The coastal stretch of Los Angeles is blessed by the extraordinary enchantment that only the immensity of the ocean can provide. The Pacific shows all its boundless energy with vigorous, unrelenting waves bathing the endless shores frequented by swimmers and surfers.
During the day the light reflects off the white ripples of the brackish water and the strong undertow uncovers the sea’s footprints left on the golden sand. Sunset arrives gracefully and unhurriedly, slowly transforming the blue of the sky and sea into ever more intense hues. The night comes alive thanks to the bars and nightclubs that line California’s beaches, or, thanks to the bonfires lit by groups of young romantics on the shore.
PS: If you are interested in city film locations read our itinerary dedicated to Los Angeles city film locations.
Contents
Itinerary map
Filming Locations in Malibu
Among the many coastal restaurants immortalized in the long history of Hollywood cinema is (1) Neptune’s Net, which appeared in 1991’s “Point Break” and, in 2001, in the first of the “The Fast and The Furious” films. This venue, located in the legendary Malibu location at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway, is now an established brand, complete with an in-house shop selling souvenirs for tourists.
Two types of cuisines can be found here: the “Restaurant Side,” which offers fried seafood and bottled drinks to eat in or take-out, or, the “Seafood Side,” which offers the freshest seafood and craft beer on tap for the discerning customer. In the legendary “Point Break,” which chronicles the criminal exploits of a gang of surfers, FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves), tries to infiltrate the California surfing world through the beautiful Tyler Endicott (Lori Petty), who works at Neptune’s Net.
Malibu has become famous in recent decades thanks to its VIP newcomers, who, have had fabulous homes built above its sheer cliffs. Locations north of Los Angeles do not offer wide beaches, but rather numerous coves and cliffs, such as, for example (2) Sequit Point, at Leo Carrillo State Beach, where the opening sequences of the musical “Grease” (1978) were filmed. The main character, Danny Zuko (John Travolta), is filmed in romantic effusions of love in the company of girlfriend Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), before the two coincidentally find themselves at the same school once the vacation is over.
Also at the same beach stretching north of Sequit Point, the nighttime football game from the aforementioned “Point Break” (1991) was filmed. The glaring lights of the off-road vehicles, positioned around the perimeter of the game, allow Johnny Utah to take on surfer king Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) on the field, as in life, because, as Tyler confides to the same detective, “You got the kamikaze look, Johnny. I’ve seen it. Bodhi can smell it a mile away. He’ll take you to the edge. Past it.”
You can also find (3) Sea Cave nearby, a cave in which robbers Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak) and Ray McManus (Stephen Baldwin), attempt to bury the lifeless body of former colleague and friend Fenster (Benicio del Toro). The cave, which appeared in “The Usual Suspects” (1995), is accessible only during low tide hours.
Continuing south, precisely at the point called (4) Arroyo Sequit, the group of surfers from “Point Break” (1991), gather around a magnificent bonfire to discuss the decisive strategy and best course of action for the immediate future..
In the 1998 science fiction film “City Of Angels,” at each sunrise, (5) at Nicholas Canyon Beach, a beautiful beach surrounded by high mountains, a host of angels gather on the beach to greet the day as it begins. Even Seth (Nicholas Cage), cherubic guardian of the beautiful Dr. Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan), does not shy away from the contemplative celestial tradition; however, as his friend Nathaniel Messinger (Dennis Franz) reveals to the doctor himself, “Seth knows no fear..no pain…no hunger.He hears music in the sunrise.But he’d give it all up. He loves you that much.”
As recounted in “The Doors” (1991), a biopic about Jim Morrison and his band, in its early days, the group of musicians would shelter in a house on a Malibu beach to compose their legendary pieces. The (6) beach house where some sequences were filmed is located at 30708 Pacific Coast Highway. It is here that, the group’s keyboardist and organist Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan), runs out of the house joyfully announcing to the other band members that he has finally found the perfect introduction to the song that, more than any other, will go down in history: “Light my Fire.”
Among the many TV Series produced in America and exported halfway around the world, “Baywatch” (1989 – 2001), is surely the one most in theme with the ocean-California pairing. The series, inspired by the activities of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, was filmed between the beaches of Malibu and Venice Beach. All of us have seen at least once in our lives one of the many icons of the series, such as, for example, the legendary beach guard towers, the red life jacket always at hand, the curvy blond Californian beauties or the yellow jeeps used to patrol the coast.
