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Top Filming locations in Los Angeles, CA

SuperHost
Pre-Lit RGB Cyc/Warehouse Studio in Eagle Rock
  • $99/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (52)
  • 52
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Multi-Creative Colorful Set Studios in Los Angeles
  • $70/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (12)
  • 12
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a day
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Turnkey Studio in LA Pre-lit Sound Stage & Cyc
  • $120/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (22)
  • 22
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Burbank, CA
SuperHost
Bullet Hole Set
  • $150/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (5)
  • 5
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
PRE LIT CYC Wall studio in North Hollywood
  • $75/hr
  • New
  • 4.9 (42)
  • 42
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Music Video & Commercial Studio with amenity rooms
  • $133/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (23)
  • 23
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Burbank, CA
SuperHost
Affordable Film/Video Multi-Standing Sets
  • $90/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (262)
  • 262
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Los Angeles Top Mini Film Tv & Photography Studio.
  • $45/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (48)
  • 48
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
Photo / film studio in a DTLA Penthouse Loft
  • $75/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (61)
  • 61
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • Los Angeles, CA
SuperHost
503: Natural Light Cyc Wall Studio + FREE LIGHTING
  • $33/hr
  • New
  • 4.9 (86)
  • 86
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • Los Angeles, CA

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Frequently Asked Questions about Filming venues

Do I need my own production or event insurance in Los Angeles?
Yes. All renters are required to carry Comprehensive Liability and Property Damage insurance with liability coverage of no less than $1,000,000.
What protection plans are available for bookings in Los Angeles on Giggster?
Giggster offers Damage Protection coverage that you can add to a booking at checkout. Learn more about Giggster's Damage Protection coverage.
What types of locations can I book in Los Angeles?
You can choose from 42 types! Just search for locations in Los Angeles at giggster.com, then click 'Filters' to look for something specific.
How many Filming locations are available in Los Angeles?
Right now, there are 3169 Filming locations available in Los Angeles.
What payment methods does Giggster accept for Los Angeles bookings?
You can pay for your booking with a credit card, or with ACH or wire transfer for bookings over $4k.
What is the cancellation policy for Los Angeles guests on Giggster?
Refund options vary, based on when the booking is canceled. Learn more about Giggster's cancellation and refund policy.
What are the cleaning and safety policies for Los Angeles locations on Giggster?
Now more than ever, your health and safety is our number one priority. We've outlined specific health and safety requirements for both hosts and guests. Learn more about Giggster's COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures.
What locations available near Los Angeles?
You'll find up to 42 different types of locations in Los Angeles. Just start a search at giggster.com and narrow things down with the 'Filter' option.
Is there an extra cost to add more attendees to my Los Angeles booking?
Yes. Pricing tiers are based on group size. For example, if you booked a space for a group of 1-5 for $30/hr, the price per person is $6/hr. Each additional person would increase the rate by $6/hr.
How much are average location rentals in Los Angeles?
Rental rates vary with the type and features of the location, but the average rate in Los Angeles is $152 per hour.
Why should I choose Giggster over other platforms offering rentals in Los Angeles?
Giggster's got your back — and we know our stuff. Our Customer Support team is knowledgeable and accessible, we offer white glove Select service to help you find the perfect location, and we're experts on the unique needs of production teams.
What is the price range for Filming locations in Los Angeles, CA?
Booking prices vary with the property type, features, and rental length, but generally a 1-hour booking will be in the range of $33 to $450.
Which Filming locations are most popular in Los Angeles, CA in 2024?
How do I book a Los Angeles location on Giggster?
When you find the right venue, you can connect with the host to get additional info and work out the details. Once everything is all set, you can book and pay for the location in a couple of clicks. Learn more about booking locations.
How do I cancel a Los Angeles reservation request?
You can contact our team to request a cancellation. Learn more about our cancellation policy.

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Find Filming locations in Los Angeles, CA

About Los Angeles

Renowned as an international film and entertainment industry hub, Los Angeles in California is a city that needs no introduction. It’s the home of Hollywood, which has drawn aspiring actors, directors, and crews for decades in search of fame and fortune, as well as some of the most iconic film venues on the big screen.

From the Griffith Observatory in La La Land to the USC campus which served as a backdrop in Forrest Gump and Legally Blonde and Union Station that appeared in countless films and series, there are flickers of the film industry around every corner for aspiring filmmakers.

