The 2015 film “The Gift,” starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton, was shot in Southern California. The home of Simon and Robyn Callem, played by Bateman and Hall, can be found in Sherman Oaks.
LOCATION: 15615 Castlewoods Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The 1987 sci-fi detective film “The Hidden” was shot around Los Angeles, California. The opening bank robbery scene was filmed in Downtown L.A. at the Citigroup Center. This same location has appeared in countless films, such as “Heat,” “Fight Club,” “To Live And Die In L.A.” and more.
LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
A car chase ensues across the city, including the Los Angeles Central Library, located near the bank location.
LOCATION: 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The chase continues past the Uptown Rocker public art piece in Downtown L.A., which has also appeared in such films as “Southland Tales” and “Double Dragon.”
LOCATION: Uptown Rocker, W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (GPS coordinates: 34°03’06.3″N, 118°15’10.2″W)
The chase proceeds to Grand Lower. This is a popular area for both filming and photography. It has been featured in countless films, including “The Terminator,” “Robocop,” “Demolition Man,” “Cobra,” “Batman Forever,” “Repo Man,” “Double Dragon,” “Whore” and many more. It was also featured in the TV series “Westworld.”
LOCATION: Grand Lower, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The car reaches this parking garage area. This building has also appeared in “Kill Bill,” “The Neon Demon” and more.
LOCATION: 2404 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
The chase enters MacArthur Park, another staple of film and television. The park appears in “Falling Down,” “Drive,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and many more.
LOCATION: 2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
A police blockade is set up in this area.
LOCATION: Yucca St / Vista Del Mar Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The car approaches from this area.
Lloyd Gallagher, played by Kyle MacLachlan, is seen entering a hospital building.
LOCATION: 6245 De Longpre Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The location of Bleecker Bob’s Records appears more nondescript in present day, but remains standing.
LOCATION: 7663 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The building depicted as the police station is now a Goodwill center.
LOCATION: 342 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90031
This is the restaurant where Jonathan Miller, played by William Boyett, eats in the film.
LOCATION: 1850 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Jonathan Miller is seen running after a car at this intersection next to the restaurant.
LOCATION: Russell Ave / N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The car dealership can be found in Sherman Oaks.
LOCATION: 5015 Van Nuys Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The location of Anchor Imports can be found in Beverly Hills, but the building has since been remodeled and a door no longer exists in the shot seen in the film.
LOCATION: 9312 Civic Center Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (since remodeled)
The home of Tom Beck, played by Michael Nouri, can be found in Hollywood.
LOCATION: 1551 Courtney Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
This building in Hollywood was depicted as The Harem Room.
LOCATION: 1642 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Brenda Lee Van Buren, played by Claudia Christian, has sex in the nearby parking lot.
LOCATION: 1609 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
This church next to the parking lot is seen in the background of several shots.
The Neptune Mannequins building can be found in Downtown L.A.
LOCATION: 701 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Senator Holt is targeted at 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. However, it is under renovation with apparent plans to open a portion up once again as a hotel. It has been featured in many films, such as “Wild At Heart,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Drive,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Bobby,” “Gangster Squad,” “Tango & Cash,” “The Naked Gun” and many more.
LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
To see our “The Hidden” location page, click here.
Thanks to Set-Jetter for first finding many of these locations.
The 1992 feature film version of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was shot around Los Angeles, California. Buffy, played by Kristy Swanson, attends John Marshall High School. A regular location in film and television, it has also appeared in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “A Nightmare On Elm Street,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Bachelor Party,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Grease,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” as well as such TV shows as “Boy Meets World,” “Boston Public” and many more. It was even used in the Van Halen music video for “Hot For Teacher.”
LOCATION: 3939 Tracy St, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The vampire Amilyn, played by Paul Reubens, stalks Grueller, played by Sasha Jenson at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. It has appeared in many other films, including “The Prestige,” “Destroyer,” “Beautiful” and “Twins,” as well as such TV shows as “Alias,” “CSI: NY” and the television adaptation of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” It also famously served as an inspiration to Walt Disney in his decision to create Disneyland.
LOCATION: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Lothos, played by Rutger Hauer, has a base of operations at the Tower Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. It has since been converted into a retail store and is open to the public. The same building appeared in the films “Mullholland Drive,” “The Omega Man,” “Fight Club,” “The Prestige,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Last Action Hero,” “Transformers,” “Ed Wood,” “End of Days,” “Inland Empire,” “She’s So Lovely,” “The Replacement Killers,” “The Good German,” “Dark Streets” and “The Mambo King,” as well as such TV shows as “Twin Peaks: The Return” and “Alias.”
