Top 5 Movies Filmed in San Luis Obispo, California by US Box Office

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Lights, Camera, Action! Explore the Magical Movie Filming Locations in San Luis Obispo, California

Lights, camera, action! Are you ready for a thrilling adventure through the glamorous world of Hollywood? Buckle up, my fellow movie enthusiast, because today we’re diving into the mesmerizing realm of movie filming locations in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the places where iconic movies were born and the magic happened. So put on your director’s hat and let’s explore!

Key Takeaways:

  • San Luis Obispo is not just a charming city to visit, but also a hotbed for movie filming locations.
  • Exploring movie filming locations allows you to step into the shoes of your favorite actors and experience their on-screen magic firsthand.
  • Visiting these locations not only provides entertainment but also allows you to discover the city’s hidden gems.

Why Visit Movie Filming Locations in San Luis Obispo? Let me paint a picture for you – imagine strolling down the very streets where your favorite actors once walked, recreating their iconic scenes in your mind.

Whether you’re a die-hard movie buff or simply in search of unique experiences, exploring movie filming locations adds an extra layer of excitement to your trip. Who knows, you might even find yourself inadvertently joining a scene reenactment flash mob (just kidding… or am I?).

Okay, here’s the deal – San Luis Obispo isn’t just a stunning city with breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, it’s also a haven for movie directors seeking picturesque backdrops.

By visiting the filming locations, you’ll have the opportunity to see firsthand the places that captivated millions on the silver screen. It’s like becoming a part of the movie’s magic, where reality blends with fiction, and your inner artist takes center stage.

Imagine sipping coffee at a café where Meg Ryan poured her heart out in that unforgettable romantic comedy. Or standing in the exact spot where your favorite action hero dodged bullets and saved the day.

These locations hold secrets, stories, and memories that transcend the screen, inviting you to step inside and create your own unforgettable memories.

But wait, there’s more! Exploring movie filming locations in San Luis Obispo isn’t just about reliving movie moments. It’s also an opportunity to uncover hidden gems within the city.

As you make your way to these iconic spots, you’ll stumble upon lesser-known gems – quirky coffee shops, charming boutiques, or local watering holes where the locals let loose. You might even find yourself whispering “action!” as you discover a hidden talent for directing your own indie film.

So, my fellow adventurer, it’s time to pack your bags, grab your camera, and embark on an extraordinary journey through the celluloid wonders of San Luis Obispo.

Whether you’re a movie buff seeking your own cinematic pilgrimage or simply looking for a unique and exciting experience, these movie filming locations will make you feel like a star. Lights are already shining, cameras are ready – all that’s missing is you.

Ready for your close-up? Lights, camera, explore!

Lights, camera, explore! Uncover the captivating movie filming locations in San Luis Obispo, California and experience the magic of the silver screen firsthand.

Discover hidden gems, walk in the footsteps of your favorite actors, and create unforgettable memories. Start your cinematic adventure now by exploring the listicle below!

Commando US Box Office: USD$35.10millions

Director:  Mark L. Lester 

Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells

Release Date: 26 April 1986

Filming Locations: Chapman Ranch – 1 Arrowrock Road, Mount Baldy, California, USA; Channel Islands, California, USA; San Bernardino Mountains, California, USA; Mulholland Drive, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA; Mt. Baldy, California, USA

Main Plot: John Matrix, a retired special agent who commanded an entire unit, has left the military to live in a remote mountain cabin with his daughter Jenny. However, he is suddenly pushed out of retirement when a gang of vengeful thugs kidnaps his daughter! Matrix is unaware that his old unit members are being eliminated one by one. Even though Matrix’s friend General Franklin Kirby provides Matrix with armed guards, Matrix and Jenny are still kidnapped. Matrix discovers that Bennett, a presumed-dead former member of his unit, has kidnapped him to force him to carry out a political killing for Arius (also known as El Presidente). A warlord previously defeated by Matrix intends to lead a military revolt in his native country. Since Arius will kill Jenny if Matrix refuses, Matrix grudgingly complies.

Famous quotes:

Bennett: “John! How’s your arm, John?”

John Matrix: [hidden behind a wall] “Come over and find out!”

