Films
Back to Top of ListFilms shot in SLO CAL
1) The Sheik (1921) & The Son of the Sheik (1926)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: Silent romantic drama meant to be based in the deserts outside of the Algerian city of Biskra.
Actors: Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres
Fun Fact: The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes stood in for the North African desert. As the production of the first film was such a success, the sequel to The Sheik was also shot in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes.
2) Morocco (1930)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: Star-crossed lovers struggle to make things work in this vintage film
Actors: Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich
Fun Fact: The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes were used to represent the sandy environment of Morocco.
3) Of Mice and Men (1939)
Location: San Luis Obispo & Hearst Ranch
Synopsis: Two itinerant migrant workers, one mentally disabled and the other his caretaker, take jobs as ranch hands during the Great Depression to fulfill their shared dream of owning their own ranch. Based on the novel by John Steinbeck.
Actors: Lon Chaney Jr., Burgess Meredith, Betty Field
4) The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Location: Morro Bay (Morro Rock) & San Luis Obispo
Synopsis: Fascinated by gorgeous Mrs. Bannister, seaman Michael O’Hara joins a bizarre yachting cruise and ends up mired in a complex murder plot.
Actors: Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, Everett Sloane
5) The Ten Commandments (1956)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: The Egyptian Prince, Moses, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people.
Actors: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter
Fun Fact: Much of the original movie set was still buried beneath the sand until 2012 when an excavation team was brought in to uncover the artifacts. These artifacts not only represent the silent movie age but also the work of famous filmmaker, Cecil B. DeMille. Some of these artifacts can be seen, restored, at the Dunes Center.
6) The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)
Location: Morro Bay (Morro Rock) & Cayucos (Remember When Antiques)
Synopsis: Horror sci-fi monster film
Actors: Jeanne Carmen, Les Tremayne, Pete Dunn
Fun Fact: What once stood in as a meat shop for the monster is now a well-known antique shop called Remember When. This three-story shop is full of novel finds and is also a part of the SLO CAL Antiques Trail. However, Cayucos is home to much more than antiques and monsters, with ample coastline, tasty bites, and murals to explore.
Photo courtesy of Remember When Antiques
7) Spartacus (1960)
Location: Hearst Castle
Synopsis: The slave Spartacus leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic.
Actors: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons
Fun Fact: Hearst Castle acts as Crassus' home in this 1960 film. During these scenes you will be able to see the famous Neptune Pool.
8) Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Location: Montaña de Oro State Park
Synopsis: An orphan boy and his magical dragon come to town with his abusive adoptive parents in pursuit.
Actors: Sean Marshall, Helen Reddy, Jim Dale
Fun Fact: A fake lighthouse was built specifically for the film on Point Buchon, making this the most expensive Walt Disney production to date. Hikers can enjoy the same views as Pete's Dragon, minus the lighthouse, by taking a stroll along the Point Buchon Trail open Monday-Friday from 8-5 pm.
9) The World's Greatest Lover (1977)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: Meant as a spoof of the silent romance films of the 1920s and 1930s, this comedy once again utilizes the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes as a backdrop to stand in for foreign deserts.
Actors: Gene Wilder
Fun Fact: Gene Wilder plays a banker turned Hollywood actor who now goes by Rudy Valentine to compete with Rudolph Valentino, the star of “The Sheik” and “The Son of the Sheik”.
10) Commando (1985)
Location: San Simeon ("Val Verde Barracks")
Synopsis: A retired elite Black Ops Commando launches a one-man war against a group of South American criminals who have kidnapped his daughter to blackmail him into starting a revolution and getting an exiled dictator back into power.
Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya
Fun Fact: The producers of this movie thought the W.R. Hearst State Beach resembled their South American town of "Val Verde" and began building barracks, which later were blown up as part of the movie.
11) To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Location: San Luis Obispo (Men’s Colony)
Synopsis: A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.
Actors: William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow
12) Aria (1987)
Location: San Luis Obispo (Madonna Inn)
Synopsis: This British anthology film consists of 10 short films, one of which details the love affairs of a married couple, all filmed in various themed rooms at the renowned Madonna Inn
Fun Fact: The Gold Rush Steak House, the Caveman Room, and even the opulent men’s bathroom can be spotted in the art film. The Madonna is still known today for its unexpectedly whimsical décor, sprawling grounds, and decadent cakes.
