Where was Jackie Brown filmed?
1997
City Locations
Los Angeles, Culver City, Hawthorne, Torrance, Playa Del Rey, Wilmington (USA)
Location Types
Apartment, House, Clubs/Bars, Hotels/Motels
Location Styles
Parking Lot, Federal Building, Beachfront, Beach House
About Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown was released in 1997 and directed and co-written by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Pam Grier in the lead role alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton, and Bridget Fonda. The story follows Jackie Brown, an ageing flight attendant forced to become involved in a smuggling scheme after being arrested for money laundering for an arms dealer named Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson).
The plot of Jackie Brown revolves around a series of events set off by Jackie Brown’s arrest. After being caught with $50,000 by police officer Mark Dargus (Michael Bowen) and ATF agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton), she chooses to cooperate with them to avoid prison time. She then decides to pit both law enforcement agents as well as Ordell against each other in an attempt to keep her freedom intact. This eventually leads to a dramatic climax that sees Jackie outsmart everyone involved and walk away with a large sum of money from Ordell.
This is Quentin Tarantino's adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1995 novel Rum Punch. He directed and wrote it, relocating the story from Miami to LA and changing the protagonist from white to black. Tarantino said that the film had a budget of $12 million and that it was a sure bet.
Upon its release, Jackie Brown achieved critical acclaim and was nominated for Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor (Robert Forster). It also received numerous award nominations from various organizations, including the Berlin Film Festival, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. The film was also included on many critics' top ten films of 1997 lists, including those from Sight & Sound, The New York Times, and Roger Ebert, who gave it four stars out of four.
Jackie Brown Locations
Jackie Brown was primarily shot in the South Bay of Los Angeles, known for its vast beaches and bustling urban areas. It is home to some of the busiest parts of the city, such as Los Angeles International Airport, which appeared throughout the movie as multiple locations.
Other critical areas used to host scenes in this motion picture include downtown Los Angeles, Sam's Hofbrau on East Olympic Boulevard, Cockatoo Inn on Imperial Highway, and Carson Bail Bonds on East Carson Street. The backdrop of these regions ranges from industrial warehouses to beachfront bars and everything in between. These settings capture the essence of what life is like in this part of Southern California, from strip malls to old-school diners.
A trip to these iconic Jackie Brown locations would be a worthwhile experience for movie fans looking for a memorable adventure. From the unique characters featured in this cult classic movie to the beautiful beach views accompanying it, those who take part can expect a unique and exciting journey.
Airport scenes in Jackie Brown
Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
The opening scene of Jackie Brown depicts the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). We see Jackie Brown hurrying through the airport terminal. The opening titles play over the wall tiles of Terminal 3, which are only accessible to passengers and staff. Tarantino revisited the area to film a scene for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood in 2019.
The South Bay area of Los Angeles, located around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), is where most of the locations in the film are located. The airport is also where Jackie is discovered to have money intended for Ordell Robbie, the gun dealer.
You can quickly get to LAX airport by car or public transport. Several nearby freeways, such as I-105 and I-405, provide quick access to the airport. Alternatively, you can take local bus routes to LAX from other California areas. A free shuttle service runs between LAX terminals and various hotels located near the airport.
Ordell and Louis Gara watch TV in the apartment scene in Jackie Brown
6403 Ocean Front Walk, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293, USA
The iconic dialogue between Ordell and Louis Gara at Melanie's apartment in Jackie Brown begins with light and humorous topics as they watch movies. However, the conversation gradually shifts to more serious subjects as they discuss ways to make money. The audience is also introduced to Melanie (Bridget Fonda), who is a woman who lives in a beachfront property in the beach house and enjoys spending time by the water. The scene gives a glimpse into the lifestyle of some of the characters in the movie while also showcasing their different personalities.
The apartment used for filming this scene is located at 6403 Ocean Front Walk, Playa Del Rey. It is a two-story building with a balcony overlooking the ocean. The interior was built as a composite of two different locations that were combined together to create an authentic atmosphere for filming. It is important to note that this location is privately owned, so please respect any residents when visiting the area.
Visitors should take I-405 S heading south from Santa Monica towards Playa Del Rey to reach the location. Expect the journey to take around 20-25 minutes.
Ordell goes to Livingston's apartment scene in Jackie Brown
1030 Lakme Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744, USA
Ordell is concerned that his worker, Beaumont Livingston (Chris Tucker), might collaborate with law enforcement as a means of avoiding prison time following his arrest. To steer clear of any potentially problematic situations, Ordell enlists the services of bail bond agent Max Cherry (Robert Forster), who pays the $10,000 bail. After bailing out Beaumont, he tricks him into getting into the trunk of a stolen car and shoots him that same night.