LOCATION: 800 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Pike, played by Luke Perry, lives in an apartment unit above a mechanic’s shop. He is visited in the night by Benny, played by David Arquette, who floats outside his window.
LOCATION: 5657 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Buffy’s training sequences with Merrick, played by Donald Sutherland, were filmed inside 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 sometime in 2022 or 2023. It has been featured in many films, such as “Wild At Heart,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Drive,” “Bobby,” “Gangster Squad,” “Tango & Cash,” “The Naked Gun,” “The Hidden” and many more.
LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Buffy chases Grueller from a basketball game. Grueller runs outside past a group of bikers. Buffy takes one of the motorcycles and continues pursuit. These scenes were filmed in Sherman Oaks, but the building has since been remodeled. This is how it appears now.
LOCATION: 14612 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
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The 1985 William Friedkin film “To Live and Die in L.A.” was shot, as the title suggests, in Los Angeles, California The film made use of nearly every corner of L.A. County. In the opening scenes of the film, the Secret Service escort the President down Santa Monica Blvd in Century City, as they make their way to a hotel.
LOCATION: Century Park E / Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The convoy arrives at The Beverly Hilton hotel, where Agent Richard Chance, played by William Peterson, stops a terrorist assassination attempt. Many films have shot scenes at the hotel, including “Frost/Nixon,” “Coffy” and “Micki + Maude.”
LOCATION: 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe, lives at this home in Santa Monica. Most of the property is not visible from the street. Eric burns a piece of art on the balcony on the left. The same home as appeared in such films as “Cafe Society” and “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.”
LOCATION: 757 Kingman Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Chance is seen bungee jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The bridge has appeared in countless films, such as “Gone In 60 Seconds,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “City of Angels,” “Knight of Cups,” “Blind Rage,” “Charlie’s Angels” and more. It has likewise appeared in such TV shows as “Mission: Impossible,” “CHiPs,” “Columbo” and more. It it also where director Tony Scott tragically ended his life.
LOCATION: Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, CA 90731
Masters runs a counterfeit cash operation out of this building in Lancaster. Despite the address being on 170th St E, this area is on the back side of the building, closer to the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave.
LOCATION: 40038 170th St E, Palmdale, CA 93591 (near the intersection of 171st St E / Glenfall Ave)
Masters is seen speeding off in his car down this area to the right of the building.
To the left is where the dumpster and trailer were located and the murder scene takes place.
Chance’s house can be found in Malibu. There is a Public Beach Access Point that runs directly beside the property, located at 22664 Beach Access Path, Malibu, CA 90265, which makes it relatively easy to access from Pacific Coast Hwy, unlike many of the properties in Malibu.
LOCATION: 22664 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Chance runs a stakeout from this church in Pasadena. The home he surveillances was located around 445 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101, but it has since been demolished. The church, however, still stands.
LOCATION: 464 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101
Chance drives down N Pacific Ave in San Pedro to his girlfriend Ruth’s house. The route he takes in the film is geographically accurate.
LOCATION: 981 N Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
Chance continues up Knoll Hill, with the Vincent Thomas Bridge visible in the distance.
LOCATION: N Center St / Knoll Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90731
Ruth’s house has long since been demolished, with a baseball field now in its place. Here is the approximate area where it stood.
LOCATION: 255 Viewland Pl, San Pedro, CA 90731 (now demolished)
The start of the foot chase scene begins at this building, which is located across the street from the prison from “Wild At Heart.”
LOCATION: 1701 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Masters walks with Jeff Rice, played by Steve James, where they make plans to kill a man in prison. This same location appeared in the film “Wassup Rockers.”
LOCATION: 11231 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (on W 113th St)
Jeff Rice’s house is located in Wilmington.
LOCATION: 1442 W F St, Wilmington, CA 90744
The walk to the judge’s office passes through the Citigroup Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The same area appeared in such films as “Heat,” “Fight Club,” “The Hidden” and more.
LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The hospital scenes were filmed at this building.
LOCATION: 610 S St Louis St Los Angeles, CA 90023
The strip club, which was located in Wilmington, has since been demolished. It’s now just some empty land at the corner of S Figueroa St and W Harry Bridges Blvd. Prior to being demolished, the same building appeared in the films “Fight Club” and “Blood In, Blood Out.”
