Top 13 Movies Filmed in San Diego, California, USA by US Box Office 

Spread the love!

Lights, Camera, San Diego! Explore the Filming Locations of Your Favorite Movies

Lights, camera, action! San Diego, California isn’t just a sun-kissed paradise of sandy beaches and perfect weather. It’s also a playground for Hollywood filmmakers, with a long list of movies that have been shot right here in this vibrant city.

So, if you’re a movie buff in need of an adventure or just looking to shake off the boredom, get ready to dive into a world of lights, camera, and legendary filming locations. Grab your popcorn and let’s roll!

Key Takeaways:

  • San Diego isn’t just famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes; it’s also a hot spot for movie magic.
  • Exploring the filming locations of your favorite movies in San Diego adds a new dimension to your travel experience.
  • Discovering these iconic spots allows you to step into the shoes of your favorite actors and feel like a star for a day.

Imagine strolling along the streets where your favorite actors once stood, or reliving unforgettable movie scenes in real life. Visiting movie filming locations not only gives you a chance to see famous spots up close, but it also lets you feel the magic that unfolded on the silver screen.

It’s like stepping into your favorite movie and becoming a part of the action. You might even catch yourself reenacting your favorite scenes, though we can’t promise a standing ovation from the locals!

But wait, there’s more! Exploring movie filming locations is not just about chasing the fame and reliving movie moments. It’s also an opportunity to discover hidden gems and lesser-known spots in San Diego.

Filmmakers often choose locations that capture the true essence of a place, showcasing its beauty, culture, and unique character. So while you’re snapping selfies at these iconic movie spots, don’t forget to take a look around and soak in the city’s rich history and vibrant atmosphere. Who knows what hidden treasures you might stumble upon?

Lights, camera, adventure awaits! Pack your bags, bring your sense of adventure, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the movie magic of San Diego.

Whether you’re a history buff exploring the filming locations of “Top Gun” or a comedy lover reliving the hilarity of “Anchorman,” this city has something for everyone. From breathtaking beaches to bustling downtown areas, San Diego offers a wide range of filming locations that will transport you into the world of your favorite movies.

So get out there, explore, and let San Diego be your personal movie set. Discover the places that inspired your favorite filmmakers, and uncover the secrets behind the scenes.

The next time you watch one of these movies, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for the magic that happens in San Diego. Lights, camera, adventure awaits!

And if you’re ready to dive in, check out our listicle below to discover the movies filmed right here in the vibrant city of San Diego. Lights, camera, chase your movie dreams!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- US Box Office: USD$402,111,870

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro

Release Date: June 24, 2009 

Filming Locations: Luxor, Egypt; Petra, Jordan; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA

Main Plot: During Sam Vicky’s college week, the Decepticons caused trouble in Shanghai. The Presidential Envoy thought it was because the Autobots were nearby; he wanted them to go. He was wrong: the Decepticons needed to enter Sam’s brain to see some of the signs imprinted there. It will lead them to a fragile object. And when placed inside an alien machine hidden for centuries in Egypt, it would give the fans the power of the sun. Sam, his girlfriend Mikaela Banes, and Sam’s parents are in danger. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are Sam’s main protectors. What will happen to Sam if one of them falls?

Famous quotes:

Optimus Prime: “You picked the wrong planet! Give me your FACE!”

Optimus Prime: “I rise… you FALL!”

Sam Witwicky: “Bee, if you hate me, I understand. I messed up. I’m sorry.”

Bumblebee: “[through his radio] “You are the person I care for most in my life, and if there is anything you need, I won’t be far away.”

Jetfire: “Tell me, is that robot civil war still going on? Who’s winning?”

Sam Witwicky: “The Decepticons.”

Sequel: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Fun facts about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen:

  • The college scenes were shot at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. Neither school is mentioned in the film, however, as both schools felt Judy Witwicky’s scenes were detrimental to their image.
  •  Special effects supervisor John Frazier took seven months to install, longer than it took to shoot the entire film. The bomb entered the Guinness Book of Records. It was the largest bomb ever detonated with actors nearby.

