 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Julius walks up this Pasadena driveway in search of their father.
LOCATION: 1126 Hillcrest Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Vincent and Julius embark on a trip to New Mexico, accompanied by Linda (Chloe Webb) and Marnie (Kelly Preston). They are seen crossing the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable. The same bridge appeared in the films “Natural Born Killers,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “This Must Be The Place,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.” It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.
LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529
At the end of the film, Vincent and Julius pose for family photos in front of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. It has appeared in many other films, including “The Prestige,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Beautiful” and “Destroyer,” as well as such TV shows as “Alias,” “CSI: NY” and the TV series adaptation of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” It also famously served as an inspiration to Walt Disney in his decision to create Disneyland.
LOCATION: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Joe Dante’s 1993 film “Matinee,” starring John Goodman, is set in Key West, Florida. Much of the film centers around a movie theater known as The Strand. There is a real, historic theater by that name in Key West, the exteriors of which still stand, but the interior is now a pharmacy store. It also was not the theater used in the film.
The building which served as The Strand for filming wasn’t in Key West at all. It’s the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, which can be found in the town of Cocoa, Florida. While the theater does still show films on a limited basis, it primarily serves as a playhouse. Only the playhouse exteriors were used in the film. The interior theater scenes were filmed at Universal Studios Florida.
LOCATION: 260 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922
Related articles: The ‘Burbs (1989), Small Soldiers (1998)
Film Oblivion 