LOCATION: S Figueroa St / W Harry Bridges Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731 (now demolished – original address was 1331 W B Street, Wilmington, CA 90731, but that address no longer exists)
The train station scenes were filmed at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. It has been featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.
LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Chance tracks down Carl Cody, played by John Turturro, at this apartment in Sherman Oaks.
LOCATION: 5050 Woodman Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Chance and Vukovich, played by John Pankow, meet with Masters to make an exchange at this building.
LOCATION: 8051 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (on N Laurel Ave)
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The 2021 Paul Thomas Anderson film “Licorice Pizza” is set in the 1970s San Fernando Valley, with the production likewise staying pretty faithful to that area. This article contains some minor spoilers, so we only recommend reading if you’ve seen the film.
The opening scene where Alana, played by Alana Haim, first meets Gary, played by Cooper Hoffman, was filmed at Gaspar De Portola Middle School in Tarzana. There are a couple of similar looking corridors located at the school. Alana walks near the southwest corner, facing the towards Linnet St. The same school appeared in the films “Thirteen,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “Akeelah and the Bee.”
LOCATION: 18720 Linnet St, Tarzana, CA 91356
Gary eats at this hot dog stand, where he tells Greg he met the girl he’s going to marry one day.
LOCATION: 9039 Lindley Ave, Northridge, CA 91325
Gary’s house can be found in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 7902 Goodland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605
The Tail O’ The Cock scenes were filmed inside the former Billingsley’s Restaurant, located on the grounds of the Van Nuys Golf Course. While the restaurant closed in 2004, it remains in tact and Anderson previously used the same location for his film “Magnolia.” Some websites state the Tail O’ The Cock scenes were filmed at Barone’s, but this is incorrect. These exterior shots of the building were kindly provided to us courtesy of Ingo Schmoll (schmollywood1).
LOCATION: 6550 Odessa Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Alana’s house can also be found in North Hollywood, on a cul de sac located very close to the scenes where Gary and Alana run together later in the film.
LOCATION: 12801 Miranda St, North Hollywood, CA 91607
The wig shop where Gary first sees a waterbed for sale is located in Canoga Park. The store is currently vacant, but the lettering on the windows from the film is still there.
LOCATION: 21819 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
You can see the nursery & hardware sign behind him as he enters the store.
The Teen-Age Fair scenes were filmed at the Hollywood Palladium. Gary and his friends are seen loading in from the side entrance on Argyle Ave. Police mistakenly arrest Gary because his description matches another suspect.
LOCATION: 6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Gary is taken to the police station, where he is seen in this hallway. The real building is actually a youth center in Hollywood.
LOCATION: 6501 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Alana is seen across the street.
After a witness confirms Gary is not the suspect, he is released. Gary and Alana start running from this point.
They are seen running together down Cole Pl.
LOCATION: Cole Pl / Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
The film seamlessly jumps to North Hollywood and the two continue running along Burbank Blvd, with Bellaire Ave visible behind them. To find the exact area, look for this spot where there is a second fence running perpendicular, with the building on the left and towers. They as seen running past these exact spots. This is close to the location of Alana’s house.
LOCATION: 12755 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91607
After Alana gets an advertisement on the radio for Gary’s water bed business, sales pick up as they start shipping out numerous orders. They load a truck from this location in Studio City. This is just behind Ventura Blvd, at the rear alley near Laurel Terrace Dr.
LOCATION: 12444 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Here is where the UPS truck is parked. Alana then heads back inside and yells at the other boys for not helping her carry the dolly up the stairs.
This is also where the film’s poster image was shot, with Alana and Gary standing in front of a car, facing the camera
Alana sits with her sister at this baseball field dugout at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, where she questions if its odd she hangs out with Gary. These dugout shots are provided courtesy of Christian Hernandez at Boogie Sights, who also identified the location.
LOCATION: 14230 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (GPS coordinates: 34°09’52.2″N, 118°26’37.4″W)
Gary opens his own store, Fat Bernie’s, selling waterbeds. Later in the film, Gary re-brands his business as the Pinball Palace, using the same location. The actual storefront can be found in Chatsworth.
LOCATION: 21758 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Here is the front of the store, seen numerous times in the film.
We were actually able to visit the set of the film back when production was taking place. Here you can see the Fat Bernie’s signs and the crew prepping the location.
Here’s a look at the interior, which is also featured heavily in the film.
Alana follows Gary to the back of the store, as she jealously watches him take interest in another girl.
