The 2016 Kevin Smith comedy “Yoga Hosers” was filmed in Southern California. The Eh-2-Zed store where the two Colleens, played by Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp, work can be found in Santa Clarita. The same location appears in John Carpenter’s “Christine.”
LOCATION: 22925 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
The 2022 Jordan Peele film “Nope” was shot in Southern California. We’ll try to limit spoilers as much as possible, but its best to read this article after seeing the film. The majority of the movie takes place at the Haywood Ranch, which was actually filmed at Firestone Ranch in Santa Clarita. There OJ and Em Haywood, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, train horses for film and television. The house seen in the film was a set built specifically for the production and dismantled after filming. It was located in the area to the right of the horse stables. Both the corral and the stables appear several times throughout the film.
LOCATION: 35100 Anthony Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (the house was built at 34°32’43.6″N, 118°17’39.2″W)
The property is located down a long stretch of dirt road near the Sierra Pelona Mountains, where the ranch is gated and inaccessible to the general public. The same ranch appeared in the film “Red State.”
Here is a more precise look at where the house was built. Angel, played by Brandon Perea, stops by to help install cameras around the property, including one on the roof of the horse stable. The house stood just behind the lamppost, which still exists at the property.
This view is seen many times in the film as the Heywoods try to capture evidence of a presence in the sky. The cloud that doesn’t move was located just above the mountains at the end of the road.
As OJ and Emerald return home with their horse, they are seen driving down CA-14, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°26’15.4″N, 118°22’17.9″W), before it cuts to them taking the Agua Dulce Canyon Rd exit (GPS coordinates: 34°27’58.3″N, 118°20’06.5″W).
Jupe, played by Steven Yeun, operates a small Western theme park known as Jupiter’s Claim, which was another set, built at Agua Dulce Movie Ranch, which is in very close in proximity to Firestone Ranch, so much so that portions of one ranch can be seen from the other between the hills dividing them. At the completion of filming, the entire set was dismantled and rebuilt at Universal Studios Hollywood, where it can be seen as part of their studio tour. While the overall layout of Jupiter’s Claim has been condensed, it is in fact the same, screen used facades from the film.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 (originally built for the film at 34855 Petersen Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91390, GPS coordinates: 34°31’35.1″N, 118°19’20.5″W)
A replica of the Haywood’s Hollywood Horses truck and trailer is also on display next to the entrance of Jupiter’s Claim at Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios Hollywood itself is another location featured in the film, when one of OJ’s horses is startled and aggressively reacts. The scene was filmed at Stage 25 of Universal Studios Hollywood, where OJ can be seen exiting.
There is also a destroyed replica version of the Star Lasso Experience on display in the Jupiter’s Claim area. The original set also stood at Agua Dulce Movie Ranch (GPS coordinates: 34°31’39.6″N, 118°19’11.6″W).
OJ and Em purchase video equipment from Fry’s Electronics in Burbank, which had already closed down prior to filming. The interior scenes were likewise filmed at this location.
LOCATION: 2311 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
OJ speculates on possible animal behaviors from the presence at the ranch while he eats with Em and Angel at the fictional Copperpot’s Cove restaurant. The real building can be found in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 7441 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91605
The Haywoods steal some tube men from a car dealership. The building can be found in Santa Clarita.
LOCATION: 29753 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” much like the original film, shot all around Southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles. This article contains some minor spoilers for those who haven’t seen the film.
The movie made use of numerous Military Operating Areas (MOAs), closed off from the general public, including Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California, Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon in Nevada, NAS Lemoore in Central Valley, California, Naval Air Facility (NAF) in El Centro, California, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake near Ridgecrest, California and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island near Oak Harbor, Washington. The film’s third act was largely filmed in the Cascade Mountain Range.
Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, tests high-hypersonic speed and destroys a prototype jet. Afterwards, he roams into a roadside cafe. These scenes were filmed at the Halfway House Cafe in Santa Clarita, California. The same location has appeared in many productions, such as “Waitress,” “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny,” “Space Cowboys,” “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” and “Westworld.” The cafe also appeared in a famous commercial starring Cindy Crawford.