Transformers – US Box Office: USD$319,246,193

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor, John Turturro, Jon Voight

Release Date: July 3, 2007 

Filming Locations: Michigan Central Depot – W. Vernor and W. Michigan Avenues, Detroit, Michigan, USA; Hoover Dam, Arizona-Nevada Border, USA; 2182 W 24th St, Los Angeles, California, USA; Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA; Rialto, California, USA

Main Plot: After convincing his teacher to give him a chance, Sam Witwicky gets his first car, a vintage Camaro. One day, Sam’s car drives to an old junkyard, where it transforms into Autobot Bumblebee to protect him. Meanwhile, a Decepticon attacks an American military base in Qatar. He attempts to steal some data but is interrupted by the base commander cutting through all the hard lines on the server. Only a handful of soldiers survive and are brought in for debriefing. The Autobots land on Earth and explain to Sam about Allspark, an object with the power to create worlds and fill them with life. Sam finds his great-great-grandfather’s glasses imprinted with the position of the cube. If Autobot and Decepticon fight for the Allspark, who will bring the source unlimited power?

Famous quotes:

Optimus Prime: “With the All Spark gone, we cannot return life to our planet. And fate has yielded its reward: a new world to call home. We live among its people, hiding in plain sight but watching over them secretly, waiting, protecting.”

Optimus Prime: “I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there’s more to them than meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime, sending this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting.”

Optimus Prime: “Before time began, there was the Cube. We do not know where it comes from, only that it holds power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony. But like all great power, some wanted it for good, others for evil. And so began the war.”

Optimus Prime: “A war that ravaged our planet until it was consumed by death, and the Cube was lost to the far reaches of space. We scattered across the galaxy, hoping to find it and rebuild our home. Searching every star, every world. And just when all hope seemed lost, the message of a discovery drew us to an unknown planet called… Earth.”

Optimus Prime: “But we were already too late.”

Sequel: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Fun fact about Transformers:

  • The effect used in the movie was achieved by blowing the lead under the sand for the scene where the scorpion emerges from the sand at the soldiers’ heels. The explosions would be very close and dangerous for the actors in the background. So, before filming the scene, Michael Bay told the actors to keep running no matter what, or they could be seriously injured or, worse, killed. As a result, the look of terror on the faces of the actors fleeing the Vaults in this scene is 100% real.

Bruce Almighty – US Box Office: USD$242,829,261

Director: Tom Shadyac

Main Cast: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Bell, Steve Carell, Evan Baxter, Philip Baker Hall, Lisa Ann Walter

Release Date: May 23, 2003 

Filming Locations: San Diego, California, USA; Torrance High School – 2200 W. Carson Street, Torrance, California, USA; Brownstone Street, Backlot, Universal Studios – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA; New York Street, Backlot, Universal Studios – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA; Niagara Falls, New York, USA

Main Plot: Tired of clichés, New York television reporter Bruce Nolan dreams of becoming the station’s news anchor. But he loses the job to his egocentric rival, Evan Baxter. Bruce was so disillusioned and humiliated by his miserable life.  He was so furious that the Almighty God announced it was time for him to vacation. He put the mortal Bruce in charge, even encouraging him to spend an entire week in his shoes. Now, the hateful almighty Bruce tests his immeasurable powers and causes an overnight sensation. He suddenly realizes that authority and responsibility go hand in hand. Will Bruce stop playing God and consider the terrible consequences of his actions?

Famous quotes:

God: “Parting your soup is not a miracle, Bruce. It’s a magic trick. A single mom working two jobs and still finding time to take her kid to soccer practice is a miracle.”

God: “A teenager who says “no” to drugs and “yes” to an education, that’s a miracle. People want me to do everything for them. But what they don’t realize is THEY have the power. You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle.”

Bruce: “[breaking out of a freeze] Hi, Susan!”

Grace: “Oh, thank you, God.”

Bruce: “Bruce Nolan, aboard the Maid of the Mist in fabulous Niagara Falls, New York. First off, let me add another congratulation to Evan Backstabber – pardon me, Bastard. Baxter, rather. It is good to see what someone with real talent can do when great opportunities are given to them instead of me. Anyway, I’m here with Katherine Hepburn’s mom. Why did you toss the ocean jewel’s blue heart over the Titanic’s railing? Did you feel bad letting Leo DiCaprio drown while you were safe floating on the big door? Could you have taken turns, or were you just too afraid to freeze your big fat ass off?”

