LA’s Most-Filmed Locations: A Quick Tour You Can Actually Walk

Los Angeles is still the center of on-location filming. No other American city comes close. The mix of neighborhoods, architecture, and steady light has turned Los Angeles into more than a backdrop. The city itself has become part of the story.

When people imagine Los Angeles on screen, they often think of the Hollywood Sign, the Walk of Fame, or the skyline at night. Those images are famous, but they are not the ones that do most of the work. The real film locations are smaller. They are tunnels, bridges, streets, and intersections that appear so often they are almost characters themselves.

A single shot of the 2nd Street Tunnel or the L.A. River is enough for audiences to know where the scene is set. A study by American Home Shield, using IMDb data, found that Hollywood Boulevard is the most-filmed street in the United States. It ranks ahead of Park Avenue in New York and Market Street in San Francisco (American Home Shield).

Hollywood Boulevard is the most obvious example, but it is not the only one. Other blocks get booked repeatedly because they provide something directors want. Some look futuristic. Some look gritty. Others are so tied to Los Angeles that they cannot be mistaken for anywhere else.

Using IMDb data, permit records from FilmLA, reporting from the Los Angeles Times, and site-specific histories from tourism and culture outlets, it is possible to identify the city’s most-filmed blocks. Together, they show how Los Angeles continues to function as the film capital of the world.

How the List Was Built

There is no single public record of the most-filmed blocks in Los Angeles. Permits are issued for productions, but they do not easily break down to specific segments of streets. To build a credible list, multiple sources were needed.

The American Home Shield study was the starting point. Researchers geocoded thousands of IMDb filming locations to streets and intersections. This allowed them to rank streets nationwide. Hollywood Boulevard came out at number one.

To narrow down to specific blocks, we defined a block as a street segment with a distinct and repeatable look. That might be a tunnel with a curve, a bridge with a skyline view, or a building with recognizable architecture. The important part is that filmmakers use it again and again because it provides a look they cannot easily replicate elsewhere.

Other sources confirmed popularity. FilmLA tracks permit activity, which the Los Angeles Times reports on. Discover Los Angeles, Google Arts & Culture, and Wikipedia provide film histories for specific sites. By combining these references, we can outline Los Angeles’ most reliable film backdrops.

2nd Street Tunnel (Downtown Los Angeles, Figueroa to Hill)

The 2nd Street Tunnel is one of the most filmed structures in the city, even if most people don’t know it by name.

The tunnel runs under Bunker Hill between Figueroa and Hill Streets. Its walls are covered in white tile. Evenly spaced overhead lights create a glowing corridor. On screen, it looks futuristic, clean, and controlled.

Commercials have used the tunnel for decades. Car ads love it because the plain background makes vehicles stand out. Science fiction films use it as a futuristic setting. Action movies like it for chase scenes, because the curve and the repeating lights create movement and rhythm.

Its credits include Blade Runner, The Terminator, Kill Bill, and Transformers. Wikipedia  maintains a long list of appearances that cut across decades and genres. The Los Angeles Times once described it as “the most recognizable city landmark most Americans have never heard of”.

The tunnel works for practical reasons too. It sits inside the 30-Mile Studio Zone. It is close to downtown staging areas. It can be closed with fewer disruptions than a major street. Looks and logistics together make it one of the most booked blocks in Los Angeles.

6th Street Viaduct (Arts District to Boyle Heights)

The 6th Street Viaduct is another structure tied deeply to film history. The original bridge opened in 1932. Its arches framed the skyline and made it a favorite for chase scenes, standoffs, and sweeping shots.

The old viaduct appeared in Grease, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Drive, and many more. In 2014, FilmLA data reported by the Los Angeles Times showed it was the third most-filmed location in the city, logging 86 production days in that year alone.

Structural problems forced the bridge to be demolished in 2016. For a few years, Los Angeles lost one of its most filmed landmarks. But in 2022, the replacement bridge opened. Called the “Ribbon of Light,” it features dramatic arches and wide walkways. NBC Los Angeles wrote that “Hollywood got its favorite location back,” showing how important the spot was to the industry.

The new bridge has already been used in films, commercials, and music videos. It provides grandeur with its arches, while the underpasses and surrounding Arts District streets add industrial grit. The combination makes it one of the most versatile filming locations in Los Angeles.

Lower Grand Avenue Underpass (Downtown Los Angeles, 4th to 5th)

Lower Grand Avenue is a multi-level roadway that runs beneath downtown. The lower section is framed by concrete beams and deep shadows. The look is stark and dramatic.

The underpass has appeared in The Dark Knight,The Terminator, The Soloist, and many commercials. Google Arts & Culture notes its frequent use, pointing to its architecture and shadow patterns as reasons filmmakers return.

The design creates instant depth. Shots filmed here feel larger and more intense. Student filmmakers use it because it looks cinematic without requiring a large budget. Professional crews like it because it is simple to light and control. The space has little pedestrian traffic, making closures easier than on surface streets.

Los Angeles River at the 4th to 7th Street Bridges

The Los Angeles River is one of the city’s most iconic film settings. Its wide concrete channel has been in use for generations.

