The 1989 Wes Craven film “Shocker” was shot in Southern California. Early in the film, Jonathan Parker, played by Peter Berg, is seen walking home with Alison Clement, played by Camille Cooper, down Sartori Ave in Torrance.
LOCATION: 1311 Sartori Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
Jonathan’s family’s house can be found in South Pasadena.
LOCATION: 2012 Le Droit Dr, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Jonathan’s house can also be found in South Pasadena.
LOCATION: 1720 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Horace Pinker, played by Mitch Pileggi, is captured while attempting a murder inside this building, which has since been remodeled from how it appeared in the film.
In the 2002 Mark Romanek film, “One Hour Photo,” Robin Williams plays a mentally unstable photo developer who becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he develops. The home of the Yorkin family can be found in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the film, Sy, played by Williams, sits on the street and watches the home. In reality, however, the property sits tucked away behind a fence and trees and is not visible from the street. Here is an aerial view of the home, which was also featured in the film “Cruel Intentions,” as well as the TV shows “Californication” and “Ray Donovan.”
LOCATION: 136 S Canyon View Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Sy’s aparttment can be found in Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. It is located just a few buildings over from one of the murder scenes in the film “The Little Things.” It’s not the safest of areas, so use caution if you visit.
LOCATION: 534 Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Sy sits at a diner, looking a duplicates he made of the Yorkins’ family photos. This was filmed at the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Heat,” “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien” and many more. In 2007, the building was demolished. However, Bob’s Big Boy purchased the property years later and rebuilt it based on the original blueprints and even some of the same materials. So what stands now closely resembles what was seen in the film.
LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
Sy follows Will Yorkin, played by Michael Vartan, to a hotel in Torrance. The real building is not a hotel, but a business area and medical center.
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.
The 1999 teen comedy “She’s All That,” starring Rachel Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr., was filmed entirely in Sourthern California. Laney Boggs, played by Cook, lives at this house in Redondo Beach.
LOCATION: 507 Paseo De La Playa, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
The home was only used for exterior shots. Interior shots were filmed just across the street at 504 Paseo De La Playa, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.
The house from the TV series adaptation of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, can be found in Torrance, California.
LOCATION: 1313 Cota Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
Located just a few blocks away is Torrance High School, which served as Sunnydale High School. The same high school was used in the TV series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and in the film “She’s All That.”
Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 Elmore Leonard adaptation was shot primarily in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, where the director also lived for much of his youth. In the 20 years since the film was released, many of the locations have long since been remodeled or demolished, but many still stand as well.
In the opening scenes, Jackie Brown, played by Pam Grier, is seen hurrying through LAX Airport. The opening titles play over the wall tiles of Terminal 3. These tiles can be found along the pedestrian tunnel in the lower level and are only accessible to airline passengers and staff, as they make their way to baggage claim or the exits. Tarantino returned to this area for a scene in “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood.”
LOCATION: Terminal 3, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (lower level, arrivals area)
Jackie is seen passing this area, which is at Terminal 5 in the departure level. This area too is only accessible to airline passengers and staff. It’s since been remodeled a bit from how it appeared in the film.
LOCATION: Terminal 5, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (departures level)
Another section of Terminal 5 Jackie is seen walking through.
As we’re introduced to the rest of the cast, we meet a beach bunny named Melanie, played by Bridget Fonda. Several scenes were filmed at Melanie’s apartment, which was actually a composite of two different locations. The interior, where most of the scenes take place, can be found at this beachfront property in Hermosa Beach.
LOCATION: 6403 Ocean Front Walk, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
The outside of Melanie’s apartment, where Jackie and Ordell, played by Samuel L. Jackson, walk down a long corridor talking, was actually filmed at the building right across the street, which was much larger. Together the two buildings create what you see in the film.
LOCATION: 6309 Ocean Front Walk, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Ordell finds himself in need of a bail bondsman and meets Max Cherry, played by Robert Forster. Cherry Bail Bonds was filmed at Carson Bail Bonds in Carson, California. Unfortunately it was demolished around 2009 and replaced by some apartment buildings.