Sequel: The Mask

Fun facts about Bruce Almighty:

  • Instead of using the usual 555 prefixes in movies and television, the phone number used by God (Morgan Freeman) was a real phone number in several US area codes, resulting in the owners of that phone number being bombarded with calls.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – US Box Office: USD$241,071,802

Director: Rob Marshall

Main Cast: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Claflin, Kevin R. McNally, Stephen Graham

Release Date: May 20, 2011

Filming Locations: Kilauea Falls, Kilauea, Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA; Fajardo, Puerto Rico; Haleiwa, O’ahu, Hawaii, USA; St Ives, Cornwall, England, UK; Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, England, UK

Main Plot: In London, Captain Jack Sparrow flees the soldiers pursuing him and discovers that a fraudster is using his name to hire a crew and a ship. When he encounters the impostor, he finds that she is Angelica, a woman he had enchanted at a convent in Seville. When Jack is kidnapped, he wakes up on board the ship while it is sailing. Angelica informs him that his father, the pirate Blackbeard, is cursed. They must locate the fabled Fountain of Youth of Ponce de Leon to survive. They make Jack, who is aware of the fountain’s location, lead them. King George appointed Captain Hector Barbossa to command the British sailors in their conflict with the Spaniards and Blackbeard.

Famous quotes:

Jack Sparrow: “You know the feeling you get when standing in a high place, the sudden urge to jump.”

Jack Sparrow: “I don’t have it.”

Angelica: “[Jack turns to leave] Wait! I am with child… yours.”

Jack Sparrow: “I don’t recall that we ever had.”

Angelica: “You were drunk.”

Jack Sparrow: “I’ve never been that drunk.”

Sequel: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Fun fact about Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides:

  • Penélope Cruz was pregnant during production, but this was only noticed in September 2010. When Penélope’s baby bump grew, it caused wardrobe problems, so the producers enlisted the help of Cruz’s younger sister, Mónica. According to reports, Penélope filmed the close-up shots, while Mónica doubled for her in the long-distance scenes.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park – US Box Office: USD$229,086,679

Director: Steven Spielberg

Main Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Ian Malcolm, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Roland Tembo,  Arliss Howard, Richard Attenborough, John Hammond, Vince Vaughn, Vanessa Chester,  Kelly Curtis 

Release Date: May 23, 1997 

Filming Locations: Redwoods National Forest, California, USA; Queensland, Australia; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Newhall, California, USA; Na Pali Coast, Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA

Main Plot: John Hammond puts together a team to visit and record the region before InGen uses it. This is in response to the apparent public discovery of the “Site B” production island full of dinosaurs. Dr. Ian Malcolm and Dr. Sarah Harding, his girlfriend, are part of the four-person team. After arriving there, the squad quickly learns that another group of individuals is on the island. However, this new squad is not there to collect biological data; rather, they have evil-minded intentions. Both groups are left stranded after all of their communication equipment is lost due to a sequence of incidents. As both parties flee for their lives, horror starts to set in.

Famous quotes:

Roland Tembo: “Rex just fed so that he won’t be hunting for a while.”

Dr. Ian Malcolm: “Just fed? I assume you’re talking about Eddie? You might show a little more respect. The man saved our lives by giving his.”

Roland Tembo: “Then his troubles are over. My point is predators don’t hunt when they’re not hungry.”

Nick Van Owen: “No, only humans do.”

Roland Tembo: “Oh, you’re breaking our hearts! Saddle up; let’s get this moveable feast underway!”

John Hammond: “Don’t worry, I’m not making the same mistakes again.”

Dr. Ian Malcolm: “No, you’re making all new ones.”

Sequel: Jurassic Park III

Fun facts about The Lost World: Jurassic Park:

  • The two T-Rex models each weighed nine tons. Due to their weight, the crew built sets around them instead of moving them on settings.
  • The vocalizations of the juvenile tyrannosaur came from a baby camel crying for its mother.