Bennett: “No thanks, I think I’ll take a pass. John, stick your head out, one shot, right between the eyes, I’ll make it quick, just for old-time sake.”

John Matrix: “Bennett, stop screwing around and let the girl go, it’s me that you want, I only have one arm; you can beat me!”

[Bennett laughs]

John Matrix: [Comes out from hidden place] “Come on Bennett, throw away the chicken shit gun. You don’t just want to pull the trigger. You want to put the knife in me, and look me in the eye, and see what’s going on in there when you turn it. That’s what you want to do, right?”

Bennett: “I can kill you, John!”

Sequel: Commando 2

Fun Fact about Commando:

  • The mall (Sherman Oaks Galleria) is the same one used in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, also starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since the completion of both films, the mall has been renovated.

Murder by Numbers US Box Office: USD$31.95millions

Director: Barbet Schroeder 

Main Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt

Release Date: 19 April 2002

Filming Locations: San Luis Obispo, California, USA; Los Osos, California, USA; Calabasas High School – 22855 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, California, USA; Morro Bay, California, USA; 541 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, California, USA

Main Plot: Richard Haywood, the most popular student at his California high school, secretly allies with Justin “Bonaparte” Pendleton, a brilliant nerd specializing in forensics, so that the two of them can plot elaborately perfect murders just for the kick. They use the janitor at their school, Ray “Feathers,” to frame Richard for the murders. Detectives Cassie “the hyena” Mayweather, who has a sequoia-sized chip on her shoulder from her past, and Sam “the genius” Kennedy, who recently transferred from the vice squad, are assigned to the case. Despite their obvious chemistry as a couple, they cannot work together professionally and end up being banned from the investigation by Captain Rod Cody. Her understandably vindictive, abused ex, Assistant D.A. Al Swanson.

Famous quotes:

Cassie: “Richard, what are you doing here?”

Richard: “What are you doing here? Do you want something?”

Cassie: “Like what?”

Richard: “I don’t know… Everybody wants something.”

Cassie: “Is that right?”

Richard: “They just don’t know how to ask for it.”

Cassie: “And what do you want?”

Fun Fact about  Murder by Numbers:

  • This is the fourth depiction of the infamous 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case by Hollywood. The first was Rope (1948) by Alfred Hitchcock, the second was Compulsion (1959) by Richard Fleischer, and the third was Swoon by Tom Kalin (1992).

My Blue HeavenUS Box Office: USD$23.59millions

Director: Herbert Ross 

Main Cast: Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, Melanie Mayron

Release Date: 4 November 1927

Filming Locations: Atascadero, California, USA; San Luis Obispo, California, USA; Paso Robles, California, USA; Hotel del Coronado – 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California, USA; Loyola Marymount University – 1 LMU Drive, Westchester, Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: When mobster Vincent “Vinnie” Antonelli and his wife Linda enter the witness protection program, FBI agent Barney Coopersmith is tasked with escorting them to a suburban home. Yet the spy grows close to the gangster and befriends him, and Vinnie and Barney’s wives eventually leave them. The criminal and party animal, Vinnie, do not maintain essential anonymity. Barney bails him out of jail after he is arrested by DA Hannah Stubbs so that he can testify against the Mafia. Soon, Barney and Stubbs fall in love, but Vinnie’s constant mishaps attract the attention of two Mafia assassins. Crystal Rybak, a police officer, not only looks out for him, but they develop romantic feelings for one another. Good-hearted Vinnie succeeds in becoming a local celebrity.

Famous quotes:

Hannah Stubbs: “The books…”

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli: “You have something against books?”

Hannah Stubbs: “I have nothing about books! I am curious about the books in your trunk.”

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli: “You see, I was thinking of writing my story, so I bought this one on how to do it.”

Hannah Stubbs: “Why do you need 25 copies of it?”

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli: “In case I want to read it more than once…”

Fun Fact about My Blue Heaven:

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to play Vinnie Antonelli, while Steve Martin was supposed to play Barney Coopersmith. Soon after, though, Schwarzenegger was offered the part of Det. In Kindergarten Cop (1990), John Kimble bowed out of the production. In the absence of a more suitable “Vinnie,” Martin offered to play the part of Vinnie in his output of Coopersmith. The producers agreed and eventually cast Rick Moranis in the role of Coopersmith after he had been considered for it previously but was unavailable.