13) Arachnophobia (1990)
Location: Cambria (Coast Union High School & Downtown) & Halter Ranch Vineyard
Synopsis: A species of South American killer spider hitches a lift to the U.S. in a coffin and starts to breed and kill.
Actors: Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands, John Goodman
Fun Fact: In the football scene, many of the football players and onlookers were actual members of the Coast Union High School football team and student body. You can also still walk through the historic (now remodeled) Victorian as well as the barn, both of which were featured in the film, at Halter Ranch Vineyard.
Photo Courtesy of Halter Ranch Vineyard
14) My Blue Heaven (1990)
Location: San Luis Obispo, Atascadero & Paso Robles
Synopsis: An all too uptight FBI agent must protect a larger-than-life mobster with a heart of gold, currently under witness protection in the suburbs.
Actors: Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack
Fun Fact: Many local people were involved as extras, prop and set suppliers with some even having a few bit parts.
15) Patriot Games (1992)
Location: Morro Bay
Synopsis: When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge.
Actors: Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer, Samuel L. Jackson
16) Little Giants (1994)
Location: San Luis Obispo & Arroyo Grande
Synopsis: Misfits form their own opposing team to an elite peewee football team, coached by the elite team coach’s brother.
Fun Fact: The scene in which Danny and Ed race each other in a corvette and go-kart was filmed on East Branch St. in the Village.
Actors: Rick Moranis, Ed O’Neill, Shawna Waldron
17) The Odd Couple II (1998)
Location: Los Osos
Synopsis: Oscar and Felix take a road trip to their son and daughter’s wedding.
Actors: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Richard Riehle
18) Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: Rocky & Bullwinkle join the live-action scene in this children’s comedy.
Actors: Robert DeNiro, Rene Russo, and Jason Alexander.
Fun Fact: The pair chase their enemies across the country as they try to stop their evil schemes, and even pass through the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes on their adventure.
19) Murder By Numbers (2002)
Location: San Luis Obispo (Courthouse, Mission Plaza), Morro Bay & Los Osos
Synopsis: Two gifted high school students execute a “perfect” murder – then become engaged in an intellectual contest with a seasoned homicide detective.
Actors: Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling
Fun Fact: When watching this movie you'll be able to see such locations as the San Luis Obispo Courthouse, Fremont Theatre, Mission Plaza, Morro Bay (where Bullock's character lives on her houseboat), and Los Osos.
20) The Whole Ten Yards (2004)
Location: Oceano Dunes
Synopsis: This crime comedy is a sequel to the film “The Whole Nine Yards”.
Actors: Bruce Willis, Mathew Perry
Fun Fact: Known as a popular spot for filming, the Oceano Dunes are a backdrop in the film. Oceano Dunes is a subset of the greater Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes and is accessible through Grover Beach.
21) Hildago (2004)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: A rugged cowboy fighting for his reputation and his life in the Middle East, based on the legend of Frank Hopkins and his famous mustang Hidalgo.
Actors: Viggo Mortenson
Fun Fact: The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes once again stand in for Arabian sands in this epic western.
22) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
Location: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Synopsis: Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly
Fun Fact: Remember the scene where crabs carry the stranded Black Pearl to the shore? Those sand dunes are in fact the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes.
Photo courtesy of Highway 1 Road Trip
23) I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
Location: San Luis Obispo (Fremont Theatre, SLO High School) & Morro Bay
Synopsis: A young girl who was missing reappears, but she claims to be someone else entirely.
Actors: Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough
Fun Fact: While this movie isn't necessarily cinematic gold, many scenes feature SLO High School, Higuera Street, the Fremont Theatre, and Morro Bay. This movie was dubbed "A movie you love to hate" and won 8 Razzie awards for Worst Movie, Worst Actress and Worst Director among others.
24) Destination Wedding (2018)
Location: Paso Robles (Dubost Vineyard & Winery) San Luis Obispo (Apple Farm Inn, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa)
Synopsis: A romantic comedy following two strangers paired together at a wedding.
Actors: Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder
Fun Fact: Filmed primarily in Paso Robles and around SLO CAL, many sights featured in the film can still be seen today. The wedding takes place at the elegant Dubost Vineyard & Winery nestled within the hills of Paso Robles. Also featured in the movie is SLO CAL’s famed Apple Farm Inn, situated right off the 101 and known for its classic charm and conveniences.