Alana, angered by Gary’s behavior, walks along the side of the building and kisses a random guy on the sidewalk. Here’s how the area appeared in the film, with the Jurgensen’s Grocery Co. advertisement painted on the wall.
Here’s the same area, repainted as it appears since filming completed.
The back of the store appears again when they load up the truck to leave the store.
Alana auditions for Jack Holden, played by Sean Penn (reciting dialogue from the film “Breezy“), inside the Church of the Chimes in Sherman Oaks. The scene is only shown from interior views in the film. The property, which consists of several buildings, has also appeared in the film “Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy,” as well as the TV shows “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.”
LOCATION: 14115 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
The scenes where Jack Holden does a motorcycle stunt were filmed at the the Van Nuys Golf Course (6550 Odessa Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406).
As the gas crisis takes hold, Gary runs past a line of cars waiting to fuel up near the intersection of Victory Blvd and Lindley Ave in Tarzana, overlooking the L.A. River.
LOCATION: Near Victory Blvd / Lindley Ave, Tarzana, CA 91335
The camera follows him running up to the gas station, which is known as Signal Gasoline in the film. In reality, it’s not a gas station at all, rather a mechanic’s shop and smog check station.
LOCATION: 18102 Victory Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91335
The eccentric Jon Peters, played by Bradley Cooper, lives at this home in Encino, where Alana and Gary deliver a water bed.
LOCATION: 4450 Balboa Ave, Encino, CA 91316
While the home is located on a public road, it sits at the top of a long driveway up a dead end hillside and is not really visible from the street. There are additional views around the property available online via old real estate listings.
Alana and Gary give Jon Peters a ride to this gas station in Encino. The geography laid out in the film is somewhat plausible, in that Jon Peters’ home really is at the top of the hill on the road to the left. However, in the film, it is depicted as a long, steep and winding road, when in reality, it is a relatively short, straight path up Balboa Ave. The two locations are in near proximity, however.
LOCATION: 16900 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
The actual winding road seen in the film is Palo Drive in Tarzana, near Rosita Street. This is where Gary smashes up Jon Peters’ car, only to realize their truck has run out of gas, forcing Alana to coast down a series of hills, back down to the gas station. Here is the curve they are seen taking in the film. The house in the background behind the trees and shrubs appeared in the film “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” for the back yard scenes of Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski’s home.
LOCATION: Palo Dr, Tarzana, CA 91356 (GPS coordinates: 34°09’26.5″N, 118°33’26.4″W)
Here is the area where Jon Peters’ car was parked.
Here is another view of the general area where the car was parked.
Alana says in the film if she can make the light at Ventura, she can make a right and get them to the gas station. This is again geographically accurate, as the truck is seen turning at the intersection of Genesta Ave and Ventura Blvd, which turning right does indeed put you about one block from the gas station used in the film.
LOCATION: Ventura Blvd / Genesta Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91316
Afterwards, Alana sits on this curb in front of the Encino Post Office. Jon Peters walks by and throws a garbage can through the front window of the store next to it, before turning around to flirt with some women walking past. The real property does provide mail services, but is not a post office.
LOCATION: 18034 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316 (Jon Peters breaks the window out of 18034 1/2 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316)
Alana begins volunteering at the campaign offices of Joel Wachs, played by Benny Safdie. The building is actually a mattress and furniture store.
LOCATION: 21702 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Later, she notices a man loitering across the street watching the office and confronts him.
Here is the reverse view, where Alana would have been looking out of the offices, which are mostly seen from interior views in the film.
Late in the film, Gary and Alana embrace under the marquee of the El Portal theater in North Hollywood. For those hoping to catch a screening there, the theater does not host theatrical films, rather stage productions by local performing artists.
LOCATION: 5269 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
We leave you with a few more behind the scenes shots of some of the production design from when we visited the shoot. This was all around the Fat Bernie’s location in Chatsworth.
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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.
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The 2021 crime drama “The Little Things,” written and directed by John Lee Hancock, is set in Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California. Production likewise took place around Southern California. In the opening scene of the film, a woman is pursued by a mysterious motorist. She pulls over at a gas station, which is closed. The real location is not actually a gas station, rather a steakhouse and bar, located in Lancaster. The gas pumps were added by the production.
LOCATION: 46643 60th St W, Lancaster, CA 93536
Deke, played by Denzel Washington, is called to the scene of a petty vandalism at this restaurant in Acton. The interior of the same restaurant appears later in the film, when Deke meets with his ex-wife.
