Jake, played by Ethan Hawke, first meets Alonzo, played by Denzel Washington, at the Quality Cafe in Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 film “Training Day.” The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Seven,” “Ghost World,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “(500) Days Of Summer” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Rules Of Attraction,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and dozens more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming. Sadly, it ceased to function as a filming location and was completely renovated in 2014. The interior of the property no longer bears any resemblance inside to how it appeared in so many films.
LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (since closed and remodeled)
Later in the film, Jake finds himself set up inside this drug dealer’s house. The house can be found perched on a hill in the Everett Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The home was used again in the 2009 Sam Raimi film, “Drag Me To Hell,” as the residence of Alison Lohman’s character.
Ben Stone, played by Seth Rogan in the 2007 comedy “Knocked Up,” lives with his buddies at this house in Northridge, California. Unfortunately, the house has somewhat limited visibility from the road. You can see this view from the driveway. The rest of the property is obscured by a large wall covered by plants. Another Seth Rogen comedy, “Superbad,” filmed scenes of a party house on the same street.
LOCATION: 17800 Community St, Northridge, CA 91325
Alison visits her sister Debbie, played by Leslie Mann at this Brentwood home. Debbie and her husband Pete, played by Paul Rudd, would become the subject of their own spin-off to this film, “This Is 40.” The same house was used in both films. This property is also gated, with a wall running along the street, so while it’s likewise not easily visible, it too can still be seen from a couple angles.
LOCATION: 531 N Bristol Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90049
To promote the release of the film “It,” Warner Bros. built a a haunted house on the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood, California, in which visitors could go inside the Neibolt house, where actors and haunted house theatrics would do their best to scare you.
The real house seen in the film was also a creation of the production. It was built in the town of Oshowa, Ontario, Canada, on the corner of Eulalie Ave and James St.
“The IT Experience: Neibolt House Hollywood” pop-up exhibition was on display for one month, during August and September, 2017. It has since closed. In 2019, the studio built a pop-up for “It Chapter Two” at the same location.
The 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” was filmed mostly in Southern California, with a few scenes shot in New York City.
Keaton, played by Gabriel Byrne, needs to catch a flight from New York to California. At the Flatiron Building in Manhattan, he wants to tell his attorney girlfriend goodbye, but Verbal Kint, played by Kevin Spacey, pushes him to leave without doing so, as they are running late. The building has appeared in countless films, such as “Spider-Man,” “As Good As It Gets,” “I Am Legend” and many more.
LOCATION: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
The suspects meet up with Redfoot at the Korean Bell of Friendship in San Pedro, California. Perched right in front of a spectacular ocean view, it’s a great place to visit, even if you’re not a fan of the film. The bell was given as a gift by South Korea to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial in 1978. It has also appeared in the films “It’s Pat: The Movie,” “Brink!” and the 2023 remake of “White Men Can’t Jump,” as well such TV shows as “Alias,” “Wonder Woman” and “Street Hawk.”
LOCATION: 3601 Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731
The flashback scenes of Keyser Söze’s Turkish home, where his family is attacked, were actually filmed at the McNally House in Altadena. The home has been featured in such films as “Elizabethtown,” “Beautiful Boy” and “Kingdom Come,” as well as such TV shows as “Entourage,” “Hacks,” “Ghost Whisperer” and more. The house is only seen from interior views in the film. The home was destroyed by wildfires in 2025.
LOCATION: 654 E Mariposa St, Altadena, CA 91001
The police station seen in the film is the San Pedro Municipal Building. The same building appeared in the film “C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud.”
LOCATION: 638 S Beacon St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Near the end of the film, after he posts bail, Verbal Kint walks down this sidewalk out front.
Dave Kujan, played by Chazz Palminteri, just misses a vehicle as it turns down W 6th St in San Pedro.
David Lynch’s “Lost Highway” shot around Southern California, Death Valley and the Nevada desert. Early in the film, Fred and Renee, played by Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette respectively, receive a mysterious video tape at their doorstep. David Lynch used his own home as the location.