LOCATION: 15564 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The Hard Deck Bar where Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly, works was a set, built at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California. It was dismantled at the end of filming.
The private hanger of Marverick was filmed at Inyokern Airport in Inyokern, California (1669 Airport Rd, Inyokern, CA 93527).
The home of Penny can be found in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 391 W 40th St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Here is a wider view of Penny’s house.
Maverick is seen approaching on his motorcycle with Penny from Bluff Pl and turning right onto W 40th St. The production altered several elements of the neighborhood, such as swapping out the street sign for a lamp post and adding numerous palm trees.
The scene where Maverick meets with Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson, played by Jon Hamm, was filmed inside the First Baptist Church Pasadena. The building is only see from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 75 N Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
The home of Admiral Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, played by Val Kilmer, was filmed at Wattles Mansion and Gardens in Los Angeles. The home is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is open to the public, regularly hosting special events. It is only seen from interior views in the film. The mansion has appeared in many films, including “Troop Beverly Hills,” “Rain Man,” “Queen of the Damned,” “My Family” (“Mi Familia”), “Ghoulies,” “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” “The Lost Empire,” “A Better Life,” “Knock Knock 2” and many more. It has also appeared in the TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The O.C.” and “Scandal,” as well as the Diana Ross music video for “Eaten Alive”.
LOCATION: 1824 N Curson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The 2011 Kevin Smith film “Red State” was shot in Southern California. In the opening scene of the film, Travis and his mother, played by Michael Angarano and Anna Gunn, drive past this fire station, located in Whittier.
LOCATION: 10630 Mills Ave, Whittier, CA 90604
Much of the film takes place at the Five Points Trinity Church, which is headed by the fanatical Pastor Abin Cooper, played by Michael Parks. The Five Points Trinity Church exterior scenes were filmed at Firestone Ranch in Santa Clarita. The property is located down a long strech of dirt road near the Sierra Pelona Mountains. The Spanish style property was once owned by mobster Bugsy Siegel from 1911 until 1932. The same ranch appeared in the film “Nope.”
LOCATION: 35100 Anthony Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The 1984 film “The Last Starfighter” primarily takes place at a trailer park and general store. These scenes were filmed in Santa Clarita, California. The trailer park area to the left is now gated off and private, but the store on the right remains open to the public.
LOCATION: 9411 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
The 2014 Clint Eastwood film “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper is set in Texas and Iraq. However, much of the filming took place in Southern California, with some additional filming in Morroco. Early in the film, a young Chris attends church with his family at this location in Highland Park. An additional scene moments later shows Chris helping his brother in a fight on a playground. This was also shot on the same property.
LOCATION: 6338 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Chris Kyle, played by Cooper, enlists in the military at this building, which can be found in Acton.
LOCATION: 33318 Santiago Rd, Acton, CA 93510
While deployed in Iraq in search of a sadistic killer known as “The Butcher,” Chris assembles a team to capture or kill him. After his team learns the suspected location of The Butcher, they enter a family’s home directly across from the targeted building, to gather information and run a stakeout. These scenes were filmed on a set at the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. The ranch features many Middle Eastern sets, with quite a number of different productions filming there, such as “Iron Man.” The Americans subdue the man who owns the home on this floor. After things settle down, the family, who claims they don’t know anything, serve dinner to the team in the dining room in the background.
LOCATION: 20019 Blue Cloud Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
After noticing scrapes on the skin around the homeowner’s elbows, Chris becomes suspicious the man is hiding something and begins searching the bedrooms. He discovers a large hole in the floor concealing a major weapons stash. The hole and the metal sheet covering it are still there.
Here is the area in the living room where the team watches out the window, photographing who is coming and going from the adjacent building.
The shot of Chris crossing the Texas border line is on E Ave K in Lancaster, just past 85th St E.
LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34°40’31.8″N 117°58’28.7″W (Near E Ave K / 85th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535)
Chris Kyle’s house in the film can be found in Sherwood Forest, near Northridge in the San Fernando Valley.
LOCATION: 8843 Newcastle Ave, Sherwood Forest, CA 91325
The 2019 Steven Soderbergh film “The Laundromat,” which tells the story about the Panama Papers scandal, was filmed in numerous locations, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Florida Keys. After a boat capsizes, Ellen Martin, played by Meryl Streep, finds she is unable to get compensation from the accident, as the insurance company has been bought out by a mysterious company in Nevis, a small island in the Caribbean Sea.
When Ellen’s attempts to contact the Nevis-based company are unsuccessful, she travels there to confront manager Malchus Boncamper, played by Jeffrey Wright. These scenes were actually filmed in Key West, Florida. The area is first seen in a dream sequence as Ellen crosses this street.
LOCATION: 109 Fitzpatrick St, Key West, FL 33040
As Ellen approaches the area, named Hunkins Waterfront Plaza in the film and Kino Plaza in reality, it becomes a CGI composite of a couple different locations. We first see this strip of the actual plaza.
As the camera continues to pan over, a massive building is shown. This is actually the Sunkist Headquarters building in Sherman Oaks, California. The building has been featured in several films, such as 2004’s “Paparazzi” and 2017’s “The Hero.” It has also been seen in such TV series as “Too Old To Die Young,” “Alias,” “Knight Rider” and more.
LOCATION: 14130 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Back at Kino Plaza in Key West, the scene plays again, this time no longer a dream as Ellen approaches the plaza. However, it is again modified, this time with a facade set built over part of the plaza. Here is what the area actually looks like without the facade.
Ellen bumps into Malchus, not knowing who he is, and asks questions about his firm’s location. Malchus lies to her and walks away. This area is mostly the same, but the wall is depicted with dozens of PO boxes lining a brick facade. Here is how it actually appears.
The view of the plaza as Ellen and Malchus speak is relatively unchanged.
Jürgen Mossack, played by Gary Oldman, becomes concerned when he hears one of his clients has been arrested. The film then cuts to a scene in Mexico with Will Forte and Chris Parnell, credited as Doomed Gringo #1 and #2, drinking at a bar. These scenes were filmed at the Melody Ranch Studio Backlot in Santa Clarita, California, also commonly known as the Veluzat Movie Ranch. The ranch, which is available for tours, has been featured in countless films, such as “3 From Hell,” “Dante’s Peak,” “Friday The 13th Part III,” “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” “Last Man Standing,” “Chaplin,” and many more. It was also featured in the TV show “Westworld” as the Mexican town of “Las Mudas.”
LOCATION: Melody Ranch Studio Backlot (a.k.a. Veluzat Movie Ranch), Forest Rte 5N28, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (GPS coordinates: 34°29’03.5″N 118°30’25.1″W)
The interior of the bar the men drink at is the same building seen in the above shot, on the right side.
Forte’s character makes the mistake of going to what he thinks is the bathroom, but turns out to be a private office space of some criminals in the middle of business.
Jürgen and Ramón Fonseca, played by Antonio Banderas, speak to the camera about privacy and secrecy while shopping at Fields Market in Canoga Park, California. The store is a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “Bird Box,” “Lady Bird,” “Matchstick Men” and “Birds Of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn,” as well as such television shows as “Desperate Housewives,” “American Horror Story” and dozens more. It has also been seen in countless commercials and music videos.
LOCATION: 23221 Saticoy St, Canoga Park, CA 91304
Gu Kailai, played by Rosalind Chao, tells a story of a Chinese police chief targeting a Falun Gong temple, where people engage in a spiritual practice deemed illegal. The temple is supposedly located in China, but was actually filmed at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.
LOCATION: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
The Huntington Library is a very popular filming location, with hundreds of productions shot around the vast, kaleidoscopic grounds. We can’t name them all, but “Mank,” “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “A Cinderella Story” are just a few among them.