Los Angeles has the perfect locations for shooting anything from beach scenes in Santa Monica to forest scenes in Griffith Park. The city can deliver whether you want a location like Planet of the Apes or something out of Iron Man!

Production Location Options in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles area abounds with iconic filming locations, ranging from private homes to purpose-built studios and standing sets, as well as publicly accessible movie locations that tick all the right boxes.

  • Homes

L.A. is renowned for its diversity of architectural styles, with everything from Mission Revival to Mid-Century Modern and Chateauesque represented in its energized streets. Filming in Los Angeles allows you to find homes and residences that reflect the period in history you are recreating or the design aesthetic you desire. You can find fairytale storybook homes, Spanish Colonial villas, and leafy ranches just a stone’s throw from Downtown LA.

  • Film Studios

If you’re after a purpose-built studio, the city has no shortage of options with everything you need to do the job. Wrap-around black curtains, lighting grids, and soundproofing come standard in a motion picture studio, as do staging/production areas, private dressing rooms, and kitchens.

  • Hotels and Motels

Looking to film a pink motel or Beverly Hills hotel scene in Los Angeles? Plenty of choices cater to all budgets and styles, ranging from ’70s motel parking lots to high-end hotel suites in downtown LA and places like Ennis House, Pacific Design Center, Hamilton House, Gamble House, and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. You can take advantage of the establishment’s swimming pool, chandelier-lit lobby, and stunning views across the City of Angles.

  • Churches

You can find churches to suit your filming needs, from whitewashed Mission-style churches to vintage parish halls. Some are working houses of worship in downtown LA that come “as-is,” while others have been revamped to offer a clean and timeless canvas that can be styled to suit your historical requirements.

  • Standing Sets

Whether you need a standard office set, a hospital patient room, or a low-lit bar in Century City, Los Angeles boasts an incredible choice of standing sets ready to go. There’s no need to worry about getting shooting permits, managing crowds, or being restricted by the days or times you’re allowed to film. Step into a realistic airplane cabin, utilize a customizable subway station or get your legal scenes shot in a paired-back courtroom.

Production Companies in Los Angeles

While Los Angeles is synonymous with Hollywood, it’s also home to a large number of production companies. They’re responsible for many of the shoots that take place in the city, including content for some of the world’s biggest brands, celebrity names and probably your favorite movies!

  • Indigenous Productions

With Emmy and Webby awards under their belt, this LA-based film production company has been in the industry since 2011. They’ve worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, creating visually-immersive films for Red Bull, Subaru, and fashion designer, Rachel Zoe.

  • Fluid

Run by just two individuals, Nina Leidersdorff and Alonso Mayo; Fluid produces everything from commercials to documentaries and feature films. They’ve worked on introductory videos for UCLA and The Story of Luke, an award-winning feature film that follows the life of a young man with autism.

  • Optimist Inc.

Based in Los Angeles and with offices in London and Prague, Optimist Inc.’s work includes visual interpretations of Sekou Andrews’ Grammy-nominated collaboration with the String Theory Orchestra, “Love Says,” and they partnered with Uber Eats to deliver a series of culinary-based experiences at SXSW 2019.

Pros and Cons of Filming in Los Angeles

While the advantages of filming in downtown Los Angeles outweigh the disadvantages for most content creators, there are a few things you should be aware of before taking the plunge.

Advantages

  • It’s a thriving scene as a popular filming location.
    There are few places in the world with such an energized film industry as Los Angeles. Look at how many movies have been shot here: Blade Runner, Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Grease, and Back to the Future.

  • Diversity of filming locations for movies and TV series.
    Whether you’re after an Art Deco mansion, a seemingly deserted ranch, a ready-to-go airplane cabin, the Los Angeles Times building, or maybe an authentic Chinatown, Mulholland Drive, Greystone Mansion, or a street in Pasadena, you’ll find the filming location you desire in Los Angeles.
  • Recognizable landmarks for photo shoots
    Los Angeles is filled with locations that will set your film production right in the middle of LA if that's your goal. Consider iconic locations featured in several films, like Hollywood Boulevard, Westwood Village, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Grand Central Market, Venice High School, and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel for a famous scene or photo shoot.
  • Easy-to-find production companies
    As the main hub of the United States’ film industry, Los Angeles abounds with experienced production companies who can meet your needs whether you want to shoot a TV show that beats Buffy the Vampire Slayer or a hit like Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, a music video at the county arboretum with Lady Gaga, or the next Pulp Fiction type blockbuster with Bradley Cooper.

