Discover Premium San Diego Film Locations for Your Next Production

About San Diego

The 70 miles of beach in San Diego make it an attractive destination for water enthusiasts, surfers, families, and vacationers. That is just one reward that the city of 1.4 million residents offers locals and guests.

The city is in Southern California on Mexico’s border with Mexico, and the San Diego Harbor is the home base for members of the U.S. Navy and Marines.

As a filming location, San Diego has been home to movies like the Marilyn Monroe movie, “Some Like it Hot,” which was filmed in the Hotel del Coronado in downtown San Diego.

If you need boats in the background for your next award-winning film setting, try Harbor Island or Rancho Bernardo Inn.

The original “Top Gun,” starring Tom Cruise as well as the more recent release of “Top Gun: Maverick” was filmed in the town. You can visit filming locations like the Victorian Top Gun house on Oceanside Drive that Kelly McGillis’ character lived in and the Kansas City Barbecue restaurant, where Goose sang “Great Balls of Fire.”

Other famous films with San Diego scenes include the Orson Wells movie “Citizen Kane,” filmed in Balboa Park, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” with Will Ferrell, and “Freaky Friday,” starring Jodie Foster (watch for scenes shot at Mission Bay). “Almost Famous” was also filmed in multiple San Diego locations too and “Veronica Mars” was shot within the county boundaries.

Bottom line: Filmmakers love San Diego! Many Hollywood films have been filmed in San Diego's iconic locations creating some cult classic film history.

The city of San Diego has a lot of movie locations but is also a vibrant economic center for the state as well, with many businesses located here. Young professionals, retirees, and university students all call the city home, while tourism remains a steady influence too. Cultural opportunities are plentiful – from museums to art galleries and theater.

Filming Options in San Diego

Professionals have long sought filming locations in San Diego for the upscale architecture, the San Diego lights, popular neighborhoods like Ocean Beach, the famed Newport Avenue, and proximity to resources and production support.

The catering, furniture and equipment rental, and transportation infrastructure within the city help support the vibrant filming industry and one-time projects present in the city.

Catering

Catering companies in San Diego have worked with many filming projects in the past, from “Top Gun” to “Killer Tomatoes” and aren't fazed by Hollywood fame. Tell them what you need, and you’ll have plenty of food for the cast and crew.

Furniture Rentals

Set furniture rentals can help you build the perfect San Diego film setting. Furniture rental companies in San Diego have every type of furniture you could want, and some also offer production equipment rentals for lighting, cameras, or lenses.

Transportation

Since we have not perfected Dorothy’s “click your heels three times'' technique yet, you’ll still need transportation in San Diego. Public transport options include buses and trolleys, and private transportation options include car rentals, rideshares, and luxury car and limo services.

Filming Companies in San Diego

These filming companies in San Diego consistently impress with their service, attention to detail, and ability to meet the unique demands of the various projects they’re working on. Each has unique attributes that will help make your filming a success.

Bekker’s Catering

California cuisine? Check. Greek food? Check. Jamaican? Check. Mexican fiesta? Check. Bekker’s Catering does it all, and awesomely at that. The biggest problem we have is in limiting our choices when we go through the menu. There are a variety of ways to work with them too, from a-la-carte to full service.

Lounge Appeal

Disney, the Oscars, Mercedes-Benz, and Red Bull all use Lounge Appeal. We are fans too. Their collections and packages do the heavy lifting for you (literally and figuratively) by combining different products. Or you can pick and choose what you need from their extensive rental catalog, with everything from ottomans to pillows.

Gold Coast Town Car Services

Gold Coast Town Car Services has private transportation options in San Diego and Kona, Hawaii (you will need to handle the logistics of traveling between these two locations on your own!). Their drivers are professional and approachable and have handled everyone from Jim Carrey to Catherine Zeta Jones. The service is timely, safe, and comfortable so you can enjoy the ride.

Pros and Cons of Filming Locations in San Diego

We love this place and so do actors like Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, and Tony Curtis. So, we pulled together a list of the pros and cons of filming in San Diego to help give you a clearer picture of what it is like to film in downtown San Diego.

Advantages

• Access
  Getting here is not a problem. It is easy to access San Diego because of its transportation infrastructure and proximity to other locations. There are also plenty of private transportation options to help you access different parts of the city and explore once you are here.
  
  
• Natural beauty
  It is hard to beat the ocean views of San Diego (you might even think you are in Florida) or the other parks and open spaces in this beautiful place. San Diego is a nature lover’s dream, and Instagram users will note that no filter is needed.
  
  
• Restaurant scene
  San Diego restaurants are diverse; hungry cast and crew will find every type of cuisine imaginable and there are some incredibly talented chefs for your special events. One thing is certain – you will eat well while you are filming in San Diego.

Disadvantages

• Cost
  Ah, all those advantages do come at a cost, and most projects find that they need to increase their budget when filming in San Diego. The extra expense is worth it though, you will have superior space in a perfect place and a fantastic time in the bargain!
  
  
• Limited transportation
  The public transportation options in San Diego are not as abundant as those you will find in cities of comparable size. Most people rely on private transportation to move about. The secondary problem with this is the increased traffic you will find in most places.
  
  
• Homelessness
  The stark contrast between the haves and have-nots in San Diego is perhaps easiest seen through the large homeless population in the city.

Famous Filming Locations in San Diego

Japanese Friendship Garden

The Japanese Friendship Garden is located in Balboa Park and shares the friendship that San Diego expresses with her sister city, Yokohama.

The garden is a 12-acre botanical garden and shares the serenity and simplicity of Japanese culture while also offering walking paths, koi ponds, and stone arrangements. There are classes and educational displays as well.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

The name alone is enough to make most people want to visit, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is indeed a great place for beautiful sunsets.

There are two aspects to the park, the linear section, and the hillside section. You can enjoy arches, sea caves, coastal bluffs, and of course, stunning views of the Pacific Ocean with aerial shots from a drone.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park invites visitors to step back in time and experience the city as it was from 1821 to 1872.

There are Mexican pueblo and American settlements in the park as well as a museum with a variety of historical activities. Make sure you visit the first San Diego courthouse from the 1800s and the 1870 Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant.