Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2002 romantic drama, like many of his films, was shot largely around the Valley, north of Los Angeles, where the filmmaker grew up. However, some key sequences also took place in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The film begins at Eckhart Auto Body in Chatsworth, CA, where Barry, played by Adam Sandler, houses his offices. The owners are very friendly to fans of the film, so don’t hesitate to approach them if you visit.
LOCATION: 10101 Canoga Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311
The view when Lena, played by Emily Watson, approaches and introduces herself.
Standing at the driveway, looking to your left out onto Canoga Ave, you’ll see the spot where the car crashes at the beginning of the film.
At the driveway entrance is where the harpsichord is dropped off.
Barry and Lana have dinner at this table at Le Petit Chateau in North Hollywood, which has since permanently closed. However, we were able to visit while it was still open. The specific table could be found through the main entrance, on the opposite side of the wall. There was a painting and plaque on the wall above the center of the table.
LOCATION: Le Petit Chateau, 4615 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Barry excuses himself to the bathroom, where he quickly proceeds to destroy it, after Lana repeats an embarrassing story about him that his sister told her. The scene really was filmed inside the actual restaurant’s bathroom, which has changed only slightly since filming.
Barry is confronted by a staff member here and subsequently gets kicked out of the restaurant for destroying their bathroom.
Barry and Lana make their way out of the restaurant through this entrance way.
The couple then walks out of the restaurant, which is seen in a night shot.
Elsewhere in the the Valley, in Sherman Oaks, you’ll find Barry’s apartment.
LOCATION: 14926 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks 91403
The reverse view out onto Moorpark St. is where Philip Seymour Hoffman’s thugs crash into Barry and Lana’s car.
Barry decides to travel to Hawaii to be with Lena. He is seen arriving at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
LOCATION: 300 Rodgers Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96819
The payphone where Barry calls his sister was a deceptively difficult location to track down. While clearly filmed on Kalākaua Ave, the main strip of Waikiki, the area had been remodeled in the years since filming took place, thus pinpointing the exact spot proved to be a challenge. We enlisted the expertise of Reel News Hawaii who, much to our appreciation, successfully identified it. Here is what the area looks like now.
LOCATION: 2270 Kalākaua Ave Suite 104, Honolulu, HI 96815 (since remodeled)
The location immortalized on the movie poster is located on the beaches of Waikiki, Hawaii. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is where Barry and Lena embrace for their kiss, with the backdrop of Waikiki behind them. Despite being a fairly upscale resort, access to the lobby is easily available to the general public. If you’re coming from Kalākaua Ave, the hotel is behind a large shopping plaza and housed on the beaches, right next to the Sheraton. Entry from the beach is also possible. Just make your way to the Mai Tai Bar of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (same address as the hotel itself, only facing on the beach), which is where Barry and Lena enjoy a meal together in the film, with the band singing and the Diamond Head peak in the background at sunset. From there you can easily see and enter the hotel lobby where the pair kiss. There is no band performing at the real beach restaurant, in case you had your hopes up for that. It was added by the production.
LOCATION: Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Lena’s hotel scenes, where she walks the hallways with Barry, were filmed at the Kahala Hotel & Resort. These Kahala Hotel shots are provided courtesy of Christian Hernandez.
LOCATION: 5000 Kahala Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
Near the end of the film, Barry supposedly travels to Utah to confront Dean Trumbell at his mattress store. The real building can be found in Pamona.
LOCATION: 390 W Foothill Blvd, Pomona, CA 91767
Last, but not least, we leave you with a quick shot of Paul Thomas Anderson and Adam Sandler discussing the film.
Related articles: Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), Inherent Vice (2014), Licorice Pizza (2021)
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