LOCATION: 533 Sierra Hwy, Acton, CA 93510
Deke visits the Los Angeles County Forensic Unit to collect some evidence. These scenes were filmed at the former City of Glendale police department.
LOCATION: 140 N Isabel St, Glendale, CA 91206 (rear parking lot)
The police station where Jimmy Baxter, played by Rami Malek, works is part of an actual jail facility in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 450 Bauchet St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Deke gets coffee at a restaurant, where Jimmy invites him to ride along to a crime scene. The restaurant is supposedly located across the street from the police station. In reality, it can be found about 7 miles away in Eagle Rock. The restaurant is only seen from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 5056 N Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Jimmy and Deke investigate a murder scene at this building, which is located in the middle of Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. It is located just a few buildings down from Robin Williams’ apartment in the film “One Hour Photo.” It is obviously not in the safest of areas and caution should be used if visiting.
LOCATION: 512 Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Deke stops for a meal at this restaurant in Alhambra.
LOCATION: 1000 E Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801
Deke stays at at this hotel, which is changed to the “St. Agnes Hotel” in the film. The real hotel can be found in Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles and is another location we don’t recommend visiting, but if you do, use caution.
LOCATION: 423 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Jimmy investigates a crime scene at the Mullholland Dam in Hollywood. He is joined by Deke, who gives him a lead on appliance store workers. The dam is accessible to the public, however, it does require a minor walk to reach it. You have to drive up Weidlake Drive and the nearest parking is at the Hollywood Reservoir Trailhead. From there it’s just a short distance on foot. The same area can be seen in the opening of “Seven Psychopaths.”
LOCATION: Mulholland Dam, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (nearest parking area is the Hollywood Reservoir Trailhead at 6381-6399 Weidlake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)
Jimmy visits a victim’s family’s house, where they tell him she always wore a red barrette.
LOCATION: 3447 Laurelvale Dr, North Hollywood, CA 91604
Jimmy’s house can be found in Studio City.
LOCATION: 4328 Ben Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Deke visits his ex-wife at this house in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 4242 Bakman Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Jimmy and Deke meet at the famed Frolic Room on Hollywood Blvd, where they exchange thoughts on the investigation. The same bar, which is only seen from interior views in this film, has also been featured in such films as “L.A. Confidential” and “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood.”
LOCATION: 6245 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Deke takes Jimmy to La Loma Bridge in Pasadena, where he recounts the details of a past murder scene. The same bridge was featured in the film “Mank.”
LOCATION: La Loma Bridge, 799 La Loma Rd, Pasadena, CA 91105
Albert Sparma, played by Jared Leto, becomes the lead suspect in the investigation. Sparma lives at this apartment in North Hollywood.
LOCATIONS: 10929 McCormick St, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Here is the area where Jimmy and Deke watch Sparma’s apartment.
Jimmy answers a pay phone in this spot.
Sparma heads to a bus stop, just up the same road toward W Magnolia Blvd.
LOCATION: 10929 W Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601 (rear parking lot)
Sparma heads to a bar, where he realizes he’s been duped in order to get him out of his apartment so the detectives can run an illegal search. These scenes were filmed at The Oaks Tavern in Sherman Oaks, which is only seen from interior views in the film.
LOCATION: 13625 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Two locations were used for the appliance store where Sparma works. The exterior can be found in Whittier, where Deke monitors his activities.
LOCATION: 6744 Bright Ave, Whittier, CA 90601
The interior was filmed at an actual appliance store in Hollywood.
LOCATION: 1191 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Deke watches as Sparma crosses the street into this building.
LOCATION: 6739 Bright Ave, Whittier, CA 90601
Sparma visits this strip club in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 12147 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Jimmy and Deke watch his activities from their car, parked at this corner.
The 1987 comedy “Innespace,” starring Martin Short and Dennis Quaid, was filmed in both Northern and Southern California. The lab where the miniaturization takes place can be found in Chatsworth.
LOCATION: 20977 Knapp St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
The grocery store where Jack Putter, played by Martin Short, works can be found in Sherman Oaks. It has since been heavily remodeled.
LOCATION: 14845 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The wedding scenes take place at Wayfarers Chapel in Ranchos Palos Verdes. The same location was featured in the second season of the TV series “True Detective.”
LOCATION: 5755 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
The 1983 film “Valley Girl,” starring Deborah Foreman and Nicolas Cage, was largely filmed, as the title suggests, in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. The opening shows a helicopter view past the Hollywood sign, overlooking the San Fernando Valley. There is a popular, public hiking trail that goes up to and behind the sign. Here is the view of the Valley from behind the Hollywood sign.