  • An abundance of aspiring actors
    Los Angeles lures aspiring actors from across the United States and beyond, waiting to be the next star on anything from television shows to becoming the latest Ghostbuster, Dark Knight, or Beverly Hills Cop. You will find the usual suspects at all theater auditions and more ready to wow you with their talent. If you are a producer needing local talent, you could also publish an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times.
  • Experienced crew
    When filming in Los Angeles, you have some of the world’s most talented crew members at your disposal, as well as hard-working, up-and-coming individuals or even the next rebel without a cause!

Disadvantages

  • High costs of living
    Los Angeles is expensive when it comes to living, with housing 127% higher than the national average and groceries 12% higher. Areas around City Hall, Century City, the Bradbury Building, and Echo Park are more expensive than others.

  • High costs of location fees
    Compared to many other cities in the United States, you’ll have to fork out more fees for memorable locations and may be restricted by dates and times due to the high demand. Popular filming locations like Union Station, downtown LA, the Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Park, or the Millennium Biltmore Hotel could be more expensive than others like Venice Beach, Elm Street, the Bradbury Building, Hancock Park, or the Santa Monica Mountains.

  • Difficult to shoot season changes/inclement weather
    With over 180 sunny days each year, finding a day with “bad” weather to shoot non-summer scenes can be challenging. However, shooting ”500 days of summer” is much easier!

  • High permit fees
    Permit fees can be extremely costly when shooting in some movie locations in downtown LA or City Hall, so it’s important to check these when scouting.

  • Locals can be wary of movies being filmed in their neighborhood
    With so many films shot in Los Angeles, locals don’t always welcome film crews with open arms when they arrive in their neighborhood. Please be respectful; you don‘t want them to go all Dark Knight Rises or Blade Runner on you. It is best to put out a post in the Los Angeles Times letting locals know the shooting timings and durations to avoid issues later.

Famous Locations in Los Angeles, California

Remember the junkyard in Pulp Fiction? It was shot in Sun Valley. Or perhaps the Vista Theatre on Sunset Boulevard that appeared in Get Shorty and Cafe Society? The Victorian-style Heritage Square Museum was a backdrop in Saving Mr. Banks, while the Last Bookstore made its mark in David Fincher’s Gone Girl.

Not only are locations in Los Angeles overflowing with famous venues like Malibu, Hollywood, Downtown LA, Leo Carrillo State Beach, and Sunset Boulevard, but the city is also home to sites that are inextricably linked to the film industry.

Think of the Hollywood Sign, El Capitan Theater, Pantages Theatre, Fox Plaza, Greek Theatre, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as the spot where the Oscars’ red carpet is laid down each year.

Filming in Los Angeles means having the perfect location, being immersed in the industry, and finding inspiration around every corner. Film fans can walk across the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, opt to see the open air museum, stroll the second street tunnel, and grab a bite at Randy’s Donuts.

Film students and producers should look at some off-beat locations in Los Angeles, like Elysian Park, Sanctuary Adventist Church, Greystone Mansion, Haunted Hill, Shrine Auditorium, the Aero Theater, and the Cicada Restaurant for filming.

Producers and filmmakers should consider Los Angeles’s many beautiful natural vistas like the Pacific Ocean, LA County, the lush greenery of Beverly Hills, and more to bring their ideas and stories to life.



The city of Los Angeles
Canva

10 iconic filming locations in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is flooded with sites that have appeared in movies, TV shows, and even music videos. Some locations have been used numerous times, while other locales are memorable for a single acclaimed scene.

Giggster researched L.A. filming locations and highlighted 10 places across the city from famous films that you can visit—complete with address—on a cinematic pilgrimage.

Filmmakers sometimes use particular sites that have a range and can be used during any period, such as the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Some film locations, such as the John Sowden House, are used for their aesthetic appeal. In the case of the Sowden House, detailed fixtures such as an ornate fireplace and sculptured concrete walls lent an air of historical authority to Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator.”

Sometimes a particular LA location may be set decorated to represent a location in another state or even another country if it’s more affordable for the filmmaker to go this route. Whatever the reasoning is, for the storyteller all that matters is securing the ideal film location.

