Stranger Things

The popular TV series “Stranger Things” is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.  The real locations of Hawkins are actually a composite of a number of small towns scattered around the Greater Atlanta Area of Georgia.  Many of the locations are fairly distanced from one another, so it takes some dedication to see them all.  Here we’ll take a look at many of these locations.

The Hawkins National Laboratory, where all of the supernatural mysteries seem to originate, can be found in Atlanta.  The building is actually a former clinic, which is part of Emory University.

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LOCATION: 1256 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Mike’s house, which is seen frequently on the show, can be found in the town of East Point.  Most of the kids’ houses from the show are all not only in East Point, but all in the same neighborhood.

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LOCATION: 2530 Piney Wood Ln, East Point, GA 30344

Hawkins High School can be found in the town of Stockbridge.  The real school is Patrick Henry High School. The same school also appeared in the film “Brightburn.”

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LOCATION: 109 S Lee St, Stockbridge, GA 30281

Hawkins Middle School is actually the same location as the high school, just different buildings on the same property.  Quite a number of scenes take place around these school buildings.

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LOCATION: 109 S Lee St, Stockbridge, GA 30281

The kids can be seen parking their bikes here.  This and many scenes were filmed towards the back of the school property, away from the road.  So if you don’t immediately spot recognizable areas, look for the tall field lights and head toward the back of the school.

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This building can be seen pretty close to the road, in which the giant creature from the alternate universe known as the “Upside Down” can be seen towering over it.  The building is still painted with the fictitious school name from the show.

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This entrance is seen prominently is Season 2 of the show, with the kids dressed as Ghostbusters.  This same area of the school was also featured in Season 2 Episode 10 of the TV show “Atlanta.”

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Max, played by Sadie Sink, is seen walking up these stairs as the other kids spy on her.

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The kids look for Dart in another Season 2 episode at this spot.

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Another wide view of the school, as seen from the field at the back of the property.

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Most of the town square of Hawkins is comprised of buildings from the town of Jackson, Georgia.  Melvad’s General Store is one such example. The interior was dressed for filming when we visited, so here’s a couple glimpses inside.

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LOCATION: 4 2nd St, Jackson, GA 30233

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Eleven uses her mind control powers to kill a man inside of this restaurant in Litha Springs, known as Tiffany’s Kitchen.

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LOCATION: 7413 Lee Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122

The Hawkins Library is actually the Butts County Probate Court building (25 3rd St, Jackson, GA 30233).

Switching back to East Point, this house, where Lucas lives, is located right beside Mike’s house.

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LOCATION: 2550 Piney Wood Ln, East Point, GA 30344

Jonathan and Steve get into a fight in this alley as Nancy is caught in the middle.  It can also be found in Jackson, not far from Milvad’s General Store and the Hawkins Library. It is located at the alley between N Oak St / Pittman St, Jackson, GA 30233 (the building seen across the street is 124 W 2nd St, Jackson, GA 30233).

While the kids are being pursued, Eleven uses her powers to flip a van over in front of these houses, found in Tucker, Georgia.

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LOCATION: Between 3782 and 3788 Sarahs Ln, Tucker, GA 30084

The police station, where Sheriff Hopper works, can be found in the town Douglasville, not far from the arcade seen in Season 2.  Finding the building can be slightly confusing.  Many online resources state the address as “48 Pray Street” in Douglasville.  The number above the doorway of the building is indeed 48.  However, the street name is actually Courthouse Square West.  Google lists the address as 8485 Courthouse Square West.  If you find yourself confused, just locate the intersection of Church St and Courthouse Square West and you’ll have no trouble spotting the building.

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LOCATION: 8485 Courthouse Square West, Douglasville, GA 30134

Dustin’s house, nested in trees, can also be found near the houses of Mike and Lucas in East Point.

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LOCATION: 2886 Piney Wood Dr, East Point, GA 30344

Barb’s house is likewise located on the same road.

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LOCATION: 2980 Piney Wood Dr, East Point, GA 30344

Jonathan pays a visit to Lonnie’s house, which can be found in Atlanta.

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LOCATION: 930 Garibaldi St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Season 2 kicks off with police in pursuit of a van carrying another girl with supernatural powers, much like Eleven.  As they approach this overpass, the girl seizes control of the cop’s mind to make him envision the structure collapsing.

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LOCATION: Glenn St SW, Atlanta, GA 30312 (nearest address is 562 Glenn St SW, Atlanta, GA 30312)

The cop slams his breaks, with many cop cars crashing into him, only for his partner to inform him his vision wasn’t real.  The tunnel appears much longer and deeper on the show than it is in real life.  It’s actually just a short overpass.  The same overpass was seen in the 2018 film “Game Night,” when Kyle Chandler’s character throws himself from a moving car.