LOCATION: 7035 Senalda Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Fred plays his saxophone at the Luna Lounge. This was filmed at the Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 5108 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Fred ends up on death row for the murder of his wife. The cell block wasn’t a prison at all, rather a creative re-purposing of a decommissioned fire station in downtown Los Angeles. The same station was used for interior scenes for the original “Ghostbusters” firehouse, as well as “The Mask,” “Flatliners,” “Set It Off,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and more. Only the interiors were used in the film, but here is a view of the exterior. Today, the surrounding area has become run down and it isn’t the safest of places.
LOCATION: 225 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
After some mysterious events, Pete, played by Balthazar Getty, awakens in Fred’s jail cell. Baffled by this phenomenon, the police decide to release him. Pete returns to his home, located in Northridge.
LOCATION: 16706 Citronia St, Northridge, CA 91343
Pete’s girlfriend Sheila, played by Natasha Gregson Wagner, lives at this house, located just a few blocks away from Pete’s place.
LOCATION: 9532 McLennan Ave, Northridge, CA 91343
Pete works as a mechanic at Arnie’s, which was filmed at the Firestone building in Los Angeles. No longer in service, the building, built in 1937, is designated as an historical monument by the city.
LOCATION: 800 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The place where Mr. Eddy becomes enraged at a tailgating driver requires a bit of effort if you want to visit the location. It was filmed on Mt Hollywood Dr, near the Griffith Observatory. Contrary to what is seen in the film, the road is actually completely inaccessible to the public by vehicle. It is found along a fully paved road, but the road is gated off in all directions from motor vehicles. Aside from park rangers, the road is primarily used by hikers and bicyclists.
The easiest way to visit is by parking at the Griffith Observatory. The lot at the Observatory itself is almost always full. You’re unlikely to find a spot in the actual lot. However, you can park along East or West Observatory Road. Unfortunately, these are now paid parking spaces and somewhat expensive. There are a few free auxiliary lots, but those fill up quickly as well, plus they put you pretty far away from where you need to be to get to the location. You shouldn’t have a difficult time finding a paid parking space on Observatory Road, unless you’re arriving at peak evening hours. Your best bet is to arrive early.
The easiest way to spot the trail head to reach the location is to look for the tunnel when approaching Griffith Observatory. Most traffic to reach the Observatory passes through it. The tunnel was famously seen in Back To The Future Part 2, when Biff and Marty McFly (riding a hoverboard) fight over a sports almanac. The very first road on your right, once you pass through the tunnel, is where you will need to hike. It will either be gated off, or if the gates are open, a guard will be parked there, making sure no motorists attempt to drive up it. The road is freely accessible to pedestrians on foot or bike, however, and you’ll likely see a lot of both. You simply take that road for about 0.5 miles to reach the location. At least you can take photographs in relative safely here, without concern for traffic on the road.
LOCATION: Mt Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (GPS coordinates: 34.126026, -118.306921)
It is a moderate hike. Much of it is uphill, but considering you can walk a paved road the entire way, as well as the fact that there are resting spots, it’s certainly manageable for most. A bottle of water should suffice, unless it’s an extremely hot day.
If you want to get the most out of your money for paying for a parking space near Griffith Observatory, we recommend continuing along the same path to the location of the dance scene in “La La Land.” That location is another 1.5 miles up the same road.
After Alice meets Pete at the mechanic’s, the pair begin an affair. Alice is waiting at the Palm Tree Inn in North Hills, calling down to him from the second floor to say that she already got them a room.
LOCATION: 8424 Sepulveda Blvd, North Hills, CA 91343
Pete pulls up to this spot in the parking lot, where he talks to Alice.
The cops watch from the parking lot as the two go into the hotel room. The same motel has also been seen in the TV series “My Name Is Earl.”
Near the end of the film, Fred arrives at the Lost Highway Hotel. This was actually a composite of two separate buildings. The exterior, seen below, is an abandoned building located at Death Valley Junction, near the California / Nevada border. The same building was seen in the 1986 film “The Hitcher.” The interior corridors were actually filmed across the street at the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel (608 Death Valley Jct, Death Valley, CA 92328). This area is very much in the middle of nowhere.
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)
A deleted scene with Pete and Sheila was was filmed at the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey. Some footage can be seen in the film “Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch.” The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “One Hour Photo” 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 there before.
LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
To see our “Lost Highway” location page, click here.
