Say Anything… (1989)

July 5, 2017March 17, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Cameron Crowe’s 1989 directorial debut, “Say Anything…” was filmed in Washington, Southern California and Vancouver, Canada. The exterior of the house of Corey, played by Lili Taylor, can be found in Seattle. Interiors were filmed in California at 2545 Ganesha Ave, Altadena, CA 91001.

LOCATION: 3627 NW 65th Ct, Seattle, WA 98117

Mike, played by Jason Gould, lives at this home, located in Sherman Oaks.

LOCATION: 4936 Sunnyslope Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Lloyd, played by John Cusack, walks with Diane, played by Ione Skye, out of a convenience store and kicks glass out of her way. The store can be found in North Hollywood.

LOCATION: 11340 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Diane has lunch with her mom at this restaurant in Pasadena, which has changed a lot since filming took place.

LOCATION: 1978 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Lloyd teaches a kickboxing class at this location, which was more famously used as the Cobra Kai dojo in “The Karate Kid.” It’s located just a few blocks away from the convenience store.

LOCATION: 5223 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601

Here’s a look inside the building.

The most iconic scene in the film is of course when Lloyd Dobler holds a boombox outside of the bedroom of Diane. The real scene wasn’t filmed at any house at all, rather a park in North Hollywood. It’s actually located right across the street from the convenience store seen earlier in the film, at the North Hollywood Park, on the SW corner of Magnolia Blvd and Tujunga Ave. The same park was seen in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.”

LOCATION: North Hollywood Park, 11430 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

In one of the film’s deleted scenes, Diane asks Lloyd to take her back to Lloyd’s workplace, mentioned above. This scene, which can be found on the home video edition, was filmed at the Community Room of the South Pasadena Public Library. The same building appeared in Rob Zombie’s remake of “Halloween.”

LOCATION: 1115 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

June 28, 2017October 28, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1993 Robin Williams film Mrs. Doubtfire is set around the neighborhoods of San Francisco, California. The house from the film can be found in the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood.

LOCATION: 2640 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Frankenweenie (1984)

June 22, 2017June 24, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The house from the 1984 short film “Frankenweenie,” directed by Tim Burton, was filmed in South Pasadena. Burton later remade the film as an animated feature in 2012. Here is the home of the Frankenstein family, played by Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern and Barret Oliver.

LOCATION: 816 Stratford Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Bad Santa (2003)

June 17, 2017July 9, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

As snow falls on “O’Hara’s Pub” in the opening scenes of Terry Zwigoff’s “Bad Santa,” the sunny streets of Venice, California are probably the last thought in the minds of the viewers. However, that’s exactly where the scenes were shot, at a store front along the famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard. A wooden facade was partially built over the store front, along with a neon sign, with only the outer brick lining still visible. It’s located just a couple doors down from the record label where Paul Rudd works in “This Is 40.”

LOCATION: 1100 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Willie, played by Billy Bob Thorton, lives at this apartment, located in Long Beach.

LOCATION: 1161 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Willie finds someone searching through his motel room. This scene was also filmed in Long Beach.

LOCATION: 446 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90806

Willie hides out at Thurman Merman’s house, which can be found in West Hills, California.

LOCATION: 7211 Whitehall Ln, West Hills, CA 91307

The Wizard (1989)

June 16, 2017June 14, 2026 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1989 film “The Wizard,” Corey, played by Fred Savage, along with his brother Jimmy, played by Luke Edwards, run away to California. Early in the film, Corey goes to the “Greenriver Hospital,” supposedly located in Utah, where he sneaks off with Jimmy. The actual location can be found in Gardnerville, Nevada.

LOCATION: 1431 Ezell St, Gardnerville, NV 89410

There is a plaque on a tree in the front yard, which mentions the property’s appearance in the film.

Corey, Jimmy and Haley, played by Jenny Lewis, are seen sitting at the Lake Tahoe Scenic Overlook, where they add up their money. The stone since been redone a bit from how it appeared in the film, but the landscape in the background still looks the same.