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It isn’t the safest or cleanest of areas, we wouldn’t recommend coming out here alone at night.

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The arcade, seen in Season 2, still has the paint job from the show, although the sign is no longer there.  The building currently sits vacant in Douglasville, the same town as the Hawkins Police Department.

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LOCATION: 6501 Church St, Douglasville, GA 30134

A couple glimpses inside the empty arcade building…

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Max lives at this small house, which can be found in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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LOCATION: 5280 Moore St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

While you’ll spend a lot of time driving across Georgia to see all of these places, one upside is that most of these locations still bear a strong resemblance to how they appeared on the show, with some still continuing to be used for production.

American History X (1998)

In the 1998 Tony Kaye film “American History X,” Derek, played by Edward Norton, lives at this house in Venice, California.  After a racially motivated assault in front of the house, Derek is sent to prison.

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LOCATION: 2206 Meade Pl, Venice, CA 90291

Derek and his friends play a basketball game at the Venice Beach Recreation Center in order to determine which race wins rights to play on the court.

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LOCATION: 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

Derek and his skinhead crew vandalize the former Archie’s Ranch Market in North Hollywood, which has since closed and is now a gym.  This angle seen in the film is from the rear parking lot. The same market appeared in the film “10 Items Or Less.”

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LOCATION: 7500 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91605

Danny, played by Edward Furlong, attends school at the famous Venice High School, most well know for its use in the film “Grease.”

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LOCATION: 13000 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Derek escapes a confrontation with his former supremacist friends and disposes of a gun in a dumpster at this intersection.  This is located just one block up from the basketball court seen earlier in the film.

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LOCATION: 18th Ave & Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Later in the film, Derek and his brother Danny visit Johnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant in midtown Los Angeles.  The restaurant closed many years ago, but still operates as a filming location.  It has appeared in “Reservoir Dogs,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Miracle Mile,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and many more.

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LOCATION: 6099 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

True Detective (Season 1)

The challenge in capturing the filming locations for a TV series such as “True Detective” is that the list become so voluminous, the pursuit can become staggering.  We did our best to capture as many of the most well-known spots as we could, but it remains an ongoing progress.  This only covers the first season.  We’ve split the locations up by episode as well, but some of course appear over numerous episodes.

Season one, starring Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, is set against the green, empty landscapes and the industrial detritus of the Southern Louisiana bayou.  The story immerses us in the lives of two detectives over a span of seventeen years, as they try to solve a murder investigation.

The series shot all over Southern Louisiana, mostly in the small towns surrounding New Orleans.  Many of the locations chosen are impressive, as some are so far off the beaten path, they’re certainly not your run of the mill places for a big budget production to film.  Some spots are actually quite a challenge to access and others aren’t the safest of places.  We’ll attempt to break it all down.

Episode One – “The Long Bright Dark”

The detectives are introduced to the case in 1995, when they discover the body of Dora Lang under a tree.  The tree in question is found at the Oak Alley Plantation.  Many productions have shot there, including “Interview With The Vampire,” “Primary Colors” and more.  While the plantation is open to tours, the tree is not included on their tours.  Most plantations in Louisiana run several miles deep, full of sugarcane or other crops.  This tree is located back in the farming area of the property.  You can in fact drive on a bit of the plantation’s dirt roads, but you’ll not likely access the tree from the main entrance of Oak Alley along LA-18, as the roads to most of the crops are usually gated off.  The tree is much closer to LA-3127 on the back side of the plantation, near the intersection of LA-3127 and Oak Alley Dr (the latter being an unmarked dirt road). We’ve provided exact GPS coordinates below.

LOCATION: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090 (GPS coordinates: 29°58’16.71″N, 90°46’9.32″W)

Marty and Rust work at the Criminal Investigative Unit, which can be found in New Orleans.  This building is actually tucked back a bit from the road, past a couple other parking lots, so you may not immediately spot it upon first approach.

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LOCATION: 155 Brookhollow Esplanade, New Orleans, LA 70123

Later in the series, Marty and Rust get into altercation in the parking lot out front.

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Episode Two – “Seeing Things”

In the second episode, the detectives discover a second body at a burned out church.  That church was a set constructed by the production, but the location it was built at can still be visited.  Locating it is not the easiest of tasks, however.  It can be found near the Bonnet Carre Spillway in LaPlace.  From CC Rd, you must take a slight left up an unmarked embankment, just before you reach the railroad tracks.  If you pass the tracks, you’ve gone too far.  If you follow the dirt road a short distance to the GPS coordinates listed below, you’ll arrive at the correct spot.  While it is not private property, depending on the weather conditions, you might not want attempt it.  The dirt roads flood very easily and depending on the time of year, the place can be swarming with insects as well.