Pearl Harbor – US Box Office: USD$198,542,554

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Ben Affleck, Rafe McCawley, Josh Hartnett, Danny Walker, Kate Beckinsale, Evelyn Stewart, Cuba Gooding Jr, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Colm Feore

Release Date: May 25, 2001 

Filming Locations: Badminton House, Gloucestershire, England, UK; Corpus Christi, Texas, USA; Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, O’ahu, Hawaii, USA; Linda Vista Hospital – 610 S. St. Louis Street, Los Angeles, California, USA; Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Main Plot: Best pals Rafe and Danny are both pilots. Rafe and Danny enlist in the Army Air Corps after America decides not to participate in World War II when it breaks out in Europe. Rafe develops feelings for a nurse named Evelyn, but he seizes the chance to enlist in the British Air Corps. Shortly after departing, he is reported dead after being shot down. After hearing this terrible news, Danny and Evelyn, stationed in Pearl Harbor, lean on one another. However, Rafe reappears out of nowhere, and when he learns about them, he freaks out and chases after Danny. However, Pearl Harbor is unexpectedly attacked, and they shoot some of the assailants’ planes down.

Famous quotes:

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle: “There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”

Admiral Yamamoto: “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant.”

Rafe: “Danny, you can’t die. You can’t die. Do you know why? Because you’re gonna be a father. You’re gonna be a daddy. I wasn’t supposed to tell you. You’re gonna be a father.”

Danny: “No, you are.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States Of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and Air Forces of the Empire of Japan. Planning the attack began many weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American military forces. I regret to tell you that over three thousand American lives have been lost. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory. Because of this unprovoked, dastardly attack by Japan, I ask that the congress declare a state of War.”

Sequel: Black Hawk Down; The Patriot

Fun fact about Pearl Harbor:

  • The scene of the Japanese plane attacking the hospital caused outrage among Japanese and Pearl Harbor veterans because it had never happened. Japanese pilots were strictly instructed not to attack civilian targets. The survivors stated that although the Japanese made a direct attack, they never attacked the hospital itself. Director Michael Bay added the scene to make the attack look even more brutal.

Thor – US Box Office: USD$181,030,624

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Main Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, Jaimie Alexander, Russell Crowe, Natalie Portman, Chris Pratt 

Release Date: May 6, 2011

Filming Locations: Cerro Pelon Movie Ranch – 5547 Highway 41, Galisteo, New Mexico, USA; Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA; Mystery Mesa, California, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: In a four-wheel drive vehicle, three scientists named Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis are investigating an aurora-like phenomenon in the desert of New Mexico. They move toward the developing huge tornado/lightning storm. They stop after the vehicle runs over a man within the swirl. The gorgeous blond man is well-built and just partially conscious. A voice-over recounts an encounter between the Asgardians and the Jötuns, the ice giants of Jötunheim, in 900 AD. The Asgardians prevail, seize the power casket, and return to their realm. Odin speaks to his two sons, Loki, who has dark hair and is more thoughtful, and Thor, an active blond kid. He said both deserve it, but only one may rule the kingdom.

Famous quotes:

Loki: “The Casket wasn’t the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?”

Odin: “No. In the aftermath of the battle, I went into the temple, and I found a baby. Small for a Giant’s offspring, abandoned suffering and left to die. Laufey’s son.”

Loki: “Why? You were knee-deep in Jotun blood. Why would you take me?”

Odin: “You were an innocent child.”

Loki: “No. You took me for a purpose. What was it?… TELL ME!”

Odin: “I thought we could unite our kingdoms one day. Bring about an alliance, bring about permanent peace… through you.”

Sequel: Thor: The Dark World

Fun facts about Thor:

  • When Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (Odin) first looked at each other in full armor, Hopkins said, “God doesn’t play here, isn’t it?”
  • Thor’s final choice came to Chris Hemsworth and Liam Hemsworth. Chris saw it funny: “We both came here from Australia and fought against each other.” However, Liam said he had no choice but also go with the flow.

Top Gun – US Box Office: USD$180,258,178

Director: Tony Scott

Main Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer,  Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt,  Michael Ironside, John Stockwell,  Barry Tubb, Rick Rossovich, Clarence Gilyard Jr. 

