Where was The Longest Yard filmed?
2005
City Locations
Santa Fe (USA), Torrance (USA), Long Beach (USA)
Location Types
College, Unusual
Location Styles
Federal Building, Beachfront
About The Longest Yard
The Longest Yard is a classic sports comedy film directed by Peter Segal, starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. The story follows Paul "Wrecking" Crewe (Sandler), a former professional football player who is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
In exchange for an early release, Crewe is forced to lead a rag–tag team of inmates in a game against the guards. As things heat up between the rival teams, the intensity rises as they both fight for victory. The movie also features James Cromwell, Nelly, William Fichtner, and Burt Reynolds from the original 1974 version of the film.
All in all, The Longest Yard proves that even those who have committed crimes can find redemption through sports. With its mix of humor and intense competition, it has become a beloved classic among sports fans across the globe while reminding us all that friendship comes before rivalry any day of the week!
The movie was well-received upon its release and earned over $190 million at the box office worldwide. It won numerous awards including the 2005 Best Ensemble Cast Teen Choice Awards and 2005 Favorite Motion Picture Comedy People’s Choice Awards.
The Longest Yard Locations
The 2005 American sports-comedy film The Longest Yard was filmed in a variety of different locations. The majority of the scenes in this movie were shot primarily at the New Mexico State Penitentiary on Route 14, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Murdock Stadium at El Camino College in Torrance, California. Other scenes were filmed in Long Beach, California.
The backdrop of these regions provides a diverse range of landscapes that produce exciting and creative visuals for this iconic movie. The vast desert and mountainous terrain of Santa Fe become an excellent location to frame some intense action sequences from the film. The historical backdrop of El Camino College's Murdock Stadium serves as the main setting for the climactic football game which is played between prison inmates and guards. In addition to these two primary shooting locations, Long Beach was also utilized to film other exterior scenes throughout the movie.
A trip to any one of these locations would be worthwhile for fans who want to get an up-close look at where their favorite movie scenes were shot. From experiencing Santa Fe's majestic mountains to standing inside El Camino College's iconic stadium, all three regions have become major points of interest for fans all around the world.
Fun Facts:
Some of the actors actually trained with real college football players before filming! This allowed them to play more realistically and make sure their athletic performances were believable. For example, when Adam Sandler threw his first pass on set during filming it was caught by Chad Pennington who later went on to become an NFL quarterback!
The car chase scene in The Longest Yard
Long Beach, California, USA
After being accused of point shaving, ex-NFL quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) gets federal probation for five years, although the accusation was never substantiated. During a party, Paul gets inebriated and takes his girlfriend Lena's (Courteney Cox) Bentley for a spin around San Diego, leading to a police chase and a high-speed car collision. As a result, his probation is annulled, and he receives a three-year sentence behind bars.
Positioned in Southern California and just 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is a coastal city that's home to a population of over 460,000 people. The city is renowned for its stunning beaches, bustling cultural events, and diverse community. Noteworthy is the historic Queen Mary ocean liner, which has been permanently docked in the harbor since 1967 and serves as a major landmark of the city.
By car, several major freeways, including the I-405, the I-710, and the I-605, can get you to Long Beach. If you are driving from Los Angeles, take the 405 South and exit at Long Beach Blvd. From there, it's a straight shot to downtown Long Beach.
Amtrak and Metrolink provide train service to Long Beach from various locations throughout Southern California, with connections to major cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.
Forming the team scene in The Longest Yard
New Mexico State Penitentiary, 4311 NM-14, Santa Fe, NM 87504, United States
The inmate caretaker (Chris Rock) becomes friends with Crewe and assists him in organizing tryouts for a football team. However, due to Crewe's notoriety, most of the players who come out are unskilled. Nate Scarborough (Burt Reynolds), a former college football star, catches wind of the team formation and offers to coach them. Nate gets several inmates, with violent backgrounds, to join the team as revenge against the abusive prison guards.
New Mexico State Penitentiary is a maximum-security prison located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The facility was first opened in 1956 and has undergone several expansions to accommodate the growing inmate population. One of the darkest chapters in the history of New Mexico State Penitentiary occurred in 1980 when a violent riot broke out, resulting in the deaths of 33 inmates and the injury of over 200 others. The riot lasted for several days and was sparked by overcrowding, poor conditions, and mistreatment of inmates by the guards.
From downtown Santa Fe, take the I-25 South towards Albuquerque. Take exit 276B towards NM-599 N and merge onto it. Take the exit for NM-14 N towards Madrid/Cerrillos and continue on NM-14 N for about 11 miles. The destination will be on your left.
The final game scene in The Longest Yard
Murdock Stadium and Featherstone Field, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90506, United States
At the start of the second half, Crewe intentionally loses the game and leaves his teammates behind, despite their efforts to catch up. The Guards gain a two-touchdown lead against the Mean Machines and start brutally injuring the inmates. This prompts Crewe to return to the field.
At first, the inmates refuse to help, resulting in him getting sacked twice. However, on a critical fourth down and long play, Crewe manages to complete a first down by himself.
Located on the El Camino College campus in Torrance, California, Murdock Stadium and Featherstone Field are two sports venues that have a rich history of hosting successful athletic events. The multi-purpose Murdock stadium is home to the El Camino Warriors football team and has undergone several renovations since its opening in 1949. Moreover, apart from sports events, both venues have also hosted concerts and other entertainment events over the years.
If you are driving from downtown Los Angeles, take the I-110 South towards San Pedro. Take exit 9 for Redondo Beach Blvd and turn right onto W Redondo Beach Blvd. Continue on this road for about 1.5 miles and then turn left onto Crenshaw Blvd. Drive for approximately 3 miles and the destination will be on your right.
Conclusion
The Longest Yard is a prison movie filmed across various locations in the United States, including Santa Fe, New Mexico's State Penitentiary. Some of the other locations that provided a backdrop to the comedy movie include Murdock Stadium at El Camino College in Torrance, California, and Long Beach.
The performances in this film are strong, especially Adam Sandler’s delivery as Paul Crewe. Aided by his celebrity pals such as Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds, the comedy-drama gives us an exciting endgame that truly captures the inmates’ courage and determination against all odds.
Overall The Longest Yard is a great sports movie with strong performances from its cast members that have been well-received by fans worldwide since its release in 2005. A range of authentic locations provided an excellent backdrop for one of the most inspiring stories ever told on screen, proving that no matter how formidable our adversaries may be we can overcome them when we work together as a team.