LOCATION: Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (GPS coordinates: 34.134118, -118.321540)
The early scenes of Julie, played by Foreman, shopping at the mall with her friends were filmed at the Del Amo Shopping Center in Torrance. The same mall was heavily featured in the film “Jackie Brown.” Here is a shot of the former food court. The mall has since been heavily remodeled and the food court not only looks nothing like how it appeared in the film, its actually now located in a completely different section of the mall.
LOCATION: 3525 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90503
The party scene where Randy, played by Cage, meets Julie was filmed at this home in West Hills.
LOCATION: 23727 Posey Ln, West Hills, CA 91304
As Randy takes Julie into Hollywood, numerous landmarks are shown, beginning with the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
LOCATION: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Blvd is also seen.
LOCATION: 9009 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Here is the home of Julie Richman.
LOCATION: 3907 Dixie Canyon Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
This is where the heath food store, owned by Julie’s parents, was located.
LOCATION: 14543 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The restaurant where Julie eats with her friends was Du-Pars in Studio City. The same restaurant was featured in “Boogie Nights.” The location has since closed down and the building has been completely remodeled.
LOCATION: 12036 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (now closed)
In a montage of Randy and Julie dating, more iconic city spots are shown, including Casa Vega.
LOCATION: 13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Our article on Season 1 of the TV series “True Detective” remains one of the biggest location searches we’ve ever done, through the small towns of Southern Louisiana. For the second season of the show, writer Nic Pizzolatto shifts the setting to Southern California in the fictional city of Vinci, loosely based on the city of Vernon, which had a corruption scandal not unlike what is depicted in the show.
The locations are just as plentiful as the first season, spanning from Santa Paula to Santa Ana, from Mt. Baldy to Beverly Hills and everything in between. The show presents a more gritty look into Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Visiting the locations is a deep dive into Southern California and one that should only be done if you’re a fan of the show, as it won’t take you to any tourist destinations. Sometimes you’ll even find yourself in somewhat unsafe neighborhoods.
The following article contains numerous spoilers for the show, so we recommend only reading if you’ve seen the complete second season. As is often the case with TV shows, many of these locations appear in multiple episodes, so we’ll cover each location by where they first appear.
Episode One – “The Western Book of the Dead”
The season begins with Detective Ray Velcoro, played by Colin Farrell, dropping his son off at school.
LOCATION: 2125 Lincoln Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
The Black Rose bar, where Ray frequently meets Frank Semyon, played by Vince Vaughn, over the course of the series is located in Vernon. It is mostly seen from interior views in the show, but the building is not actually a bar. It is a private building closed to the public and it is unclear if the interiors were actually filmed here or elsewhere. The exterior is seen a few times in the show as well, however. Frank gives Ray info on who assaulted his ex-wife, leading Ray to seek revenge on the assailant.
LOCATION: 2465 E 53rd St, Vernon, CA 90058
The establishing shots of the fictional city of Vinci were shot around Vernon.
LOCATION: Seen from the parking lot behind 3666 S Soto St, Vernon, CA 90058
The casino where Frank works could be found in Gardena. The actual casino has since closed down.
LOCATION: 1045 Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA 90247
Detective Ani Bezzerides, played by Rachel McAdams, runs an eviction raid on this home, which is located in Santa Paula, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 593 Orcutt Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060
Ray’s house can be found in Vernon. It is located right next to City Hall, also seen in the show.
LOCATION: 4322 Furlong Pl, Vernon, CA 90058
Bezzerides follows a lead on a woman to the Panticapaeum Institute, a spiritual retreat run by her father. These scenes were filmed at Wayfarers Chapel in Ranchos Palos Verdes. The same location was featured in the 1980s comedy “Innerspace.”
LOCATION: 5755 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Here are the stairs from which the detectives approach.
The chapel is a very scenic place to visit, offering views overlooking the ocean.
The California Highway Patrol Station where Highway Patrol officer Paul Woodrugh, played by Taylor Kitsch, works could be found in Hawthorne. It was a real police building, also featured in the TV series “True Blood” and the film “Zodiac.” The building has since been demolished. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 4440 W 126th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (now demolished)
Ray parks outside of this apartment building, where he plans to attack the man he believes raped his ex-wife Gena.
LOCATION: 15464 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The apartment where he stages the attack is located across the street.
LOCATION: 15445 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Ray visits this house at night, where a boy who has been bullying his son lives. Ray beats the boy’s father in front of him at the front door, as a warning to stop bullying.