LOCATION: Lake Tahoe Scenic Overlook, Mt Rose Hwy, Incline Village, NV 89451 (GPS coordinates: 39°15’45.0″N, 119°55’51.3″W)

Corey and Jimmy’s father and brother, played by Beau Bridges and Christian Slater respectively, follow on their trail in hopes of finding them. Sam (Bridges) and Nick (Slater) stay at this hotel and play video games. These scenes were filed at the Sierra Pelona Motel in Santa Clarita. The motel also appeared in the films “Near Dark,” “The Grifters” and “Crossroads,” as well as the TV shows “Too Old To Die Young” and “Westworld.”

LOCATION: 12117 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390

Corey and Jimmy make their way to Reno, which is home to Haley. The famous Reno Arch is featured prominently during this scene.

LOCATION: 345 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

The casino scenes were filmed at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno. The same casino, which has since been remodeled, also appeared in the film “Hard Eight.”

LOCATION: 2707 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502

Near the end of the film, Jimmy makes his way to the Cabazon Dinosaurs to relive some family memories. The dinosaurs are a roadside attraction in Cabazon, California and can be seen from the 10 freeway. Originally built by a sculptor and theme park artist as a way to attract customers to his nearby restaurant, the dinosaurs now operate as a small museum and gift shop. The dinosaurs were also seen in the 1984 film “Paris, Texas” and the 1985 film “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.”

LOCATION: 50700 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230

To see our “The Wizard” location page, click here.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

June 12, 2017July 3, 2026 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

While the majority of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 film “There Will Be Blood” was shot on location at McGuire Ranch in Marfa, Texas, the film’s third act was shot mostly in Beverly Hills, California. However, the brief establishing shot of Daniel Plainview’s mansion was shot at Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, Washington. Completed in 1911, the property is located within a private, gated community. However, the estate currently serves as an event space and bed and breakfast. The Stephen King miniseries “Rose Red” also filmed at Thornwood, as well as the prequel film “The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer” and the 1927 silent film “The Eyes of the Totem.”

LOCATION: 8601 N Thorne Ln SW, Lakewood, WA 98498

All of the interiors of the Plainview mansion were shot at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. While the outside of the Greystone grounds is open daily and free to the public, getting inside is a bit more challenging. 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.

Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day Lewis, can be seen firing his gun in his house from this hallway.

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

The objects he is shooting at, which his son later steps over when arriving to visit, is seen from the reverse perspective.

Daniel Plainview can be seen writing checks at this kitchen counter.

Plainview’s son comes to visit Daniel in his office, which is lit much darker in the film. This same room can also be seen in “The Big Lebowski,” when The Dude visits The Big Lebowski, as well as in the films “Air Force One” and “Flowers In The Attic.” This room can actually be seen without gaining entry inside the building. Just left of the main windows at the front of the mansion, you can usually look through the windows and see this room, unless curtains are blocking it.

Daniel sits at his desk in front of this window, which again is much darker in the film.

A drunken Daniel Plainview is seen stumbling down these stairs, as the film approaches it’s final scenes.

Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano, pays Daniel a visit and fixes himself a drink at this bar.

In this corner of the bowling alley is where Eli Sunday and Daniel Plainview sit and talk, with Plainview seated on the bowling ball rack. Daniel demands Eli declare himself a false profit and delivers the famous “I drink your milkshake” speech. The bowling alley was completely restored by the production and the room remains identical to how it appeared in the film.

The film’s violent ending takes place on these bowling lanes. “I’m finished.”

The Rock (1996)

June 10, 2017June 24, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The majority of Micheal Bay’s 1996 action film “The Rock” was shot on location at Alcatraz Island. You can read our separate article on Alcatraz here, which has many more photos.

LOCATION: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA 94133

The film also shot some scenes in Southern California. The house of Jade Angelou, played by Claire Forlani, can be found in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 611 W 37th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Near the end of the film, Sean Connery’s character is apprehended at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The same location appears in many films, such as “Vertigo,” “The Room,” “So I Married an Axe Murder,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Big Eyes” and more.