Little Giants – US Box Office: USD$19.29millions

Director: Duwayne Dunham 

Main Cast: Rick Moranis, Ed O’Neill, Shawna Waldron, Devon Sawa

Release Date: 14 October 1994

Filming Locations: Arroyo Grande, California, USA; San Luis Obispo, California, USA; John Burroughs High School – 1920 West Clark Avenue, Burbank, California, USA; Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios – 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA; Malibou Lake, Agoura, California, USA

Main Plot: In Urbania, Ohio, snobbish former football star Kevin O’Shea handles tryouts for the town’s Peewee football club, the Urbania Cowboys. Kevin insults Danny by rejecting his good-player daughter Becky. Because she’s a girl, he left her. She and some of her rejected pals establish a team with Danny as a coach. Kevin tries to stop Danny, but Danny convinces him to play a game to pick which team would represent Urbania. Danny and Becky scan the streets for players with minimal skills and no team spirit. Becky finds Junior Floyd passing toilet paper into a shopping cart like a football. With Becky and Junior, the Giants have a chance to do well and begin training. Low morale threatens the team’s unity. Former NFL coach John Madden and four NFL stars, Steve Entman, Bruce Smith, Emmitt Smith, and Tim Brown, give the team ideas on how to get an advantage. Becky gets upset when her cheerleader cousin Debbie flirts with Junior. She chooses to compete for him on equal terms by joining the cheerleaders and leaving the squad.

Famous quotes:

Danny O’Shea: [When the Giants, losing at the half, want to be put on the injured list] “You know, there is something you guys should know. When I was 10 years old, I put myself on the injured list. I never got off.”

Timmy Moore: “Why?”

Danny O’Shea: “Cause I didn’t get picked a few times, so I started hiding under the bleachers.”

Marcus: “That’s where we belong, under the bleachers.”

Danny O’Shea: “No, you don’t. You guys belong out there with those Cowboys. Do you know how I know that? Because I belong out there with my brother.”

Fun Fact about Little Giants:

  • The Super Bowl commercial for McDonald’s in the early 1990s included a Pee-Wee football game, which inspired this film. Steven Spielberg was so impressed the day after it aired that he contacted the commercial’s writer, James Ferguson, and offered him a job writing the script for his next film.

To Live and Die in L.A. – US Box Office: USD$17.31millions

Director: William Friedkin

Main Cast: William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, Jane Leeves, Cherise Bates

Release Date: 1 November 1985

Filming Locations: 600 Mesquit Street, Los Angeles, California, USA; 183 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA; 8053 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA; 40038 170th Street E, Palmdale, California, USA; Beverly Hilton Hotel – 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Main Plot: According to his former partner Jimmy Hart, LA-based Secret Service agent Richie Chance specializes in counterfeiting and demonstrates reckless behavior. Base jumping satisfies his need for thrills. Professionally, he extorts Ruth Lanier, who feeds him information in exchange for not sending her back to prison for a trumped-up parole violation. Chance is more determined than ever to capture counterfeiter Ric Masters, willing to kill anyone who crosses him, with his new partner John Vukovich. Masters know the Secret Service wants him. Chance caught Masters’ mule, Carl Cody, while transporting counterfeit money, and one of his associates, Max Waxman, is stealing from him. Case tries to exploit Masters’s flaws with help from Ruth. Chance adopts more immoral and unlawful tactics to achieve his aim, which may be a problem for Vukovich, who hails from a police officer family.

Famous quotes:

John Vukovich: “We got an FBI agent killed. You hear that?”

Richard Chance: “What do you want me to do about it, John?”

John Vukovich: “It’s just a matter of time before they fuckin’ identify us. They got a good look at us.”

Richard Chance: “A face is bullshit without a name.”

John Vukovich: “They got a make on the car!”

Richard Chance: “Look, they would have sent it out over the teletype if they had anything. They’re grabbing at shit.”

Fun Fact about To Live and Die in L.A.:

  • During the opening scene, when Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe) is printing money, the production crew produces counterfeit bills. On set, a convicted forger demonstrated how to forge currency. They were filming in the desert, and Dafoe remarked that every time a helicopter hovered over the group, they feared the authorities were coming to arrest them.

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