The river is best known for chase scenes. The truck and dirt bike sequence in TTerminator 2: Judgment Day is probably the most famous. But the river has also appeared in Grease, Chinatown, and The Italian Job.

The Los Angeles Times  has chronicled its long history on screen. FilmLA has called it one of the most iconic filming locations in the world.

The practical advantages are clear. The channel is wide and open, giving space for cars, cranes, and stunts. At the same time, it is close to downtown. For directors, it offers a visual signal that says “Los Angeles” immediately.

Hollywood Boulevard (Highland to Vine)

Hollywood Boulevard is not just a street. It is a symbol of Los Angeles and the film industry itself. The stretch between Highland and Vine is especially dense with landmarks. The TCL Chinese Theatre. The Dolby Theatre. Sidewalks lined with stars.

American Home Shield study identified it as the most-filmed street in the country. The result is not surprising. Few locations communicate “Hollywood” as clearly or as quickly.

It has appeared in Pretty Woman, La La Land, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and many others. Reality shows, news reports, and documentaries use it constantly. The neon, the crowds, and the performers create a chaotic energy that directors do not have to manufacture.

Filming here is not easy. The street is crowded day and night. Closures are disruptive. But productions return because filming here captures something that cannot be staged anywhere else.

Broadway at 3rd: Bradbury Building Block

The Bradbury Building is one of the most distinctive film sites in Los Angeles. Built in 1893, it looks like a typical office building from the outside. Inside, it reveals one of the most striking interiors in the city.

The atrium rises five stories. Natural light pours in. Iron railings and open staircases line the floors. Vintage elevators rise through the center. The look is both historic and futuristic.

The Bradbury has appeared in Blade Runner, (500) Days of Summer, The Artist, and Chinatown. Discover Los Angeles and Wikipedia both document its long history as a film location.

It works because it can play different roles. In Blade Runner, it was dystopian and bleak. In (500) Days of Summer, it was romantic. That flexibility is why directors keep coming back.

Union Station (Alameda and Cesar E. Chávez)

Union Station is the largest train station in the western United States. It opened in 1939 and combines Spanish Colonial Revival and Streamline Moderne design.

The grand waiting room is its most filmed feature. Wooden benches, chandeliers, and tall windows make it visually rich and adaptable. Directors have used it in Blade Runner, Catch Me If You Can, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Soloist.

Los Angeles Magazine has highlighted its deep film history. IMDb-based studies also rank it among the most-filmed buildings in the country.

Crews like it because it offers space for extras and equipment while also delivering timeless architecture. It is also inside the 30-Mile Studio Zone, which keeps productions within standard working limits.

Sunset Boulevard (Hollywood to Beverly Hills)

Sunset Boulevard is one of the most filmed streets in Los Angeles. The road stretches across the city, but the segment between Hollywood and Beverly Hills is the most popular.

The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood is lined with neon signs and billboards. It has been used for nightlife scenes since the 1960s. The Beverly Hills stretch looks very different, with palm-lined boulevards and luxury storefronts.

The American Home Shield study ranked Sunset Boulevard as the fifth most-filmed street in the United States.

It has appeared in Sunset Boulevard, Almost Famous, Collateral, and The Big Lebowski. Directors value it because it offers multiple looks in one street, from gritty rock-and-roll nightlife to polished wealth.

Grand Avenue Cultural Core (Disney Hall and MOCA)

Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles has become a modern filming hub. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, dominates the area with its reflective steel curves. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and nearby plazas add sharp, modern edges.

The Los Angeles Times has written about the frequency of filming in the area. Its look is futuristic and does not require set construction.

Commercials, fashion shoots, and science fiction films all use Grand Avenue. The combination of reflective steel and modern plazas gives it the feel of a city of the future.

Why These Blocks Work

The blocks on this list succeed for the same two reasons. They look distinct, and they are practical to film.

Each location has a clear identity. The 2nd Street Tunnel looks futuristic. The L.A. River looks raw and industrial. Hollywood Boulevard is instantly recognizable. Viewers know they are in Los Angeles without any explanation.

Each location also works logistically. Most are inside the 30-Mile Studio Zone, which keeps productions within union rules and budgets (Source: California Film Commission). Tunnels, underpasses, and riverbeds can be closed and controlled. FilmLA streamlines the permitting process, which makes planning easier.

That mix of strong visuals and practical convenience is why these spots show up on screen again and again.

Living on a Filmed Block

Living on a famous filming block has benefits and drawbacks.

On the positive side, there is pride in being connected to film history. Some property owners earn location fees when their buildings are used. Frequent filming is also a sign that the area is well kept and in demand.

On the negative side, filming can disrupt daily routines. Closures, bright lights, and late-night shoots can be difficult. Parking may be blocked, and access may be limited.

FilmLA runs a community section on its website to help residents stay informed. It posts notices about upcoming shoots and explains the process for residents.

Final Thoughts

The most-filmed blocks in Los Angeles are not always the ones tourists expect. They are tunnels, bridges, boulevards, and stations that combine visual power with practical advantages.

They appear again and again because they signal Los Angeles in a single frame. For filmmakers, they are tools. For viewers, they are cues. For residents, they are both a source of pride and a reminder that in Los Angeles, the line between real life and film set is always thin.

The city itself remains part of the story.