The 1980s classic “The Karate Kid” shot mostly around the San Fernando Valley in California. Surprisingly, many of the film locations are not only still standing, but still closely resemble how they appear in the film. The major exception is Mr. Miyagi’s house, which was torn down.
Daniel Larusso’s apartment still exists in Reseda, California. The apartment looks identical to how it appeared in 1984. However, the neighborhood it’s located in isn’t the safest of areas.
LOCATION: 19223 Saticoy St, Reseda, CA 91335
Daniel embarrassingly arrives in his mom’s run-down car to pick up Ali at her house for a date. This house has since been remodeled.
LOCATION: 4072 Alonzo Ave, Encino, CA 91316
The two go on a date to Golf N’ Stuff, which is a real place and still open to visitors. It’s located further south, down in Norwalk, California.
LOCATION: 10555 Firestone Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650
The location of the Cobra Kai dojo can be found in North Hollywood. The same location was featured in the film “Say Anything…“
LOCATION: 5223 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601
The house where Tom Cruise famously danced in his underwear for the 1983 film “Risky Business” can be found in the city of Highland Park, Illinois, just north of Chicago.
LOCATION: 1258 Linden Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
The house from “Father of the Bride” can be find in a quiet neighborhood in Pasadena, California. The house still looks nearly identical to how it appeared in the film.
Right around the corner in this same neighborhood is the house from Mad Men.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic portrayal of the 1970s and 1980s porn industry, “Boogie Nights,” was shot all around Southern California, but like many of his early works, was primarily based around the San Fernando Valley.
The opening shot of the Reseda Theater can be found on Sherman Way in Reseda, California. The theater has long since closed, but plans are underway to reopen the property as a mutiplex.
LOCATION: 18443 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Just down the street is the “Hot Traxx” nightclub, which is now a church. Also right around the corner is the workplace of Quiz Kid Donnie Smith in “Magnolia.”
LOCATION: 18419 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Dirk Diggler’s parents’ house is located far south of the Valley, down in Torrance, California.
LOCATION: 3503 187th St, Torrance, CA 90504
Jack Horner takes Dirk out for a meal with Amber Waves and Rollergirl at Du-Pars Restaurant and Bakery in Studio City. The same restaurant was featured in the film “Valley Girl.” The location has since closed down and the building has been heavily remodeled.
LOCATION: 12036 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (now closed)
Jack Horner’s house is tucked away in the city of Covina. The property is not easily visible from the street.
LOCATION: 19515 E Cameron Ave, Covina, CA 91724
The side of the house, where Little Bill, played by William H. Macy, witnesses his wife having sex outside, while a group of party guests watch.
The back of Jack Horner’s house, with the patio and swimming pool, where the party takes place.
Later in the film, Dirk Diggler moves into his own house, located in Woodland Hills.
LOCATION: 4214 Lobos Rd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Amber Waves makes a documentary about Dirk Diggler, which itself is based on the documentary “Exhausted: John C. Holmes, the Real Story.” The bridge Dirk stands in front of is the Colfax Ave footbridge in Studio City. It can be found near the intersection of Colfax Ave and Ventura Blvd. Once you spot the overpass on Colfax, the bridge is just beneath it and can easily be accessed by foot.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Colfax Ave / Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (nearest address is 4028 Colfax Ave, Studio City, CA 91604)
Towards the end of the film, things take a darker turn as Dirk solicits himself to perform sexual acts for money. The alley where he meets the man in the truck is still there, but the buildings to the left has since been demolished. The church in the background can still be seen. This location is very close to the donut shop in the film.
LOCATION: 18128 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Buck Swope picks up some donuts at the aforementioned Miss Donuts. This is in Reseda, near the church seen above and the “Hot Traxx” location.
LOCATION: 18231 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
The drug dealer robbery is planned from the El Royale Hotel in Studio City.
LOCATION: 11117 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Things reach a crescendo with a drug deal gone bad, at this house in Encino. Sadly, the house has since been demolished and a new home build in it’s place. Luckily, we we able photograph it prior to it’s demolition.
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.
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.
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.
LOCATION: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
John races over to his bike.
The T-1000 chases him at an inhuman speed.
A look at some other shots seen during the bike chase…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
LOCATION: 47131 Bayside Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538
A closer look at the entrance, where the SWAT truck crashes through.
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.
LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Film Oblivion 