Santa Monica Pier
ESB Professional // Shutterstock

Multiple movies at Santa Monica Pier

- Location: 200 Santa Monica Pier

The iconic Santa Monica Pier, one of California’s most popular piers, opened to the public in September 1909. It took 16 months to build the pier, which is now known for its amusement park (Pacific Park) that houses a solar-powered landmark Ferris wheel, which opened in 1996, and fishing remains a recreational favorite for many who visit.

The pier provides filmmakers with ocean views, sandy beaches, and a boardwalk—so it makes sense why this landmark location has been the backdrop for countless films, commercials, and other productions.

The pier appears in “Beverly Hills Cop III” in a scene where backup officers investigate a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot on the West End of Colorado Avenue. And in the Oscar-winning 1994 film “Forrest Gump,” the pier appears in a scene after Gump takes off running “for no particular reason” and runs straight to the ocean.

The runway at Van Nuys airport
trekandshoot // Shutterstock

The ‘Casablanca’ airport

- Location: Van Nuys Airport, 6590 Hayvenhurst Ave.

Van Nuys Airport, located in the San Fernando Valley, was built in the 1920s by a group of Californians who formed a corporation. From the 1930s, Van Nuys became a popular location for filming; the airport’s owners were quite welcoming to filmmakers, as it proved to be profitable for the airport. Most of the 1942 romantic drama “Casablanca” was shot at a soundstage in Burbank, but the hangar used in the scene where Capt. Strasser (Conrad Veidt) arrives was filmed at Van Nuys Airport.

Over the years, the hangar has gone through many changes, having moved to another location, and even being destroyed and then replaced. During WWII, the U.S. government used the airfield as a military installation, and in the 1950s, the California Air National Guard built new facilities; the airport didn’t actually gain its present name until 1957.

Other productions filmed at Van Nuys Airport include the 1999 John Travolta film, “The General’s Daughter” and Michael Bay’s 2001 historic drama “Pearl Harbor.”

The entrance o Pacific Design Center
Alex Millauer // Shutterstock

Theodore’s apartment lobby and the airplane art installation from ‘Her’

- Location: Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave.

The Pacific Design Center opened in 1975, establishing West Hollywood as a design district. The center serves as a meeting space for creatives for screenings, lectures, special events, and yes—even as a filming location.

In the 2013 Spike Jonze film, “Her,” there is a scene where Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) stops to marvel at an airplane installation at the Pacific Design Center, portrayed as an art plaza in the flick.

A majority of the filming for “Her” took place over the summer of 2012, with most scenes shot in LA.

The Sowden House designed by Lloyd Wright
John M. Heller // Getty Images

Ava Gardner’s house in ‘The Aviator’

- Location: John Sowden House, 5121 Franklin Ave.

The John Sowden house, designed by architect Lloyd Wright, is a 6,000-square-foot mansion situated on a busy street that runs through the heart of LA. The home encompasses Mayan and Aztec design features and commands attention due to its unique exterior and visible location. John Sowden, the original owner of the residence, was a painter and photographer and only lived at the house for a few years. He asked his friend Lloyd to design the house.

The seven-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion gained popularity in the 1940s as it’s believed to be the site of the real-life alleged murder of Elizabeth Short and other victims in the Black Dahlia case.

The home was famously used as a shooting location to depict Ava Gardner’s (played by Kate Beckinsale) home in the 2004 film, “The Aviator.” Other productions that have been filmed at the residence include the 1998 TV movie “Brave New World,” and the 2012 film “Ruby Sparks.”

The Grand Olympic Auditorium
George Wilhel // Getty Images

Multiple movies at Grand Olympic Auditorium

- Location: 1801 S. Grand Ave.

This Grand Olympic Auditorium was built in the 1920s, and throughout the 1930s and 1940s was home to some of the biggest headlining events in sports such as boxing, wrestling, and roller derby.

The indoor arena was used in the fight scenes for 1976’s “Rocky.” Several other films have used the Grand Olympic Auditorium as a shooting location, among them Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” and “Million Dollar Baby.” It was also the location of Elvis Presley’s last live concert. The venue, which over the years became known as the “Madison Square Garden of the West,” is now a Korean American church called Glory Church of Jesus Christ.

