The Best Filming Locations in the OCOrange County has been the backdrop for all kinds of movies and TV shows over the years. From historic train stations to huge hangars and scenic piers, these spots have brought scenes to life in ways you might not expect!AuthorsSteller
DestinationsOrange CountyItinerary

Plaza Park

Plaza Park in Old Town Orange has been a go-to filming spot for decades. Tom Hanks shot That Thing You Do here, using a couple of the historic spots in the plaza like Mr. C’s Records and Watson’s Soda Fountain. It’s just one of over 20 movies that have used the area, and the vintage scene here has been featured in all kinds of productions.

Knott's Berry Farm

Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park isn’t just a theme park—it’s also had its share of screen time. Shows like Criminal Minds, Hell’s Kitchen, and America’s Next Top Model have all filmed here, plus movies like Knocked Up, where Seth Rogen and friends hit the coasters. Even the Silver Bullet made a cameo, with models posing mid-ride on Top Model. It’s a working theme park with serious Hollywood credits!

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Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Medieval Times in Buena Park has had its Hollywood moments, too. It’s where Jim Carrey jousts in The Cable Guy and where Kevin Hart and Jason Sudeikis suit up for laughs in What the Fit. Over-the-top and oddly perfect for the screen, it’s a go-to backdrop when knights and chaos are on the call sheet.

Angel Stadium

Angel Stadium has seen more than just baseball. It has had its share of Hollywood moments, too. In Taking Care of Business, James Belushi makes a wild World Series catch and escapes by sliding down a support wire using a Filofax. Films like Angels in the Outfield and My Stepmother Is an Alien also shot scenes here.

Masimo (IVEMSA USA)

Masimo’s campus stepped into the spotlight as Stark Industries in Iron Man. It’s where Tony Stark’s high-tech empire first came alive on the big screen. The sleek spaces and glass walls create a futuristic vibe that feels cutting-edge, and what you might expect from a billionaire inventor’s playground.

Langson Library

Langson Library at UC Irvine shows up in the horror classic Poltergeist. Some of the creepy scenes where the characters research the haunting were filmed in the library’s quiet, shadowy aisles with those spooky vibes!

Old Orange County Courthouse

The Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana appeared in Catch Me If You Can, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s courtroom scenes were shot, and in Legally Blonde, with its vintage courtrooms making a few cameos.

Huntington Beach Pier

Plenty of film crews have made their way to Huntington Beach for its wide beaches and surf scene. The pier’s been featured in Beverly Hills, 90210 and a bunch of surf-related movies, all chasing that classic SoCal backdrop.

Main Beach

Laguna’s beaches are known as much for their ocean views as for the TV shows filmed there. The OC and Laguna Beach were both set here, where those slow-motion beach walks and early-2000s teen drama came to life.

Cottage #13 - The Beaches Film and Media Center

Cottage #13 at Crystal Cove was the beach house in Beaches and now serves as the Beaches Film & Media Center. The front porch is open year-round, and the cottage welcomes visitors during special events. Besides Beaches, the area has appeared in shows like The O.C. and Dexter.

Fashion Island

Tom Cruise strolled through here in a Jerry McGuire scene. It's easy to miss, but locals know the backdrop well.

Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility

The Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility at UC Irvine popped up in Ocean’s Eleven for the scene when Danny Ocean and his crew steal the “pinch,” the device used to trigger an electromagnetic pulse.

Santa Ana

The Santa Ana train station appears in the scene where Raymond and Charlie board the train for their cross-country journey.

Seal Beach Municipal Pier

Seal Beach Pier makes a brief but significant moment in American Sniper. It’s the spot where Chris Kyle reflects on his time in the military, looking out over the water as he grapples with his experiences.

Tustin Blimp Hangar #2

The Tustin Hangar, with its massive wooden arches, has appeared in Pearl Harbor, JAG, and Star Trek. In Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, the hangar was featured in a scene where Austin sneaks around a military base as a spy!