LOCATION: 724 E Carson St, Carson, CA 90745 (now demolished)
Carson City Hall, which can be seen in the background across the street, still matches up. It is seen in several shots through the front window, such as when Ordell and Louis, played by Robert De Niro, park in front of Cherry Bail Bonds.
Ordell makes his way to the apartment of Beaumont, who he has just bailed out of jail. In the film, the apartment is said to be located in “Hollywood, two blocks up from Hollywood Blvd and Western.” In reality, it’s nowhere near there. The real apartment can be found in Wilmington, California. Beaumont’s apartment was unit #16, which is the same unit number seen in the film. Today, the building is no longer accessible to the public.
LOCATION: 1030 Lakme Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744
After Ordell convinces Beaumont to tag along as backup while he sells some guns, the two make their way down the stairs.
Ordell explains the situation as they talk at the front entrance of the building.
After Ordell convinces Beaumont to hide in his trunk and slams it shut, he drives a very short distance into a vacant lot and kills Beaumont. The vacant lot was located exactly across the street from Beaumont’s apartment location in Wilmington. This scene was done as a single take with a crane shot. This vacant area has since been filled with numerous homes. This is what the area looks like today from the street.
In the shot, you can see a church with a long steeple in the distance. That church is still there, known as the Calvary Light Christian Center. Here’s a closer view of the church, seen as Ordell turns left down Denni Street.
LOCATION: Lakme Ave and Denni St, Wilmington, CA 90744
Right across the street from the church is this small parking lot, which is about the closest remnant to what the area looked like in the film.
After Jackie is arrested by LAPD Detective Mark Dargus (Michael Bowen) and ATF agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton), she is taken to a police station and asked to give up Ordell in exchange for her freedom. The police station scenes were filmed at what was, at the time of filming, part of the production offices. The building is only seen from interior views in the film, but here is what it looks like outside. The interior of the building was used for another scene, when Jackie is exchanging the money inside a department store dressing room. Both the police interrogation room and dressing room were sets built inside the building.
LOCATION: 6025 W Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230
Max Cherry picks up Jackie from jail at the Sybil Brand Institute, which at the time of filming, was a real, operational women’s prison in Los Angeles. It was here that Manson Family member Susan Atkins confessed to a cell mate named Virginia Graham about the Tate Murders. Graham in turn shared what Atkins had told her, which eventually helped lead to the capture of Charles Manson. The prison shut down in 1997, but today the grounds are still owned by the Los Angeles sherrif’s office, where it’s used by warehouse companies and for filming purposes. Walking the grounds in person, however, it still very much feels like you’re at a prison.
LOCATION: 4500 City Terrace Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90063
Here’s a wider view of the premises, though it’s never seen from this angle in the film.
Max and Jackie grab a drink at the former Cockatoo Inn in Hawthorne, exactly as stated in the film. It appears in another scene whenever Jackie meets Ordell, then a third time whenever Ordell and Louis have a discussion. Sadly the location closed down in 1996 shortly before filming took place. While the property was not razed altogether, it has since been so heavily remodeled, it no longer appears anything like it did in the film. The signs are long gone and the interior is completely different, but it is still the original building. You can find old images online of how it used to appear.
LOCATION: 11500 Acacia Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (heavily remodeled)
Max drops Jackie off at her apartment, where Ordell soon pays her a visit. The apartment can be found in Torrence.
LOCATION: 17575 Yukon Ave, Torrance, CA 90504
Much of the film takes place at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrence, which is correctly stated as such in the film.
LOCATION: 3525 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90503
A couple scenes take place in the food court, including when Max runs into Jackie and when Jackie does the trial run for the money exchange. The mall has since been heavily remodeled and the food court not only looks nothing like how it appeared in the film, it’s actually now located in a completely different section of the mall. However, we photographed the original food court years ago, back when it still appeared similar to how it did in the film.
At the start of the “trial run” money exchange, Jackie is seen exiting an elevator after her flight and being met by Ray and Mark. The scene supposedly takes place at LAX, but it’s actually another part of Del Amo Mall. This is the East Parking Garage, but unfortunately the scene was filmed on the second level and all upper levels of this structure have since been closed off for an indeterminate amount of time.
LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 33.828457, -118.348661
Just before the actual money exchange, Jackie is seen driving down Sepulveda Blvd. The vehicle she’s driving is the same car Butch drives in “Pulp Fiction,” as she listens to Randy Crawford’s “Street Life.”
LOCATION: 2407 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501
At the start of the second, “for real this time,” money exchange, Jackie is seen entering the mall in front of these distinctive blue bricks of what was formerly a Marshall’s store on Del Amo Cir Blvd. Marshall’s relocated to a new location at the mall in 2018 and these blue bricks were sadly removed in 2019, due to remodeling.
LOCATION: 365 Del Amo Cir Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503 (heavily remodeled)
Back at Del Amo Mall, Melanie and Louis meet up with Jackie for the money exchange at the fictional Billingsley Department Store in the mall, which is currently a Macy’s store. The store has changed quite a bit over the two decades since filming, so things don’t appear as they did back then. This is the approximate area where Jackie heads for the dressing room, which is located on the third floor of Macy’s. The actual dressing room, as mentioned earlier, was a set built at the film’s production offices.
Here is the approximate area where Louis and Melanie observe what’s happening and argue.
Max Cherry arrives outside of the store on the upper level. A prop Billingsley sign was mounted on the wall.
While the exchange goes down, Ordell keeps himself far away from the eyes of the A.T.F. by going to a strip club. The same bar, Sam’s Hofbrau, a real topless bar, would appear again in Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” where Budd works as a bouncer.
LOCATION: 1751 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Late in the film, Max meets up with the very angry and suspicious Ordell, over at Raynelle’s house. This is right around the corner from Beaumont’s apartment location.
LOCATION: 348 E Opp St, Wilmington, CA 90744
To see our “Jackie Brown” location page, click here.
Despite the show’s name, very little of “Beverly Hills 90210” was ever shot in Beverly Hills.
The Walsh residence can actually be found in Altadena, California.
LOCATION: 1675 E Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001
The cast attends “West Beverly High,” which was also filmed far from Beverly Hills at Torrance High School, down in Torrance, California. The same school was used on the TV series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and the film “She’s All That.”
LOCATION: 2200 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501
Another shot of the school seen frequently on the show.
A few different locations served as the famous “Peach Pit” on the show. In the first season, several episodes depicted the restaurant at this West L.A. restaurant.
LOCATION: 10801 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
However, production switched to this Venice location for the remainder of the season.
LOCATION: 1027 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
The most well-known location for the “Peach Pit,” used from the second season onward, can be found in Pasadena. The building has hosted a variety of restaurants since filming ended and no longer bears much resemblance to how it appeared on the show.
LOCATION: 45 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
If that wasn’t enough Peach Pit for you, in 2019, a special pop-up version surfaced in Los Angeles, which has since closed. The same location was previously used as a pop-up for “Twin Peaks.”
Dylan, played by Luke Perry, lived at this house in Altadena. It’s located just a few houses down from the Walsh residence.
LOCATION: 1605 E Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001
Steve’s house can be found in Encino. The house was also seen in the films “Ghost In The Machine” and “The Dentist.” Trees in the yard are making the front of the property increasingly difficult to see from the road.
LOCATION: 16711 Bosque Dr, Encino, CA 91436
Andrea’s house was formerly located at 540 N Gramercy Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90004, but the houses on this block have since been demolished and replaced by an apartment complex.
Kelly and Donna’s beach house can be found right along the walkways of Hermosa Beach. The same property was featured in the 1980s comedy “My Stepmother Is An Alien.” It’s quite a nice area to visit, even if you’re not a fan of the show.
LOCATION: 3500 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic portrayal of the 1970s and 1980s porn industry, “Boogie Nights,” was shot all around Southern California, but like many of his early works, was primarily based around the San Fernando Valley.
The opening shot of the Reseda Theater can be found on Sherman Way in Reseda, California. The theater has long since closed, but plans are underway to reopen the property as a mutiplex.