The 1990 David Lynch film “Wild At Heart,” starring Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, filmed in Southern California, New Orleans, Louisiana and El Paso, Texas. The opening scenes were filmed at the MacArthur in Los Angeles, 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. However, it is under renovation with apparent plans to open a portion up once again as a hotel in 2022. While we have been inside the hotel, the Grand Staircase seen in the opening was crowded at the time and we weren’t able to get photos the way we wanted. You can find plenty of shots of it online, the staircase is located just through the lobby doors of the main entrance.
LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
We did get better shots inside the restroom of the MacArthur, where Marietta Fortune, played by Diane Ladd, makes a pass at Sailor Ripley, played by Nicolas Cage. The same bathroom has appeared in such films as “Reservoir Dogs” and “Barton Fink.” It has since been remodeled a bit, but remains largely recognizable.
The Pee Dee Correctional Institution, where Sailor is released from prison, is actually the property of the city’s Department of Water and Power.
LOCATION: 1630 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Lula, played by Laura Dern, picks up Sailor and they take off down Main Street.
Sailor and Lula drive past this restaurant as they travel across the country. The same restaurant was featured in the film “Duel,” as well as the TV series “Sharp Objects.”
LOCATION: 12625 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
As Sailor and Lula arrive into New Orleans, they are seen driving past Antoine’s Restaurant, which still operates today.
LOCATION: 713 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
They stay at the Hotel Brazil, also located in New Orleans.
LOCATION: 532 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112
The interiors of Mr. Reindeer’s home were filmed at the Castle Green Apartments in Pasadena. Castle Green has been featured in countless films, such as “True Romance,” “The Sting,” “The Little Rascals,” “Deja Vu,” “Sneakers,” “Bugsy,” “The Last Samurai,” “Puppet Master” and many more.
LOCATION: 99 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
Lula nearly gets into an accident at the intersection of E 4th Pl and Mateo St.
LOCATION: E 4th Pl / Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Sailor tells Lula he’s leaving near the intersection of Naud St / Wilhardt St. This is located very close to the Pee Dee Correctional Institution location.
LOCATION: 1709 Naud St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
As Sailor is walking, some gang members approach him. He insults them and gets attacked.
LOCATION: E 2nd St / S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sailor runs back to Lula, jumping on top of cars in a traffic jam along Banning St, very close to the above location. The large building behind him is no longer there. Sailor sings “Love Me Tender” to Lula near the intersection of Banning St and N Vignes St.
LOCATION: Near Banning St / N Vignes St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The 2008 film “Twilight,” starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, was filmed in Oregon, Washington and California. At the beginning of the film, Bella, played by Stewart, is living at her mother’s house, supposedly located in Phoenix, Arizona. The real home can actually be found in Santa Clarita, California.
LOCATION: 22301 Cataro Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
The Cullen house, where Bella meets the family of Edward Cullen, played by Pattinson, can be found in Portland, Oregon. Contrary to appearances, the house is located in a regular neighborhood, with many other homes nearby. However, the house is not visible from the corner of NW 32nd Ave and NW Quimby St. It sits up an inclined drive, which curves slightly and the tree line blocks the view. The current owners are apparently not welcoming to public visitors, as they have signs posted at the base of the drive stating the path is private. In spite of the sign, it appears to us the path may still be part of the public strip of road, at least a bit further up. There’s even a “dead end” sign, implying the road is public. However, we’re uncertain and wouldn’t recommend walking up unless you verify ahead of time that is indeed the case. Here is an aerial view of the home.
LOCATION: 3333 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97210
Later in the film, the vampire James is hunting Bella, who flees back to Phoenix. Bella stays at this hotel, which is actually located in Valencia, California. The same hotel appeared in the films “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Magnolia” (interiors only), as well as numerous TV shows, including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: New York,” “NCIS,” “Big Love,” “Las Vegas,” The Unit,” “Make It or Break It” and more.
