Thanks to a variety of architectural styles, clear skies, and locations that range from forests to beaches, Oakland has been depicted on the big screen many times over the years.
Today, we'll look at eight memorable moments from movies shot around town.
Made in America (1993)
Made in America, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Nia Long, was set in Oakland. Because Danson played a car dealer, an auto dealership was built near Broadway Auto Row at 14th and Madison Street; Long's character attends Oakland Technical High School (4351 Broadway); and Danson, during a commercial shoot, rides an elephant into Lake Merritt.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
The TV studio where Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) gets a job as a shipping clerk, is actually the KTVU station near Jack London Square.
The Claremont Resort and Spa (41 Tunnel Rd.), was used for the pool scene, where Mrs. Doubtfire chucks a lime at Stuart Dunmeyer (Pierce Brosnan). (Although part of the resort, including the spa and the gardens, is located in Berkeley, the main hotel building is in Oakland.)
The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Industrial Light & Magic filmed at the Redwood Grove at Big Tree in Joaquin Miller Park to produce special effects for the movie. The scene where Little Bear is in the forest was also shot in this location.
Flubber (1997)
According to Film in America, the wedding scene in Flubber was shot in the chapel at Mountain View Cemetery (5000 Piedmont Ave.).
Fruitvale Station (2003)
Fruitvale Station dramatizes the last day in the life of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old man who was shot in the back by a BART police officer on New Year’s Day 2009. Several scenes were filmed at Fruitvale BART station, where the incident occurred.
The Matrix: Reloaded (2003)
Like the prequel, The Matrix: Reloaded filmed many of its scenes in Sydney, Australia. However, the famous freeway chase — in which Merovingian's henchmen follow Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) — was filmed in downtown Oakland, beginning on 16th St. at the parking garage beneath the Latham Square Building (1611 Telegraph Ave.).
The 1.5-mile ‘101 Freeway’ was constructed on a former runway at the decommissioned Alameda Naval Air Station. Look closely, and you'll be able to spot the Bay Bridge in the background.
The chase eventually heads over "Winslow Overpass" — actually Nimitz Freeway (I-880) — before heading into Webster Tube, an underwater tunnel that connects Oakland and Alameda.
The Incredibles (2004), Up (2009)
Because Pixar Animation Studios is located in Emeryville, many of its films are inspired by Oakland locations. According to the Visit Oakland website, the last fight scene in The Incredibles shows Frozone freezing a path over a lake, which is inspired by Oakland's very own Lake Merritt.
In the final scene of Up, Russell and Carl Fredricksen enjoy ice cream in front of Fentons Creamery & Restaurant (4226 Piedmont Ave.), a legendary ice cream parlor that has been around since 1894.
The credits also show both characters standing next to a movie theater marquee, which resembles the one in front of Fox Theater (1807 Telegraph Ave.)
Do you have a favorite Oakland film location? Tell us in the comments.