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LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 30° 1’8.83″N, 90°26’19.35″W, down an unmarked dirt road, just off of CC Rd, LaPlace, LA 70068

Episode Three – “The Locked Room”

Marty lives at this house in the town of Marrero.  The home is seen several times in the series, such as when Rust comes and mows Marty’s lawn, much to his anger.

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LOCATION: 2541 Fawnwood Rd, Marrero, LA 70072

Rust visits the Light of the Way Christian Academy where (*spoilers*) he unknowingly speaks to the killer, Errol Childress, who is mowing the lawn.  Marty calls Rust away none the wiser as they follow a lead on Reggie LeDoux.  The building itself is the Old Kenner High School in Kenner, which was subject to a fire by arson in 2018.  This is what’s left of the building in the wake of the fire, the remnants of which, in all likelihood, will eventually be demolished.

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LOCATION: 1601 Reverend Richard Wilson Dr, Kenner, LA 70062

Episode Four – “Who Goes There”

Rust meets Marty’s wife Maggie, played by Michelle Monaghan, at this diner and donut shop, where he informs her that Marty wants to see the kids while they are separated.

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LOCATION: 7271 Jefferson Hwy, Harahan, LA 70123

Things take a darker turn when Rust goes undercover as “Crash” to reconnect with a biker gang known as the Iron Crusaders, in an attempt to find Reggie LeDoux.   Rust heads to this biker bar, where he meets up with Ginger, a member of the gang.  Marty arrives soon after looking for Rust, but he is quickly kicked out by the bikers.  The building can be slightly tricky to find, as it sits behind a truck stop.

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LOCATION: 65583 Pump Slough Rd, Pearl River, LA 70452

A view of the back of the property, where Rust makes a deal to help Ginger with a robbery, in exchange for a drug connection.  Marty spots them boarding a boat just before he’s thrown out.

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One of the most memorable sequences of the series is the six minute long, single take of Cohle and the Iron Crusaders robbing a drug house.  Recreating the shot is no easy task.  While set in Beaumont, Texas, the scene was actually filmed in Woodland Acres, a low-income housing unit located in Westwego, Louisiana.  While nowhere near as extreme as what’s depicted on the show, it is nevertheless a tough neighborhood where tourism is certainly not common.  There are only a few streets and all of them loop back together, meaning there is one way in and one way out (bad spot for a robbery, as the characters in the show quickly discover).  Many of the residents like to sit outside and, due to the very self-contained layout, you will undoubtedly attract attention if you visit.  Walking around photographing their properties, the reaction can be unpredictable.  Sound judgment should be used as to how much you choose to impose.  Another challenge is simply figuring out where all the shots take place.  Even with plenty of research and preparation, it still takes a bit of time to figure out your bearings once you’re there.  Other than one or two minor shots, which we voluntarily refrained from as not to be too disruptive to the tenants, we were more or less able to capture what we wanted unimpeded.  However, prospective visitors should be aware your experiences may differ from ours, so use caution.

The Iron Crusaders pose as police officers with a shotgun held on one of the drug dealers, as they force their way into this drug house.

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LOCATION: 212 Jackson St, Westwego, LA 70094

As the robbery proceeds, an angry crowd gathers outside and their control of the situation unravels after one of the robbers opens fire.  Bullets flying, Cohle, no longer concerned with his cover, immediately turns on the Crusaders and takes Ginger hostage, as he still needs the information on LeDoux.  Cohle and Ginger spill out the back door of the same apartment.

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The camera pans up to see a police helicopter arriving above.  Rust kicks in the back door of this adjacent unit with Ginger in tow, as he makes a call to Marty to pick them up at a nearby street.

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LOCATION: 205 Lake St, Westwego, LA 70094

They make their way out the front door of the same building when Cohle is struck in the back with a baseball bat by one of the gang members.  He fights off the assailants and pistol whips them in this front yard.

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Rust and Ginger hide behind a bush as gang members and cops both head down Alaska Street to the scene of the robbery.

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LOCATION: Alaska St, next to 202 Lake St, Westwego, LA 70094

Rust and Ginger run over to this unit, where they hide right behind the divider wall, as armed gang members spill out from the unit right behind them, looking to defend their turf.

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LOCATION: 710 Texas St, Westwego, LA 70094

They then hurry over to this fence on the same property and climb it.

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They cross through the grassy area on the right, where Marty picks them up to narrowly escape the chaotic scene.

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LOCATION: Emile Ave, Westwego, LA 70094, GPS coordinates: 29°54’29.23″N, 90° 9’4.49″W

Episode Five – “The Secret Fate of All Life”

Rust takes Ginger to Sportsman’s bar, where Ginger reluctantly introduces him to Dewall LeDoux, Reggie’s cousin and cook partner.  In reality, this is a composite of two locations.  The exterior is actually a sporting goods and bait shop, while the interior is the Spillway Bar (15641 US-61, Norco, LA 70079), located just a short distance away.