LOCATION: 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Alcatraz

June 9, 2017December 30, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Sometimes a location itself overshadows any of the films that shot there, as is the case with Alcatraz Island. Located just over a mile offshore from San Francisco, the island is most well known for it’s decommissioned federal prison, which operated from 1934 until 1963. During it’s 29 years of activity, the prison was known for housing “the worst of the worst” criminals. The list included Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”), “Machine Gun” Kelly, James “Whitey” Bulger and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, amongst others. The penitentiary famously claimed that no prisoner successfully escaped. Due to the high operational costs, as well as salt water erosion to the buildings, the prison was shut down in 1963. Today, the island is operated by the National Parks Services and public tours are available.

The prison island has been seen in many films, such as “The Rock,” “Murder in the First,” “Escape from Alcatraz,” “Birdman of Alcatraz,” “X-Men: The Last Stand” and many more. Here we’ll take a closer look at the notorious island.

LOCATION: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA 94133

The island view from San Francisco.

Island view from the opposite side, where visitors dock.

Utility house and power plant chimney.

A guard tower.

The water tower, which still has a message from a Native American occupation of the island, which lasted from 1969 to 1971.

The lighthouse tower.

Some of the prison cell blocks.

One of the typical prison cells.

A solitary confinement cell.

A cell where the most famous escape attempt was made, by widening a vent at the bottom of the cell.

The prison yard.

The gun gallery, where guards watched down over the prisoners. During one daring escape attempt, prisoners climbed up into this area and attacked the guards.

A view of San Francisco from Alcatraz.

Step Brothers (2008)

June 7, 2017December 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers,” Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly famously waged war on the front lawn to this house in Altadena, where their characters find themselves suddenly living together.

LOCATION: 1987 Midwick Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

The spot where Brennan and Dale, played by Ferrell and Reilly respectively, get beat up by child bullies was filmed at Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills. There are quite a number of buildings and roads on the premises, so it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it. The same building was also featured in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” as well as such films as “Argo” and “Accepted.”

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

The Rules Of Attraction (2002)

June 6, 2017November 9, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Roger Avary’s 2002 adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel “The Rules of Attraction” was set in the fictional Camden College in New Hampshire, but it was actually filmed at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. In order to achieve this, the filmmakers had to be very careful in blocking their shots, as to avoid the mountains and palm trees that surround the area. Below, we’ll cover many shots seen in the film from around the campus.

This location also appeared in the film “Hell Night.”

LOCATION: 1200 E Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92374

Sean Bateman, played by James Van Der Beek, sits on these seats towards the end of the film.

The “End of the World” party takes place at this building.

One of the final shots of the movie, where the character of Sean rides away on his bike, was filmed here.

The home of Rupert, played by Clifton Collins Jr., can be found near Koreatown in L.A.

LOCATION: 858 3rd Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Paul and his friends drop off a classmate at a hospital in Downey, although it is never seen from this angle in the film.

LOCATION: 12750 Erickson Ave, Downey, CA 90242

The angle seen in the film faces this way, toward the street.

Sean Bateman drops of Paul at a bus station, which was on the grounds of the former Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California. Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center was founded back in the late 1800s. The hospital upgraded to a newer facility located nearby and abandoned a lot of their older buildings, with ownership transferred to the county. The buildings sat vacant for years. The buildings featured as the bus station could be found at Erickson Ave / Flores St, Downey, CA 90242, but have since been demolished.

During an extended montage, Victor, played by Kip Pardue, is seen traveling all over Europe, with many different locations seen in quick cuts, including Big Ben in London.

LOCATION: Big Ben, London SW1A 0AA, UK

The Eiffel Tower is Paris is also quickly seen.

LOCATION: Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

Victor is also seen at the Arc de Triomphe, which also briefly appears in Roger Avary’s previous film, “Killing Zoe.”

LOCATION: Arc de Triomphe, Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Victor eats with Sean and Mitchell, played by Thomas Ian Nicholas, at the former Quality Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles. The diner was a one-time staple of film, appearing in “Seven,” “Training Day,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Ghost World,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “(500) Days Of Summer” “Million Dollar Baby,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and many 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. 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)

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