Destinations United States
Ben F. Silverio
Movies and television can be a window to the wide world out there. They can take you to faraway lands, introduce you to entirely new cultures, and even bring you back in time. However, due to logistics, if a film production is made in America, there’s a very good chance that you frequently see locations in California or New York over and over again. Sure, when there isn’t a strike going on to rightfully demand fair wages and other reasonable requests, many shoots have started branching out to cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin, and Atlanta to film various projects thanks to tax incentives and such. But more often than not, you’re likely seeing parts of Los Angeles or New York City onscreen.
To show just how often that is the case, HawaiianIslands.com recently compiled a list of the most filmed locations in the United States. Their very thorough findings outline the various places that appear onscreen the most frequently, in case film buffs and super fans are compelled to visit them in real life. From national parks to sports stadiums to museums, there are plenty of options to choose from. The site even examines which locations appear the most in each movie genre. But when it comes to beaches, there’s one sandy getaway in the Golden State that has more film credits than some of your favorite actors.
My job is just beach
Warner Bros.
According to the compiled data, Venice Beach in Southern California is the most filmed beach in the U.S. The chart notes that the iconic strip between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey, known for its canals (similar to those found in Venice, Italy), has 153 film credits including movies such as “White Men Can’t Jump,” “The Bling Ring,” “Lords of Dogtown,” and “Jackie Brown,” as well as TV shows “Baywatch” and “Three’s Company,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” However, based on IMDB’s calculations, Venice Beach has over 500 screen credits.
Most recently, the beach’s eclectic pedestrian promenade was featured in multiple scenes of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” As Barbie and Ken, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling find their way from Barbie Land to the two-and-a-half-mile oceanfront walkway so they can get a taste of the real world. Production designer Sarah Greenwood told Condé Nast Traveler that they chose this location specifically to show the dichotomy of the similar yet very different realms encountered by the iconic Mattel dolls.
“Down in Venice Beach, I love this idea that there’s beautiful palm trees but they’re all graffitied,” Greenwood said. “Whereas our palm trees in Barbie Land have pink in the bark and they’re all painted beautifully. Our sand is pink and perfect, and the Venice Beach sand is full of so much crap. But that’s the real world and it’s the perfect antidote to Barbie Land.”
No beach is perfect
United Artists
Venice Beach may be at the very top of the list by a wide margin, but the other nine most filmed beaches in the U.S. aren’t that far away. South of Venice, you can find Dockweiler Beach, which is perfect for a day in the sand followed by a bonfire (if you get there early enough to reserve a fire pit). Heading north from Venice will bring you to Santa Monica Beach, as well as the world-famous Santa Monica Pier and its old-school boardwalk, an idyllic date spot complete with rides and carnival games. And further northwest is Will Rogers State Beach, the filming location for “Creature From The Black Lagoon” and more. While it’s a popular surf spot in the Pacific Palisades, it’s also a hot spot for the LGBTQ+ community and is often called Ginger Rogers Beach.
The majority of the other beaches on the list can be found in Malibu. This scenic beach town west of Los Angeles is littered with million-dollar mansions thanks to the many entertainment industry professionals making their homes there. The clear ocean water and picturesque mountains stick out to location scouts as some of the most perfect beaches to capture on film.
Finally, Coronado Beach rounds out the list as its only non-LA entry. Located on an island off the coast of San Diego, Coronado is probably best known as the backdrop for two of the most beloved movies of all time: “Some Like It Hot” and “Top Gun.”