The apartment mentioned in the film is said to be situated two blocks up from Hollywood Boulevard and Western in Hollywood. However, the apartment used for filming is located at 1030 Lakme Ave, Wilmington, which is not even close to Hollywood. The unit number of Beaumont's apartment in the film is also the same as the real apartment's unit number.
To get to this location, drive along Interstate 110 S from downtown Los Angeles until you reach the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s a journey of about 25 miles to get to your destination.
Jackie at the police station scene in Jackie Brown
Punch Studio, 6025 W Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230, USA
In this scene, Jackie is taken into police custody for allegedly planning to sell drugs. She is being questioned by both Detective Mark Dargus (played by Michael Bowen) and ATF agent Ray Nicolette in a police station. The room is small, sparsely decorated, and has fluorescent lighting. It conveys an air of intimidation and authority that Jackie must face during her interrogation. We see another scene at the police station where Ordell is worried that Jackie might cooperate with the authorities like Livingston did. To prevent this, Ordell decides to arrange for Jackie's bail and plans to kill her as soon as she is released.
During filming, the police station scenes in the movie were shot at a part of the production offices at 6025 W Slauson Avenue in Culver City. The building only appears in the film from interior views. The filmmakers also utilized the building's interior to shoot the scene where Jackie exchanges money inside a department store dressing room.
The site is closed to tourists, but you can still check out its exterior. You can easily get to this location by car or public transport and it's about 4.4 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport.
Cockatoo Inn bar scenes in Jackie Brown
Comfort Inn Cockatoo, 11500 Acacia Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250, USA
Max and Jackie grab a drink at the former Cockatoo Inn in Hawthorne. This iconic scene from the film is set against the backdrop of a run-down dive bar, decorated with vintage signs and neon lights. Later, Louis picks up Ordell from the bar, and Ordell realizes that there is only $40,000 in the bag instead of $50,000. Melanie kept $10,000 for herself, and Ordell suspects that Jackie took his money and kills Louis in a fit of anger.
The original Cockatoo Inn stood at 11500 Acacia Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250. Unfortunately, it closed down shortly before filming took place for Jackie Brown. The property still exists, but it has undergone significant remodeling and no longer resembles its appearance in the film. It has now been rebranded as Comfort Inn Cockatoo.
For those wanting to visit this iconic location from Jackie Brown there are several travel options available. Fans can take I-110 S from downtown Los Angeles by taxi or private car. Bus and Metro are both available for public transportation options.
Money exchange scene in Jackie Brown
Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90503, USA
The money exchange scene takes place in the Billingsley department store in the Del Amo Fashion Center mall. This is an iconic moment in the film, where Jackie attempts to pull off a daring heist. In the scene, Jackie plans to exchange bags with Melanie and Louis to hide the $500,000 from Nicolette. However, instead of giving Melanie all the money, Jackie only gives her $40,000 and leaves the rest in the dressing room for Max to retrieve. Afterwards, Jackie pretends to be upset and leaves the store. She then goes to the mall and calls Nicolette and Dargus (Michael Bowen) out of hiding, claiming Melanie has taken all the money and ran away.
The Del Amo Fashion Center has seen several changes since it was featured in Jackie Brown. The food court where Jackie meets up with Melanie and Louis no longer looks like it did in 1997, while the mall also underwent extensive remodeling in 2006. Nonetheless, visitors familiar with Jackie Brown can still see some of its iconic locations around the Del Amo Fashion Center today.
If you want to visit this location, you can access it by car or public transport. You can use Interstate 110 S from the center of Los Angeles by car. If you're taking public transportation, buses run regularly down Hawthorne Boulevard towards Del Amo Fashion Center with connections all across Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Conclusion
Jackie Brown is a cult classic that is certainly worth watching. It showcases the talents of writer and director Quentin Tarantino, who brilliantly adapts Elmore Leonard’s novel into an engaging movie with gripping characters and dialogue. The cast, led by Pam Grier as Jackie Brown, gives excellent performances that are filled with emotion.
The script for Jackie Brown is incredibly effective in its use of tension and comedic relief to keep viewers engaged throughout the film. Every scene is carefully crafted to further the story while providing plenty of action-packed sequences that make it thrilling to watch. Tarantino's signature style of nonlinear storytelling adds another layer of complexity to the plot; one can truly appreciate his knack for creating a unique experience from start to finish.
And with several filming locations easily accessible in California, it’s well worth visiting them in person.