LOCATION: 18443 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Just down the street is the “Hot Traxx” nightclub, which is now a church. Also right around the corner is the workplace of Quiz Kid Donnie Smith in “Magnolia.”
LOCATION: 18419 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Dirk Diggler’s parents’ house is located far south of the Valley, down in Torrance, California.
LOCATION: 3503 187th St, Torrance, CA 90504
Jack Horner takes Dirk out for a meal with Amber Waves and Rollergirl at Du-Pars Restaurant and Bakery in Studio City. The same restaurant was featured in the film “Valley Girl.” The location has since closed down and the building has been heavily remodeled.
LOCATION: 12036 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (now closed)
Jack Horner’s house is tucked away in the city of Covina. The property is not easily visible from the street.
LOCATION: 19515 E Cameron Ave, Covina, CA 91724
The side of the house, where Little Bill, played by William H. Macy, witnesses his wife having sex outside, while a group of party guests watch.
The back of Jack Horner’s house, with the patio and swimming pool, where the party takes place.
Later in the film, Dirk Diggler moves into his own house, located in Woodland Hills.
LOCATION: 4214 Lobos Rd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Amber Waves makes a documentary about Dirk Diggler, which itself is based on the documentary “Exhausted: John C. Holmes, the Real Story.” The bridge Dirk stands in front of is the Colfax Ave footbridge in Studio City. It can be found near the intersection of Colfax Ave and Ventura Blvd. Once you spot the overpass on Colfax, the bridge is just beneath it and can easily be accessed by foot.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Colfax Ave / Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (nearest address is 4028 Colfax Ave, Studio City, CA 91604)
Towards the end of the film, things take a darker turn as Dirk solicits himself to perform sexual acts for money. The alley where he meets the man in the truck is still there, but the buildings to the left has since been demolished. The church in the background can still be seen. This location is very close to the donut shop in the film.
LOCATION: 18128 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Buck Swope picks up some donuts at the aforementioned Miss Donuts. This is in Reseda, near the church seen above and the “Hot Traxx” location.
LOCATION: 18231 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
The drug dealer robbery is planned from the El Royale Hotel in Studio City.
LOCATION: 11117 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Things reach a crescendo with a drug deal gone bad, at this house in Encino. Sadly, the house has since been demolished and a new home build in it’s place. Luckily, we we able photograph it prior to it’s demolition.
As time has passed, appreciation for Michael Mann’s crime saga masterpiece “Heat” has continued to grow. Few films have ever captured Los Angeles so magnificently as Mann did here. Even after all of these years, a few locations remain secret, but most have surfaced.
The opening shots of the film show Neil McCauley, played by Robert DeNiro on the Metro Green Line, arriving at the Redondo Beach Station. Director Michael Mann would return to this same station for the closing scenes of “Collateral.” If you plan to visit this station, the only way to access the platform is by purchasing a fare.
LOCATION: 2406 Marine Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Neil steals an ambulance from the St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach. The same hospital shows up again later in the film, when Vincent Hanna, played by Al Pacino, rushes his step-daughter Lauren, played by Natalie Portman, to the emergency room.
LOCATION: 1050 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Chris, played by Val Kilmer, purchases explosives from a company in Whittier. However, the building seen in the film was later demolished. Here is how the area appears now.
LOCATION: 10006 Rose Hills Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (demolished)
Vincent and his wife Justine live in what is known as the “Sixth Street House” in Santa Monica. A famous architectural piece, the house has the designation of historical landmark. Much of the front of the home is obscured by a wall and shrubs, making it a bit inconspicuous. The side of the home offers better visibility. In the film itself, only the interiors of the house are seen.
LOCATION: 2634 6th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
The Mexican food stand where Waingro gets picked up has since been demolished. This is what the area looks like now.
LOCATION: 1233 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006 (demolished)
What matches up better is the plaza across the street, seen in the background as Waingro walks to the truck.