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LOCATION: 15611 US-61, Norco, LA 70079

The compound of Reggie LeDoux, where more violence occurs and LeDoux gives his “time is a flat circle” speech, was in fact a set built by the production.  The set was built off of Florissant Hwy in the town of St Bernard.

Episode Six – “Haunted Houses”

Marty stops for a drink at what was formerly Fox & Hound.  There he meets Beth by chance, a former teenage prostitute who he once helped out, and the two have a conversation over drinks.  The building has since been remodeled a bit and is currently a discount shop.  It can be found in the Elmwood Shopping Center in New Orleans.

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LOCATION: 1200 S Clearview Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70123

Marty and Beth meet up for more drinks, before heading back to Beth’s place.  In the show, the bar is depicted as “The Keg,” but it’s actually the Rickshaw Lounge in Harahan.

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LOCATION: 378A Hickory Ave, Harahan, LA 70123

Episode Seven – “After You’ve Gone”

Rust follows a lead and meets a transvestite prostitute at the Dragon’s Den in New Orleans, located not far from the famous French Quarter. The same location was seen in the film “The Lovebirds.”

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LOCATION: 435 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

Rust breaks into the home of Billy Lee Tuttle, where he obtains incriminating photos and videos.

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LOCATION: 4717 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

Seventeen years after the murder of Dora Lang, Hart and Cohle resume their investigation at Marty’s private investigation business, Hart Investigative Solutions.

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LOCATION: 5703 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127

In 2012, an older, alcoholic Cohle now works as a bartender at this bar, known as Fisherman’s Wharf.

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LOCATION: 4381 Bayou Gauche Rd, Des Allemands, LA 70030

Rust lives in this small house, which is located directly behind the Fisherman’s Wharf bar location.

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LOCATION: 4381 Bayou Gauche Rd, Des Allemands, LA 70030 (behind the Fisherman’s Wharf building)

Gilbough and Papania, the two detectives interviewing Rust and Marty throughout the series, encounter the killer, Errol Childress and much like Cohle, are unaware of his true identity.  Errol is mowing the Fleming Cemetery in Jean Lafitte.  It is located very close to the filming location for Errol’s house.

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LOCATION: Fleming Cemetery, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067 (GPS coordinates: 29°44’39.12″N, 90° 8’4.91″ W)

Episode Eight – “Form And Void”

In the final episode, Errol is seen on a ladder painting a school where children are playing.  The building can be found at the Buddy Lawson Playground in the town of Kenner.

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LOCATION: 1800 Short St, Kenner, LA 70062

Another view of the building.

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As the series reaches it’s climax, Marty and Rust finally make it to the home of the killer, Errol Childress.  The house has been renovated a bit from how it appeared in the show, with a staircase notably being added.  Otherwise, it appears more or less the same.  This portion of the house is unfortunately not visible from the road and sits on private property.

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LOCATION: 2258 Jean Lafitte Blvd, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067

Errol flees into the tunnels of Carcosa, which is actually the ruins of Fort Macomb State Historic Site in New Orleans.  Unlike the layout depicted in the show, the ruins are quite a distance away from Errol’s house.  Built in 1822 by the United States, the fort was intended to defend the port of New Orleans from potential invading forces.  The fort was decommissioned in 1871.  Since then, there have been some attempts to open it up for public tourism, but due to the condition of the ruins, it has unfortunately been deemed unsafe for tourism at this time.  Today, the area is surrounded by barbed wire fencing and is not open to the public.  However, we’ve also seen the gates open and completely accessible.  The ruins have appeared in a few other productions as well, including “NCIS: New Orleans” and Beyonce’s music video “Lemonade.”

You can actually see the perimeter of the ruins along the water on public property, but not the inner tunnels seen in the show.  A tip for anyone considering visiting this general area, since the grounds are not currently maintained, they can become overgrown and the presence of insects is significant, especially in the summer months.  Winter is a bit more suitable.

LOCATION: Fort Macomb State Historic Site, New Orleans, LA 70129 (GPS coordinates: 30° 3’53.30″N, 89°48’15.16″W)

In the final scenes, Marty visits Rust at the “Lafayette General Hospital.”  This is actually the St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, located nowhere near Lafayette.  The pair discuss light versus dark and each offers their perspective on which is winning.

LOCATION: 8000 W Judge Perez Dr, Chalmette, LA 70043

For as many places from the show as we captured, there remain just as many we didn’t. Visiting these spots can be both enjoyable and very challenging.  Some places, we recommend only for the most avid of fans.  Other spots, we suggest plenty of research and preparation before visiting.  It is a unique way to explore the Southern Louisiana bayou and you can take the odyssey as far as you want to go with it.  For us, it served as one of the most extensive location searches we’ve ever done.