LOCATION: 24500 Town Center Dr, Valencia, CA 91355
The 1987 film “The Lost Boys,” directed by Joel Schumacher, is set in the fictional beach town of Santa Carla, California. In reality, the film was famously shot in Santa Cruz, with some additional scenes filmed in Southern California. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk plays a prominent role in the film. In the opening scenes, David, played by Kiefer Sutherland, can be seen riding the carousel with his crew.
LOCATION: 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
As the boardwalk closes down for the night, a security guard is attacked as he exits to a parking lot.
Later in the film, Michael, played by Jason Patric, meets Star, played by Jami Gertz, in this area of the boardwalk. The 2019 Jordan Peele film “Us” also shot scenes at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The film’s opening scene is set in 1986, at the same time “The Lost Boys” was filming. The characters in “Us” even reference this film when they walk past this area, mentioning a movie is being filmed nearby. The film “Sudden Impact” also shot on the boardwalk.
Michael meets David and his crew at this area of the boardwalk.
David invites Michael to come along on a bike ride and the boys all ride their bikes down these stairs.
Sam, played by Corey Haim, moves with his family from Phoenix to Santa Carla to live at his grandpa’s house. The building seen in the film is known as the Pogonip Clubhouse. Built in 1911, the building operated as everything from a golf club, to hosting women’s polo matches, to briefly serving as a rehab facility for servicemen during WWII. The building opened and closed again many times throughout the years, before being condemned in 1986, right around the time of filming. Only the exteriors of the building were used in the film, interiors were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios.
LOCATION: Near 333 Golf Club Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (GPS coordinates: 36.995416, -122.038388)
Today, the building is part of Pogonip, a scenic hiking and biking trail. The building is open to the public and there’s a few ways to reach it. From the nearest trailhead on Golf Club Dr, you can take a paved path straight up to it, or the Lower Meadow Trail. The Lower Meadow Trail, while offering scenic views, is overrun by homeless people, to such a degree that we found ourselves inadvertently walking right into their campsites more than once. While no one was confrontational, as the paths do receive a lot of pedestrian traffic, we recommend sticking to the paved path if you wish to see the building from the film. Either route is about a half mile walk, with some uphill portions, but not terribly difficult. Remember to bring water if you do hike there.
The comic book shop where Sam meets Edgar and Alan Frog, played by Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander, still exists, but no longer at it’s original location. While made to appear on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, the actual shop seen in the film was formerly located on Pacific Ave. The building suffered severe damages in a 1989 earthquake, resulting in the comic book shop changing locations.
LOCATION: 705 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (now demolished)
The store, Atlantis Fantasyworld, is now located on Cedar St in Santa Cruz. While not an actual filming location, they do still have a prop from the film inside; the original “Vampires Everywhere!” comic book. It sits on display behind the front counter.
LOCATION: 1020 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The cave where David’s crew is based, known as Hudson’s Bluff Sea Cave, is located far from Santa Cruz in Rancho Palos Verdes. The cave sits next to Terranea Beach, which is easily accessible on foot along the Terranea Trail, a public trail which runs behind the Terranea Resort. Seeing the cave up close requires a bit of climbing up some rocks, however, so use caution if you wish to proceed beyond Terranea Beach. The same area has been seen in such films as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Lethal Weapon 2” and “Batman: The Movie,” as well as such TV shows as “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Wonder Woman,” “The Munsters” and more.
Another Southern California location is the bridge where David and Michael hang underneath as a train passes. It can be found at the Iron Horse Trailhead near Valencia. The actual bridge is a pedestrian crossing with no train tracks. This same location appeared in the film “Nothing But Trouble.”
LOCATION: 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Unlike what is depicted in the film, the bridge is nowhere near the height above ground suggested in the scene. Here is a view of the actual elevation, with Six Flags Magic Mountain seen in the distance.
The church where Sam and Edgar collect holy water can be found at Warner Bros. Studios. The same church has been seen in many productions, such as “Gremlins” and “The Monster Squad.”
Film Oblivion 