LOCATION: 19825 Needles St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Bezzerides gets escorted out of a casino when she receives a call about a new case.
LOCATION: 6580 Auto Center Dr, Ventura, CA 93003
Woodrugh discovers the body of Ben Caspere sitting on a picnic table at Point Magu Rock, overlooking the ocean. Detectives Ray Velcoro and Ani Bezzerides are called to the scene, where the three officers meet and the stage is set for the case. There are no picnic tables at the actual location, but it is a popular scenic overlook.
LOCATION: Point Magu Rock, 799 Pacific Coast Hwy, NAS Point Mugu, CA 93042
Episode Two – “Night Finds You”
Ray visits the city of Vinci, where he sees kids playing in the toxic water draining into this river channel. In the same area, he meets with Frank. The drainage hole was a visual effect added by the show.
LOCATION: Near 2715 E Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Woodrugh visits his mother at this trailer park.
LOCATION: 4456 Naval Air Rd, Oxnard, CA 93033
A brief transition shot is shown of these train tracks in Vinci.
LOCATION: Near 2552 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Ray visits this shopping plaza to see his son, but is instead greeted by his ex-wife Gena. Angry over Ray’s violent assault on the bully’s father, Gena tells him she will be petitioning for sole custody. The scene was filmed at the Northridge Mall. It’s a large place, so we’ve provided GPS coordinates below to the specific parking lot.
LOCATION: 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge, CA 91324 (GPS coordinates: 34.240655, -118.556896)
After some men attack a man on the street, Frank pretends to be a bystander, before threatening the man himself. This scene was filmed near the same freeway overpass seen in the films “Heat” and “Scarface.”
LOCATION: Near 749 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Ray and Bezzerides visit the clinic of Ben Caspere’s doctor. These scenes were filmed at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley. The property regularly hosts weddings and special events. It is otherwise a private estate, only allowing guests by appointment. The only road leading to the ranch is typically gated shut with no trespassing signs. The property has also appeared in “Babylon,” Oliver Stone’s “Savages,” “Jobs” starring Ashton Kutcher and in the TV series “Too Old To Die Young.”
LOCATION: 2940 Kuehner Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Frank visits the mayor at the Vinci City Hall. The opposite side of the building is where Ray’s house can be found.
LOCATION: 4305 S Santa Fe Ave, Vernon, CA 90058
Episode Three – “Maybe Tomorrow”
Bezzerides and Woodrugh visit the house of the mayor of Vinci, which can be found in Beverly Hills.
LOCATION: 1091 Laurel Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Ray and Bezzerides follow up on a lead when their car is set on fire under this freeway overpass.
LOCATION: 11502 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061
Episode Four – “Down Will Come”
Woodrugh is unexpectedly confronted by the press in front of this hotel.
LOCATION: 7023 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Frank pays a visit to this apartment, where he informs the owner he is now 40% partner of the property. The apartment complex is seen from the interior courtyard in the show. The apartment next door was also featured in the film “Collateral.”
LOCATION: 1029 S Union Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Woodrugh’s girlfriend informs him she’s pregnant at this restaurant.
LOCATION: 2601 S Soto St, Vernon, CA 90058
Woodrugh locates a stolen watch at this pawn shop.
LOCATION: 5901 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
After Bezzerides find out she has a sexual misconduct complaint filed against her, she has an argument with her partner outside the police department. The same location was featured in the film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” This building has since been demolished. It formerly stood at 333 N Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301.
The pawn shop lead brings the detectives to a suspect. While the cops are watching the area ahead of their raid, workers file into this building.
LOCATION: 615 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Protesters gather in front of this building.
LOCATION: 560 S Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Bezzerides and her team approach past this building to begin the raid.
LOCATION: 607 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
A shootout ensues from this building, with a large explosion on the top floor.
LOCATION: 621 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Ray and Woodrugh make it through the gunfire over to this door at foot of the building.
They then cross these stairs in front in pursuit of the suspects in a vehicle.
The suspect vehicle then crashes into a bus at this intersection, where another shootout ensues.
LOCATION: Jesse St / S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Episode Five – “Other Lives”
Burdened by financial issues, Frank is forced to move into a more modest home.
LOCATION: 1400 N Spaulding Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Bezzerides meets the woman she ran a raid on in the first episode at this hotel. While speaking to her, she obtains information on a private party.
LOCATION: 401 S Westlake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Ray follows a group of prostitutes to a nondescript building. He parks in front of this building.