Related articles: True Detective (Season 2)

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

The 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…” was filmed in New York City, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. After driving across the country together, Sally, played by Meg Ryan, drops off Harry, played by Billy Crystal in front of Washington Square Park in New York City. The park has been seen in countless films, including “Kids,” “Chasing Amy,” “I Am Legend,” “Ghostbusters II,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Serpico” and many more.

LOCATION: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012

The most famous scene in in the film is of course when Sally fakes an orgasm for Harry while sitting in the middle of a deli.  The deli in question would be Katz’s Delicatessen, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.  Opened in 1888, the deli is wildly popular for it’s sandwiches, consistently ranking among the highest rated in New York City.  The restaurant has been seen in many films, including “Enchanted,” “Across The Universe,” “Donnie Brasco,” “We Own the Night” and many more, but it remains most synonymous with “When Harry Met Sally…”

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LOCATION: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

This plaque can be found on the sidewalk in front of the building.

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The inside still heavily resembles how it appeared in the film.  The walls are completely covered with photos of endless celebrities who have visited over the years.  Here is a shot of the backdrop behind Harry and Sally’s table.

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Here is the exact spot where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal filmed their famous scene.

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The deli makes the table quite easy to identify by hanging this sign above it, which references the scene’s famous punchline, stating, “Where Harry met Sally… Hope you have what she had!  Enjoy!”

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If you find yourself in Manhattan and you’re looking for a good sandwich, you can’t go wrong with Katz’s.  The prices aren’t cheap, but the portions are large and the deli itself is just as much of an attraction as the food itself.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

The 1992 Quentin Tarantino film “Reservoir Dogs,” like much of his work, was filmed around Los Angeles, California, with many of the locations found in close proximity to one another around the Eagle Rock neighborhood of East L.A. The opening restaurant scene, which establishes all of the characters, was filmed at Pat And Lorraine’s in Eagle Rock.  The restaurant is still alive and well and more or less looks the same as when it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 4720 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Here is the general area where the guys sat. The circular table was added by the production.

The restaurant is very welcoming to fans of the film and has a still photo from the movie on their wall.

They also have a poster for the film on another wall.

The parking lot where the cast walks in the opening credits does still exist.  However, the brick wall is no more.  It is part of a bowling alley and has been remodeled a bit.  This is what the wall looks like now, in the approximate area where the cast walked.

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What can be matched up better is the ending shot of the opening credits sequence.  The buildings across the street still appear identical.  However, a fence and gate have since been added along the street.

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LOCATION: 4459 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

The most famous location from the film was the warehouse where the men rendezvous after the heist. The majority of the film takes place there, but sadly, it no longer exists. The property was formerly a mortuary, which was incorporated into the production design, with upright caskets visible and a hearse under a tarp. The area where Mr. White, played by Harvey Keitel, talks to Mr. Pink, played by Steve Buscemi, was intended to look like an embalming room.

Once located at 59th Ave and Figueroa St in Highland Park, the building sustained damage from an earthquake and was later demolished. The apartment of Mr. Orange, played by Tim Roth, was also located above the warehouse in the same building, so that too is gone. Here is what the area looks like today, with a different building and parking lot now occupying the space.

LOCATION: 5860 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042 (now demolished)

One element from the original film can still be matched up at the location. This building across from the parking lot can be seen as Mr. White first brings Mr. Orange into the warehouse. It can be seen again as Mr. Blonde walks to his car outside.

The film cuts in non-linear form to a jewelry store robbery gone wrong. Mr. Pink is seen running along the north side of York Blvd, with police chasing close behind him.

LOCATION: 5025 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

He drops his briefcase right in this area, then picks it up and continues running.

In a bit of movie magic, Mr. Pink suddenly switches sides of the street, running on the south side of York Blvd to the intersection of N Avenue 50, where a car hits him. In reality, he would’ve been running back the direction he began. In the film, a gas station is seen at the intersection, but it is now a small park.

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LOCATION: Intersection of N Avenue 50 and York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042 (nearest address is 5000 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042)

The police catch up and Mr. Pink opens fire on them at this same corner.  Mr. Pink is standing on N Avenue 50, firing towards York Blvd.

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Mr. Pink escapes by vehicle up N Avenue 50, with a cop shooting at him from behind in the intersection. Overall, while this area has changed some since filming, a lot of it is still recognizable from how it appeared in the film

The office of Joe, played by Lawrence Tierney, could be found in an upstairs office space at Chapman Market, located in Koreatown. There’s a few different second floor sections of the plaza, but here’s a look at the general area. The office is of course only seen from interior views in the film.

LOCATION: 3465 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

The restaurant where Mr. Orange tells another officer all of the intel he’s collected is Johnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant in midtown Los Angeles.  The restaurant closed many years ago, but still operates as a filming location.  It has appeared in “The Big Lebowski,” “American History X,” “Miracle Mile,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and many more.