The first season was filmed almost entirely on the sands of (7) Zuma Beach, one of Malibu’s most extensive and spacious beaches. Here, even today, one finds oneself catapulted inside the television set, and, a photo shoot, perhaps perched on the entrance to one of the many numbered turrets, becomes a must.
In “Lethal Weapon 4” (1998), the now solid couple consisting of Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Lorna Cole (Rene Russo), are found strolling along the shore of (8) Paradise Cove Beach, a magnificent beach also equipped with sunshades and sunbeds that can be rented from the Paradise Cove Beach Café. In the elegant bar/restaurant, delicious cocktails are served in addition to crispy calamari and tasty shrimp tacos to enjoy in front of the ocean.
Our tips on where to stay in Malibu
Filming Locations in Santa Monica and Venice
Leaving the resort of Malibu and continuing along the coast in a southerly direction, one encounters the self-contained city of Santa Monica, part of the large urban agglomeration of Los Angeles. The popular resort town, enjoys a beautiful fine sandy beach and a waterfront shaded by typical California palm trees where pedestrians, cyclists and skaters pass by in a never-ending stream.
The main attraction of the place is undoubtedly (9) Santa Monica Pier, a sturdy pier on which numerous restaurants, bars and a small but atmospheric Luna Park stand. In addition to representing the end of the legendary Route 66, this place has been the scene of numerous film shoots in the movie world. Perhaps the most iconic image is the one associated with Robert Zemeckis’ masterpiece, “Forrest Gump” (1994). Running from one coast of the United States to the other, the eponymous protagonist, played by the amazing Tom Hanks, on reaching the end of the pier, thus running out of land under his feet, turns around and thinks to himself, “Since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going.”
Heading further south, Venice Beach, too has appeared in numerous films, including, for example, “American Gigolo” (1980), “Grease” (1978), “Playing it Cool” (2014) and “Speed” (1994), as well as numerous clips from the aforementioned TV series “Baywatch.” This area, however, is not only frequented by those who wish to bask in the sun and take a swim in the cool waters, but, also by numerous sportsmen and women, practicing various disciplines; from jogging to bodybuilding, yoga, free gymnastics and skating in the reserved area of the skatepark, which was opened in 2009.
There are also the (10) Basketball Courts, at 1708-1798 Ocean Front Walk, on which talented youngsters enjoy exciting games. The courts are bordered by a concrete wall, embossed with the words, “Venice Beach Recreation Center.” The court is often filmed in the drama film “American History X” (1998), in which, even the film’s protagonists compete at hoops with other rival gangs, where, basketball is merely a pretext for asserting their respective racial superiority.
Venice also has its own pier, (11) Venice Fishing Pier. Compared to the nearby Santa Monica Pier, it is much emptier, and is used almost solely by recreational fishermen. This location represents the vibrant terminus of the day of violence and madness manifested by the protagonist of the thriller “Falling Down” (1993), played by the always charismatic Michael Douglas.
Staying in Venice, but moving slightly inland, to 607 Venice Avenue, we find the housing complex where the protagonist of the mythical “The Big Lebowski” (1998) lives. The (12) “Dude” House, is embedded in a complex of small, now cream-colored townhouses. Except for the prime location a stone’s throw from the beach, these bungalows certainly do not compare to the many luxury villas scattered here and there along the coast, therefore even the detail of a carefully placed rug in the living room, “(…) really.. Tied the room together!”
Going as far as No. 13000 Venice Boulevard, we come to (13) Venice High School, among whose classrooms, courtyards and sports fields the stormy and hilarious school year of the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies was recounted in the cult movie “Grease” (1978). In the school, one can find the outdoor cafeteria where students eat lunch and the bleachers from which Danny Zuko and his cronies perplexingly watch the other kids perform, to their way of thinking sports activities as being useless and bumptious.
In addition to the famous musical, the school’s facade also appears in the film “American History X” (1993), because teenager Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong), attends Venice High School itself.
