Where was xXx filmed?
2002
City Locations
Los Angeles, California, Prague, Czech Republic
Location Types
Architectural, American, Apartment, Beach, House, French, Mansions, Modern, NatureScapes, Rustic
Location Styles
Airstream, Americana, Beach House, Beachfront, Bus, Construction, Convertible, Cruiser, Tropical, Factory, Federal Building, Foreign, Helicopter
About xXx
xXx (pronounced triple X) is a 2002 American action flick directed by Rob Cohen and starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Asia Argento, and Marton Csokas in lead roles. xXx is the first installment in the xXx series, with two more movies in 2005 and 2017. Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is an extreme sports person in the film with a penchant for all this thrilling. To further cement this fact, there are special appearances made by Mike Vallely, Tony Hawk, and famous rider Matt Hoffman during the initial action and sports scenes. xXx was made on a budget of $88.3 million. It became a massive hit with a global box office collection of $277.4 million, catapulting xXx as the frontrunner of its hit franchise.
Xander Cage is contacted by NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) and put through a series of tests to determine whether he can go undercover. Since Xander could go to jail for the stunts he pulled before he was contacted, he accepts the tests and the resultant assignment that Gibbons offers him in exchange for wiping his record.
The assignment Xander is given is to get information on Anarchy 99, a terrorist group of Russian origins based in Prague. He meets NSA agent Czech Police Milan Sova (Richy Muller) and manages to sell him out to get into the good books of the leader of Anarchy 99, Yorgi (Marton Csokas). Xander makes inquiries about purchasing high-end cars and stages a mock cop fight, even fake-killing a police officer, to get into Yorgi's inner circle.
However, Xander notices Yelena (Asia Argento), Yorgi's girlfriend getting uncomfortable about the alleged cop murder. Xander then walks in on Yelena, going through Yorgi's vault. He then admits to her that he's a secret agent.
What follows is a game of intrigue, backstabbing, plenty of action scenes, and the eventual victory of good over evil.
xXx Locations
The xXx film scenes are spread out over the US and Prague in the Czech Republic. There is also a scene in the French Polynesian Islands of Bora Bora. The high-paced movie required dynamic locations with quick changes between sets. Considering the film, storyline, and plot twists, the places were Los Angeles and the surrounding area in California, with the intense action sequences with the Anarchy 99 crew filmed in Prague in the Czech Republic.
Other scene-wise filming locations were the famous Foresthill Bridge in the first 10 minutes of the film, where Xander drives the Corvette off, and the abandoned Patanka Brewer in Prague, where Agent Shavers outfits Xander with all the tech goodies.
All the club interiors were filmed on-site at a 150-year-old de-sanctified church in Celna, east of Prague. Of particular interest to some might be the exterior of the police headquarters in Prague is the Schwarzenberský palác (Schwarzenberg Palace) in Prague. Also, the famous stairs that Xander rides down on a silver tray are found between the Hradčanské náměstí and Ke Hradu.
Teaser: Other notable film shoot locations that fans might find interesting would be Anarchy 99's castle, Vranov nad Dyji State Chateau, 671 03 Vranov nad Dyji, in the Znojmo district. The mountains in the movie are added using special effects.
Fun fact:
In the film's first few minutes, a secret agent enters a party with a live band playing on stage. This live band is none other than Rammstein playing in Prague performing their hit number 'Feuer Frei.' Brief scenes in their music video also feature the film extras, but none of the lead actors.
Cage steals the red corvette scene in xXx
Westlake Village, Malibu
Xander Cage, a wild sports professional, steals a red Corvette that belongs to Senator Dick Hotchkiss (Tom Everett), a California State Senator, in protest of some of his conservative policies that seem obsolete. Senator Hotchkiss is racist to Xander when he thinks Xander is a parking attendant. The Senator hands him the keys to the Corvette, saying, "It's about time. Now listen, where are you coming from, Tijuana? I don't mean to be rude. Listen. Keep it out of the sun. I don't want the paint to fade. Do you understand English?"
Xander takes the keys from him, drives off, meets his cohorts, and attaches cameras to the car while the cops chase him. Xander drives around, records the woes against the Senator, and runs the car off a bridge while opening up a parachute and landing safely.
This filming location of xXx is a premier country club in Westlake Village, Malibu, California. Fans of the movie can enter, roam around, grab a drink and a bite, and see the grounds of the club. Getting here is quick if you catch bus number 161 and hop off at Agoura/ Lakeview Canyon. This bus stop is right outside the entrance to the club.
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Xander faces a test scene in xXx
Pann's Café, 6710 La Tijera Boulevard, Baldwin Hills
After the fiasco with the Senator's car getting blown up, Xander is caught by the police, drugged, and placed in a café. When he wakes up, he notices things are a little off. There is a server in heels, a well-dressed stock broker reading The Financial Times on a Sunday morning (the market is closed on Sundays), and a police-issued Beretta, which makes him realize this is a set-up.
After he beats the stockbroker and the man with a gun, he meets Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson). He gives a breakdown of everything Gibbons' people did wrong. Then Gibbons chuckles and tells Xander, "That's good! It was a test, Mr. Cage, that you aced."
This is one of the best scenes in xXx since audiences get a glimpse of the brain behind the bulk. The filming location is Pann's Café, 6710 La Tijera Boulevard in California. Pann's Café still has the vibe and look of a 50s café with red linoleum and glossy seats. Fans should try their coffee and croissants. Getting here is the fastest if you catch bus number 102 and get off at the La Tijera/ Centinela stop. The café is a minute's walk from the bus stop.