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LOCATION: 6099 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Mr. Orange rehearses “the commode story,” about being stuck in side a bathroom with a group of police officers and an agressive dog, while in possession of drugs. Several locations appear as he rehearses and then tells the story. He is first seen rehearsing on the rooftop of this building in Hollywood, with the top of the Hollywood First National Bank Building visible behind him (which itself also appears in the film “Twins“). The roof area has changed a bit since filming took place.

LOCATION: 6751 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

He continues telling the story in front of a graffiti covered wall. This was a platform that was part of the city’s original metro train line. The area has since been cleaned up and the structure seen in the film still stands. However, it is now located in the rear courtyard of an apartment complex named Belmont Station Apartments, so it is not visible from the street.

LOCATION: 1304 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

The scene then jumps to Mr. Orange actually telling Joe, Nice Guy Eddie and Mr. White the story inside a club. These scenes were filmed inside a former club located in North Hollywood. While the building is still there, the interior is now completely changed from how it appeared in the film. The same building appeared in the TV show “Pam & Tommy.”

LOCATION: 4923 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Finally, the scene ends up with the rehearsed scenario actually playing out inside a bathroom. This was filmed in the men’s bathroom on the ground floor of the MacArthur, formerly known as the Park Plaza Hotel.  No longer a functioning hotel, the MacArthur today serves primarily as a property for hosting filming and special events.  David Lynch’s “Wild At Heart” and the Coen Brothers’ “Barton Fink” also filmed in this exact restroom, which as since been remodeled a bit, but remains largely recognizable.

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LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Mr. Orange leaves his apartment and gets in a car with Nice Guy Eddie, Mr. White and Mr. Pink at the intersection of S Ave 59 and Figueroa St. This is accurate to where his apartment was formerly located, just out of frame to the left.

LOCATION: S Ave 59 / Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

The jewelry store exterior can be found in Burbank. Mr. White and Mr. Orange go over the robbery plans as they are parked outside.

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LOCATION: 2612 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Mr. Brown, played by Quentin Tarantino, crashes his car in this alley. It is located near Marmion Way, but it’s actually at the intersection of two unnamed alleys. We’ve provides the exact GPS coordinates below.

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34.109187, -118.195118, near 5522 1/2 Marmion Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

This house can be seen in the background behind the crashed car.

As the police arrive, Mr. White opens fire on them from here, with this building visible behind him.

Mr. White and Mr. Orange walk up the alley toward Marmion Way.

They hijack a car right where the alley meets Marmion Way. While not obvious in the film, in person it is very noticeable that the lanes of the road are split down the center by a railway track, so the car in the scene would’ve been driving along the wrong side of the street. We’ve again provided exact GPS coordinates, as it can be slightly confusing if you don’t know the area.

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34.109680, -118.195474, near 5522 Marmion Way, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Related articles: Pulp Fiction (1994)Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (2003), Django Unchained (2012), Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood (2019)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

In Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can,” Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio, lives at this home early in the film. Supposedly located in New York, the real home can be found in Studio City, California. It is located next door to the house from “My Stepmother Is An Alien.”

LOCATION: 12075 Valleyheart Dr, Studio City, CA 91604

Frank and his family are forced to move into a smaller apartment at this building, which can be found in Yonkers, New York.

LOCATION: 110 Buena Vista Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701

Frank Abagnale Sr, played by Christopher Walken, reads a letter from his son as he walks into the Abagnale Stationers store, which can be found in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 421 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

After posing as an airline pilot, Frank begins forging payroll checks at the former Ambassador Hotel. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “Seven,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “True Romance,” “The Mask” and dozens more. The hotel has since been demolished, with only this post and statue from the original building remaining.

LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)

Carl, played by Tom Hanks, is on the hunt for Frank, who stays at the Tropicana Motel in Hollywood.  While the Tropicana was a real motel at one time, it was demolished in 1988.  Instead, the Hollywood Roosevelt was used.  It’s actually the rear of the Roosevelt building that is seen in the film.

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LOCATION: 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (rear of the building on Hawthorn Ave)

Carl eats at a diner, where a waitress tips him off that the alias Frank has been using is the name of “The Flash” in the comic books, cluing him in that his suspect may be younger than he originally thought.

This was filmed at the former Quality Cafe in downtown Los Angeles.  The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Seven” “Training Day,” “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 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)

The Miami Airport where Frank slips past the FBI by surrounding himself with attractive flight attendants was actually filmed at the Ontario Airport in Ontario, California.  This particular terminal is not in active use and has popped up in countless other films, including “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Zodiac,” “Blow,” “Argo” and many more.

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LOCATION: 1940 Moore Way, Ontario, CA 91761

Another view of the same airport, depicted as the baggage claim terminal in the film.