The brilliant sports comedy “Jerry Maguire” (1996), was also made mainly around Los Angeles. After being fired from his previous sports proxy agency, the film’s eponymous protagonist, played by Tom Cruise, sets up his own business and rents a space in order to continue his profession. Jerry’s(14) office overlooks Marina del Rey Beach, at 3811 Ocean Front Walk, south of Venice Beach. Cute and spunky Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger), the female lead in the successful film, lives with her older sister and her cute little son not far from the coast. Dorothy’s (15) cottage is located in Manhattan Beach at 527 23rd Street.
Filming Locations in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is also a popular tourist location in lower California. On (16) Manhattan Beach Pier, also in “Point Break” (1991), Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) buys his first board in the fictitious surf store ideally located where the octagonal structure of the Roundhouse Marine Aquarium has been for many years. In the comedy “Starsky & Hutch” (2004), Starsky (Ben Stiller) is filmed stretching on the beach below the same pier.
Manhattan Beach is also home to the mansion that, after high school, Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) and David Silver (Brian Austin Green) shared in the popular TV Show “Beverly Hills, 90210” that aired from 1990 to 1999. The charming and very elegant (17) Beach House is located at 3500 The Strand, right on the boardwalk that connects Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach.
The worldwide success “La La Land” (2016), filmed entirely in Los Angeles, celebrated the coastal stretch of Hermosa Beach in particular. In the now-famous jazz club (18) The Lighthouse Cafe, protagonist Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling), used to play the piano while sharing the stage with other performers. The club began offering jazz music to the public on May 29, 1949, and was a success. Thus, in the years to come, great musicians such as Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Miles Davis performed on this legendary stage.
One evening, leaving the venue, Sebastian went to the nearby (19) Hermosa Beach Pier, a simple pier that, especially at sunset, can provide real joy. Inspired by the city lights in the distance, the protagonist hints at one of the musical’s central motifs, “City Of Stars,” the opening of which reads, “City of stars, are you shining just for me? City of stars, there’s so much that I can’t see. Who knows? Is this the start of something wonderful and new? Or one more dream that I cannot make true?”
Look for accommodation in the area
Coastal Locations South of Los Angeles
On the headland that divides Los Angeles from Long Beach, the coast becomes very rugged and rocky. In the small inlet of (20) Terranea Beach, it is easy to recognize the rocks near which Detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) set up the RV in which he lives with his dog, in the 1989 sequel to the “Lethal Weapon” saga.
In the brilliant comedy “(500) Days of Summer” (2009), the wedding reception party of a mutual colleague of protagonists Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Sole (Zooey Deschanel) was held at (21) Point Fermin Lighthouse, . Despite their recent and still searing separation, the two are forced to spend a few hours in each other’s company..
In the nearby, forbidding scenic spot known as (22) Sunken City, the legendary, brilliant and hilarious scene of the scattering of poor Donny’s (Steve Buscemi) ashes by close friends, Jeffrey Lebowski, aka “Drugo” (Jeff Bridges) and Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), in the comedy “The Big Lebowski” (1998) took place. The area has long been marked as a “No Trespassing” spot and has long been frequented by junkies and teenagers ready to ruin the rocks that make up the fascinating natural cliffs with their useless tags . Violators face very, very steep fines.
The last film in the review is Bryan Singer’s aforementioned crime masterpiece “The Usual Suspects” (1995). On the California trip to place the diamonds stolen in the first robbery carried out together, the gang of notorious New York criminals meets the fence at the (23) Korean Friendship Bell, a massive bronze bell housed in a stone pavilion and located at 3601 South Gaffey Street in the San Pedro neighborhood.
The memorial is located on the hillside section of Angel’s Gate Park, and, from this vantage point, there is an exceptional view of the ocean. The film is narrated entirely in flashback by the protagonist Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey). The criminal survivor finds himself forced to report in detail the events that occurred to the zealous detective David Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) at the San Pedro police station, aka the (24) San Pedro Municipal Building, located at 638 South Beacon Street.
The customs officer is also obsessed with the figure of the evil and unreachable Keyser Söze, and is convinced that the whole affair, which ended in explosions and fires in the San Pedro harbor, was concocted by the most ruthless and legendary criminal around; but as Verbal confides, “The Greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