Release Date: May 16, 1986

Filming Locations: 102 Pacific Street, Oceanside, California, USA; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California, USA; Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, USA; Red Fox Room, San Diego, California, USA

Main Plot: When radar contact is made with a MiG fighter, USS Enterprise’s aircraft carrier is on patrol close to the Persian Gulf. The F-14 Tomcat interceptor planes were operated by a pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer. The Combat Air Patrol of the Enterprise is meeting them. Flight Lieutenant Peter “Maverick” Mitchell, whose callsign is appropriate for his arrogant, rule-bending demeanor, is the pilot of the leading aircraft. Lt. Nicholas “Goose” Bradshaw is his RIO. Bill “Cougar” Cortell is the pilot of the second F14, and Sam “Merlin” Wells is the RIO. The second MiG, hidden from radar by riding close to its leader, surprises the two F14s as they separate.

Famous quotes:

Iceman: “You! You are still dangerous. But you can be my wingman any time.”

Maverick: “Bullshit! You can be mine.”

Carole: “Hey, Goose, you big stud!”

Goose: “That’s me, honey.”

Carole: “Take me to bed or lose me forever.”

Goose: “Show me the way home, honey.”

Maverick: “Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby.”

Air Boss Johnson: “Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”

Sequel: Top Gun: Maverick

Fun facts about Top Gun:

  • Stunt pilot Art Scholl dies at age 54 during the film’s production. His Pitt camera S-2 failed to recover from panning and crashed into the Pacific Ocean to its death. Scholl’s last words on the radio were, “I’ve got a problem — I’ve got a real problem.” The exact cause of the crash was never determined, and neither the plane nor Scholl’s body was found. This movie is dedicated to him. Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson had to convince Paramount Pictures chairman Frank Mancuso to approve the film.

Apollo 13 – US Box Office: USD$173,837,933

Director: Ron Howard

Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Ed Harris, Loren Dean, Clint Howard

Release Date: June 30, 1995 

Filming Locations: Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida, USA; Johnson Space Center – 2101 NASA Rd., Houston, Texas, USA; Ellington Field, Texas, USA; Merritt Island, Florida, USA; Stage 36, Universal Studios – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Main Plot: The story begins on July 20, 1969, in the home of astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks). Jim and other NASA families gathered to watch the Apollo 11 astronaut moonwalk. Later, Jim thinks about how close he got to the moon when he orbited it on Apollo 8. He believes that one day he will set foot on the moon. At the same time, his wife Marilyn (Kathleen Quinlan) tries to stop her husband from leaving on another mission. Several months later, Jim is told that due to an ear infection from one of the Apollo 13 crews, he and his crew members were forced to become Prime Crew for the mission. Marilyn has doubts, given the shortened program (and the mission number is 13), but Jim is confident they will be ready. Jim works alongside teammates Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), and the three seem well-prepared for their mission.

Famous quotes:

NASA Director: “This could be the worst disaster NASA’s ever experienced.”

Gene Kranz: “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”

Blanche Lovell: “Well, don’t you worry, honey. If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it.”

Jim Lovell: “Houston, we have a problem.”

Gene Kranz: “We’ve never lost an American in space. We’re sure as hell not going to lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option.”

Jim Lovell: “Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege flying with you.”

Jim Lovell: “We just put Sir Isaac Newton in the driver’s seat.”

Sequel: Cast Away

Fun facts about Apollo 13:

  • On the review track, Marilyn Lovell commented that Tom Hanks accurately portrayed Jim Lovell’s demeanor and acting style.
  • Among the scenes with Earth seen from the windows of Apollo 13, this is one of the photographs Jim Lovell and Bill Anders took during the Apollo 8 mission.