The robbery of the armored truck takes place on Venice Blvd, exactly as Hanna states in the film. It’s near the Los Angeles Convention Center, just underneath the interchange of the 10 and 110 freeways. The detention center scenes from “Scarface” were filmed nearby as well.
LOCATION: Venice Blvd / Convention Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The robbers emerge from underneath this split overpass for the collision.
This is where Vincent arrives to investigate the aftermath.
McCauley’s crew torches the ambulance here.
LOCATION: W 22nd St / Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
McCauley meets with Nate, played by Jon Voight, at a parking garage in Downtown L.A. They are seen on the ninth level, which is now private and monitored by a security guard. Here is a view of the same area a couple levels down, which is public.
LOCATION: 333 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
McCauley’s crew takes Waingro to the former Johnie’s Broiler in Downey, where they attempt to kill him in the parking lot, but he ultimately escapes. The restaurant has a unique history, having appeared in many other films, such as “Short Cuts,” “License To Drive,” “The Game,” “My Stepmother Is An Alien,” “One Hour Photo,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and many more. In 2007, the building was demolished. However, Bob’s Big Boy purchased the property years later and rebuilt it based on the original blueprints and even some of the same materials. So what stands now closely resembles what was seen in the film.
LOCATION: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
The location of Neil’s oceanfront home, where Chris sleeps off a domestic spat, has long been subject to debate. The house most commonly believed to be the correct location can be found on Malibu Cove Colony Drive, a private road just off the Pacific Coast Highway. Old real estate listings showing the interior of the home match closely with what was seen in the film, down to fixtures and appliances. The same house was also featured in the film “Less Than Zero,” where Jami Gertz tells Andrew McCarthy she’s not going to college. However, since then portions of the home have been remodeled, making it a difficult task to match up in person.
The entrance to Malibu Cove Colony Drive has a gate and guard on duty, preventing any public access (most beachfront roads in this area are likewise private). On the opposite side, however, are the outskirts of Escondido Beach, which is open to the public, but also presents its own challenges. First and foremost, the houses sit very close to the water. All of them are perched on stilts, as the tides can reach all the way up to the base of the properties. Visitors should use caution if they walk these narrow shores, as the high tides can leave you little room to cross. It also makes photography a challenge, unless you plan to take a swim. The next challenge is simply identifying the correct home. Many of these beachfront homes have been heavily remodeled. If you attempt to match them to satellite views, many details won’t align in person, due to remodeling. Some of the homes also resemble one another, particularly their patios, making it even more confusing. It’s easy to see why, after decades, the location has remained subject to debate. To be certain we found the correct home we were seeking, we used a combination satellite imagery and GPS. A drone (or jet ski) is likely a better method to view the house, but if you do attempt it on foot, use caution and do your research.
LOCATION: 26940 Malibu Cove Colony Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
The home of Chris Shiherlis can be found in Northridge. The house has since been remodeled some.
LOCATION: 19514 Romar St, Northridge, CA 91324 (remodeled)
This view, seen as Chris drives away, still matches up.
The bookstore where Eady, played by Amy Brenneman, works is located at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. The entire area, an outdoor pedestrian mall, was heavily renovated and the bookstore is long since gone.
LOCATION: 1254 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)
The cafe where Eady gets to know Neil was likewise part of the 3rd Street Promenade. Much like the bookstore, the cafe is long since gone and the building has been remodeled.
LOCATION: 1457 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (remodeled)
Eady’s house sits perched on stilts in the hills of West Hollywood, offering a magnificent view over the city. There’s not much to see from the front of the house itself on Blue Heights Dr. Signs declare the cul-de-sac where it sits to be private property, but you can still see it well from the public section of the road. The floor to ceiling windows and patio area are much better seen from lower streets, such as Viewmont Dr (near the 1600 block, just before it reaches a dead end). The house found renewed interest in 2014 with the TV series “Bosch,” where it serves as the home of the titular detective.
LOCATION: 1870 Blue Heights Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (best seen from around the 1600 block of Viewmont Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069, just before the road hits a dead end)
Here is a view of the city, as seen from Blue Heights Dr, just before you reach Eady’s house, closely resembling what you’d see from the home.
