You’ve probably seen the Griffith Observatory a thousand times. Even if you’ve never set foot in California, you know that white Art Deco silhouette. It’s where James Dean’s Jim Stark had that knife fight in Rebel Without a Cause, and more recently, where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone basically defied gravity in La La Land.
But here’s the thing: most people just snap a selfie and leave. They miss the fact that the "planetarium" dance was actually shot on a built set because you can’t exactly hang lights from a historical 1930s ceiling.
Los Angeles is basically a giant, living backlot. Honestly, it’s kinda weird how often you’ll be walking down a random street in Downtown LA (DTLA) and realize you’re standing exactly where a T-1000 tried to terminate someone.
The Bradbury Building is more than just Blade Runner bait
If you only visit one interior in the city, make it the Bradbury Building on 3rd and Broadway. It looks like a standard, slightly grimy office building from the outside. Then you walk in.
The light hits those open-cage elevators and the intricate wrought-iron railings, and suddenly you’re in 2019 Los Angeles—the Ridley Scott version. It’s famous for being J.F. Sebastian’s apartment in Blade Runner, but it’s been in everything. 500 Days of Summer used it. The Artist used it. Even Janet Jackson filmed a music video here.
Why it looks so "un-LA"
The building was finished in 1893. Legend has it the architect, George Wyman, took the job after a "spirit writing" session with his dead brother via a planchette. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the Victorian court is undeniably moody.
Pro tip: You can’t go all the way to the top unless you work there, but the ground floor is open to the public. Just don't be that person trying to sneak past the security guards to the upper landings; they've seen every Blade Runner cosplayer in existence.
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Union Station: The most versatile actor in Hollywood
Union Station is often called the "Last of the Great Railway Stations." It’s a mix of Dutch Colonial, Mission Revival, and Art Deco. Basically, it looks expensive.
You’ve seen it as:
- A bank in Dragnet.
- An airport in Catch Me If You Can.
- A police station in Blade Runner.
- A courtroom in The Dark Knight Rises.
It’s an active transit hub, which makes it one of the easiest film locations in Los Angeles to visit. You can literally hop off a Metrolink train and be in a movie set. The waiting room with those massive leather chairs? That’s where the 2021 Oscars were held when the pandemic forced them out of the Dolby Theatre.
The "Normal" houses you didn't know were famous
Not every location is a grand landmark. Some are just... houses.
Take 1711 Bushnell Avenue in South Pasadena. It’s a beautiful street with a heavy canopy of trees. It also happens to be where George McFly lived in Back to the Future. Walk a few doors down to 1727, and you’re at Lorraine Baines’ house.
The neighborhood is so "Anytown, USA" that Michael J. Fox actually filmed Teen Wolf just down the block.
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The Michael Myers House
If you're into horror, you’ve gotta head over to 1000 Mission Street. It’s the original house from John Carpenter’s Halloween. It wasn't originally there, though—it was moved from its original spot to save it from demolition and now sits near the tracks. It’s actually a chiropractic office now, which is sort of hilarious. Imagine getting your neck cracked in the place where Laurie Strode fought for her life.
Why DTLA always looks like New York (but worse)
Filmmakers love Downtown because it has "the canyons." The tall buildings and narrow-ish streets can easily double for Manhattan or Chicago if you frame out the palm trees.
The Dark Knight (the Chicago-filmed one) actually used the Lower Grand Tunnel for that epic semi-truck flip. That tunnel is a favorite for car commercials and gritty chase scenes because the lighting is naturally moody and industrial.
If you go to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, you’ll recognize those glass elevators immediately. Schwarzenegger rode a horse into one in True Lies. In Interstellar, the architecture played a part in the complex, layered visuals. It’s a labyrinth of concrete and glass that feels like a futurist fever dream.
Checking out the "New" Classics
With the 2026 Route 66 Centennial coming up, people are flocking back to the Santa Monica Pier. It’s the official "End of the Trail."
You know it from Forrest Gump (where he finally stops running) and Iron Man. But for a real deep cut, look for the Looff Hippodrome. It houses the carousel that featured prominently in The Sting (1973). It’s one of the few places where the "Old Hollywood" vibe hasn't been completely scrubbed away by modern renovations.
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How to actually see these spots without getting arrested
Look, Los Angeles is a working city. People live in these houses. People work in these buildings.
- Be cool at private residences. Don't walk onto the porch of the Charmed house or the American Horror Story Murder House (Rosenheim Mansion). Use the sidewalk. Residents will call the cops if you linger too long.
- Check the schedules. Places like the Bradbury or the Biltmore Hotel (where Ghostbusters was shot) often have private events. If there’s a wedding in the Crystal Ballroom, you aren't getting in to see where the Slimer chase happened.
- Use the Metro. Traffic in LA is exactly as bad as they say it is. You can hit Union Station, the Bradbury, and the Biltmore all on one Metro line.
Actionable steps for your movie tour
If you want to do this right, don't just wing it.
Start your day at Union Station around 9:00 AM to catch the morning light through the high windows. Grab a coffee and walk ten minutes to the Bradbury Building. From there, it’s a quick hop to the Millennium Biltmore for a peek at the lobby.
If you have a car, spend the afternoon in South Pasadena. It’s quieter, easier to park, and has a higher density of "residential" locations from the 80s and 90s. Finish your day at the Griffith Observatory for sunset. Yes, the parking is $10 an hour and the crowds are insane, but seeing the city lights flicker on from the same spot where James Dean looked out is a rite of passage.
Check the official Los Angeles Film Office (FilmLA) websites for "Current Productions" if you want to see a live set in action, though you’ll likely be stuck behind a barricade. Usually, it's just a bunch of white trucks and guys with headsets holding clipboards, which is the most authentic LA experience of all.