Transformers: The Last Knight – US Box Office: USD$130,168,683

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci,  Anthony Hopkins

Release Date: June 21, 2017 

Filming Locations: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK; Grainger Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England, UK; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, UK; Michigan Motion Picture Studios, 1999 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, Michigan, USA

Main Plot: After Optimus Prime left Earth, the Autobots were still a global threat and at war with the Decepticons. Kit Jaeger finds a talisman given to him by a dying Transformer. However, the American military and the Decepticons find Kit, and the Autobots are on the move again. Kate meets a transformer named Cockman and asks him and Bumblebee to accompany her to London. They meet an English nobleman named Sir Edmund Burton and board the Cybertronian Knights underwater. They also meet Optimus Prime, but now he is a demon, and his master is Quintess. Quintess’ mission is to unite Cybertron and Earth so that Cybertron can be restarted. Kate, an English professor known as Vivian Wembley, Sir Edmund Burton, Cockman, Bumblebee, and other Autobots must save the world.

Famous quotes:

Optimus prime: “[morse code] I’m coming for you, humans.”

Vivian Wembley: “When all seems lost, a few brave souls can save everything we’ve ever known.”

Cogman: “I was trying to make the moment more epic.”

Bumblebee: “[optimus stabs at a bumblebee, barely missing his head] “i-i am bumblebee, your oldest friend. Optimus. I would lay down my life for you.”

Optimus prime: “[to vivian] for my world to live, yours must die.”

Optimus prime: “Knights, Autobots. This cannot and will not be the end of saving the earth and her people. We will steal Quintessa’s staff; only you, Vivian, can take it back. I will lead the way into her chamber and when the account of the ages is etched into the cosmos, let those who exist long after us know that this was our finest hour!

Sequel: Transformers: Age of Extinction

Fun fact about Transformers: The Last Knight:

  • Quintess scene design is based on Alpha Q’s design in Transformers: Energon (2004) (human torso with tentacles) and Quintesson’s face design in The Transformers (1984) (face with headgear). The headgear incorporates elements of the Autobots and Decepticon emblems, reflecting her role as creator of the Transformers.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – US Box Office: USD$127,352,707

Director: Adam McKay

Main Cast: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, James Marsden 

Release Date: December 18, 2013

Filming Locations: St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; San Diego, California, USA; New York City, New York, USA

Main Plot: Ron Burgundy has left San Diego for New York City and is living a good life with his wife, Veronica Corningstone, and son Walter Burgundy. However, everything changes when their boss decides to promote Veronica to full-time lead host and fire Ron. Now that he’s returning to San Diego, Ron has landed ashore and works part-time at Sea World. However, the possibility of his redemption comes from a man named Freddie Schapp, an executive producer of the Global News Network, the world’s first 24-hour news channel. He hires Ron, who then reunites Champ, Brick, and Brian’s news team and returns to New York City. Ron and his news crew are given the graveyard shift and a challenge. Ron comes up with a radical new idea to change the news, putting him back at the top of the game. 

Famous quotes:

Ron Burgundy: “If you’ve got an ass like the North Star, wise men want to follow it.”

Brick Tamland: “I can always guess how many jelly beans are in a jelly bean jar, even if I’m wrong.”

Wes Mantooth: “With the things I’ve done, I know I will burn in hell. So I sure as shit ain’t afraid to burn here on earth.”

Ron Burgundy: “Oh, my goodness! That’s the most badass thing I’ve ever heard!”

Gary: “Do you know what a psychiatrist is, Ron?”

Sequel: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Fun facts about Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues:

  • Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell had to take pay cuts to the budget. Paramount Pictures didn’t like the numbers and was initially against a sequel. However, the studio then decided to greenlight the sequel.
  • As Eltrousias of the Clouds (Kirsten Dunst) blows her horn, Jack Lime (James Marsden) says, “I hit her!” This was a reference to Bachelorette (2012), when he and Dunst had a sex scene.

Traffic – Box Office: USD$124,115,725

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Main Cast: Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Erika Christensen, Luis Guzmán, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jacob Vargas, Tomas Milian, Topher Grace, James Brolin, Steven Bauer, and Benjamin Bratt

Release Date: January 5, 2001

Filming Locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Columbus, Ohio, USA; El Paso Intelligence Center – 11339 SSG Sims Street, El Paso, Texas, USA; El Paso, Texas, USA; La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA

Main Plot: The film opens in Mexico, where policeman Javier Rodriguez and his partner Manolo stop a drug shipment and detain the courier. Their arrest was interrupted by a high-ranking Mexican official, General Salazar. The general decides to hire Javier and tasks him with finding and arresting Frankie Flowers, a notorious hit man for the Tijuana Obregon Cartel. Meanwhile, conservative Ohio Judge Robert Wakefield was named head of the Office of the President of the National Drug Enforcement Administration, assuming the title of drug czar. His predecessor and several influential politicians warned Wakefield that the war on drugs was unwinnable. Wakefield, his honor student daughter Caroline, was using cocaine and became a victim of addiction when her friend Seth introduced her to cocaine. She and Seth were arrested when another student at her high school overdosed. They tried to drop him off at a nearby hospital anonymously.