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Later in the film, Frank takes his father to an upscale restaurant, where he tells him he bought him a Cadillac.  The actual location is not a restaurant at all.  It’s the famous “Pompeian Room” of the Doheny Mansion, located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles.  While the mansion does offer occasional tours to the public, some of the guides can be strict about allowing photos inside.  Many films have shot at the mansion, including “The Princess Diaries,” “Drag Me To Hell,” “Flowers In The Attic,” “Spider-Man 3,” “The Three Amigos” and more.

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LOCATION: 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90007

The bank scenes were filmed at Union Station, a train station in downtown Los Angeles.  It has featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Frank strikes up a romance with Brenda, played by Amy Adams, who brings him to the house of her father, played by Martin Sheen.  Frank has to make an abrupt departure with the FBI hot on his heels.  The house used in the film can be found in Pasadena.  The address is on E Crary St, but the back of the house faces that direction and the perimeter is surrounded by a wall, so you won’t see much from there.  The front side of the house is actually around the block on Layton St, which dead-ends into the driveway of the home.  The same house has also been seen in the films “Matilda,” “Hocus Pocus” and “Scream 2.”  Unfortunately, the property owners have since posted no trespassing signs near the end of Ladyton St, making it much more difficult for pedestrians to see the house anymore.

LOCATION: 2186 E Crary St, Pasadena, CA 91104 (front of the home faces Ladyton St)

Frank is arrested in front of his mother’s house, which can be found in Pasadena. The same location appears in the film “Disturbia.”

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LOCATION: 3077 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Late in the film, Frank passes this store and stops as he sees a pilot’s uniform on display. This can be found just a few buildings up from the Abagnale Stationers store seen early in the film.

LOCATION: 446 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Saved By The Bell

The original “Saved By the Bell”  show taped at Sunset-Gower Studios in Hollywood, California.  Those sets are long since gone, but that didn’t stop the next best thing from happening; a full blown, pop-up restaurant, inspired by the show.  Recreating many of the classic sets, Saved By the Max was created with participation and support from NBC and first opened in Chicago, Illinois (1941 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622), where it ran for a year, before relocating to Los Angeles, California, where it is also currently slated to run for one year.

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LOCATION: 7100 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

The restaurant is well designed, capturing many of the little details of The Max.  It is a full service restaurant, serving burgers, shakes and many other foods.  Occasionally cast members from the show even make appearances.

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Not an actual, functioning door.  In fact, even the window is not real.

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The classic jukebox from the show.

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And of course the arcade machines.

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A DJ station for KKTY Bayside.

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Some oversized heads of the cast for visitors to use for photo ops.

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A look at the kitchen.

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The merch area, where you can buy hoodies, t-shirts, slap bracelets and more.

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Visitors can also choose to dine in Mr. Belding’s office.

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Sections of the restaurant even tried to recreate portions of Bayside High.

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Here we see the lockers of all of the cast.  Zack, Slater, Kelly, Screech, Jessie, Lisa and even Tori.

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There’s even a “Belding stinks” sticker on the bathroom door, a nice touch.

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Some props and merchandise from the original show, including menus for The Max, dolls, the Saved By the Bell board game, a copy of the Bayside Breeze newspaper and much more.

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There are a few locations in the real world that were used for the show, but these were limited to the TV movies, which came after the original show and could no longer utilize the former sets.  In “Saved By the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas,” this Pacific Palisades home is shown the be the house of Zack Morris.  Throughout the main run of the show, Zack’s house was always a set.  This same house was also seen in the films “Bye Bye Love” and “Ghost In The Machine.”

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LOCATION: 510 Frontera Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

There is also a shot in the movie showing Palisades High School as the famous Bayside High School.  This is the only time, aside from a couple establishing shots during Season 1, an exterior high school shot was ever used.  Again, in the original show, it was always a set.  The same school was used in the original 1976 “Carrie,” the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday” and many more films.

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LOCATION: 15777 Bowdoin St, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

For those wondering, the Malibu Sands Resort was filmed at the Annenberg Community Beach House at 415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402.  It has since been heavily remodeled and looks nothing like it did on the show.

Speed (1994)

For the opening to the 1994 action film “Speed,” Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels find themselves pitted against a bomber, played by Dennis Hopper, who has rigged an elevator with explosives, demanding money in order to spare the hostages trapped inside.  The opening was filmed at the The Gas Company Tower in Downtown Los Angeles. The same location was featured in the film “Charlie’s Angels.”

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LOCATION: 555 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Jack and Harry, played by Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels, make their introduction into the film flying down into frame in a speeding cop car right next to The Gas Company Tower. This same location was featured in the film “They Live.”