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Xander is dropped off in the middle of the nowhere scene in xXx Lake Piru, California
Lake Piru, California
Xander and two other men who also passed the diner test are dropped off amid a 'Columbian' plantation. The men fall violently to the ground as they are ejected from the back of an airplane. Xander is thrilled and announces, "Let's do that again!" Once they take off their safety gear, the men cross a shallow stream and see some people picking leaves. Seeing what they're doing, one of the men says, "Holy sht! This is Columbia! Cocane, man! It's a c*ke plant!" and starts plucking the leaves and stuffing them in his pockets.
In the meantime, all the Spanish-speaking workers flee, notifying the Columbian cartel in charge of the illegal plantation. As the cartel vehicles approach, the other two men run off, leaving Xander alone, who thinks this is just another test and nothing will happen to him. However, when the cartel comes, they hit him on the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.
Of the many xXx action scenes, this one was filmed at Lake Piru, north of Los Angeles, where the drug plantation was built. While the set is now torn down, fans can visit the lake, hike, and make a campfire. Catch CA-126 W and onto Piru Canyon Rd to get to Lake Piru. The lake will be on your right.
Xander moves into his temporary house scene in xXx
Zlata, Czechia
After Xander accepts the new job that Agent Gibbons offers him, Xander is taken to Prague. On the way there, he is driven to his new temporary apartment with two men named Ivan and Ivan. When he enters the apartment, he sees someone waiting there for him. The man tells Xander, "Sit down," and immediately gets into a conversation with the two Ivans. Xander feels something is off, so he asks, "Guys, what's up? I've just been on a plane for 12 hours. I think I'll stand."
The man introduces himself, "My name is Milan Sova, Czech Secret Police. When you are here, you are under my jurisdiction. You take my orders. You do what I say. And if you become any kind of an inconvenience, I'll shoot you." Xander smiles at Milan (Richy Muller), looks around, and says, "That's great. Is this where I'm staying?"
This xXx filming location is just off the narrow street of Zlata in Czechia. The apartment was rented, and the interiors were fixed for the filming duration. However, it is now leased by someone else. Fans can click pictures from below but should respect others' privacy. Getting here is quickest: hopping onto bus number 329 and hopping off at the stop on Zlata.
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Milan takes Xander to a nightclub scene in xXx
U Prasne Brany, Prague
After Milan and Xander meet on the wrong foot, Milan tells Xander to be ready in three hours. He takes Xander to a dubious nightclub in Prague. While entering, Milan tells Xander, "Everybody in this club has two things in common – they're filthy rich and they're criminals." Xander chuckles and says, "I'll fit in perfect." Once they enter, Xander tells Milan, "Remember, we don't know each other." Milan, being obnoxious, says, "I wish we didn't."
Xander walks to the bar and orders a non-alcoholic drink (a cranberry soda), while Milan walks behind him discreetly and starts feeding Xander information. Milan says, "That's them. Anarchy 99. See the guy on the couch in the center? That's Yorgi, he's the leader. He owns this club and five others like it." Before Milan can finish, Xander has left and is walking toward Yorgi (Marton Csokas).
The xXx production team chose the U Prasne Brany in Prague for the nightclub scene. The interiors were fixed for the filming of xXx, and there is no seedy nightclub there in real life. However, fans can take a round, see the place and click some pictures. To get to U Prasne Brany, catch bus number 9, and get off at Jindrisska. From this stop, the building is a 5-minute walk.
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Xander tells Yelena the truth scene in xXx
Francouzska Restaurace, Prague
Xander finds Yelena (Asia Argento), Yorgi's girlfriend, clicking pictures of Yorgi's safe. When she looks stunned and asks him what he's going to do, he smirks, "Now, I'm gonna take you to lunch." He also tells her that the cop he shot isn't dead.
When they get to the restaurant, Xander and Yelena exchange insults till she finally gets upset and asks Xander, "Now tell me about the cop." Xander says, "What would you say if I told you I'm not who you think I am? That I could get you out of the mess you're in?" He then shows her the blood splatter (red paint) dart with real impact but ultimately harmless. When Yelena asks him why, Xander tells her, "I'm a secret agent," and she bursts into laughter.
Out of all the xXx locations, this one is probably the most luxurious. The filming location of this scene is the elegant Francouzska Restaurace in Prague. This French restaurant is patronized by high-ranking officials, politicians, film stars, and the like and is part of the restored Obecni Dum, Námestí Republiky. To get here, hop onto bus number 824535 and hop off at Luhačovice, pošta. The walk to the restaurant is a couple of minutes.
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Conclusion
xXx was the first of its kind, and audiences were thrilled to see Vin Diesel taking on another significant role after Fast and Furious to add to his new macho image. The movie was fast-paced, exciting, and thrilling from the first scene. There's not a single minute in xXx when audiences are bored. Considering this film is the first of its franchise, the bar was set extremely high.
The lead actors, the crew, and the locations all played integral roles in bringing the entire movie together. The places in Prague, Czech Republic were stunning, and the international sites elevated xXx into a mega blockbuster.
The range of locations from the US to Prague and the final scene in Bora Bora can help fans get a 'global' experience as they visit all the areas, click photographs, make notes, and share the xXx experience.