Aerial view of Elysian Park
Emma_Griffiths // Shutterstock

Sarah Connor’s apocalyptic nightmare park in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’

- Location: Elysian Park, 929 Academy Rd.

Elysian Park is LA’s oldest public park. It is the second largest park in the city after Griffith Park. While it is well known to Angelinos as a favorable recreation location, Elysian Park was also one of the filming locations for the 1991 movie “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”

In the film, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) has a recurring nightmare about judgment day, and the scenes from the nightmare, in which atomic fallout destroys the cityscape, took place at Elysian Park.

Venice High School
Raul Bal // Shutterstock

Multiple movies at Venice High School

- Location: Venice High School, 13000 Venice Blvd.

Venice High School is renowned for being used as the location for Rydell High School in the 1978 film, “Grease.” Filming for “Grease” began the summer of 1977 with opening scenes showing excited students on their first day of school walking across the campus and a shot of the Myrna Loy statue. The statue, sculpted in the 1920s, has become a landmark for Venice High.

A couple of the movie’s most well-known musical numbers were also filmed at Venice High—Rizzo’s (Stockard Channing) ballad “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” which takes place along the school’s outside corridor, and “Summer Nights,” where the school’s bleachers and outdoor cafeteria were used. The bleachers and cafeteria locations look entirely different today due to renovations that have taken place over the years.

Other films that have used Venice High School as a filming location include crime drama “American History X,” serial slasher flick “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” and “Matchstick Men,” the 2003 Nicolas Cage comedy directed by Ridley Scott.

The architecture of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
The Image Party // Shutterstock

Multiple movies at The Millennium Biltmore Hotel

- Location: 506 S. Grand Ave.

When it opened in 1923, the Millennium Biltmore was called the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel. Its ornately embellished design featuring gilded moldings and marble columns has made it a go-to filming location for several movies and TV shows.

The hotel’s location—situated minutes away from the Walt Disney Concert Hall on foot and just a quick cab ride away from Dodger Stadium—and its popularity for notable film projects also helped to establish downtown LA as a vibrant entertainment hub.

For the 1982 film, “Rocky III,” the hotel’s ballroom was transformed into a boxing ring for the scene where Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) prepares for his big fight. In the 1984 action-comedy, “Beverly Hills Cop,” Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is in the hotel lobby and attempts to check-in, claiming he is a reporter for Rolling Stone. Later the hotel’s exterior can be seen as Foley attempts to evade the cops trailing him by sending a room service order to their squad car. And if that isn’t enough, the famous Slimer scene from “Ghostbusters” was filmed at the Biltmore.

Most recently, in season two of the Netflix period romance series “Bridgerton,” the Queen’s Ball was filmed in the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom.

A blurred-out diner
Baimieng // Shutterstock

The ‘Reservoir Dogs’ diner

- Location: Pat & Lorraine’s Coffee Shop, 4720 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Pat & Lorraine’s Coffee Shop, a cozy diner that serves breakfast and lunch, has been open since the 1970s.

In the opening scene of Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 film, “Reservoir Dogs,” Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Brown (Tarantino), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), and the rest of the heist crew engage in a discussion about tipping and the nature of the lyrics in Madonna’s “Like A Virgin.”

This diner also happens to hold a special memory for director Tarantino. It was the first film location he ever used, and he chose the diner because it was more affordable to film there—and it was located kitty-corner from the warehouse where a bulk of the film’s runtime takes place.

Griffith Park Observatory
Canva

Griffith Observatory

- Location: 2800 E. Observatory Rd.

Since the Griffith Observatory opened in the 1930s, it has become one of LA’s most popular public locations. The Observatory and Park were inspired by Welsh-born American, Griffith J. Griffith, a former reporter and mining adviser.

The Observatory has a long history with Hollywood; its iconic status can be traced to 1955’s “Rebel Without a Cause,” where James Dean both engages in a knife fight at its rear lookout and at the film’s close returns to try to rescue a disturbed Sal Mineo from harming himself. It can also be seen in the 2003 film, “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” where the modern angels (Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu) find out that the villain, Madison Lee (Demi Moore), was a former angel.

In the 1991 flick “The Rocketeer,” a night scene at the observatory features a faceoff between the Rocketeer against a pack of Nazi villains. The location can also be seen as a backdrop in 2007’s “Transformers” and appeared in the 2016 film “La La Land,” starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.