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LOCATION: Near the intersection of Hope Pl / S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (facing towards W 5th St)

After the elevator job goes wrong, the bomber resurfaces by blowing up a bus as Jack exits a restaurant.  This is The Firehouse restaurant in Venice, which still operates today.

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LOCATION: 213 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

The bus makes a hard right, with all the passengers moving to one side, in an attempt to prevent it from tipping over, at the 110 and 105 freeway interchange. This same spot is seen in the film “Falling Down,” where the character played by Michael Douglas fires a bazooka at the construction site.

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LOCATION: Intersection of S Broadway / W 112th St, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (the bus turns right on W Imperial Hwy)

The famous bus jump scene was filmed on the Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange, which connects the 110 and 105 freeways in Los Angeles, back when it was still under construction.  The same interchange was used for the opening dance sequence in “La La Land.”

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LOCATION: I-110 / I-105, Los Angeles, CA 90061

Late in the film, Howard Payne sets up a money drop for his ransom at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, just a couple blocks from where the opening scenes were shot.

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LOCATION: 532 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (near the intersection of S Hill St / W 5th St)

Just a bit further down S Hill St, next to the above shot, you’ll see this structure, also located in Pershing Square.  A sniper is posted beside the ball sculpture, waiting for Payne to surface, unaware the bomber has different plans.

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The Social Network (2010)

The opening of David Fincher’s 2010 Facebook drama, “The Social Network,” takes place at the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville, Massachusetts, just north of Cambridge, where Harvard University is located.

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LOCATION: Thirsty Scholar Pub, 70 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

In the opening scene, Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is dumped by Erica Albright, played by Rooney Mara, helping set forth the events of the film.  The layout inside of the pub looks slightly different than how it appeared in the film, but the back windows remain the same.

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A poster for the film, signed by some of the cast and crew, can be seen above one of the restroom doors inside the pub.

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After the 1970 film “Love Story,” Harvard University banned nearly all commercial production on the grounds, due to disruption to students and damage to property.  Their anti-filming policy still remains today, thus the majority of the Harvard scenes for “The Social Network” were instead filmed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.  However, a few shots of the real Harvard and surrounding Harvard Square can be seen in the opening credits of the film.  The producers sidestepped Harvard’s policy by filming on top of the Cambridge Savings Bank at Harvard Square (the bank was also used for a robbery scene in the 2010 Ben Affleck film “The Town”).   Portions of the Dudley House at Harvard Square can be seen in these opening credit shots.

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LOCATION: 1351-1443 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Mark walks past the Out Of Town News, located at the real Harvard Square, before the scene seamlessly shifts to him walking through John Hopkins University in Baltimore for the remainder of the opening credits.

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LOCATION: 18 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Later in the film, Eduardo, played by Andrew Garfield, is seen being initiated into the prestigious Phoenix Society, citing the three lies about the John Harvard statue.  Once again, the real Harvard University was not cooperative in allowing any filming at the real statue.  This scene was instead filmed at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA (180 Main St, Andover, MA 01810), about 25 miles north of Boston.  Below is the real John Harvard statue at Harvard University, which was recreated for the film.

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LOCATION: 1 Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA 02138

Several scenes in the film were actually shot around the Los Angeles area, far away from the grounds of Harvard.  Once such sequence involved the Winkelvoss twins discovering Facebook has begun allowing registration in the UK, which finally prompts the twins, played by Armie Hammer, to sue Mark Zuckerberg.  While this scene is supposedly set in England, it was actually shot at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.  The scenes were shot inside the Breakfast Room, which was also seen from the opposite side in “The Big Lebowski,” when The Dude looks at photos of the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers.

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

Mark shows up to a business meeting with prospective advertisers wearing a robe (seen below) on the steps of the Aon Center in Downtown Los Angeles.  The same steps show up in “Inception,” where Leonardo DiCaprio picks up a man in a taxi and kidnaps him.

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LOCATION: 707 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017

We leave you with one of the robes worn by Jesse Eisenberg, which can be found on display as part of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.

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LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Some props from the film could also be found on display at Sony Pictures Studio.

Related articles: Seven (1995), The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), Zodiac (2007), The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008), Mindhunter, Mank (2020)

Ghostbusters: Answer The Call (2016)

In the opening scenes of director Paul Feig’s 2016, all-female remake of “Ghostbusters,” the ladies encounter a ghost at the Aldridge Mansion Museum, supposedly in New York.  The building is actually the Boston University Castle in Boston, Massachusetts.

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LOCATION: 225 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

The team sets up a new Ghostbusters headquarters above Zhu’s Authentic Hong Kong Food.  The real restaurant is actually Kaze Shabu Shabu.  The production added a garage on the left side of the building to house the Ecto-1 car.  At the real location, the garage space is just an additional area of the parking lot.

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LOCATION: 1 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

Here are some costumes and props from the film, which are on display at the Sony lot as part of their tour.

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LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

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