Coronavirus April 2021 Update: Please note that some information in the posts may have changed and some places may be closed.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

  • Start Here
  • Explore
    • Beaches
    • Bizarre
    • Caves
    • Food
    • Hikes
    • Historical Structures
    • Natural Wonders
    • Waterfalls
  • Drive
    • El Camino Real
    • Highway 395
    • LA to Las Vegas
    • Pacific Coast Highway
    • Route 66
  • National Parks
    • Channel Islands
    • Death Valley
    • Joshua Tree
    • Lassen Volcanic
    • Pinnacles
    • Redwoods
    • Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    • Yosemite
  • Cities
    • Los Angeles
    • Palm Springs
    • Sacramento
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • Resources
    • Day Trip Ideas
    • Road Trip eBooks
    • Hotels
    • My Favorite Travel Products
    • Travel Videos
  • Browse By …
    • Map Of Locations
    • Cities
    • Counties
    • National Parks
    • State Parks

Los Angeles Best Movie Locations

Last Modified: December 14, 2019

103shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Los Angeles is the home of the stars and the birthplace of Hollywood. This urban jungle is a mecca for creativity and also a well-represented set location for many of Hollywood’s biggest movies. While everywhere you look in Los Angeles there are movie locations, I have some of my favorites that I take people to if they want to experience what the town has to offer. Here they are below, and I will be adding more as I explore, feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments, as I want to make this a cool resource for others.

Union Station – Blade Runner, Dark Knight Rises, many more

Interior of Union Station

One of Los Angeles’s most famous places, Union Station, is home to hundreds of Hollywood movies, but none more famous than Blade Runner. If you have seen it, then you know of the office location that Harrison Ford’s character goes to, and if you have seen the inside of Union Station, then it is easy to pick out. One of the other recent movies filmed there was Scarecrow as the judge in the city ruled by Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Whichever movie you prefer, Union Station is a great place to visit and an icon of Los Angeles.

The Bench – 500 Days of Summer

Bench

I love seeing indie movies, so when I first heard about 500 Days of Summer, I was immediately excited to see it. It is a great movie, and one of the iconic scenes from it is the scene where the main character goes to sit on this specific bench and overlook the city. That bench is right in the heart of downtown LA at Angels Knoll, right next to Angels Flight and Grand Central Market. It is closed every night, but if you go during the day, you can walk in and take a picture. The park is currently closed and fenced off. Hopefully it will open again soon.

Bradbury Building – Blade Runner, The Artist, 500 Days of Summer and many more

Bradbury Building 5

Only a couple blocks away from the above bench, this iconic building is home to some of Hollywood’s best scenes. Whether it’s the staircase scene in The Artist or the futuristic world of Blade Runner, the Bradbury Building has seen it all. During the day you can walk the bottom floor of this beautiful building and even if you are not a film buff I would say it’s worth checking out for the history and the architecture alone.

Randy’s Donuts – Mars Attacks, Iron Man and more

Randys donuts with walk up

If you follow my blog, then you know how much I love donuts. This place has been a staple for me for years with its fabulous apple fritters and anything with chocolate. That being said, it is also one of the most famous landmarks in LA. People from all over the world have seen the massive donut that sits atop this small little shack, and if you visit, you will see many people taking pictures and getting excited about it. My favorite scenes with Randy’s are when it is rolling down the street in Mars Attacks and when Iron Man is sitting in the middle enjoying a snack in Iron Man 2.

Old LA Zoo – Anchorman

Picnic tables in LA Zoo

While the Old LA Zoo is just one of the most unique places in LA in general, it is also the location of one of my favorite movies, Anchorman. While the movie was filmed all over LA, the part at the end with the cages and Ron Burgandy jumping in was filmed in this old zoo.

Point Dume – Planet of the Apes

Point dume Rock

While not technically in Los Angeles, this area of Malibu has been filmed so much you could make an entire post out of it. It is easy to see why when you visit Point Dume as it is a fantastic example of the California Coast, that is so close to Los Angeles. The most famous scene filmed right at the base of Point Dume is the broken Statue of Liberty at the end of the original Planet of the Apes. This scene is classic is cinema, and it is a great place to pay a visit for a hike or just to relax on the beach.

Griffith Observatory – Tons of Movies

Griffith Observatory

It is probably easier to say what movies have not been filmed here, but everything from Rebel Without a Cause to Jurassic Park has graced this Los Angeles overlook. While Griffith Observatory is a planetarium the majority of the time that attracts a ton of guests, it does moonlight in the movie industry. From movie buffs to hikers, this area of LA will almost make you forget all of the craziness that happens in the city. It is also a great place to see the Hollywood Sign from or even to start the hike to it yourself.

So there you have it, my list of Hollywood film locations. I would love to hear which ones I missed in the comments if you have a favorite I left off, and make sure to check back often as this post will get updated when I have new ones to add.

Filed Under: Historical Structures, Southern California Tagged With: featured, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County

Interested in supporting this blog?

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love for me. If you have enjoyed the posts consider sharing it with your friends. I want as many people as possible to explore this state and you can help by letting them know about all of the great spots!

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe for the four day welcome series and to get the latest content every month.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About JoshMc

    Thanks for checking out the blog, I am happy to be sharing my adventures with you! You can get to know me by reading my about me, which includes a video and additional information on the site, myself and my full disclosure. Also, follow along on Twitter here or read all of my posts on this blog here.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Josh from California Through My Lens My name is Josh, and for the last 10 years, I have been exploring as much of California as I possibly can. This site is a collection of those adventures to encourage you to get out and explore California for yourself. More about me.

    Popular Posts

    The Big List of Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California
    Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip
    Top Hiking Trails in Southern California
    Fun Stops on the Drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
    24 Things to do in Downtown LA
    17 Things to do in Lake Tahoe
    Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel Hike: Old Abandoned Railroad

    Categories

    Other Resources


    Footer

    Search the site

    Additional Information

    Privacy Policy

    About Us

    Copyright California Through My Lens, LLC © 2021