Famous quotes:

General Ralph Landry: “You know, when Khruschev was forced out, he sat down and wrote two letters and gave them to his successor. He said – “When you get into a situation you can’t get out of, open the first letter, and you’ll be safe. Open the second letter when you get into another situation you can’t get out of”.

General Ralph Landry: “Well, soon enough, this guy found himself in a tight place, so he opened the first letter. Which said – “Blame everything on me.” So “as the old man, it worked like a charm. He got into a second situation he couldn’t escape and opened the second letter. It said – “Sit down and write two letters.”

Caroline Wakefield: “What’s Washington like?”

Robert Wakefield: “What’s Washington like? Well, it’s like Calcutta, surrounded by beggars. The only difference is that the beggars in Washington wear fifteen hundred dollar suits and don’t say please or thank you.”

Javier Rodriguez: “You like baseball? We need lights for the parks, so kids can play at night. So they can play baseball. So they don’t become burros para Los Malones. Everybody likes baseball. Everybody likes parks.”

Sequel: Three Kings

Fun facts about Traffic:

  • When a critic noted that it seemed unrealistic that his daughter’s high school record was near-perfect when taking drugs, screenwriter Stephen Gaghan pointed out that the high school record in the film belonged to him and that he was on drugs at the time.
  • After filming one day, actor James Brolin returned to his car and found two young men trying to break into the house. Still, in his general uniform, he chased away the would-be thieves. They had mistaken him for a real military officer.

The Hunt for Red October – US Box Office: USD$122,012,643

Director: John McTiernan

Main Cast: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Joss Ackland, Richard Jordan, Peter Firth

Release Date: March 2, 1990 

Filming Locations: Lake James, Burke County, North Carolina, USA; Port Angeles, Washington, USA; Keyport, Washington, USA; Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK; San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: The “Red October” is a new Soviet submarine. When Americans take pictures of it, they are curious about why it is so special. CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) consults with a friend, who concludes that he is equipped with a new engine that will allow him to run virtually silently. With such a device, they can position themselves on the outskirts of any coastal city and launch their missiles and give no warning to their target. Captain Marko Ramius (Sir Sean Connery) kills their political officer after they open their orders, essentially forcing them to perform routine maneuvers. He kills him and burns their orders, and replaces them. He then tells the crew that they will test their new engine by positioning themselves off the coast of New York City and conducting missile drills. His boss then summons Ryan, Admiral James Greer, to attend a briefing regarding Red October.

Famous quotes:

Jeffrey Pelt: “Listen, I’m a politician, which means I’m a cheat and a liar, and when I’m not kissing babies, I’m stealing their lollipops. But it also means I keep my options open.”

Capt. Vasili Borodin: “I will live in Montana. And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me. And I will have a pickup truck… maybe even a “recreational vehicle.” And drive from state to state. Do they let you do that?”

Captain Ramius: “I suppose.”

Capt. Vasili Borodin: “No papers?”

Captain Ramius: “No papers, state to state.”

Capt. Vasili Borodin: “Well then, I will live in… Arizona in winter. Actually, I think I will need two wives.”

Sequel: Clear and Present Danger

Fun facts about The Hunt for Red October:

  • Despite the result of good research, the track drive is pure fiction.
  • The tapes were red when the film was first released on VHS in 1991.
  • The fighter plane that crashed into the cockpit was footage of an F9F Panther in 1951. This aircraft was flown by official test pilot George Chamberlain Duncan (1917-1995). Duncan survived the accident with minor burns and could fly again a few months later.

Spread the love!

Scroll to Top