Vincent and Drucker visit Albert’s chop shop in Wilmington. At the time of filming, the area was rumored to host an actual chop shop, though now it’s just a train maintenance area. The distinct, yellow sulpher pile still remains and there is a very strong smell in person.
LOCATION: 1017 Foote Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (near the railroad tracks)
Plans for the bank heist are first offered to Neil and Nate when they visit Kelso, played by Tom Noonan. The house was filmed on Dodds Circle in Los Angeles, which is also where Trejo’s house is located in the film. Neil and Nate first park here, overlooking the 10 freeway.
LOCATION: Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063 (just off Dickson Ave)
McCauley then discusses the plan with Kelso at his house, which is fenced off around the entire perimeter.
LOCATION: 1235 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063
The restaurant where Donald, played by Dennis Haysbert, begins working under the abuse of a crooked manager is Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank (not to be confused with the Downey location covered earlier in this article).
LOCATION: 4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505
Later in the film, Neil happens to be dining inside with his crew and spots Donald cooking and immediately recognizes him as a former prison buddy.
Neil speaks to his driver, Trejo, from a phone at the restaurant, where he is informed Trejo is being tailed by cops and cannot join their heist. In need of a last-minute, replacement driver, Neil offers Donald a job on the spot.
McCauley follows Charlene, played by Ashley Judd, to this hotel in Burbank.
LOCATION: 3901 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505
Vincent later meets up with Albert at a club to speak with another informant.
LOCATION: 3548 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
The drive-in theater where a deal goes wrong was demolished not long after filming took place. The area has since been redeveloped. This is how it appears now.
LOCATION: 5700 W Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (demolished)
The restaurant where Neil’s crew dines can be found in Santa Monica, near the pier.
LOCATION: 1535 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The motel where Hanna investigates a crime scene linked to Waingro has long since been demolished. A parking lot now stands at the site, but many of the buildings seen in the background still match up.
LOCATION: 944 Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (demolished)
Lauren is sitting on a bus bench in Santa Monica when she sees Hanna passing by in a car.
LOCATION: Hollister Ave / Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
The police car u-turns and picks up Lauren.
McCauley’s crew proceed to take down a metals repository, only to abandon the job midway, after McCauley hears a noise and correctly surmises the police are watching.
LOCATION: Near 1309 Factory Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Vincent stands in this general area after the failed operation.
After realizing the police are on to them, McCauley’s crew considers splitting up at this power station in Torrance. Here is a view of the general area.
LOCATION: 17680 Yukon Ave, Torrance, CA 90504
Neil’s crew stages a fake scout of an industrial area, where they are surveilled by the police, only to discover Neil’s true intent is actually surveilling the LAPD back. Hanna’s crew can be seen exiting down the stairs of this large drum, located in Wilmington.
LOCATION: 841 S La Paloma Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (facing S Fries Ave)
The police stand in this area at Terminal Island in San Pedro, as Hanna realizes they’ve been tricked. The area they stand is just past the fencing of this parking lot. To get here, you travel down New Dock Street. There is a checkpoint to the right for trucks, but if you keep left, the road bypasses the checkpoint for passenger vehicles. You can reach this parking lot, which is as close as you can get to the exact spot. If you plan to visit, we recommend doing so on a weekend, as weekdays the road can be backed up with long lines of trucks arriving to the port.
LOCATION: Near 700 New Dock St, San Pedro, CA 90731 (GPS coordinates: 33°45’18.5″N, 118°15’21.6″W)
You can see this building in the background of the shots.
You can also see the right side of this building, confirming they would have been standing directly to the right beyond the fencing.
Hanna is seen landing in a helicopter in this area, which is actually a church parking lot.
LOCATION: 1430 Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047
Hanna drives down the 110 freeway, connecting to the 105 freeway, in pursuit of McCauley. The express ramp to the left was also where the opening of “La La Land” was filmed. The bus jump from “Speed” was likewise filmed on the same interchange, when it was still under construction.