LOCATION: 1951 Staunton Ave, Vernon, CA 90058
He sees the prostitutes enter into this building.
LOCATION: 2001 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90058 (seen from E 20th St)
Frank has a business meeting, where a man offers him a deal to own some land again, if Frank can locate a hard drive owned by Ben Caspere. The location is next to Union Station and the establishing shot shows Union Station, then pans slightly toward the building to the right, where the meeting takes place.
LOCATION: 800 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, panning towards 700 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Ray meets his ex-wife Gena at this scenic area overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles. His wife informs him her rapist was captured and it wasn’t the man Ray believed it was, therefore the information Ray had was incorrect. This area is the Elysian Park Helipad. There is parking nearby and a path that leads up directly to this area. It is not a difficult walk to reach it. This area is located close to where a dream sequence in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” was shot.
LOCATION: Elysian Park Helipad, Solano Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34.082766, -118.236997)
Bezzerides and Woodrugh follow a lead in the Caspere case to a lodge in the woods. Known as the Harwood Lodge, it can be fount in Mt. Baldy, about 50 miles away from Los Angeles. There is a dirt road that leads up to the lodge, which is sometimes best reached by walking, depending on weather conditions.
LOCATION: 6700 Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Bezzerides notices birds circling in the air in the woods nearby, leading them to the discovery of another crime scene.
Episode Six – “Church in Ruins”
Frank and his crew arrive at this home in search of a prostitute. Instead, he finds out the home belongs to the Mexicans criminals seen previously in the show, when Frank refused to form a partnership with them. Frank now renegotiates.
LOCATION: 1521 Colton St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (seen from Lake Shore Terrace)
After the Mexicans put Frank in touch with the woman he’s been searching for, he arranges to meet her at this location, only to discover her dead body there. The Mexicans have killed her as retribution against Frank for not accepting their initial terms.
LOCATION: 2901 Fruitland Ave, Vernon, CA 90058 (seen from E 50th St)
Episode Seven – “Black Maps and Motel Rooms”
After Ray and Woodrugh rescue Bezzerides from a party in which she was drugged and attacked, the three stay at this motel in Mt. Baldy, located not far from the cabin seen in episode six.
LOCATION: 6867 Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Woodrugh searches police records at the LAPD building in Downtown Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 100 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Woodrugh goes to meet a man who is blackmailing him at the Hall of Records. It turns out to be a set-up.
LOCATION: 320 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (seen from N Hill St)
Woodrugh is shot at the steps of old Los Angeles Police Department in Downtown Los Angeles, which has since been demolished. The same building was featured in the film “Inherent Vice.”
LOCATION: 150 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (now demolished)
Episode Eight – “Omega Station”
Frank sends his wife Jordan, played by Kelly Reilly, away at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. The same location was featured in such films as “Rain Man” and “Memoirs of an Invisible Man.”
LOCATION: 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Jordon refuses to leave until Frank finally persuades her.
Ray and Bezzerides enter this home and discover a lot of evidence about the case, as well as the fact that Laura and Leonard Osterman were behind the attack on Caspere.
LOCATION: 1000 El Mirador Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815
Bezzerides sends Laura Osterman away on a bus at this station. The real location is not a bus station at all, rather a boarding terminal for cruise ships in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 100 Swinford St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Frank makes his way to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center to meet the corrupt cops under the agreed plan of exchanging incriminating evidence in his possession.
LOCATION: 2626 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Ray makes his way to the upper level inside the building.
Leonard Osterman then attacks one of the men and a shootout begins.
Ray parks at this intersection to see his son one last time, only to discover a tracking device on his vehicle. The intersection really is located next to the school, seen in the first episode.
LOCATION: Lincoln Ave / Apple Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
The Mexican criminals kidnap Frank at this intersection.
LOCATION: E 16th St / Hooper Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
They proceed onto the freeway here.
LOCATION: E 17th St / Naomi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Bezzerides escapes to what is supposedly Venezuela. In reality, the scenes were shot in Downtown Los Angeles, with a lot of set decoration and some visual effects to fill the city backdrop.
LOCATION: E 11th St / Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
There remain dozens more locations we did not document from the second season. Some are minor, others are major, but not easily visible for photography. Los Angeles is a constantly changing city and just a few short years later, several locations already no longer exist. We’ve tried to document as any as we could here. If you do plan to visit the season 2 filming locations, it requires a lot of time and distance, so do your research and allow yourself many days to navigate it all.
Related articles: True Detective (Season 1)
Film Oblivion 