LOCATION: I-110, Los Angeles, CA 90061 (GPS coordinates 33°55’58.1″N, 118°16’50.6″W)
Hanna is then seen driving down Interstate 105 past these signs, in pursuit of McCauley.
LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’58.2″N, 118°21’32.4″W)
Just slightly further ahead, Hanna pulls McCauley over in this area and invites him for a cup of coffee.
LOCATION: Century Fwy, Inglewood, CA 90304 (GPS coordinates: 33°55’54.7″N, 118°21’44.6″W)
One of the film’s famous scenes is of course the face to face meeting between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The conversation took place at the excellent Kate Mantilini, an institution of Beverly Hills which closed in 2014 after the restaurant could not afford a rental increase by the building owners. We managed to capture some photos from when the place was still open.
LOCATION: 9101 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (now closed)
Above the entrance to the restaurant, this image from the iconic scene was hung.
After meeting Neil, Vincent returns to a hotel where he’s staying, only to discover his step-daughter Lauren has attempted suicide in his bathroom. This was filmed at the Hotel Angeleno, just off the 405 freeway. The hotel was mostly seen from interior views in the film, aside from a shot of Vincent looking down at the freeway from his balcony.
LOCATION: 170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049
The exterior of the famous bank robbery scene is set in downtown Los Angeles at the Citigroup Center. This same location was also featured in such films as “Fight Club,” “To Live And Die In L.A.,” “The Hidden” and more.
LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The bank interiors were filmed at this building, also located in Downtown L.A.
LOCATION: 350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The robbery then spills out onto the streets, in what many consider one of the greatest shootouts ever filmed.
LOCATION: Intersection of W 5th St / S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
McCauley and Chris attempt to escape in the parking lot of a grocery store. At the time of filming, this was just a parking garage, dressed to appear as a grocery store. The entire area has since been redeveloped and a large building now stands in it’s place. However, you can still match up some of the buildings seen in the background.
LOCATION: Near 831 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’45.9″N, 118°15’36.8″W)
Cheritto, played by Tom Sizemore, takes a hostage in this area, which is actually the rooftop of a small parking garage. There is a walking path directly onto the rooftop from 4th St.
LOCATION: 445 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Trejo’s house, much like Eady’s, sits on stilts over a hillside of L.A., where he is discovered by McCauley near the end of the film. It sits on the same small road as Kelso’s house from earlier in the film, which was discovered as a result of finding this home for the film.
LOCATION: 1219 Dodds Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90063
The home of Van Zant, played by William Fichtner, can be found near West Hollywood, not far from Eady’s house. The back area where McCauley approaches is not visible from the street.
LOCATION: 9024 Thrasher Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Nate’s bar was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank. The same location appears in “Memento” and the 1997 film “Touch.”
LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502
Neil talks with Eady as the two look out over the ocean next to this tree. It’s located next to a popular park in Pacific Palisades known as The Point at the Bluffs, which has a beautiful view over the water.
LOCATION: Via de Las Olas, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (GPS coordinates: 34°02’08.0″N, 118°31’53.5″W)
After the robbery, the police try to bait in Chris by setting up a meeting with his wife Charlene. After she tips him off with a subtle gesture (on a patio at 119 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291), he leaves the scene. He’s stopped next to Venice Beach by the police, where he presents false identification and escapes.
LOCATION: Navy St / Speedway, Los Angeles, CA 90405
Thinking Neil is gone for good, Hanna leaves the police station and kicks a TV out of his car onto the street at this intersection. This same intersection has appeared in such films as “Speed” and the 2001 remake of “Ocean’s Eleven.”
LOCATION: W 5th St / S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
The hotel where Neil tracks down Waingo can be found right next to LAX airport, just as depicted in the film. Neil parks in this alley next to the hotel.
LOCATION: 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
McCauley flees from Hanna into LAX airport.
LOCATION: Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045
The final standoff between Hanna and McCauley actually takes place in a field just across the street from the end of the LAX runway. You can see some similar structures still standing there.
LOCATION: Near Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (GPS coordinates: 33°56’21.0″N, 118°22’36.7″W)
Film Oblivion 